Towards the first generation free of child labour

An integrated and interdependent analysis of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in relation to Target 8.7

10. Reduced inequalities

The international community has made significant strides towards lifting people out of poverty. The most vulnerable nations – the least developed countries, the landlocked developing countries and the small island developing states – continue to make inroads into poverty reduction. However, inequality still persists and large disparities remain in access to health and education services and other assets.

Additionally, while income inequality between countries may have been reduced, inequality within countries has risen. There is growing consensus that economic growth is not sufficient to reduce poverty if it is not inclusive and if it does not involve the three dimensions of sustainable development – economic, social and environmental. To reduce inequality, policies should be universal in principle paying attention to the needs of disadvantaged and marginalized populations.

Facilitate orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility of people, including through the implementation of planned and well-managed migration policies. The relationship between migration and child labour is an under-explored but yet growing area of interest. The limited information that is currently available, confirms the links between the two, particularly, the risks children and adolescents are exposed to when they migrate without the necessary protection. The most worrying cases are those of unaccompanied migrant minors and when the labour markets in the countries of origin and destination experience strong shocks. In 2013, the number of migrants in the world exceeded 231.5 million people: just over 61.5 million were in the Americas, of whom nearly 7 million were under the age of 19.