For over 20 years, the Global March Against Child Labour has been part of a global movement to challenge child labour and advocate for lasting change.
Today, as sustainability becomes a central part of how products and practices are understood, new questions are beginning to emerge.
The Label Illusion is our response to this moment.
We see the word sustainability everywhere today.
We are encouraged to make better choices. To look for labels. To trust what they represent
But there is a question we don’t ask often enough:
What do these labels leave out?
The Label Illusion is a global campaign led by the Global March Against Child Labour for World Day Against Child Labour 2026.
It builds on more than two decades of work bringing attention to child labour and mobilising governments, businesses, and communities to address it.
With this campaign, we are extending that work into a new space:
How sustainability is understood, communicated, and acted upon today.
More people and companies are trying to make sustainable choices, with labels such as “sustainable,” “ethical,” and “responsibly sourced” shaping decisions. These labels matter, but they do not always show the full picture. Behind many everyday products are long and complex supply chains where labour realities, including child labour, often remain hidden. As sustainability evolves, there is growing focus on transparency, accountability, and what responsible business truly means. This campaign brings together businesses, youth, academia, civil society, and partners to question labels, spark conversations, share perspectives, and help close the gap between promise and practice.
This is not a one-time campaign. It is part of an ongoing effort to deepen understanding, connect conversations and ensure that sustainability includes those who are often left out.
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