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

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

The Committee notes the observations of the Honduran National Business Council (COHEP), received on 29 August 2025. The Committee requests the Government to send its comments in this regard.

Articles 3(a) and (b) and 7(1) of the Convention. Worst forms of child labour and penalties. Trafficking of children for commercial sexual exploitation, use of children for prostitution or for the production of pornography or for pornographic performances. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in its report, according to which the Unit against Trafficking, Commercial Sexual Exploitation and Illicit Trafficking of Migrants (UTESCTP) in the Public Prosecutor’s Office charged 61 persons with the offence of trafficking in persons in its various forms, including, among other offences, the production and use of aggravated child pornography and sexual exploitation of minors, with 26 persons convicted.

The Committee also notes the concluding observations of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which urges the Government to further strengthen efforts to prevent the sale and sexual exploitation of children, particularly by organized criminal groups or maras, paying attention to the tourism sector, and to strengthen measures to prosecute and sanction all perpetrators of offences under the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography (CRC/C/HND/CO/6-7, 26 February 2025, para. 26(a) and (b)). The Committee requests the Government to continue: (i) to take concrete and effective measures to ensure the elimination in practice of the sale, trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation of children under the age of 18, the use of children for prostitution, for the production of pornography or for pornographic performances, and to provide information on the results in this regard; and (ii) to provide information on the number of reported offences, investigations carried out and convictions and penalties imposed in relation to these issues.

Article 7(2). 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 notes the information provided by the Government, according to which integrated interventions have been implemented in communities targeted by the Solidarity Network, a coordination mechanism between public, private and civil society institutions to ensure the educational inclusion of children in vulnerable situations. The Committee notes that, according to the Government, through the education component of the Solidarity Network, measures have been implemented to reduce school absenteeism and drop-out rates, such as the provision of solidarity scholarships for 52,423 households in 2024, conditional incentives, computer equipment and school kits. Likewise, under the infrastructure and environment component, improvement and construction works have been carried out in 70 educational centres, with teaching staff assigned by the Ministry of Education.

The Committee notes the observations of COHEP regarding the United Entrepreneurs for Education programme, through which 5,919 children have received backpacks, snacks and school improvements.

The Committee notes the concluding observations of the CRC, in which it expresses its deep concern about the high drop-out rate, with 48 per cent of school age children out of the education system, and low enrolment rates in secondary education (CRC/C/HND/CO/6-7, para. 39(c)). The Committee also notes the concluding observations of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR), in which it expresses its concern about the high proportion of out-of-school children, particularly indigenous and Afro-Honduran children (E/C.12/HND/CO/3, 22 October 2024, para. 64(b)).

Lastly, the Committee notes that, according to Report of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to development, indigenous children face systemic barriers to accessing quality education, with drop-out rates significantly higher than the national average (A/HRC/60/25/Add.1, 9 July 2025, para. 43). The Committee notes with concern the high number of children who are out of the education system. Considering that education helps to prevent the engagement of children in the worst forms of child labour, the Committee urges the Government to take the necessary measures to improve the functioning of the school system and access to free basic education for all children. The Committee requests the Government to strengthen measures to increase enrolment, attendance and completion rates in primary and lower-secondary education and to reduce drop-out rates, especially for indigenous and Afro-Honduran children. It requests the Government to continue to provide information on the impact of the above-mentioned measures.

Clause (b). Direct and necessary assistance for the removal of children from the worst forms of child labour and for their rehabilitation and social integration. Trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government, according to which the Immediate Response Team of the Inter-institutional Commission against Commercial Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking in Persons (ERI-CICESCT), composed of 27 professionals at the national level, provides comprehensive care to victims and their families, including psychological support, legal assistance, social guidance, healthcare, education, financial support and protection, with the aim of facilitating their social reintegration.

The Committee also notes the information provided by the Government, according to which, in 2024, the ERI-CICESCT provided more than 14,010 comprehensive care services to direct and indirect victims of trafficking. In 2024, five girls who were victims of child pornography, one girl who was a victim of exploitation of minors or persons with disabilities, and one girl and one boy who were victims of trafficking in persons were rescued. Furthermore, as of May 2025, 7 girls and 5 boys who were victims of child pornography, 12 girls who were victims of trafficking in persons for sexual exploitation, 1 girl who was a victim of forced labour, servitude and slavery, 2 girls who were victims of sexual exploitation in the form of child pornography and use for criminal activities and 1 girl who was a victim of aggravated sexual exploitation of minors were rescued.

Lastly, the Committee notes the information provided by the Government on the creation of the National Information System on Trafficking in Persons, with support from UNICEF, which aims to centralize and systematize information on victims and strengthen inter-institutional coordination in handling cases. The Committee trusts that the measures taken will allow children to be removed from trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation and ensure their rehabilitation and social integration. It requests the Government to provide information on the results achieved in this regard.

Clause (d). Children at special risk. Indigenous children. The Committees notes that, according to the Report of the Special Rapporteur on the right to development, indigenous peoples and Afro-Hondurans experience persistent exclusion and disproportionately high levels of poverty, with an estimated 80 per cent living below the poverty line. This economic marginalization is compounded by limited access to basic services such as access to education (A/HRC/60/25/Add.1, para. 42). The Committee requests the Government to take the necessary measures without delay to protect children from Indigenous communities from the worst forms of child labour. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the results achieved with these measures.

Clause (e). Special situation of girls. Child domestic and agricultural workers. The Committee notes the concluding observations of the CRC, in which it expresses its concern about the significant numbers of children, including some below the age of 15 years, engaged in child labour in agricultural and domestic work (CRC/C/HND/CO/6-7, para. 47). The Committee notes from the Report of the Special Rapporteur on the right to development that gender disparities affect educational attainment, particularly when girls are asked to withdraw from school to assist in domestic work, on the basis of the perception that boys have better employment prospects. This contributes to lower school attendance rates for girls compared to boys (A/HRC/60/25/Add.1). The Committee requests the Government to take immediate and effective measures to protect children from engaging in domestic and agricultural work, particularly girls, and to provide information on this matter and on the results achieved.

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