Stakeholders Call for Global Action Toward “Child Labour Free World” at the UN High Level Political Forum

From left: Tim Ryan (Global March), Yuka Iwatsuki (ACE), Esther Ofori Agyemang (Ghana Ministry of Labour), Reid Maki (Child Labor Coalition), Jacqueline Aguilar (Former child labourer), Daniel Magalhaes (Tony’s Chocolonely)

2025 is the target year for ending all forms of child labour stated in SDG Target 8.7. In the light of this important year, Action against Child Exploitation (ACE) has organized an official off-site side event of the United Nations High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on July 16th at the UN Plaza Conference room in New York City.

The HLPF serves as a global platform for UN Member States, international organizations, and civil society to review and discuss progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Forum conducts in-depth reviews of progress on the SDGs every year, and this year, Goal 8 — which includes the target on child labour — is one of the goals under in-depth review. The HLPF also provides opportunities for each country to report their Voluntary National Review (VNR). Japan is one of the 38 countries reporting this year.

Among the 17 goals, SDG Target 8.7 stands out for having a 2025 target—five years earlier than most other goals—emphasizing its critical role in breaking the cycle of poverty. According to the latest global estimates released in June, 138 million children are still engaged in child labour. Amid growing calls for public awareness and stronger commitments from governments, this dialogue marked an important step forward in mobilizing international momentum.

“Dialogue on SDG Target 8.7 to End Child Labour by 2025: How can we achieve a child labour-free world?"

Date: Wednesday, July 16, 2025

Time: 13:15–14:30 (EDT)

Venue: 777 United Nations Plaza, 8th Floor, New York

Co-organizers:

• Action against Child Exploitation (ACE)

• Global March Against Child Labour

• Government of Ghana

• Child Labor Coalition

Supported by:

• U.S.-Japan Foundation, Peace Boat US

Format: Hybrid (in-person & online)

Language: English

At the event, in addition to Ms. Yuka Iwatsuki, President of ACE, speakers included Chairperson of Global March against Child Labour, the Government of Ghana, the private sector, such as Tony’s Chocolonely, American NGO, the Child Labor Coalition, and a former child labourer in the agricultural sector. The event began with an explanation of its purpose and an overview of safeguarding policy of children and youth. Through the active discussions and Q&As moderated by Tim Ryan, the Chairperson of Global March against Child Labour, we were able to reaffirm our commitment to further efforts toward achieving a child labour-free world.

The recording of this event is available at the following URL:

https://youtu.be/9_3E_hnmA3s?si=nDVdszVxBlcZd9-B

The notable remarks made by the speakers are as follows:

Keynote address (Video message)

Ambassador Claudia Fuentes Julio Chair of Alliance 8.7

“The new global estimates (2024) show that the number of children in child labour has decreased from 160 million (2020) to 138 million children (2024). While we are now back on a path of progress, the world has missed the goal under SDG Target 8.7 to end child labour by 2025. Alliance 8.7, the global partnership working to eradicate forced labour, modern slavery, human trafficking and child labour, is a unique initiative within the UN landscape, uniting stakeholders in efforts to accelerate action towards achieving SDG Target 8.7. Together we can continue to accelerate progress in addressing child labour and uphold every child's right to be free from it.”

Esther Ofori Agyemang

Head of Child Labour Unit, Labour Department, Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment, Government of Ghana

“In 2018, Ghana launched a national vision to eliminate child labour by 2025, focusing on protecting children's rights and ensuring they stay in school. The government, in collaboration with partners like ILO, JICA, and ACE introduced the “Child Labour Free Zone” mechanism using integrated, area-based approach. This framework strengthens existing community systems, avoids siloes, project-based efforts, and promotes sustainable, coordinated action. It aims for Ghana to become the first African country to officially declare Child Labour Free Zones by 2025.”

Yuka Iwatsuki

President, ACE (Action against Child Exploitation)

“The organization was recognized with the Japan SDG Award in 2023 for its efforts. Through the “Happy Chocolate Project” and “SMILE Ghana” projects, we address child labour in cocoa farming areas by promoting education, household income, and community capacity. We helped develop guidelines for Child Labour Free Zones in Ghana, collaborating with the government, Deloitte, and JICA. In Japan, we work with chocolate companies to improve sustainable procurement practices and raise public awareness.”

