Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2017, published 107th ILC session (2018)

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

The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It is therefore bound to repeat its previous comments initially made in 2014.

Repetition

Article 4(1) of the Convention. Determination of hazardous work. The Committee previously noted the Government’s statement that the Tripartite Labour Advisory Board had prepared a draft list of hazardous types of work which was being circulated to the relevant ministries for their endorsement. The Committee accordingly urged the Government to pursue its efforts to ensure the adoption, in the near future, of the list determining the types of hazardous work prohibited to persons under 18 years of age.

The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the list of types of hazardous work prohibited to young persons has not yet been finalized. The Committee expresses the firm hope that the list, determining the types of hazardous work prohibited to children under 18 years of age, will be adopted in the very near future. It requests the Government to provide a copy of this list once it has been adopted.

Article 7(2). Effective and time-bound measures. Clause (b). Direct assistance for the removal of children from the worst forms of child labour. Child victims of commercial sexual exploitation. In its previous comments, the Committee noted the Government’s statement that prevention and withdrawal efforts related to child commercial sexual exploitation were ongoing, and that the two implementing agencies, namely Humana People to People and Childline Botswana, have been engaged to work in this area. The Committee requested the Government to strengthen its efforts, in collaboration with the ILO–IPEC, to provide the necessary and appropriate direct assistance for the removal of child victims of commercial sexual exploitation, and to ensure their rehabilitation and social integration.

The Committee notes the Government’s statement that children engaged in commercial sexual exploitation are identified as children in need of protection under the Children’s Act of 2009. It also notes that, according to section 54 of the Children’s Act, the Minister shall develop programmes and rehabilitative measures, including community-based counselling and other forms of psychological support to reintegrate abused or exploited children. The Committee requests the Government to take effective and time-bound measures to remove children engaged in commercial sexual exploitation, and to provide the necessary and appropriate direct assistance to children and young persons who have been victims of this worst form of child labour, pursuant to section 54 of the Children’s Act. It also requests the Government to provide information on the number of child victims of commercial sexual exploitation who have been effectively removed, rehabilitated and socially reintegrated as a result of the measures implemented.

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

The Committee hopes that the Government will make every effort to take the necessary action in the near future.