At a time when global development agendas are accelerating, more than 138 million children worldwide remain trapped in child labor, deprived of their right to education and play. On Wednesday, the 6th Global Conference on the Elimination of Child Labor opened in Marrakech, Morocco, with the participation of representatives from 187 countries, marking a key step in translating the Durban Call to Action into concrete operational plans.
The conference delivered an urgent message: 54 million children are engaged in hazardous work that threatens their health and safety. Africa remains the most affected region, with 87 million working children, while the agricultural sector accounts for 61% of total child labor worldwide. Participants emphasized these figures require moving beyond rhetoric toward practical solutions rooted in expanding access to education and strengthening social protection systems.
Active Syrian Participation
Syria took part in the conference through a delegation from the General Federation of Trade Unions, headed by Fawaz al-Ahmad. In his address, Ahmad described child labor as “a deep wound in the body of justice and decent work,” stressing that protecting children is not a humanitarian luxury but a shared national responsibility. He added that any development built on the exploitation of children remains inherently fragile.
The Syrian delegation outlined what it described as a practical vision to address the issue. Ahmad called for empowering trade unions to serve as essential partners in shaping national labor market policies and drafting legislation aimed at combating child labor. He emphasized activating social dialogue among governments, employers and unions as a primary mechanism for achieving sustainable solutions.
Strengthening Social Protection and Adhering to International Conventions
Ahmad highlighted two main pillars for confronting the problem: strengthening social protection networks for low-income families and securing decent work opportunities for household breadwinners, while intensifying labor inspections in the informal sector, which often conceals child labor practices.
He described education as “the most important investment for every child,” urging that it be treated as a top national priority. He also called for adherence to International Labor Organization Convention No. 138 on the minimum age for employment.
The three-day conference, hosted by the International Labor Organization (ILO), is expected to focus on translating political commitments into actionable roadmaps, particularly by addressing the structural causes of child labor. Organizers described the gathering as a test of the international community’s ability to eliminate child exploitation through regional cooperation and inclusive national strategies.
