Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2018, published 108th ILC session (2019)

Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) - Côte d'Ivoire (Ratification: 2003)

Articles 3(a) and 7(1) of the Convention. Sale and trafficking of children and penalties. In its previous comments, the Committee noted Act No. 2010-272 of 30 September 2010 prohibiting trafficking and the worst forms of child labour. It noted that, within the context of the strategic component of the National Plan of Action 2012–14 to combat child trafficking, exploitation and labour (NPA), equipment and vehicles have been supplied to the sub-directorate of the criminal police responsible for combating trafficking, exploitation and juvenile delinquency, and to two police brigades. It also noted that a number of child traffickers had been arrested and convicted.

The Committee notes the Government’s indication in its report that the institutional framework for action to combat trafficking has been reinforced through the establishment, among other measures, of: (i) a brigade to combat juvenile delinquency and the trafficking of children; and (ii) a child labour observation and monitoring system.

The Committee notes that, according to the Government, 25 investigations have been carried out into cases of the trafficking of children, resulting in 17 convictions, including two cases of custodial prison sentences for ten years and two other cases for five years. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing information on the effect given in practice to Act No. 2010 272 of 30 September 2010 prohibiting the trafficking of children and the worst forms of child labour. It also requests the Government to provide statistical data on the number and nature of the violations reported, investigations, convictions and penal sanctions in cases relating to the trafficking of children.

Article 5. Monitoring mechanisms. In its previous comments, the Committee noted the establishment in 2011 of the two following committees: (i) the Inter-Ministerial Committee against the Trafficking and Exploitation of Children and Child Labour (CIM); and (ii) the National Monitoring Committee of Action to Combat Child Trafficking, Exploitation and Labour (CNS).

The Committee notes that, in accordance with the National Plan of Action to Combat the Worst Forms of Child Labour 2015–17 (PAN-PFTE 2015–17), the CNS is reinforced by the creation at the village community, sub-prefectural and prefectural levels of local committees to combat the worst forms of child labour. In total, some 698 local committees to combat the worst forms of child labour have been established since 2004. The Committee once again requests the Government to provide information on the activities of the CIM and the CNS to ensure the follow-up of the measures taken to give effect to the Convention through the policies and programmes adopted, and the results achieved.

Article 6. Programmes of action and application of the Convention in practice. PAN-PFTE 2015–17. The Committee notes the PAN-PFTE 2015–17. It notes that this Plan of Action revises the National Plan of Action 2012–14 to combat child trafficking, exploitation and labour, which focused in particular on: (i) the training of personnel responsible for the enforcement of the legislation on combating the trafficking of children, with the training of 50 magistrates, 36 labour inspectors and 121 police officers; (ii) the removal and provision of assistance to 4,042 child victims of trafficking; and (iii) the conclusion of a cooperation agreement between Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso on action to combat trans-border trafficking. The Committee also notes that the PAN-PFTE 2015–17 focuses on four strategic components: (i) prevention; (ii) protection and assistance for victims; (iii) repression; and (iv) coordination and monitoring evaluation. The Committee further notes that a number of results are expected by the end of 2017, and particularly a reduction of 20 per cent in the numbers of child victims of the worst forms of child labour. The Committee requests the Government to indicate the measures taken within the context of the PAN PFTE 2015–17 to combat the worst forms of child labour. It requests the Government to provide information on the results achieved in relation to the number of children removed from the worst forms of child labour, and particularly child victims of trafficking.

Article 7(2). Effective and time-bound measures. 1. Clause (a). Preventing children from being engaged in and removing them from the worst forms of child labour. Access to free basic education. The Committee notes the Sectoral Education/Training Plan 2015–25. According to the Sectoral Plan, the population of school age between 3 and 23 years of age rose from 8.7 to 12.7 million between 2000 and 2012, and is expected to rise to 14.7 million children and young persons by 2025. Moreover, according to the Sectoral Plan, analysis also indicates that, at the primary level, the gross school enrolment rate rose from 70 per cent in 2007 to 94 per cent in 2014, and then to 101 per cent in 2016, following 20 years of stagnation. The gross rate of access to the first year also improved by 30 percentage points, rising from 64 to 94 per cent between 2007 and 2014, and then to 113 per cent in 2016. The Committee observes that, according to the Sectoral Plan, this improvement in the school attendance rate has resulted at the practical level in action to increase supply (the construction of classrooms, recruitment of teachers, a campaign to encourage a return to primary school straightaway following the crisis) and a lightening of the cost to be borne by families through the free distribution of school supplies for children enrolled in public primary schools since 2013. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the implementation of the Sectoral Education/Training Plan 2015–25 and the results achieved in terms of the access of all children to free basic education.

2. Clauses (a) and (b). Preventing children from being engaged in and removing them from the worst forms of child labour. Children enrolled and used in armed conflict. In its previous comments, the Committee noted the information provided by the Government according to which a National Programme of Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (PNDDR) was established following the post-electoral crisis in 2010. The stakeholders covered by the Programme developed a programme of action for the prevention, demobilization and reintegration of former child soldiers who are still minors.

The Committee notes the absence of information in the Government’s report on this subject. However, it notes that the PNDDR established by the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) ended in June 2017. The UNOCI recorded the lowest number of cases of violations against children between 1 April 2016 and 15 January 2017 (Final progress report of the Secretary-General on the UNOCI, S/2017/89, paragraph 40).