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

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

Article 7(2) of the Convention. Effective and time-bound measures. Clause (d). Children at special risk. 1. Street children. In its previous comments, the Committee noted that many children work in the streets in order to meet the needs of their families and the results of the programmes implemented by the Government were still weak. The Committee requested the Government to intensify its efforts and to take immediate and effective measures for the protection of street children against the worst forms of child labour. It requested the Government to provide information on the results achieved.

The Committee notes the indication in the Government’s report that the Comprehensive Care Programme for Children and Young Persons in the Streets (PAINAC) of the Secretariat for Children and Young Persons (SNNA) reached 849 children and young persons between August 2018 and August 2019. The PAINAC has five protection centres throughout the country that provide comprehensive care services and seek to reintegrate the children in their care by reuniting them with their families so that they can leave the streets permanently. The Committee also notes that the SNNA has continued to develop the ABRAZO programme (for the progressive reduction of child labour on the streets) in collaboration with the ILO International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour and the United Nations Children’s Fund. The program is responsible for monitoring 217 urban households and its street educators build rapport with children with a view to their inclusion in the programme.

The Committee notes the rapid response mechanism (DRI) of the Ministry for Children and Young Persons (MINNA), operating in direct collaboration with the “Fono Ayuda 147” hotline service and other institutions. The DRI is a set of strategies for continuous care made up of three mechanisms. DRI RED intervenes in complex situations for the restitution of children’s rights, DRI ADDICCIONES works with children and young persons in substance abuse situations and DRI CALLE works specifically with girls, boys and young persons in street situations. While noting the efforts made by the Government to identify and assist street children, the Committee requests the Government to continue providing information on the number of street children, as well as on the results achieved through the programmes implemented to protect street children from the worst forms of child labour.

2. Indigenous children. The Committee previously noted that a large number of children of indigenous peoples are not registered or lack identity documents and do not benefit from basic services in the areas of healthcare, nutrition, education and cultural activities. The Committee also noted that, according to the concluding observations of 4 October 2016 of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, significant differences persist in access to education among the children of indigenous and Afro-Paraguayan communities (CERD/C/PRY/CO/4-6, paragraph 37). The Committee requested the Government to continue its efforts to protect these children from the worst forms of child labour and to provide information on new programmes of action implemented by the Directorate of Original Peoples, and the results achieved.

The Committee notes the indication in the Government’s report that the MINNA and the Directorate for the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Indigenous Children and Young Persons follow on a programme implementation methodology that respects indigenous cultures and also seeks to improve the quality of life of families and the community through the community centres in Tarumandymi and Cerro Poty and the protection centre in Kuarahy Rese. In August 2019, a new protection and rehabilitation centre was opened in the indigenous Punta Porã community. The aim of this centre is to reintegrate the children of indigenous peoples who are in substance abuse and street situations through the development of community roots.

The Committee notes that, between August 2018 and August 2019, some 1,310 girls, boys and young persons of indigenous peoples in the streets were provided assistance by the Directorate for the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Indigenous Children and Young Persons. The Committee requests the Government to continue its efforts to protect these children from the worst forms of child labour and to continue to provide information on the results achieved through the various programmes implemented.

Article 8. Enhanced international cooperation. In its previous comments, the Committee noted that the Government had provided details on some of the international cooperation measures established, but had not provided information on the results achieved through those measures. The Committee requested the Government to provide information on the measures taken to reinforce cooperation and assistance with MERCOSUR countries with regard to the trafficking and sexual exploitation of children and young persons, and the results achieved.

The Committee notes the Government’s indication in its report that the Ministry for Women has joined the coordination mechanism for the care of women in situations of international trafficking in the MERCOSUR network. The Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security has also joined a MERCOSUR working group that recently developed a regional plan on the prevention and elimination of forced labour and trafficking in persons for labour exploitation, which was adopted on 5 June 2019 (MERCOSUR/GMC/RES.Nº27-19). The Committee further notes the approval of a protocol of the MERCOSUR network, with a view to the formulation of a work plan in which the monitoring and follow-up mechanism for the care of women in situations of international trafficking will be approved.

The Committee notes the discovery by INTERPOL Spain of paedophile networks (sharing photographic and video material of child pornography content). An investigation was initiated and the findings were shared with the Government of Paraguay. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the measures taken and the results achieved through cooperation with and the assistance of the MERCOSUR countries with regard to the trafficking and sexual exploitation of children and young persons.