Child labour, especially in its worst forms, is in decline for the first time across the globe, the International Labour Organization (ILO) said today, in a new, cautiously optimistic report. The ILO report also says that if the current pace of the decline were to be maintained and the global momentum to stop child labour continued, it believes child labour could feasibly be eliminated, in most of its worst forms, in 10 years. "The end of child labour is within our reach", says Juan Somavia, Director-General of the ILO. "Though the fight against child labour remains a daunting challenge, we are on the right track. We can end its worst forms in a decade, while not losing sight of the ultimate goal of ending all child labour." The new report says the actual number of child labourers worldwide fell by 11 per cent between 2000 and 2004, from 246 million to 218 million.