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Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) - Gabon (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. In its previous comments, the Committee observed that, despite the improvements noted in recent years in terms of the increase in the net school enrolment rate and gender parity in primary education, the progress achieved is undermined by the high drop-out rates and the high percentage of children repeating classes. The Committee also noted that the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) highlighted the 2010–20 plan to invest in education and increase the number of teachers and the number and quality of schools, particularly in rural areas.

The Committee notes the Government’s information indicating that in 2018 it organized a “Task Force on Education” seminar aimed at improving the education system. The Government indicates that at the end of this seminar a five-year action plan with three components (teaching, infrastructure and structures) was proposed in order to diversify sectors and train teachers in them, improve school infrastructure, establish a national education council and merge the separate ministries responsible for education and training into a single ministry. The Committee also notes that the Government, in its report on the Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138), indicates that it is working to progressively establish universal pre-primary education by 2020, and also to recruit and train teachers. The Committee notes that the Government indicates, in its August 2017 report submitted in the context of the universal periodic review to the Human Rights Council, that it carried out a study in 2016 on children dropping out of school (A/HRC/WG.6/GAB/1, paragraph 27). The Government also indicates in the report that 600 classrooms were built between 2010 and 2016 and that furniture is being made to equip them. The Committee also notes that the August 2017 report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in the context of the universal periodic review, highlights the fact that UNESCO recommended that Gabon improve its national education system and access to quality education for all, while reducing educational wastage rates and increasing school attendance rates (A/HRC/WG.6/28/GAB/2, paragraph 48).

The Committee notes that, according to the UNICEF annual report for 2017, the gross primary school enrolment rate is 140 per cent for girls and 144 per cent for boys, but that the repetition rate in the primary sector, standing at 36 per cent, is one of the highest in the world. The secondary school enrolment rate is 57 per cent for girls and 48 per cent for boys, UNICEF and the Government have taken action to improve the completion rate for girls in the first cycle of secondary education. Recalling that education is key to preventing the engagement of children in the worst forms of child labour, the Committee encourages the Government to continue its efforts to improve the functioning of the education system through measures aimed, inter alia, at reducing the school drop-out and repetition rates and increasing the enrolment rate in secondary education. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the 2010–20 plan referred to above and the three-part five-year action plan, and to communicate the results achieved in terms of statistics on school enrolment, repetition and drop-out rates. The Committee also requests the Government to send the results of the 2016 study on children dropping out of school.

Clause (d). Children at special risk. 1. HIV/AIDS orphans. The Committee previously noted that, according to UNAIDS statistics, the number of children who were HIV/AIDS orphans in Gabon in 2015 was estimated at 16,000. It also noted the adoption of the National Strategic Plan 2008–15 to combat HIV/AIDS.

The Committee notes the Government’s indications that the National Strategic Plan 2013–17 and efforts by national bodies have resulted in a reduction of the HIV/AIDS prevalence rate from 8.9 to 5.9 per cent. The Government indicates that inter-ministerial committees for combating HIV/AIDS have been set up and that prevention and access to care in this area have been improved. The Committee notes that, according to the indications of the ILO office in Yaoundé, a new National Strategic Plan to combat HIV/AIDS was adopted for the 2018–22 period. It also notes that, according to UNAIDS, the Government has developed campaigns to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS in secondary schools in Gabon. It notes that UNAIDS put the estimated number of HIV/AIDS orphans in 2017 at 11,000. The Committee commends the Government’s efforts and requests it to continue providing information on the measures taken to ensure that children who are orphaned by HIV/AIDS are not engaged in the worst forms of child labour, particularly in the context of the National Strategic Plan 2018–22 to combat HIV/AIDS, and on the results achieved.

2. Street children. In its previous comments, the Committee noted that a study had been undertaken on the causes and extent of the phenomenon of street children and that, according to its results, the number of street children was estimated at around 1,000 nationwide. The study indicated that street children could be seen around markets and restaurants, at road junctions, bus stations, bus and taxi stops, car parks and public dumps.

The Committee notes the Government’s indication that there is still a large number of children living on the streets. The Committee observes that the 2017 UNICEF annual report indicates that, according to the national protection indicators matrix, a total of 1,185 street children have been identified. Recalling that street children are particularly exposed to the worst forms of child labour, the Committee urges the Government to take effective and time-bound measures to remove children from the streets and to ensure their rehabilitation and social integration, and to provide information on the results achieved.

3. Migrant children. The Committee notes that UNICEF, in its annual report for 2017, observes that migrants in Gabon account for one fifth of the total population. UNICEF highlights the fact that forced labour and cross-border trafficking involving children are more prevalent within migrant communities. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken to protect migrant children from the worst forms of child labour.