Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) - Isle of Man

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

The Committee notes the Government’s first report.

Article 3 of the Convention. Worst forms of child labour. Clause (a). All forms of slavery or practices similar to slavery. Sale and trafficking of children. The Committee notes that section 17 of the Sexual Offences Act 1992 provides that “any person who: (a) procures a person to become a prostitute anywhere in the world; or (b) procures a person to leave the Island, intending him or her to become an inmate of or frequent a brothel elsewhere; or (c) procures a person to leave the Island, intending him or her to become an inmate of or frequent a brothel anywhere in the world for the purposes of prostitution, shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction on information to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years”. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken or envisaged to ensure that the sale and trafficking of children under the age of 18 years for labour exploitation is prohibited. It also requests the Government to provide information on any investigations and prosecutions carried out and sanctions imposed for offences related to the trafficking of children for the purpose of sexual exploitation under section 17 of the Sexual Offences Act.

Clause (b). Use, procuring or offering of a child for prostitution, pornography or pornographic performances. Prostitution. The Committee notes that under section 18 of the Sexual Offences Act, “the procurement of a person under the age of 18 years to commit a sexual act anywhere in the world shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction on information to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years”. Under the Sexual Offences Act it is also an offence to detain a person of any age in a brothel (section 20), permit a young person to use premises for a sexual act (section 2(1) and cause or encourage the prostitution of a young person (section 23). The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the application in practice of sections 18, 20, 21 and 23 of the Sexual Offences Act 1992 with regard to the use, procuring and offering of a child for prostitution, including on the number and nature of violations and the penalties applied.

Pornography. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on: (i) the measures taken to ensure that no child under the age of 18 years is used, procured or offered for pornography or pornographic performances; and (ii) the investigations and prosecutions carried out and penalties imposed for such offences.

Clause (c). Use, procuring or offering of a child for illicit activities, in particular for the trafficking of drugs. The Committee notes that sections 4 and 5 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1976 make it an offence for a person of any age to possess or supply a controlled substance. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken to ensure that the use, procuring or offering of a child for illicit activities, in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs is prohibited. Noting that under sections 4 and 5 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1976, a person of any age commits an offence for possessing or supplying drugs, the Committee also requests the Government to provide information on how it is ensured that children engaged in the sale of drugs are considered as victims and not criminals, and that they receive the services necessary for their rehabilitation and social reintegration.

Articles 3(d) and 4. Hazardous work and determination of types of hazardous work. With regard to hazardous work and the determination of types of hazardous work, the Committee refers to its detailed comments under the Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138).

Article 5. Monitoring mechanisms. The Committee notes the Government’s indication, in its report, that authorized officers and constables have powers of entry and inspection where there is a reasonable cause to believe that a child is being employed. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the role played by the labour inspectorate and the police in detecting and combating the worst forms of child labour.

Article 6. Programmes of action. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that local community officers from the Isle of Man Constabulary visit the Island’s secondary schools with messaging around exploitation, highlighting the challenges and raising awareness. The Government also refers to the launch, by the Isle of Man Safeguarding Board, of the Vulnerable Adolescents Strategy in November 2022, a 2-year strategy which sets out a vision for children and young people on the Island, to be free from risk and harm from sexual exploitation and criminal exploitation. The Committee encourages the Government to pursue its efforts and to provide information on the implementation of the Vulnerable Adolescent Strategy, as well as on its impact, particularly with respect to the prevention and elimination of the worst forms of child labour. It also requests the Government to continue to provide information on any further measures taken or envisaged to adopt and implement programmes of action for the prevention of the worst forms of child labour.

Article 7(3). Authority responsible for implementation. The Committee takes note of the Government’s indication that following the adoption of the Safeguarding Act 2018, the Safeguarding Board was established. This is a partnership of the relevant governmental departments and agencies with the purpose of implementing and monitoring measures to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. Under the Safeguarding Act, the Department of Education, Sport and Culture, along with Isle of Man Constabulary and the Department of Health and Social Care are “Safeguarding Partners” and as such also have a duty to safeguard children. The Committee further notes the Government’s indication that it has appointed a Children’s Champion, whose purpose it is to represent the best interests of vulnerable and looked after children in the Isle of Man.

Application of the Convention in practice. The Committee requests the Government to provide any available information on the nature, extent and trends of the worst forms of child labour.