World News in Brief: Call for action against child labour, ICC Prosecutor suspended, WFP raises awareness in Egypt

Ahead of World Day Against Child Labour on 12 June, the UN is urging governments and communities to accelerate efforts to end a crisis that still affects millions of children worldwide.

Today, nearly 138 million children remain trapped in child labour globally, including 54 million engaged in hazardous work that threatens their health, safety and development.

“This is unacceptable – we must accelerate action,” said Gilbert F. Houngbo, Director-General of the International Labour Organization, ILO, in a video message.

He called for renewed global commitment through expanded access to decent work, education, social protection and stronger legal safeguards.

Ensuring progress

This year’s theme, Red Card to Child Labour: Fair play for children, decent work for adults, highlights the need to ensure every child can learn, play and grow up in a safe environment.

The recently adopted Marrakech Global Framework for Action against Child Labour aims to provide a roadmap to reach that goal, focusing on decent jobs for parents, universal access to quality education, stronger social protection systems and reinforced laws and institutions.

For the first time, the framework also introduces measurable indicators and an accountability mechanism designed to track implementation and maintain momentum, beyond the 2030 target date.

“Together, let us act with urgency and determination to end child labour,” Mr. Houngbo urged.

ICC chief prosecutor suspended as investigations into sexual misconduct continue

The International Criminal Court’s Prosecutor Karim Khan has been suspended “with immediate effect” following an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct made against him.

In a statement on Tuesday, the ICC President’s office confirmed the decision of its executive committee to refer the disciplinary proceedings against the prosecutor to the court’s 125 Member States, pending a final decision.

Mr. Khan has repeatedly denied the allegations, which first emerged in 2024 when multiple allegations relating to a female colleague at the Hague were reported, involving the prominent British lawyer.

The ICC's governing body will send the conclusion reached by its internal investigation on to members, who will decide Mr. Khan’s future in a special session convened at a later date. The body also stressed the suspension does not prejudge the outcome of the case.

“Fostering the dignity, rights and aspirations of the court’s personnel are key priorities of the court’s leadership,” the President’s office said.

The International Criminal Court is an independent judicial body established under the Rome Statute, adopted in 1998 and in force since 2002. Although not part of the United Nations, the ICC works closely with it under a cooperative framework to investigate and prosecute most serious crimes.

WFP brings food security to the big screen in Egypt

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) is turning cinema screens across Egypt into a platform for raising awareness about hunger and food security through a new campaign titled Not My Day.

Ahead of movie showings nationwide, the campaign uses storytelling to spotlight the frequently overlooked role food security plays in shaping everyday life.

Developed in partnership with the Union of Video and Filmmakers and creative production hub Tayarah, the promotional video reaches audiences in cinemas across the country.

Running across 46 cinema screens until 17 June, the campaign comes at a time when funding shortages continue to threaten critical food assistance programmes.

Familiar faces

The campaign features well-known Egyptian public figures, including actor Ahmed Magdy, iEvents founder Amr Mansi, chef and culinary academy founder Mona El Banna, award-winning chef Mostafa Seif and chef Peri Saleh.

Each appears to describe their own daily routines, before audiences discover they are instead telling the real experiences of people supported by WFP in Egypt.

By placing familiar voices behind stories of food insecurity, the campaign highlights how access to food underpins dignity, stability and opportunity.

Through the campaign, the agency is “engaging new audiences in a conversation about food security in a way never done before,” said Rawad Halabi, WFP Country Director and Representative in Egypt.

• World News in Brief