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

Angola (ratification: 2001)

Article 7(2) of the Convention. Effective and time-bound measures. Clause (a). Preventing the engagement of children in the worst forms of child labour. Access to free basic education. The Committee previously noted information from UNESCO indicating that, despite the problems caused by a particularly long and bloody conflict, Angola managed to triple the number of children enrolled in primary education, which rose from 2 million to 6 million between 2002 and 2013. The Committee nevertheless noted the very low school enrolment rates at all levels, the high drop-out rates in primary education (30 per cent), particularly among girls, and the limited access to quality education in rural areas.

The Committee notes that the Government’s report does not provide any new information on this subject. It nevertheless notes that, in the Government’s report of 2016 to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, the net enrolment rate in secondary education rose from 48.7 per cent in 2013 to 51.8 per cent in 2014, and that it was expected to rise to 54.8 per cent in 2015 and 57.5 per cent in 2016 (CRC/C/AGO/5-7, page 31). While noting the increase in the enrolment rate at the secondary level, the Committee recalls that education is one of the most effective means to prevent the engagement of children in the worst forms of child labour, and therefore requests the Government once again to intensify its efforts to improve the functioning of the education system and to facilitate access to free, quality basic education, particularly for children from poor families, children living in rural areas, and girls. It once again requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken in this regard and the results achieved, particularly with regard to increasing school enrolment and completion rates and reducing drop-out rates in primary education. To the extent possible, this information should be disaggregated by age and by gender.

Article 7(2). Effective and time-bound measures. Clause (d). HIV/AIDS orphans and other vulnerable children (OVCs). The Committee previously noted information from the Government indicating a rise in the number of OVCs in the country. It also noted the Government’s indication that a national action plan on OVCs was being developed and that the plan sought to strengthen the capacities of families, communities and institutions to respond to the needs of OVCs and to expand social protection services and mechanisms for these children. It nevertheless noted the Government’s indication in its country progress report to the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS (UNGASS) that only 16.8 per cent of households with OVCs receive basic external support.

The Committee notes that the Government’s report does not contain any information on this subject. However, it notes that, in Angola, according to estimates made by UNAIDS in 2016, approximately 130,000 children aged 17 years and younger had been orphaned by HIV/AIDs. Recalling that OVCs are at an increased risk of being engaged in the worst forms of child labour, the Committee urges the Government to take immediate and effective measures, as part of the national action plan on OVCs, to ensure that HIV/AIDS orphans and OVCs are protected from the worst forms of child labour. The Committee once again requests the Government to provide information on the specific measures taken in this respect and on the results achieved, particularly with regard to the percentage of households with OVCs receiving support in the form of services and allowances.

Application of the Convention in practice. In its previous comments, the Committee noted the Government’s statement that there are children in Angola who are engaged in the worst forms of child labour, such as those who perform hazardous types of work (in the diamond mines and in the fishing industry), those who work on the streets or even some who are subjected to commercial sexual exploitation. The Government added that, because of its particularly long and difficult-to-monitor border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angolan children were taken from the capital and sent to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and, likewise, Congolese children were taken from Kinshasa and brought to Angola.

The Committee notes that the Government’s report does not contain any information on this subject. The Committee once again expresses its deep concern at the situation of persons under the age of 18 years who are engaged in the worst forms of child labour and therefore urges the Government to intensify its efforts to ensure that children are protected in practice against the worst forms of child labour, particularly the trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation of children, their use for illicit activities, or for hazardous work. It also requests the Government to take the necessary measures to ensure the availability of sufficient data on these issues and to provide information on the nature and scope of, and trends in, the worst forms of child labour and on the number of children covered by measures giving effect to the Convention. To the extent possible, this information should be disaggregated by gender and age.

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