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Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) - Peru (RATIFICATION: 2002)

The Committee takes note of the supplementary information provided by the Government in light of the decision adopted by the Governing Body at its 338th Session (June 2020). The Committee proceeded with the examination of the application of the Convention on the basis of the supplementary information received from the Government and the social partners this year (see Article 7(2)(d) below), as well as on the basis of the information at its disposal in 2019.

Article 7(2) of the Convention. Effective and time-bound measures. Clause (d). Identifying children at special risk. Street children and begging. The Committee previously requested the Government to continue to provide information on the measures taken for the identification and protection of street children against the worst forms of child labour, particularly in the context of the Yachay programme and the National Strategy for the Prevention and Elimination of Child Labour and the Protection of Young Workers 2012–21 (ENPETI).

The Committee notes the Government’s indication that in 2016 the national Yachay programme developed a pilot intervention plan for the implementation of action for prevention in San Juan de Lurigancho, which is included in results-oriented programme 117 “Quality care for girls, boys and young people presumed to be abandoned”. This action programme enables them to reinforce their skills in a protected environment through strategies such as awareness raising and the participation of children and young people in recreational activities, training for teachers and managers, skills development for children and young people and advocacy with community authorities. In this regard, a games-based intervention is being developed to strengthen the competencies of children and young people exposed to the risk of the absence of protection in the areas of San Juan de Lurigancho and La Victoria. During the first quarter of 2019, a total of 305 girls, boys and young people participated in these recreational workshops.

The Committee notes that since 2018 the Yachay programme has been under the authority of the National Family Welfare Institute (INABIF), and is currently known as the Street Educators Service. In that regard, the Committee notes that, in their observations, the Autonomous Workers' Confederation of Peru (CATP), the Confederation of Workers of Peru (CTP), the General Confederation of Workers of Peru (CGTP), and the Single Confederation of Workers of Peru (CUT-Perú) regret that the Yachay programme was discontinued, in spite of its good results. The two profiles for priority beneficiaries determined by the Street Educators Service are for children subjected to begging and street children. With regard to begging, 453 children were provided with support by the Street Educators Service during the first quarter of 2019 (compared with 474 children in 2018) and, in the case of street children, a total of 364 children were supported by the Street Educators Service during the first half of 2019 (compared with 441 children in 2018). The Committee also notes that a total of 6,742 street girls, boys and young people were provided with national identity documents between 2018 and 2019 and that a total of 6,112 girls, boys and young people had access to the health system in 2018 and 2019 (89 per cent in 2019, compared with 11 per cent in 2018). Finally, between January and June 2019, particular attention was given to 6,868 girls, boys and young people throughout the country. The Committee also notes that Presidential Decree No. 002-2017-MIMP provides for the merger of the national Street Educators Service and Vida Digna programmes into the Comprehensive National Family Welfare Programme of the INABIF. It further notes that, in its supplementary information, the Government refers to the elaboration, by the Public Prosecutor Office, of a model for the implementation of a geographically referenced real time mapping of the operations against begging of children in Lima streets. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing information on the measures adopted in this regard, including within the context of the Comprehensive National Family Welfare Programme implemented by the INABIF. To the extent possible, such data should be disaggregated by age and gender.

Indigenous children. The Committee previously requested the Government to provide information on the new measures and programmes implemented to protect indigenous children from the worst forms of child labour, particularly in the field of education, with a view to reducing their vulnerability, and on the results achieved.

The Committee notes the implementation of two interventions, relating to secondary school tutorship and school catch-up courses, undertaken by the ENPETI within the context of the Semilla project. The latter came to an end in 2018, and its programmes have been transferred to the Ministry of Education (MINEDU). Within this framework, since February 2019, the secondary school tutorship programme has formed part of the rural education service and covers four regions: Pasco, Junín, Huancavelica and Ucayali. The MINEDU covers the costs associated with its operation and 764 students benefit from the programme. The school catch-up programme is regarded as a priority for action by the MINEDU. It has assisted 1,800 students who are behind in their schooling in the regions of Pasco, Huancavelica and Junín. The Government emphasizes that 83 per cent of the participants made up the backlog that they had accumulated in their schooling. The programme has developed its own methodology, including an operating manual and the provision of learning materials to beneficiaries. However, according to the concluding observations of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination of 23 May 2018, the application of the National Plan for Intercultural Bilingual Education: A vision for 2021, is limited, particularly in secondary school. It also noted the difficulties faced by children and young persons belonging to indigenous peoples and the Afro-Peruvian community in gaining access to a quality education, particularly in rural and remote areas (CERD/C/PER/CO/22-23, paragraph 32). The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the results achieved through the various government programmes, including the results of the National Plan for Intercultural Bilingual Education: A vision for 2021.

Article 8. International cooperation and assistance. Poverty reduction and international cooperation. The Committee previously encouraged the Government to intensify its efforts to reduce the incidence of poverty, especially in the poorest regions, which is essential for the elimination of the worst forms of child labour. It once again requested the Government to provide information on the measures taken and the results achieved in the context of the ENPETI.

The Committee notes from the Government’s report that the Ministry of Development and Social Inclusion (MIDIS) is responsible for the national development and social inclusion policy with a view to reducing poverty, inequality, vulnerability and social risks. In 2016, the sustainable social action strategy was adopted by Presidential Decree No. 003-2016-MIDIS and constitutes the national social development and inclusion policy.

The Committee notes, according to the indications of the Ministry of Labour and Employment Promotion, the adoption of the project entitled: “Improving household revenue through the development of productive work, entrepreneurs and technical skills with a view to reducing the incidence of child labour”. This project aims at reducing the incidence of child labour in 370 families in the regions of Huánuco, Lima and Tacna. The project is awaiting agreement with the executing agency with a view to its implementation in the near future.

The Committee also notes that the National Steering Committee for the Prevention and Elimination of Child Labour (CPETI) is the body that draws up the National Plan for the Prevention and Elimination of Child Labour. Accordingly, it coordinates the integration of the activities of the International Programme for the Elimination of Child Labour in the national programme and also supervises and coordinates the ENPETI, one of the objectives of which is to achieve a sustainable increase in the family income of poor families with children who are at risk of or are engaged in child labour. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the results achieved by the CPETI, within the framework of the ENPETI and the International Programme for the Elimination of Child Labour. It also requests the Government to provide information on the measures adopted and the results achieved through the sustainable social action strategy of the MIDIS, adopted in 2016.