Battling child labor

Child labor is on the decline, according to the International Labor Organization. But more than one in 10 children between 5 and 17 are still forced to work, often at risk to their health, safety and moral development.

Globally, the number of child laborers dropped to 168 million from 215 million between 2000 and 2012, according to a new study by the ILO. Even in the Asia-Pacific region, which has more child laborers than any other, their numbers dropped to 78 million last year from 114 million in 2008.

The ILO warns, however, that the reduction of child labor is not going fast enough and that more action is needed,

Activists, too, say that protecting children from hazardous work and long hours remains a major challenge, especially in poor regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa, where parents are still heavily reliant on the income they get from sending their children to work.

DW looks at the progress made in curbing child labor and the many challenges that remain.