Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2008, published 98th ILC session (2009)

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

The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous direct request, which read as follows:

Article 7, paragraph 2. Effective and time-bound measures. Clause (b). Providing the necessary and appropriate assistance for the removal of children from the worst forms of child labour, and for their rehabilitation and social integration. Child victims of trafficking. The Committee had previously noted that the Government presented a new three-year Plan of Action (2003–06) on Combating Trafficking in Women, which focuses on support for the victims and preventive initiatives. It notes the Government’s information that a Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking of Children and Young People was launched in 2005 as an amendment to the Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Women. This Plan – which is a result of an increased awareness of the dangerous effects of trafficking on both the health and the welfare of children consists of: preventive measures; recovery and protection of victims, and prosecution. The Committee also notes the Government’s indication that currently a new plan is being drafted which includes experiences from the first Plan of Action. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the implementation of the Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking of Children and Young People, especially with regard to the measures to protect and recover child victims of trafficking. It also requests the Government to provide information on any progress towards the adoption of the new plan of action to combat trafficking.

Parts IV and V of the report form. With reference to its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government’s information that, since 2001, trafficking in human beings, including children, has been among the crime areas targeted by national police monitoring carried out by the National Commissioner’s Investigative Support Centre (NEC). This systematic police monitoring includes a duty for the police districts to send reports to the NEC, providing all information they possess that may be of importance for combating the trafficking in human beings. The NEC gives high priority to investigations concerned with trafficking in human beings and, to this purpose, it has appointed a permanent team of investigators to provide support in this area. The Committee notes the Government’s information that all police districts have appointed contact police officers to deal with trafficking in human beings, in order to ensure efficient cooperation with the relevant social authorities and organizations. In March 2005, the national police held a seminar (attended by both the contact officers and representatives from social authorities and organizations), which focused on monitoring and analysis work, relevant investigations methods and international collaboration. The Committee also notes the Government’s information that, within the action to combat trafficking in human beings, the national police has employed an anthropologist, whose responsibilities include initiatives to foster collaboration between the law enforcement authorities and social service actors.

The Committee also notes the Government’s information that, regarding the offence of trafficking in human beings, until 1 July 2006 there were 13 charges leading to convictions. All such cases concerned trafficking in women for prostitution. According to the national police data, all victims except one (of 17 years) were over 18 years of age.

Finally, the Committee takes note of the detailed statistical data from the Danish Working Environment Authority provided in the Government’s report. In particular, it notes that, according to this data, from 2003 to 2005, the Danish Working Environment Authority has reacted to 656 incidents relating to the violation of rules on young people’s work. According to this data, in 2005, there were 566 occupational accidents regarding young persons under 18 years, of which 480 affected persons between 16 and 17 years. The Committee also takes note of the statistical data regarding the number of young persons with occupational employment disaggregated by age and gender. It notes that this number has fallen from 2003 to 2005, especially in the age group 15–17.

The Committee requests the Government to continue providing statistics and information on the nature, extent and trends of the worst forms of child labour, the number and nature of infringements, investigations, prosecutions and convictions.