Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2025, published 114th ILC session (2026)

Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) - Azerbaijan (Ratification: 2004)

Article 7 of the Convention. Clause (b). Effective and time-bound measures. Direct assistance for the removal of children from the worst forms of child labour and for their rehabilitation and social integration. Sale and trafficking of children. The Committee notes the Government’s indication in its report that from 2021 to 2024, the Centre for Assistance to Victims of Trafficking in Persons provided social services to eight children. The Committee also notes from the Government’s report on the Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29), that in 2023, ten victims of trafficking were referred to the non-governmental organization “Children of Azerbaijan” to receive social services, and eight more victims were referred during the first six months of 2024.

The Committee further notes that the United Nations Committee on Children’s Rights (CRC), in its 2023 concluding observations, recommended the State party to ensure that child victims of sale and trafficking have access to the necessary support and services, including shelters, psychological support and legal assistance (CRC/C/AZE/CO/5-6, para. 43). The Committee also notes, from the Report of the Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings concerning the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by Azerbaijan, 2023 (GRETA Report), the low number of child victims of trafficking detected by the authorities, and the need to provide appropriate assistance to them (para. 178). The Committee requests the Government to take the necessary measures to ensure the identification and protection of children who are victims or potential victims of sale and trafficking. It also requests the Government to continue to provide information on the number of child victims of trafficking under the age of 18 years who have been identified and provided with assistance, as well as the type of assistance provided.

Clause (d). Children at special risk. 1. Children in street situations. The Committee notes with regret the absence of specific information on street children in the Government’s report. The Committee further notes that the CRC, in its 2023 concluding observations, recommended the State party to ensure the protection of children in street situations, train relevant professionals to work with such children, as well as establish mechanisms to prevent children in street situations from falling victims to trafficking and economic and sexual exploitation (para. 42). The Committee also notes from the GRETA Report that the measures taken by the authorities and overall human and financial capacity of social services centres remain insufficient to protect street children (para. 174). The Committee therefore requests the Government to take the necessary measures to protect all vulnerable children, including street children, from the worst forms of child labour. It once again requests the Government to provide information on the number of street children who are identified and the types of social assistance provided.

2. Refugee and displaced children. The Committee once again notes with regret the absence of specific information on refugee and displaced children in the Government’s report. The Committee notes from the data provided by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees that, as of 31 December 2023, Azerbaijan hosts 5,771 refugees, 168 asylum seekers, 513 stateless persons, and 657,749 internally displaced persons. The Committee also notes the 2022 concluding observations of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, which expressed concern about reports that refugees, asylum seekers and stateless persons still face obstacles in their access to education and health services (CERD/C/AZE/CO/10-12, para. 30). The Committee requests the Government to strengthen its efforts to protect refugee and displaced children from the worst forms of child labour and provide information on the measures taken in this regard and the results achieved.

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