Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2024, published 113rd ILC session (2025)

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

Article 3(a) and 7(1) of the Convention. Worst forms of child labour and sanctions. Sale and trafficking of children. Further to its previous comments, the Committee takes due note of the Government’s indication, in its report, that, as part of capacity-building for entities responsible for applying the law with regard to the trafficking of children, the “Koglkamba” monitoring application for use by labour inspectors has been set up with ILO support. A total of 72 labour controllers and inspectors have been trained in the use of the application and the data that it produces can also be used by officials in the justice system and persons responsible for providing care for children who are victims. In addition, 79 social workers and 18 members of child protection networks (including six members of regional child protection units and two judges) have received training with regard to the issue of trafficking of children. The Government also indicates that a module relating to trafficking in persons has been incorporated into the academic programme for legal trainees at the National School of Administration and the Judiciary.

The Committee also takes due note of the Government’s indication that in 2021 and 2022 a total of 63 persons were convicted of the crime of trafficking in persons and were given prison sentences ranging from six months to five years.

However, the Committee notes the information contained in the “National plan of action against trafficking in persons in Burkina Faso 2023–25” (PAN-TP 2023–25), attached to the Government’s report, that the number of victims presumed to have been identified is far greater than the number of investigations. The Government indicates that factors limiting action against trafficking in persons include the collection of data, the lack of human, financial and material resources, the inadequacy of care structures for victims, and insufficient regional and international cooperation. The Committee requests the Government to intensify its efforts to ensure thorough investigations and prosecutions of the perpetrators of offences related to the sale and trafficking of children and to ensure that penalties constituting an adequate deterrent are imposed on them. The Committee also requests the Government to continue providing detailed information on the application of the provisions relating to this worst form of child labour, including statistics on the number and nature of convictions and criminal penalties imposed.

Article 6. Plan of action and application of the Convention in practice. Sale, trafficking and sexual exploitation of children. The Committee notes the publication of the PAN-TP 2023–25, which has five components: the institutional framework; prevention; victim support and protection; the crackdown and prosecution of traffickers; and boosting collaboration in action against trafficking in persons, with the aim of improving coordination at the national and international level. While noting the measures taken by the Government, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on the steps taken and the results achieved, in the context of the PAN-TP 2023–25, to prevent the trafficking of children, and to ensure that child victims of trafficking benefit from the appropriate rehabilitation and integration services.

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. Further to its previous comments, the Committee notes the adoption of the “Emergency national strategy for education 2019–24”, which aims to ensure that teaching and learning activities take place in a healthy and protected environment for all children, particularly those in areas at risk and affected by crises.

The Committee also notes the indications of the “National strategy to combat the worst forms of child labour 2019–23” (SN-PFTE)” that 387,778 children have received support in the form of school scholarships, school kits and food parcels. A total of 978 children between 9 and 13 years of age have been removed from child labour and reintegrated in the formal education system under the “Fast-track/bridge education strategy (SSA/P)”. The Committee further notes that in the 2022–23 school year a total of 7,815 children, including 3,806 girls, from vulnerable families received school assistance. Among these children, 5,000 also received school scholarships, and 345 children, including 211 girls, were enrolled in vocational training.

However, the Committee notes the information published on the UNICEF website indicating that, at the start of the 2023–24 school year, a total of 6,149 schools (at least one in four schools) remained closed because of violence and insecurity in certain regions of the country. In this regard, UNICEF estimates that 1 million children do not go to school and are exposed to numerous threats. While noting the difficult situation prevailing in the country and the measures taken by the Government, the Committee requests the Government to continue its efforts to improve the functioning of the education system in the country by improving the quality of teaching and access to basic education for all children, particularly those affected by the security and health crisis in the country. In this regard, the Committee requests the Government to continue providing information on the specific steps taken under the SN-PFTE, SSA/P and the “Emergency national strategy for education”. It also requests the Government to provide information on the results achieved, particularly with regard to increasing school enrolment and completion rates.

