Country profile SDN
Context
Context
| Year | Age group | Proportion | Gender | Indicator | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 5-17 | 19.9 | Male | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity and household chores, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2014 | 5-17 | 16.3 | Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity and household chores, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2014 | 5-17 | 18.1 | Male & Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity and household chores, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2014 | 5-17 | 19.3 | Male | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2014 | 5-17 | 15.2 | Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2014 | 5-17 | 15.3 | Male & Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity, by sex and age (%) | Source |
National Legal Framework
National Legal Framework
| Provision | Legislation date | Convention | Legislation info | sources | Value | sort_order | Provision description | Legislation description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Is the use, procuring or offering of children for illicit activities, in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs, prohibited? | 1996-12-18 | C182 | Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1994 - Section 15. (1) (c) and Section 15. (2) (c) | [{"link_name":"Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1994","source_link":"https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/230452?ln=fr&v=pdf"}] | Yes | 11 | C182 prohibits the use, procuring or offering of children for illicit activities in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs. | Section 15. (1) (c) punishes every person who commits, for the purpose of trade, the crime of trafficking in or manufacturing drugs or cultivating plants from which narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances are extracted, to y life imprisonment and to a fine of not less than twenty thousand pounds. If such crime were to be perpetrated in association with any minor, Section 15. (2) (c) raises the sentence to death penalty. |
| Is the use, procuring or offering of a child for the purpose of prostitution and for production of pornography prohibited? | 2010-02-10 | C182 | Child Act, 2010 - Sections 45. (d) and 45. (e) | [{"link_name":"Child Act, 2010","source_link":"https://clr.africanchildforum.org/Legislation%20Per%20Country/Sudan/sudan_children_2010_en.pdf"}] | Yes | 10 | C182 prohibits the use of a child under the age of 18 for prostitution, regardless of the child's consent. The use, procuring or offering of any person under the age of 18 for commercial sexual exploitation constitutes a worst form of child labour, even if prostitution is a legalised. In regard to the prohibition of child pornography, States need to make sure that national legislation addresses the involvement of a child in the production of pornographic materials, including non-recorded performances. | Subsections (d) and (e) of the Act's Section 45., respectively, prohibit "the production, circulation, publication, import, export, exhibition, sale or possession of pornographic materials, relating to the Child" and the "employment of Children, for the purpose of sexual activities, for remuneration, or any of the forms of consideration". |
| Is the sale and trafficking of children for sexual and labour exploitation prohibited? | 2014-11-05 | C182 | Combating of Human Trafficking Act, 2014 - Sections 9. (1) and (2) (b) | [{"link_name":"Combating of Human Trafficking Act, 2014","source_link":"https://antislaverylaw.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Sudan-Trafficking-in-Persons-Law.pdf"}] | Yes | 8 | C182 defines all forms of slavery or practices similar to slavery, such as the sale and trafficking of children, debt bondage and serfdom and forced or compulsory labour as worst forms of child labour. | Section 9. (1) of the Act prohibits human trafficking and Section 9. (2) (b) of that same text considers as an aggravating circumstance the committing of such offence on a child. |
| Is the minimum age for admission to work not less than the age for completion of compulsory schooling? | 2012 | C138 | General education Act, 2012 - Section 6. (a), Section 18. (1) | [{"link_name":"General education Act, 2012","source_link":"https://dr.211check.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/General-Education-Act-2012.pdf"}] | Yes | 4 | C138 requires that the minimum age for admission to work shall not be less than the age of completion of compulsory schooling and, in any case, shall not be less than 15 years. | Section 6. (a) of the Act provides that primary education shall be free. Section 18. (1) states the conditions and terms of compulsory formal education. It stipulates that "every parent or guardian of a leaner shall ensure that his/her child is enrolled and attends schools when he/she attains the age of 5 or 6 years". Provided that primary education is defined in the text as the "education beginning from the age of six years which comprises eight years from primary one through primary eight", we can conclude that the age of completion of compulsory education is set to 14 years, which corresponds to the minimum age for admission to work. |
