Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2021, published 110th ILC session (2022)

Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) - Angola (Ratification: 2001)

Article 7(2) of the Convention. Effective and time-bound measures. Clause (a). Preventing the engagement of children in the worst forms of child labour. Access to free basic education. The Committee previously noted from the Government’s report of 2016 to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC), that the net enrolment rate in secondary education rose from 48.7 per cent in 2013 to 51.8 per cent in 2014, and that it was expected to rise to 54.8 per cent in 2015 and 57.5 per cent in 2016 (CRC/C/AGO/5-7, page 31). The Committee requested the Government to intensify its efforts to improve the functioning of the education system and to facilitate access to free, quality basic education, particularly for children from poor families, children living in rural areas, and girls.

The Committee notes that the Government’s report contain no information on this point. The Committee notes that according to the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, 2020–2022, Angola made substantial efforts which resulted in visible progress in primary education registration which increased from 5.8 million to 10 million between 2009 and 2018. However, this report indicates that 40 percent of the children between the ages of 6 and 11 are not at school; 18 per cent of the young population have never been to school; and 19 per cent do not have any level of education. Almost half the population in the age group between 12 and 17 are not satisfactorily in programmes of secondary or vocational education that correspond to their age (pages 25 and 27). Recalling that education is key in preventing the engagement of children in the worst forms of child labour, the Committee encourages the Government to pursue its efforts to improve the functioning of the education system and to facilitate access to free, quality basic education, to all children, particularly at the secondary level. It once again requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken in this regard and the results achieved, particularly with regard to increasing school enrolment and completion rates and reducing drop-out rates in the primary and secondary education. To the extent possible, this information should be disaggregated by age and gender.

Clause (b). Removing children from the worst forms of child labour and ensuring their rehabilitation and social integration. Child victims of trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation. In its previous comments, the Committee noted the Government’s information, in its report of 2016 to the CRC, regarding the existence of a programme for the family reunification and placement in institutions of child victims of sexual exploitation and trafficking. It also noted from this report that the National Development Programme (PND) 2013–17 implemented policies, programmes and actions to eliminate the sale and trafficking of children, as well as child prostitution, and that the National Children’s Institute (INAC) and the National Children’s Council (CNAC) were the agencies responsible for ensuring the implementation of the government policies at the national level in the areas of investigation relating to children and their social protection (CRC/C/OPSC/AGO/1, paragraphs 51, 54 and 56).

The Committee notes that the Government’s report does not contain any information as requested by the Committee regarding the measures taken by the INAC and CNAC in identifying and providing assistance to the child victims of trafficking and sexual exploitation. The Committee, however, notes from the concluding observations of the CRC on the application of the Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography (OPSC) of 2018 that an Inter-ministerial Commission to Combat Trafficking in Persons and a child abduction alert system were developed in 2014 and 2017 respectively and a National Action Plan (NAP) to Combat Trafficking in Persons was adopted in 2018. However, the CRC expressed its concern at the prevalence of cases of trafficking in children from and into neighbouring countries, in particular undocumented migrant children from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, for commercial sexual exploitation (in particular of girls) and for forced labour in diamond-mining districts, and of cases of boys trafficked for forced labour, in particular cattle herding. The CRC also expressed concern at the prevalence of sexual exploitation of children in the travel and tourism sectors (CRC/C/OPSC/AGO/CO/1, paragraphs 6, 19(d), and 21). The Committee must express its deep concern at the situation of children trafficked for labour and sexual exploitation. The Committee therefore urges the Government to strengthen its measures, including within the framework of the PND and the NAP to Combat Trafficking in Persons, to prevent children from becoming victims of trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation, to remove child victims from the worst forms of child labour and to ensure their rehabilitation and social integration. It requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken in this regard and the results achieved in terms of the number of children who have been removed and rehabilitated. In this regard, the Committee further requests the Government to indicate the measures taken by the INAC, the CNAC and the Inter-ministerial Commission to Combat Trafficking in Persons in identifying, removing and providing appropriate services and assistance to child victims of worst forms of child labour.

Clause (d). Children at special risk. HIV/AIDS orphans and other vulnerable children (OVC). The Committee previously noted the Government’s indication that a national action plan on OVC was being developed and that the plan sought to strengthen the capacities of families, communities and institutions to respond to the needs of OVC and to expand social protection services and mechanisms for these children. It however noted from the UNAIDS estimates of 2016, that approximately 130,000 children aged 17 years and younger had been orphaned by HIV/AIDs in Angola.

The Committee notes that the Government’s report does not contain any information on this matter. It notes that according to the UNAIDS estimates for 2020, the number of children under 17 years who have been orphaned due to HIV AIDS in Angola has doubled, to approximately 260,000 children. Recalling that OVC are at an increased risk of being engaged in the worst forms of child labour, the Committee strongly urges the Government to take immediate and effective measures, as part of the national action plan on OVC, to ensure that HIV/AIDS orphans and OVC are protected from the worst forms of child labour. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the specific measures taken in this respect and on the results achieved.

Application of the Convention in practice. In its previous comments, the Committee noted the Government’s statement that there are children in Angola who are engaged in the worst forms of child labour, such as those who perform hazardous types of work (in the diamond mines and in the fishing industry).

The Committee notes that the Government has not provided any information on the measures taken to protect children from these worst forms of child labour. The Committee notes that the Human Rights Committee, in its concluding observations of May 2019, expressed concern at the insufficient efforts to tackle child labour, particularly in the mining sector (CCPR/C/AGO/CO/2, paragraph 33). The Committee urges the Government to intensify its efforts to ensure that children are protected in practice against the worst forms of child labour, particularly in hazardous work. It also requests the Government to take the necessary measures to ensure the availability of sufficient data on these issues and to provide information on the nature and scope of, and trends on the worst forms of child labour and on the number of children covered by measures giving effect to the Convention. To the extent possible, this information should be disaggregated by gender and age.

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