Marrakech became the focus of renewed efforts to end child labor Wednesday as delegates at the 6th Global Conference on the Elimination of Child Labor raised red cards in protest of child exploitation.

The gesture marked the opening of the 6th Global Conference on the Elimination of Child Labor under the patronage of King Mohammed VI, bringing together governments, international organizations, unions and business leaders to accelerate action toward eliminating child labor by 2030.

Nearly 138 million children ages 5 to 17 remain in child labor worldwide, or about one in 10 children, according to the latest estimates. The figure is down from 160 million in 2020 but still misses the United Nations target to eliminate child labor by 2025.

Of those affected, 54 million children are engaged in hazardous work that threatens their health, safety or morals. Africa remains the hardest-hit region, with 87 million children in child labor. Agriculture accounts for 61% of cases globally.

“At the 6th Global Conference in Marrakech, we face a clear reality. Child labor has fallen from 160 million to 138 million since 2020, but 138 million children are still denied their childhood,” International Labour Organization Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo said. He called for greater investment in education, social protection and decent work for adults.

The conference in Marrakech, Morocco, builds on the Durban Call to Action and aims to strengthen commitments, mobilize resources and protect the most vulnerable children.

According to the organizers, discussions will focus on expanding access to education, boosting rural development and creating sustainable jobs to address the root causes of child labor.

Unions and advocacy groups are pressing for a binding roadmap with clear benchmarks, warning that progress remains too slow to meet global goals. The conference runs through Feb. 13 in the Moroccan city often referred to as the Red City.

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