The annual World Day against Child labour on June 12 will this year put the spotlight on the need for urgent national and international steps to accelerate action against child labour, according to a press release from the International Labour Organization (ILO).

Coinciding with the opening of the football world cup, the theme for this years World Day is “Go for the goal-end child labour”. The goal of eliminating the worst forms of child labour by 2016 was the major focus of a recent Global Conference against Child Labour held in The Hague.

On June 11, the ILO’s recently launched Global Report on Child Labour will be discussed in the International Labour Conference which is presently meeting in Geneva. Following an introduction by the ILO Director-General a panel of government, employers and workers spokespersons will discuss the report’s findings prior to a general discussion of the report.

World Day events will be held in more than 60 countries. Events around the world will involve governments, employers and workers, other UN organizations and non-governmental organizations, high level panels, media events, awareness raising campaigns, cultural performances and other public events. In keeping with the theme for the Day, many events will have a football focus.

For more information on World Day events, reports, background and other materials, see http://www.ilo.org/ipec/Campaignandadvocacy/WDACL/WorldDay2010/lang--en/index.htm.