11 June 2026

On the occasion of the World Day Against Child Labor on June 12, the Arab Council for Childhood and Development in Egypt (ACCD), the Arab Gulf Programme for Development (AGFUND), the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States, and the Arab Labor Organization issued a press statement emphasizing that “the elimination of child labor represents a firm moral and developmental commitment, a true test of the seriousness of development policies, the fairness of social systems, and the capacity of societies to safeguard childhood in an era marked by growing circles of poverty, conflict, and vulnerability”.

The organizations explained that the observance of the occasion during the current year takes on a special significance “in light of the growing challenges that impede the achievement of the global target of ending child labor”, noting that “concerns over the expansion of the phenomenon of child labor amid escalating and compounded crises are intensifying across the Arab region”.

Furthermore, the statement accorded special importance to the suffering of “children in occupied Palestine, particularly in the Gaza Strip, as a result of the war of genocide waged by the occupation”, pointing out that “the children of Palestine face a daily threat to their right to life, in addition to the loss of social protection, disruption of education, and exposure to exploitation and hazardous work”.

The statement highlighted a number of strategic priorities, most notably “expanding comprehensive and shock-responsive social protection systems, ensuring integrated protection for children, activating and enforcing national legislation in line with Arab and international standards, and enhancing multi-stakeholder partnerships, among other strategies”.

You can access the full statement here.