ILO: Morocco chosen to host 2026 Global Conference on Elimination of Child Labor

Morocco has been chosen to host the 2026 Global Conference on the Elimination of Child Labor in recognition of the efforts made by the country in protecting child’s rights and combating child’s labor.

The decision was made by the Governing Body of the ILO during its 353rd session convening in Geneva. The Global Conference on the Elimination of Child Labor, scheduled in Morocco in the second quarter of 2026, will be an opportunity for follow-up to the outcomes of the Second World Summit for Social Development, to be held in November 2025, in relation to child labor and its root causes.

The Conference will also play a central role in shaping a collective response to the non-attainment of target 8.7 of the SDGs on eliminating child labor by 2025; and provide inputs to post-2030 processes.

The event will reinforce the commitment of all stakeholders to accelerate the fight against child labor and foster coherent national, regional and global efforts.

Morocco has made major strides in the fight against child’s labor. It has established mechanisms to ensure the respect of international conventions prohibiting child’s labor and protecting children against economic exploitation and hazardous work harmful to their health and development.

Representatives from several countries or geographical groups, including the United States, the European Union, the Arab and African groups, and Brazil, welcomed the choice of Morocco to host this major global event, praising the Kingdom’s commitment to promoting and protecting human rights, in particular children’s rights.

Speakers also called on the ILO to cooperate closely with Morocco in all aspects to ensure the success of this international meeting.

Following the decision announcement, Morocco expressed, its pride in hosting the Conference, a global event that clearly confirms the Kingdom’s irreversible choices to protect and promote human rights.

The 6th Conference will provide an appropriate platform for exchanging best practices aimed at combating the various forms of child labor but also for making the voice and priorities of the African continent and the Arab world heard in this area, the Moroccan delegation to 353rd session of the ILO Governing Body said.

As a pioneer of the 8.7 alliance for the eradication of child labor, Morocco sees this 6th Global Conference as an ideal framework for assessing the progress made and directing the efforts needed to catch up, particularly with regard to achieving MDG 8.7. It is also a crucial moment for mobilizing the resources needed to combat child labor.

Morocco has implemented significant measures to eliminate child labor by adopting a national roadmap in this area by 2030, based on an action plan with three strategic axes, namely speeding up the prevention of child labor by combating poverty and dropping out of school; encouraging children to acquire vocational skills; and providing information and raising awareness.