Clauses (a) and (b). Preventing the engagement of children in the worst forms of child labour; providing 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 that training has been conducted on various subjects, including the handling of trafficking cases and use of the “Child protection information management system (CPIMS+)”, supervision of children and professional assistance for them, and psychosocial care for child victims of violence, trafficking and situations of mobility, among others.

The Government mentions with regard to the provision of care for child victims of trafficking and the worst forms of child labour that: (1) a total of 1,759 children without families have been cared for in centres for children in distress and in host families; (2) 809 children and young persons in difficulty have received psychosocial and educational support in boarding schools; (3) 21,073 child victims of violence and abuse have been provided with care; (4) 972 children in situations of mobility or at risk have received scholarships for vocational training; and (5) 6,732 children have been sensitized about child protection, including in emergency situations. Furthermore, awareness-raising sessions have been held on trafficking, mobility and the worst forms of child labour, and coordination meetings have been held involving child protection working groups. In addition, 104 situations reported via the 116 helpline have resulted in action to protect the children concerned. The Committee requests the Government to pursue its efforts to prevent children under 18 years of age from becoming victims of trafficking for economic or sexual exploitation and to remove child victims from sale and trafficking and ensure their rehabilitation and social integration. The Committee also requests the Government to continue providing detailed information on the measures taken in this regard and on the results achieved.

Children working in small-scale gold mines and quarries. Further to its previous comments, the Committee notes the information in the PAN-TP 2023–25 that awareness-raising campaigns are planned on trafficking in persons in Burkina Faso, targeting persons engaged in certain sectors of production such as gold mining. Furthermore, inspections followed by the issuing of compliance orders, observations and violation reports in certain sectors including gold mining sites are envisaged under the prevention component of the Plan.

The Committee also notes the Government’s information that 413 members of community child protection units have received capacity-building with regard to networking, the issue of child mobility, and child labour on gold mining sites.

The Committee further notes the indication in the second periodic report submitted by Burkina Faso under article 40 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, published in 2024 (CCPR/C/BFA/2, paragraph 167), that 612 children were removed from gold mining sites and returned to their families.

However, the Committee observes that, according to the information contained in the PAN-TP 2023–25, criminals are transporting children, including children without any fixed abode or in situations of mobility, to Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Senegal and Niger in order to exploit them in activities including small-scale mining.

Furthermore, the Government indicates that girls in the city of Ouagadougou and on gold mining sites are subjected to sexual exploitation and are transported from communities in Burkina Faso and from neighbouring countries such as Nigeria. The Government also refers to estimates by an international organization that some 200,000 to 300,000 children work on small-scale mining sites. The Committee requests the Government to continue taking steps to remove children from work in gold mines and mining sites and to ensure that they are rehabilitated and integrated socially. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on measures taken under the PAN-TP 2023–25 and on progress made and results achieved in this regard.

Article 8. International cooperation and assistance. Regional cooperation regarding the sale and trafficking of children. Further to its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that a total of 26 children received assistance and were repatriated to their countries of origin in 2021, in the context of the implementation of cooperation agreements between Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire, and between Burkina Faso, Togo and Benin.

The Committee also notes from the PAN-TP 2023–25 that, according to the 2019 national report on trafficking in persons, among the 4,684 persons in situations of mobility a total of 2,023 presumed trafficking victims, comprising 1,941 nationals of Burkina Faso and 362 nationals of Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, Nigeria and Benin, were rescued by the defence and security forces. There were more boys than girls among the victims and the 14–18 age group was the most exploited, with 1,097 victims (704 boys and 393 girls). In this respect, 2,131 children were subjected to economic exploitation and 172 to sexual exploitation. While noting the measures taken by the Government and recalling the scale of cross-border trafficking in the country, the Committee once again requests the Government to provide information on the implementation of the cooperation agreement with Togo and Benin, and also on the agreement with Côte d’Ivoire, and on the funds allocated to these agreements. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing information on the results achieved in terms of interception of child victims of sale and trafficking and on their rehabilitation, social reintegration and repatriation.

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