Only a year is left for the United Nations to adopt the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Open Working Group (OWG) on SDGs has already submitted its proposal to the UN General Assembly comprising a set of proposed goals that consider economic, social and environmental dimensions to improve people’s lives and protect the planet for future generations. It is therefore imperative to ensure that the global focus on elimination of child labour and child slavery is not undermined. The proposed goals that have evolved over the 13 sessions of the OWG since March 2013 will form the basis of UN Member Nations’ further discussion for finalising the post-2015 development agenda.
Global March Against Child Labour undertook a mission to United States on the sidelines of the 69th UN General Assembly. A special session on child labour, child slavery and education was convened by the Global March and A World at School to advocate for inclusion and integration of elimination of child labour and child slavery in the post-2015 development agenda. Some of the stakeholders that participated in the event at New York on 23rd September were UNICEF, U.S. Department of State, Solidarity Centre, ILRF, Child Labour Coalition, USAID and Global Campaign for Education. The discussions particularly entailed making the text of the proposed Sustainable Development Goals 4 and 8 namely ‘Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote life-long learning opportunities for all’ and ‘Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all’ more robust to reflect strong commitment for elimination of child labour and child slavery.
To give impetus to the global advocacy efforts for inclusion of abolition of child labour and child slavery in the post-2015 development, Anti-Slavery International, Education International, International Trade Union Confederation, KidsRights Foundation, Thomson Reuters Foundation and Global March Against Child Labour have united to flag off the annual campaign End Child Slavery Week. The week will be inaugurated at London on 19 November and will be observed from 20–26 November 2014 across the world.
