Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2016, published 106th ILC session (2017)

Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) - Romania (Ratification: 2000)

Article 6 of the Convention. Programmes of action to eliminate the worst forms of child labour. Child trafficking. In its previous comments, the Committee noted the Government’s indication that the increased mobility of criminal groups and a more organized structure in their hierarchy have led to an increase in the number of identified victims of trafficking, including child victims, at the national level in 2010, as compared with that of 2009. The Committee also noted that, the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) expressed concern at the large number of sexually exploited child victims of international and internal trafficking, and the criminalization of trafficked girl victims of sexual exploitation in some cases. The Committee further noted that, several projects were implemented in order to combat child trafficking, including the project to reduce child trafficking by increasing police law enforcement efficiency in the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA) and the project “REVENI – Transnational monitoring on the repatriation procedures of Romanian and Bulgarian child citizens” conducted in 2010–12. The Committee requested the Government to pursue its efforts to combat the trafficking of children under 18 years of age for sexual and labour exploitation, and to provide information on the progress achieved.

The Committee notes the absence of information in the Government’s report on this point. However, the Committee notes that the National Strategy against Trafficking in Persons was adopted for the period 2012–16, and the National Agency against Trafficking in Persons (NATIP) was established in 2012 by Order No. 220 of the Ministry of Interior. According to the statistics of the NATIP, in 2015, 880 victims of trafficking were identified; among them 498 persons were victims of sexual exploitation, 180 persons were involved in labour exploitation and the remaining victims were trafficked for other purposes. Moreover, among 316 child victims, 267 children have received assistance. In 2014, 290 child victims were identified, of which 206 children have received assistance. The Committee also notes that, the NATIP is implementing several projects, including the project “Support to NGOs in Romania for direct assistance to victims of trafficking” (2015–18) based on the Framework Agreement with the Swiss Government and the Trace Project (Trafficking as a Criminal Enterprise) in 2014–16 financed by the European Union. The Committee therefore encourages the Government to continue its efforts to combat the trafficking of children under 18 years of age for sexual and labour exploitation and to provide information on the progress achieved.

Clause (d). Identifying and reaching out to children at special risk. Roma and street children. In its previous comments, the Committee noted that, according to the Report of the Special Rapporteur, some children, mostly Roma, were involved in street begging, washing cars at dangerous intersections, loading and unloading heavy merchandise, or collecting waste products such as scrap iron, glass or paper, as well as in agriculture, including animal farming, and the construction sector. The Committee also noted that the CRC, while noting the reported decrease in the number of children living on the streets, was concerned that many street children had to work for their sustenance, and said that the majority do not go to school and lack birth certificates. In this regard, the Committee noted that the Mission Report of the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery indicated that the Government had recognized the issue of undocumented children who live on the streets and gave them temporary identification documents which allowed them to go to school and have access to health services. However, there were still cases of children deprived of identity documents, mainly among the category of street children and the Roma ethnic group. The Committee also noted the Government’s information that the project entitled “Street Children Initiative” was implemented until December 2011, the results of which include the creation of nine shelters and five emergency centres with a capacity of 15 children per centre, and the training of 132 professionals. The Government indicated that, in 2012, 226 children were found living on the streets with their families, 236 children were found living on the street without their families, and 291 street children were found working. Moreover, 1,748 services were provided to street children, including shelter and day care centres. In addition, 1,723 children were withdrawn from the streets and street work.

The Committee notes the Government’s information in its report that the National Agency for the Protection of Rights of Children and Adoptions (NAPRCA) monitors the situation of street children, and that the National Strategy for the Protection and Promotion of Child Rights (2014–20) provides for special measures targeting street children. Moreover, with the financial support from UNICEF and in partnership with NAPRCA, the Parada Foundation has been implementing a project regarding the assistance and intervention provided for street children since 2015. Recalling that street children are particularly exposed to the worst forms of child labour, the Committee encourages the Government to continue its efforts to protect children living and working on the streets, in particular Roma children, from the worst forms of child labour and to provide for their rehabilitation and social integration. It requests the Government to continue providing information on the measures taken and the results achieved in this regard.