Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2020, published 109th ILC session (2021)

Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) - Ukraine (Ratification: 2000)

Article 6 of the Convention. Programmes of action and removal of children from the worst forms of child labour. Trafficking of children. The Committee notes the Government’s reference in its report, in response to its request, to the 2018 implementation report of the National Action Plan for 2016–20 on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, annexed to the Government’s report. It notes that the objectives of the National Action Plan for 2016–20 include, among other things, the prevention of trafficking in persons and the protection of the rights of its victims, especially children. The Committee also notes, from the information in the 2018 implementation report, the undertaking of a significant number of awareness-raising activities in the different regions of the country to prevent the trafficking of children (including the holding of seminars, round tables, meetings and workshops), and the publication of educational material (including videos, games, and printed material), with dedicated activities in schools. It also notes from the same source the information on the conduct of training for law enforcement personnel, teachers, social workers, and staff of child protection institutions. Moreover, it notes the information on actions to detect and provide assistance to children in unfavourable conditions. Taking due note of the Government’s efforts, the Committee requests it to continue to provide information on the measures taken to prevent and combat the trafficking of children, and on the results achieved.

Article 7(2). Effective and time-bound measures. Clause (b). Providing the necessary and appropriate assistance for the removal of children from the worst forms of child labour and for their rehabilitation and social integration. Child victims of trafficking. In its previous comment, the Committee noted the type of assistance measures usually provided to child victims of trafficking by the state (placement in children’s centres or shelters and the provision of social, psychological, educational, medical, legal and other support for their rehabilitation) and the concrete assistance provided by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in this respect.

The Committee notes the Government’s indication, in response to its request, that in 2019, the status of victim of trafficking was assigned to eight children (two boys and six girls), who subsequently received support as provided for in the Anti-Human Trafficking Act of Ukraine. In this context, the Committee notes from the 2018 Report of the Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) that while the number of adult victims identified between 2014 and 2018 has increased, there are significant practical shortcomings in the identification of child victims, including by the police and the State Migration Service, and that the scale of the phenomenon is not known (paragraphs 140 to 151). It notes that GRETA recommends, among other things, to improve training and tools for the identification of child victims of trafficking in persons, and to set up sufficient and adequately funded shelters with qualified staff and assistance services for presumed child victims of trafficking (paragraph 152). The Committee requests the Government to provide information on any progress made regarding measures taken (use of indicators and tools, cooperation between the relevant actors, etc.) to improve the identification of child victims of trafficking. It also requests the Government to provide more detailed information regarding the protection of child victims of trafficking in persons, including the number of child victims identified, and the types of assistance and services provided to them.