Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2016, published 106th ILC session (2017)

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

Article 7(2) of the Convention. Effective and time-bound measures. Clause (d). Children at special risk. Roma children. The Committee previously noted the adoption of the National Roma Integration Strategy in Spain (2012–20), one of the objectives of which is to improve access to education and maintain the presence of Roma children in compulsory schooling. As regards the results achieved in access to education for Roma children, the Government indicated that the access of Roma children to primary education had reached more or less normal levels. However, the Committee observed that, despite the measures adopted by Spain, the Roma continue to be exposed to discrimination in the exercise of economic, social and cultural rights, particularly in education, and that the reduction in school assistance forming part of the austerity measures has had a negative impact on access to education for Roma children.

The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the Operational Plan 2014–16 has been approved with a view to the effective implementation of the National Roma Integration Strategy. The Government also indicates that, according to a study entitled “Roma students in secondary education”, the level of education of the Roma population has gradually improved but remains lower than for the rest of the population and that the gap starts to widen before the end of compulsory schooling. The Committee further notes that the rate of absenteeism in compulsory secondary education is higher for Roma children than for the rest of the population. The Committee, therefore, encourages the Government to pursue its efforts to improve access to education for Roma children and maintain their presence in the education system as part of the National Roma Integration Strategy in Spain (2012–20). It also requests the Government to continue providing information on the results achieved in this respect.