| Minimum age for hazardous work | 1997-06-22 | C138 & C182 | Labour Code, 1997 - Section 4. and Section 21. (2) | [{"link_name":"Labour Code, 1997","source_link":"https://www.africa-laws.org/Sudan/Employment%20law/Labour%20Code%201997.pdf"}] | 16 | 6 | C138 and C182 set 18 as the minimum age for hazardous work, which is defined as work that, due to its nature or the circumstances in which it is carried out, is likely to jeopardize children’s health, safety or morals. C138 and C182 allow countries to permit hazardous work exceptionally as from 16, provided that the health, safety and morals of the young persons concerned are fully protected and that they have received adequate specific instruction or training. | Section 4. of the Act defines a young person as any person who is under the age of 16 years. Section 21. (2) provides that should be forbidden the employment of a young person in hazardous or unhealthy industries and jobs, in jobs requiring large physical effort and in jobs or occupations which are harmful to their morals. |
| List of hazardous activities prohibited for children | N/A | C138 & C182 | N/A | [{"link_name":"CEACR Direct Request","source_link":"https://normlex.ilo.org/dyn/nrmlx_en/f?p=1000:13100:0::NO:13100:P13100_COMMENT_ID,P13100_COUNTRY_ID:4368977,103176:NO"}] | No | 7 | C138 and C182 require the national determination of a list of hazardous work prohibited for children under 18 years of age. The competent authorities should consult with workers' and employers' organizations to determine what types of employment or work are considered to be hazardous. Such a list shall be periodically examined and revised as necessary. | In a Direct Request published in 2024, the CEACR "expresses the firm hope that the Government will take the necessary measures without delay to ensure that the legal provisions determining the types of hazardous work to be prohibited for persons under 18 years of age will be adopted, in the very near future", thus implying no such law has yet been adopted. |
| Light work - Determination of types and conditions of activities | N/A | C138 | N/A | [{"link_name":"CEACR Direct Request","source_link":"https://normlex.ilo.org/dyn/nrmlx_en/f?p=1000:13100:0::NO:13100:P13100_COMMENT_ID,P13100_COUNTRY_ID:4368971,103176:NO"}] | N/A | 3 | If the country chooses to allow light work, States must determine what activities are considered light work, and the hours and the circumstances under which they may be carried out. | In a Direct Request published in 2024, the CEACR "requests the Government to determine the number of hours during which, and the conditions in which, [light] work may be undertaken by children", thus implying that not such law has yet been enforced. |
| Is forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18 for use in armed conflict prohibited? | 2010-02-10 | C182 | Children's Act, 2010 - Section 4 and Section 43. (1) | [{"link_name":"Children's Act, 2010","source_link":"https://www.refworld.org/legal/legislation/natlegbod/2010/en/120375"}] | Yes | 9 | C182 defines forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18 for use in armed conflict as a worst form of child labour. Nevertheless, C182 only prohibits the forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18, and does not cover the voluntary recruitment of children under 18. | Section 4 of the Act defines a child as a person who is not above age of 18 years. For its part, Section 43. (1) provides that "there shall be prohibited the recruitment of Children in the armed forces, or in armed groups, or employment thereof to participate in war actions.". |
| Minimum age for admission to apprenticeship | 2010-02-10 | C138 | Children's Act, 2010 - Section 36. (2) | [{"link_name":"Children's Act, 2010","source_link":"https://www.refworld.org/legal/legislation/natlegbod/2010/en/120375"}] | 14 | 5 | C138 does not apply to work done in school for general, vocational or technical education or in training institutions or work done by children at least 14 years of age in undertakings, where such work is carried out in accordance with conditions prescribed by the competent authority. Such work must be an integral part of: (i) a course of education or training for which a school or training institution is primarily responsible; (ii) a programme of training mainly or entirely in an undertaking, which programme has been approved by the competent authority; or (iii) a programme of guidance or orientation designed to facilitate the choice of an occupation or of a line of training. | Section 36. (2) of the Act states that "A Child may join apprenticeship at industrial schools, and vocational education, and training institutes and centres, which are subject to the supervision of the State, where he attains fourteen years of his ages.". |