Daniel Magalhaes

US Account Manager, Tony's Open Chain, Tony’s Chocolonley

"Tony’s Open Chain is a responsible cocoa sourcing model built on five sourcing principles, including traceability and long-term relationships. Our child labour monitoring and remediation system (CLMRS) is trust-based, centered on open dialogue and community empowerment, not enforcement. We have 100% CLMRS coverage across all sourcing households in the Tony’s Open Chain network, representing over 50,000 children in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire. The model gives companies, who we call Mission Allies, a way to source cocoa from the same cooperatives where our principles are at work. In addition, Tony’s Open Chain collaborates with governments, civil society, and NGOs to help strengthen the broader cocoa ecosystem."

Reid Maki

Coordinator of the Child Labor Coalition

“The Child Labor Coalition, led by the National Consumers League, advocates for stronger child labour law, especially in agriculture, where children as young as 12 face hazardous conditions. Children working in tobacco farms face severe health risks from nicotine poisoning, pesticides, and heat, and the U.S. hasn’t ratified ILO Convention 138. Recent years have seen a surge in hazardous child labour in sectors like meatpacking and manufacturing. The termination of U.S. Department of Labor (ILAB) international grants is a major setback in global efforts to combat child labour.”

Jacqueline Aguilar

Former Child Labourer in agriculture

“I am a child labour survivor and first-generation college graduate, and I began working in U.S. agriculture at age 11 because of financial necessity. I worked under grueling conditions in the fields—long hours, physical pain, no breaks, and exposure to extreme weather and harmful chemicals. My family suffered too: my father developed lung cancer and my mother was disabled from years of farm labour. I juggled school with harvesting potatoes to support my family, experiencing exhaustion, isolation, and the loss of a normal childhood. Child labour still exists in the U.S. and urges action so no child must choose between survival and their dreams.”

(Concluding remarks)

Tim Ryan

Chairperson, Global March Against Child Labour

“Child labour is a warning sign of broader labour abuses and is linked to poor family livelihoods and adult labour conditions. Upholding ILO Conventions 87 and 98 is essential, as adult workers need rights to advocate for their children’s education. Civil society and unions are key to tackling child labour, but shrinking political space threatens their effectiveness. Successful models like Child Labour Free Zones rely on strong NGO and CSO engagement and support. Despite past progress, renewed commitment, resources, and collaboration are urgently needed to eliminate child labour by 2030.”

Comment by Yuka Iwatsuki, President of ACE, on Hosting the Event and Participating in the UN High Level Political Forum (HLPF) 2025

It was disappointing that, despite 2025 being the target year for the elimination of child labour and Goal 8 being one of the goals under in-depth review at this year’s High-Level Political Forum, there were no sessions specifically dedicated to child labour other than our side event. Even during the Goal 8 review session, the panel discussion made no mention of child labour, and among more than 25 countries that made statements, only four referred to the issue. In order to have governments around the world once again recognize child labour as a critical global challenge under the SDGs, I felt strongly that ACE must continue to engage in global-level efforts, including organizing side events like this one.

In addition, regarding the preparation of Japan’s Voluntary National Review (VNR) this time, civil society—led by the Japan Civil Society Network on SDGs—provided substantial input and engaged in dialogue. At the United Nations, each country’s VNR presentation is limited to 10 minutes, and many countries opt to use videos or presentations by government representatives. In contrast, Japan included participation not only from State Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Miyaji but also from representatives of civil society, such as Ms. Yuriko Oda, Founder and CEO of the NPO, WheeLog, thereby demonstrating diverse participation including voices of those directly affected. This is something I would like to highly commend. Furthermore, in response to questions, the Director of the responsible division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed gratitude to civil society organizations, which reflected the accumulation of meaningful dialogue over time.

About ACE (Action against Child Exploitation)

ACE is a non-governmental organization (NGO) dedicated to protecting children's rights and eliminating and preventing child labour. In Ghana’s cocoa-producing regions, ACE works to protect children from hazardous labour, while in Japan it raises awareness of child labour issues and advocates to the governments of Japan and Ghana as well as to Japanese chocolate companies.

ACE was founded in 1997 by five university students to organize the Japan leg of the "Global March Against Child Labour," a worldwide campaign held in 103 countries in 1998 at the call of Indian human rights activist Kailash Satyarthi, recipient of the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize. In March 2023, ACE became the first international NGO to receive the SDGs Promotion Headquarters Chief’s Award (Prime Minister’s Award) at the 6th Japan SDGs Awards.