In parallel with the launch of the FAO-ILO E-Learning Course ‘End Child Labour in Agriculture’, the 105th ILO International Labour Conference convened a High-Level panel discussion on the theme “End Child Labour In Supply Chains - It’s Everyone’s Business,” moderated by Nomia Iqbal, from BBC, with the following panellists, Guy Ryder, Director-General of the ILO, MaryAnn Mihychuk, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour of Canada, Jacqueline Mugo, Executive Director of the Federation of Kenya Employers and Secretary General of Business Africa, Philip Jennings, General Secretary of UNI Global Union, Katherine Stewart, Director of Primark’s Ethical Trade and Sustainability Division, Andrews Tagoe, Head of Program for the General Agricultural Workers Union of Ghana and Jorge Triaca, Argentina’s Minster of Labour, Employment and Social Security.

The Officer-in-Charge of the FAO Office in Geneva, Ms. Sandra Aviles, made an intervention highlighting the need for FAO-ILO coordinated action, as 60% of children in child labour work in agriculture - a serious obstacle to eliminate rural poverty and hunger. She stated that children in rural areas have a right to grow up healthy and access quality education to become agricultural leaders, entrepreneurs and innovators of tomorrow. As the ILO’s Director-General Guy Ryder noted, inclusive social protection programmes will be key in reducing child labour. FAO and ILO have worked together through the International Partnership for Collaboration on Child Labour in Agriculture to develop a newly launched e-learning programme to strengthen capacities to end child labour in agriculture.