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

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

Articles 3(a) and 6 of the Convention. All forms of slavery or practices similar to slavery and programmes of action to eliminate the worst forms of child labour. Sale and trafficking of children. Further to its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that in 2024, despite the difficult socio-economic situation characterized by the scarcity of resources and partners, the protection of victims of trafficking was ensured in accordance with the new Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons in Mali (PAN-TP) 2023–27. Moreover, with reference to the 2024 annual report of the National Committee for the Coordination of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons and Similar Practices (CNCLTPPA), the Government indicates that: (1) the action taken by all the actors responsible for combating the issue resulted in the identification of 629 victims of trafficking, of whom 337 were children (120 boys and 217 girls); (2) of the 93 investigations, 38 related to trafficking in persons, 25 to the smuggling of migrants and 30 to slavery by descent; and (3) eight people have been convicted of trafficking in persons, smuggling of migrants and violations related to slavery by descent.

The Committee also notes that the 2024 annual report of the CNCLTPPA indicates that challenges remain, including: (1) awareness-raising of the population concerning the dangers of trafficking and resources for prevention are still inadequate, particularly in rural areas; (2) the actors involved in combating trafficking, such as the defence and security forces and social workers, require more training in the identification and effective action to deal with cases of trafficking; and (3) the mobilization of the national budget allocated to action to combat trafficking in persons and of resources from technical and financial partners remains a major obstacle. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing information on the number of investigations, prosecutions and convictions related to the trafficking of children, and on the number and nature of the penalties imposed. It also requests the Government to indicate the measures adopted or envisaged to address the challenges identified in the 2024 annual report of the CNCLTPPA, particularly to prevent trafficking in children and strengthen the capacities of the actors involved in combating trafficking.

Clause (b). Use, procuring or offering of a child for prostitution. The Committee notes the absence of information provided by the Government in response to its previous comments. It requests the Government to provide: (i) information on the measures adopted to ensure the effective application of the provisions of Act No. 2012–023 on the use, procuring or offering of children under 18 years of age for prostitution; and (ii) statistical data on the convictions and penal sanctions imposed in this regard.

Articles 5 and 7(2(a) and (b). Monitoring mechanisms and effective and time-bound measures. Preventing the engagement of children in the worst forms of child labour and their removal from such work. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the second National Plan of Action for the Elimination of Child Labour in Mali (PANETEM II) is still in the process of adoption. It notes that the 2024 annual report of the CNCLTPPA emphasizes that, despite the efforts made to provide care for victims of trafficking, their protection is still a major challenge, particularly as Mali does not have transit and reception centres. The Committee once again requests the Government to provide information on the activities carried out by the CNLTE for the provision of the necessary and appropriate direct assistance to prevent the engagement of children in the worst forms of child labour, their removal from such work and their rehabilitation and social integration. The Committee also reiterates its request to the Government to provide information on the results achieved through the national referral mechanism in the identification and protection of child victims of trafficking.

Clause (d). Identifying and reaching out to children at special risk. Child HIV/AIDS orphans and other vulnerable children. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that it does not have information in its possession on this subject. It notes that, according to UNAIDS data, in 2024 the number of child HIV/AIDS orphans was estimated to be 110,000. The Committee recalls once again that child HIV/AIDS orphans and other vulnerable children are at greater risk of being engaged in the worst forms of child labour. It therefore requests the Government to indicate the measures taken to gather information on the assistance provided to these children to protect them from the worst forms of child labour.

Street children. The Committee recalls the concerns expressed by the United Nations Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Mali on 2 February 2018 with regard to the steadily growing phenomenon of young people in street situations, noting the inadequate infrastructure and the lack of training and specialization of the actors responsible for child protection. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that it does not have information at its disposal on this subject. Recalling that street children run a higher risk of being engaged in the worst forms of child labour, the Committee once again requests the Government to take the necessary measures to protect these children from the worst forms of child labour and for their rehabilitation and social integration. It requests the Government to provide information on the measures adopted in this regard and the results achieved.

Article 8. Regional cooperation. Sale and trafficking of children. The Committee notes the Government’s reiterated indication that difficulties are being experienced in the implementation of bilateral and multilateral cooperation agreements, particularly in relation to follow-up mechanisms. However, the Government adds that, to address these difficulties, work is going ahead on the revision of certain agreements, and particularly the agreement concluded with Guinea. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on any progress achieved in the effective implementation of the bilateral and multilateral cooperation agreements to which it is a party.

Poverty reduction. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that a new Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) is under preparation. It also notes that the evaluation of the DWCP covering the period 2016–18 is, according to the Government, a relevant tool for the identification of previous shortcomings and to avoid their repetition in the context of the new DWCP.

The Committee notes that the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, in its concluding observations in 2024, expressed serious concern at the extreme poverty and chronic and acute malnutrition of children, exacerbated by the impact of the armed conflict, which is a major driver of child mortality (CRC/C/MLI/CO/3-5, para. 35). Recalling that poverty reduction programmes contribute to breaking the cycle of poverty, which is essential for the elimination of the worst forms of child labour, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on: (i) the measures taken to reduce poverty, including in the context of the new DWCP; and (ii) the impact of these measures on the elimination of the worst forms of child labour in the country.