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Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) - Mauritania (RATIFICATION: 2001)

Article 3 of the Convention. Worst forms of child labour. Clause (a). Slavery or practices similar to slavery. Sale and trafficking of children. In its previous comments, the Committee noted the adoption of Act No. 025/2003 of 17 July 2003 on the suppression of the trafficking of persons. It also noted that, according to a UNICEF report on trafficking in persons, with particular reference to women and children in West and Central Africa, published in 2006, the information available on trafficking flows in Mauritania is very limited and it is very difficult to know whether Mauritanian children are victims of trafficking in the countries of the subregion or whether children are exploited in the territory of Mauritania. However, the UNICEF report indicates that, in the streets of Dakar, there are boy talibés from neighbouring countries, including Mauritania, who have been brought to the city by their Koranic masters (marabouts). These children are in conditions of servitude and are forced to beg on a daily basis. Also according to the UNICEF report, the internal trafficking of children also exists, including the phenomenon of child talibés from rural areas who beg on the streets of Nouakchott. The Committee observes that Mauritania appears to be a country of origin for the trafficking of children for labour exploitation. Noting the absence of information in the Government’s report, the Committee once again expresses concern at the situation of these children and requests the Government to redouble its efforts to ensure in practice the protection of young persons under 18 years of age from sale and trafficking. The Committee also once again requests the Government to provide information on the effect given to Act No. 025/2003 of 17 July 2003 on the supression of the trafficking of persons in practice, including statistics on the number and nature of the offences reported, the investigations conducted, prosecutions, convictions and penalties imposed.

Forced or compulsory labour. Begging. In its previous comments, the Committee noted that, in its concluding observations on the Government’s initial report in November 2001 (CRC/C/15/Add.159, paragraph 49), the Committee on the Rights of the Child expressed its concern at the number of children working, particularly in the streets, including child talibés who are exploited by their marabouts. It also noted the indication, in a UNICEF study entitled “Child labour in Mauritania”, that according to a July 2003 study by the National Children’s Council (CNE) observations in the field suggested that street children tend to be beggars who give daily account of their begging activities to their marabouts. The Committee further noted that section 42(1) of Ordinance 2005-015 on the penal protection of the child provides that the act of causing a child to beg or directly employing a child to beg is punishable by imprisonment of one to six months or a fine of 100,000 ouguiyas. Section 42(2) provides that any person who, having authority over a child, hands the child over to individuals who incite or engage the child in begging shall be punishable by imprisonment for eight months or a fine of between 180,000 and 300,000 ouguiyas. The Committee requested the Government to provide information on the effect given in practice to the national legislation on begging.

Noting the absence of information in the Government’s report on this matter, the Committee once again expresses concern at the use of children for purely economic purposes, namely the utilization of children as a source of labour by certain marabouts. The Committee therefore urges the Government to take the necessary measures to give effect to the national legislation on begging and to punish marabouts who make use of children for purely economic purposes.

Article 7, paragraph 2. Effective and time-bound measures. Clause (b). Assistance for the removal of children from the worst forms of child labour. Sale and trafficking of children. In its previous comments, the Committee noted that, according to UNICEF information, children who have been the victims of trafficking, particularly to the United Arab Emirates to work as camel jockeys, have recently been repatriated to Mauritania and are receiving education in a special school for former jockeys. The Committee requested the Government to provide information on the results achieved. The Committee notes from the Government’s report that the results are more than satisfactory as these children are receiving special attention, particularly through the special programme developed for them in collaboration with UNICEF. The Committee also notes from the second periodic report of Mauritania to the Committee on the Rights of the Child of 30 July 2008 that “a plan of action has been adopted to attend to their reintegration in their families. A technical committee has been set up to monitor this matter” (CRC/C/MRT/2, paragraph 263). The Committee strongly encourages the Government to continue its efforts to provide the necessary and appropriate direct assistance for the removal of child victims of trafficking and to ensure their rehabilitation and social integration. The Committee also requests the Government to continue providing information on the results achieved. Finally, it requests it to provide information on the plan of action implemented for the rehabilitation and social integration of these children.

Forced or compulsory labour. Begging. In its previous comments, the Committee requested the Government to provide information on the time-bound measures adopted to ensure the rehabilitation and social integration of child victims of forced labour, including begging. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government that it has worked to identify beggars and other street children with a view to their integration into the country’s economic and social fabric. It further notes that, according to the information contained in the second periodic report submitted by Mauritania to the Committee on the Rights of the Child in July 2008 (CRC/C/MRT/2, paragraph 88), a centre for the protection and social integration of children in difficult situations has been created, and is targeting street children, children forced to beg or children subject to economic exploitation. The Committee requests the Government to indicate the effective and time-bound measures adopted further to the survey to remove street children and victims of begging from their activities and to ensure their rehabilitation and social integration, including through the centre for the protection and integration of children in difficult situations. It also requests the Government to provide information on the number of children who are in practice removed from this worst form of child labour.

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