CMNT_TITLE

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

Article 6 of the Convention. Programmes of action to eliminate the worst forms of child labour. Trafficking. The Committee previously noted from the concluding observations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) of 21 April 2011 (CRC/C/UKR/CO/3-4, paragraph 80) that a national programme for countering human trafficking (2007–10) was adopted and implemented by the Government.

The Committee notes the Government’s information that, with the implementation of the national programme, the number of underage victims of trafficking has decreased: 55 child victims in 2007; 37 in 2008; 42 in 2009; and 41 in 2010. The Committee also indicates that several programmes of measures have been elaborated and adopted through legislative orders in order to implement the “National Plan of Action to implement the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child for 2006–16”. These programmes include measures aimed at improving the situation of child homelessness and eliminating child trafficking, sexual exploitation, and other forms of cruelty. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the results achieved pursuant to the implementation of the programmes of measures adopted pursuant to the “National Plan of Action to implement the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child for 2006–16”, particularly with regard to the number of children removed from trafficking as well as the rehabilitation and social integration measures adopted for those children. It also requests the Government to continue to provide information on any other action programmes established in terms of the elimination of trafficking of children.

Article 7(2). Effective and time-bound measures. Clause (b). Removing children from the worst forms of child labour and ensuring their rehabilitation and social integration. Sale and trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation of children. The Committee previously noted that the CRC, in its concluding observations of 21 April 2011 (CRC/C/UKR/CO/3-4, paragraph 78), expressed concern at the extremely limited number of rehabilitation centres specifically dedicated to providing assistance to child victims of sexual exploitation.

The Committee notes the Government’s information that, prior to 2011, differences in the financing levels for orphanages and rehabilitation centres frustrated the development of a proper network of centres. However, the amendment of certain provisions of the Budget Code of Ukraine as of 1 January 2011 regarding inter-budget transfers to fund centres provided an impetus for the expansion of the network. As of July 2013, there are 76 operating social and psychological rehabilitation centres and 33 orphanages. In addition, professional assistance to children who have been subjected to various forms of violence, homelessness or neglect is ensured by children’s safe houses, operated by the Children’s Affairs Service. These centres are used to provide children with a comprehensive range of assistance, including social, psychological, educational, medical and legal, but also with individually tailored psychological and pedagogical treatment for intervention and rehabilitation for children, including those who have been trafficked. The Committee also notes that, according to the Government’s report submitted under the Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29), through the adoption of Resolution No. 660 of 25 July 2012, the payment of a lump sum may be awarded to persons granted the status of victim of human trafficking, including child victims of trafficking. The Government indicates that the Ministry of Social Policy has so far granted the status of victim of human trafficking to 38 persons, including four children. The Committee strongly encourages the Government to pursue its efforts and requests it to take effective and time-bound measures for the removal of child victims of trafficking and their rehabilitation and social integration, and to provide information on the results achieved. It requests the Government to provide information on the number of child victims of trafficking, both internal and trans-border, who have benefited from rehabilitation and social integration measures.