Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2019, published 109th ILC session (2021)

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

Article 5 of the Convention. Monitoring mechanisms. Labour inspection and application of the Convention in practice. As regards labour inspection and the application of the Convention in practice, the Committee refers to its detailed comments under the Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138).

Article 6. Programmes of action. Commercial sexual exploitation. In its previous comments, the Committee requested the Government to provide detailed information, including statistics, on the results achieved through the implementation of the National Plan for the elimination of the commercial sexual exploitation of children and young persons (2016–21).

The Committee notes in the Government’s report the statistical information issued by the National Committee for the elimination of the commercial and non-commercial sexual exploitation of girls, boys and young persons (CONAPEES). In 2018, a total number of 175 girls, boys and young persons (of a total number of 386 persons being sexually exploited for commercial purposes) were identified by mobile teams that work in collaboration with the CONAPEES and are responsible for providing direct assistance to girls, boys and young persons who are victims of sexual exploitation.

The Committee notes that, further to the universal periodic review by the Human Rights Council of January 2019 (A/HRC/WG.6/32/URY/2), the Committee on the Rights of the Child expressed concern about the prevalence of violence against, and the sexual exploitation of children. It urged Uruguay to bring its criminal legislation into compliance with the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.

In addition, the Committee notes once again that the Government has not provided information on the results achieved through the National Plan for the elimination of the commercial sexual exploitation of children and young persons (2016–21). While noting the measures taken by the Government to eradicate the sexual exploitation of children, the Committee requests the Government to continue its efforts to combat the sexual exploitation of children below 18 years of age for commercial purposes. The Committee once again requests the Government to provide detailed information on the results achieved through the implementation of the National Plan.

Article 7(2). Effective and time-bound measures. Subparagraphs (a) and (d). Preventing the engagement of children in the worst forms of child labour. Identifying children at special risk. The Committee notes that, further to the universal periodic review by the Human Rights Council of January 2019 (A/HRC/WG.6/32/URY/2), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, along with other treaty bodies, expressed concern that the inequalities in terms of access to education and educational attainment, which had the greatest impact on children of African descent and those from disadvantaged groups, were sharp and persistent. Particular concern was expressed regarding the high dropout rates, especially at the secondary school level. The Committee requests the Government to pursue its efforts to improve the country’s education system, so as to prevent children from engaging in the worst forms of child labour. The Committee encourages the Government to take the necessary measures to reduce the school dropout rates and the inequalities in terms of access to education, particularly secondary education, paying particular attention to children of African descent and those from the most disadvantaged socio-economic groups. In this regard, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on the school dropout rates, disaggregated by socio economic group, gender and age.

Article 8. International cooperation and assistance. In its previous comments, the Committee encouraged the Government to continue its international cooperation efforts to combat the worst forms of child labour, providing information on the progress made and the results achieved through the various international cooperation projects.

The Committee notes that, according to the 2018 annual report of the Uruguayan Institute for Children and Young Persons, the Uruguayan International Cooperation Agency conducted a final evaluation of the project of “institutional strengthening for the formulation of policies to address sexual exploitation for commercial purposes in Uruguay and Colombia”. The Committee once again encourages the Government to continue its international cooperation efforts to combat the worst forms of child labour and requests it to supply detailed information on the progress made and the results achieved through its various international cooperation plans.