Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2018, published 108th ILC session (2019)

Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) - Guinea (Ratification: 2003)

Articles 6 and 7(2)(a) of the Convention. Programmes of action and effective and time-bound measures to prevent the engagement of children in the worst forms of child labour. Trafficking of children. The Committee previously noted that Guinea was a country of origin, transit and destination in relation to the trafficking of children for sexual exploitation and forced labour in agriculture, diamond mines and domestic work. According to the 2010 report relating to the National Survey on Child Labour and Trafficking (ENTE), 44,068 children were at risk of becoming victims of trafficking in Guinea. The Committee noted that the Government had adopted a “National plan of action to combat trafficking in persons” and had established the National Committee to Combat Trafficking in Persons (CNLTP), with a particular focus on women and children.

The Committee notes that the Government has not provided any information in this regard. It notes that the CNLTP was replaced through the adoption on 17 February 2017 of Decree No. D/2017/039/PRG/SGG establishing the competencies, structure and functioning of the National Committee for Combating Trafficking in Persons and Similar Practices (CNLTPPA), whose role is to promote, devise and formulate policies, programmes and projects to combat trafficking in persons and similar practices (section 2). Its responsibilities include: (i) drawing up a national plan of action covering the areas of prevention, protection, repression, return, reintegration, coordination and cooperation in relation to combating trafficking in persons and similar practices; and (ii) collecting and disseminating information on trafficking in persons and similar practices. The Committee also notes that, according to the 2016 evaluation report on national mechanisms for combating trafficking in persons and providing care for victims in Guinea, the Migration Action programme of the ACP–EU (African, Caribbean and Pacific countries and the European Union), implemented by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), recommends that the Government focus its new plan of action on, inter alia, improving mechanisms to prevent trafficking and protect victims and on collecting and analysing national data on trafficking in persons. The abovementioned report notes that the trafficking of young persons in Guinea relates in particular to forced labour in agriculture, diamond mines, domestic work, forced begging, street vending and the sexual exploitation of Guinean girls and boys. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the adoption and implementation of the “National plan of action to combat trafficking in persons” and its impact on the elimination of the trafficking of children under 18 years of age for economic and sexual exploitation. It also requests the Government to provide information on the activities of the CNLTPPA specifically relating to the trafficking of children under 18 years of age, and on specific measures to prevent children under 18 years of age from becoming victims of trafficking and the results achieved.

Article 7(2). Effective and time-bound measures. Clause (b). Necessary and appropriate direct assistance for the removal of children from the worst forms of child labour and for their rehabilitation and social integration. Children living or working on the street. The Committee previously noted with concern that an increasing number of children were living or working on the streets in Guinea and that no statistical data were available on street children. It noted that the CRC expressed concern at the fact that these children had no access to any form of education and were exposed to various forms of abuse and exploitation.

The Committee notes with regret that the Government has not provided any information in this respect. Considering that children in street situations are at particular risk of involvement in the worst forms of child labour, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on the steps taken to protect and remove these children from the worst forms of child labour and on the results achieved in this regard.

Clause (d). Children at special risk. HIV/AIDS orphans. In its previous comments, the Committee noted that sections 265–267 of the Children’s Code of 2008 addressed the protection of orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs) and provided that such children must receive support from the State. It noted that the 2014 report of the National Committee for Action against AIDS reviewing progress towards achieving the targets of the 2011 UN Declaration on HIV/AIDS indicated that orphans had been taken care of under the care and support programme.

The Committee notes that the Government has not provided any information on the measures taken to protect HIV/AIDS orphans. It notes that the Government has adopted a “National strategic framework to combat HIV/AIDS” (CSN) for the 2013–17 period. The Committee also observes that, according to UNAIDS estimates for 2017 in Guinea, 54,000 children under 17 years of age are HIV/AIDS orphans. Recalling that HIV/AIDS orphans are at a greater risk of becoming involved in the worst forms of child labour, the Committee requests the Government to intensify its efforts to ensure that these children are protected against the worst forms of child labour. It requests the Government to supply information on the measures taken in this respect and the results achieved, particularly in the context of the CSN 2013–17.

Article 8. Cooperation. 1. Regional and international cooperation. The Committee noted previously that Guinea is a member of Interpol, which assists cooperation between countries in various regions, particularly for combating the trafficking of children. It also noted that in 2005 the Government signed the Multilateral Cooperation Agreement to combat the trafficking of children in West Africa, and signed a cooperation agreement with Mali to combat the trafficking of children. The Government also signed the new Multilateral Regional Cooperation Agreement to combat the trafficking of persons, particularly women and children, in West and Central Africa. The Government also indicated that it was planning to sign bilateral agreements with Senegal, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea-Bissau on trafficking in persons, particularly women and children.

The Committee notes that the Government has not provided any information on this matter. It notes the implementation of the 2018–20 plan of action of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), of which Guinea is a member, for combating trafficking in persons, particularly women and children. The Committee also notes that Guinea signed a cooperation agreement with Senegal in 2017 as part of the ECOWAS plan of action against trafficking in persons. In view of the scale of cross-border trafficking in the country, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken under the abovementioned agreements for collaboration with other signatory countries with a view to prohibiting and eliminating the worst forms of child labour, particularly the sale and trafficking of children for labour and sexual exploitation, and the results achieved.

2. Poverty reduction. In its previous comments, the Committee noted the Government’s indication that the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) III 2013–15 was adopted in March 2013. The Government indicated that the PRSP would be instrumental in achieving the elimination of the worst forms of child labour.

The Committee notes that the Government has not provided any information on this matter. It notes the Government’s indication in its report to the CRC in August 2017 that some 60 per cent of children live in poor households, and that the poverty rate is almost twice as high among households with children under the age of 15 than among those with no children under that age (CRC/C/GIN/3-6, paragraph 2). The Committee notes that a Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) was signed with the ILO for the 2016–19 period, and the priorities of the DWCP include promoting decent work for young persons and strengthening social dialogue as a means of crisis prevention and of promoting decent employment and social peace. The Committee urges the Government to provide information on the measures taken as part of the DWCP and the PRSP to prevent and eliminate the worst forms of child labour and the results achieved in this respect.