Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2014, published 104th ILC session (2015)

Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) - Ethiopia (Ratification: 2003)

Articles 3(a) and 7(1) of the Convention. Sale and trafficking of children and penalties. The Committee previously noted that, according to the UNICEF data, Ethiopia is one of the top ten countries of origin for children trafficked from Africa, and that every year thousands of women and girls are reported to be trafficked from Ethiopia to the Middle East. It also noted that, according to the information from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), poverty stricken Ethiopians sell their children for as little as US$1.2 to traffickers for use in prostitution, domestic work, or as weavers and professional beggars.

The Committee notes with regret that the Government’s report provides no new information concerning its efforts to protect children from becoming victims of trafficking, particularly internal trafficking, and of commercial sexual exploitation. Nevertheless, the Committee notes the information provided by the Government in its fifth and sixth periodic country report (2009–13) on the implementation of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, in April 2014 (pages 94–95), concerning a national task force which has been established to combat trafficking, particularly in women and children, and which has coordinated a campaign against trafficking in persons at all levels. The Government also reported that an action plan on trafficking has been adopted in cooperation with the IOM, the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and the Ministry of Education, and that it is implementing a strategy to combat the selling and exploitation of children. In addition, the Committee notes the Government’s participation in the project entitled “Ethiopians Fighting against Child Exploitation” (2011–15) (E-FACE), which aims to combat the engagement of children aged five to 17 years in hazardous sectors and areas. The Committee notes that, according to the Interim Evaluation of the E-FACE (pages 23, 24 and 45), various Government agencies have undertaken training activities on child labour and trafficking issues.

The Committee notes the Government’s indication in its report that training on child trafficking has been carried out with 150 border security guards, and a special prosecutors group has been established in Addis Ababa to cover the issues of violence and exploitation of children. The Government indicates that around 6,750 disadvantaged children have been rehabilitated and provided with support services and, while exact information is not available, this figure includes trafficked children. Finally, the Committee notes that, according to the Interim Evaluation (page 45), 305 labour inspectors were trained under the E-FACE programme on the special guidelines on trafficking issues. The Committee requests the Government to continue to strengthen its measures to protect children from becoming victims of commercial sexual exploitation and trafficking for that purpose. The Committee also requests the Government to continue implementing measures, including within the framework of the E FACE project, to ensure that thorough investigations and robust prosecutions of offenders are carried out. It requests the Government to provide information on the progress made in this regard, as well as on the number of investigations, prosecutions, convictions and penal sanctions applied. Finally, it requests the Government to transmit a copy of the guidelines for labour inspectors that were developed pursuant to the E-FACE project.

Article 7(2)(d). Effective and time-bound measures. Identifying and reaching out to children at special risk. Child victims/orphans of HIV/AIDS and other vulnerable children (OVCs). The Committee previously noted the Government’s Orphan and Vulnerable Children programme with the involvement of relevant government bodies, NGOs and the community, as well as its small-scale OVC care and support activities throughout the country. However, it further noted that there were approximately 2,300,000 OVC’s in the country and that coordination and harmonization of OVC activities was not strong.

The Committee notes that the Government has provided no further information concerning the execution of the Orphan and Vulnerable Children programme. Instead, the Government makes reference to the national plan of action to eliminate the worst forms of child labour (2013–15) (NPA), which, it indicates, provides for different strategic approaches in a holistic and integrated manner. The Government states that, because the NPA has only been implemented for one year, it is too early to report on the results of these measures. Recalling that OVCs are at an increased risk of being engaged in the worst forms of child labour, the Committee urges the Government to continue to strengthen its efforts, within the framework of the NPA and Orphan and Vulnerable Children programme, to ensure that children orphaned by HIV/AIDS and other vulnerable children are protected from these worst forms. The Committee also requests it to forward any information on the results of the NPA on protecting children orphaned by HIV/AIDS, to which it refers in its report, once they are available.

The Committee is raising other matters in a request addressed directly to the Government.