“Thanks to this Royal Vision, far-reaching reforms have been launched, particularly in the areas of social protection, access to education and the promotion of children’s rights,” Mr. Houngbo said during a joint press conference with the Minister of Economic Inclusion, Small Business, Employment and Skills, Younes Sekkouri, held on the sidelines of the 6th Global Conference on the Elimination of Child Labour, which is continuing in the Red City until February 13.
On this occasion, Mr. Houngbo paid special tribute to Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Meryem, President of the National Observatory for Children’s Rights, for her constant commitment to protecting children’s rights and improving their well-being.
In this context, the UN official underlined that Morocco’s Children’s Parliament also represents a remarkable initiative capable of contributing to the promotion of children’s rights and the strengthening of their participation in public life. He welcomed Morocco’s continued commitment to reinforcing social protection systems, which play an essential role in preventing child labour and protecting families in vulnerable situations.
Moreover, he observed that the progress achieved worldwide in the protection of children’s rights has been made possible through sustained collective efforts, strengthened public policies and the ongoing mobilization of all stakeholders.
“Despite these advances, new challenges are emerging, particularly in a context marked by profound transformations, including the rapid development of new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, which has radically transformed our societies and economies,” he added.
He also pointed out that not all regions of the world are advancing at the same pace in eliminating child labour, noting that some continents have made significant progress, while others continue to face major challenges.
In this context, Mr. Houngbo stressed the importance of social dialogue, consultation and cooperation among the various stakeholders in order to design effective and sustainable policies, calling for continued investment in inclusive, high-quality education systems.
Held under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, this meeting will make it possible to assess the progress achieved and the challenges that remain since the 5th Global Conference held in Durban in 2022, and to strengthen peer learning, international cooperation and policy coherence at the national, regional and global levels.
Organized by the Ministry of Economic Inclusion, Small Business, Employment and Skills in partnership with the International Labour Organization, this major international conference also aims to highlight the links between the elimination of child labour and other fundamental principles and rights at work, to give new momentum to action in support of fundamental principles and rights at work, and to encourage new commitments in this regard, notably through the Global Coalition for Social Justice.
Editorial team/le7tv