| Minimum age for admission to work | 2010-02-10 | C138 | Children's Act, 2010 - Section 36. (1) | [{"link_name":"Children's Act, 2010","source_link":"https://www.refworld.org/legal/legislation/natlegbod/2010/en/120375"}] | 14 | 1 | C138 establishes 15 as the minimum age for work in general. Developing countries have the option of setting a minimum age of 14 as a transitional measure as they strengthen their education systems and economies. | Section 36. (1) of the Children's Act sets the minimum age for admission to work to 14 years but permits exceptions for children working in agricultural work provided they are not dangerous or harmful to their health. |
| Minimum age for light work | N/A | C138 | N/A | [{"link_name":"-Child Act, 2010","source_link":"https://clr.africanchildforum.org/Legislation%20Per%20Country/Sudan/sudan_children_2010_en.pdf"},{"link_name":"-Labour Code, 1997","source_link":"https://www.africa-laws.org/Sudan/Employment%20law/Labour%20Code%201997.pdf"},{"link_name":"-CEACR Direct Request","source_link":"https://normlex.ilo.org/dyn/nrmlx_en/f?p=1000:13100:0::NO:13100:P13100_COMMENT_ID,P13100_COUNTRY_ID:4368971,103176:NO"}] | N/A | 2 | C138 defines light work as work that does not interfere with children’s schooling, or their ability to benefit from it, and that is not hazardous. C138 allows countries to permit light work for children younger than the general minimum age. For countries that set the minimum age at 15, this means children aged 13-14, and for those that set it at 14, children aged 12-13 may engage in light work. | In a Direct Request published in 2024, the Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations (CEACR) noted that although the Child Act of 2010 permits exceptions to the minimum age of 14 for admission to work, for children working in agricultural work and in grazing, the legislation did not specify a lower minimum age for these activities. Besides, the Committee notes that pursuant to section 21 of the Labour Code of 1997, children between 12 and 15 years of age are allowed to perform work, but it also observes that the this provision may be construed in a broad sense so as to apply to work other than light work. |
International Legal Framework
International Legal Framework
| Ratification status | Convention | Convention description | Date of ratification | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| in-force | C138 | Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) | 07-MAR-2003 | Source |
| in-force | C182 | Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) | 07-MAR-2003 | Source |
Policies and Plans
Policies and Plans
| Description | sources | Period | Policy name | Implementing agency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The plan seeks to build a solid foundation for a country that recognizes women’s rights. Some of the measures and objectives set out in this latest include provisions aiming at improving children’s protection, including safeguarding the protection of women and children from sexual abuse and sexual violence; supporting and advocating efforts of the “Unit for Combatting Violence Against Women and Children” to eliminate all forms of gender based violence; enacting a new law criminalizing child marriage. | [{"link_name":"National Action Plan For the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security","source_link":"https://1325naps.peacewomen.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Sudan-2020-2022.pdf"}] | 2020-2022 | National Action Plan For the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security | Ministry of Labour and Social Development |
| In an Observation published in 2024, the Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations (CEACR) noted that the NCCT continued its efforts to eliminate the practice of abduction and observed that its development of a National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking, which includes abduction as one of the means of trafficking in persons. | [{"link_name":"CEACR Observation","source_link":"https://normlex.ilo.org/dyn/nrmlx_en/f?p=1000:13100:0::NO:13100:P13100_COMMENT_ID,P13100_COUNTRY_ID:4368980,103176:NO"}] | 2018-2019 | National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking | National Committee for Combating Human Trafficking (NCCT) |
| In the context of the 2017-2020 National Development strategy, have been outlined the priorities for socioeconomic development in Sudan, thus giving prominence to basic education, primary healthcare and other social sector services. In line with this objective, the ESSP aims at increasing access to preschool ; improving the quality of preschooling ; increasing opportunities for literacy programs ; enhancing retention in basic education ; improving quality of learning at basic education ; increasing access to and equity in formal basic education ; strengthening the system for effective delivery of basic education ; improving learning and skills development in secondary education ; strengthening system for delivery of secondary education programs. | [{"link_name":"ESSP","source_link":"https://www.globalpartnership.org/node/document/download?file=document/file/2019-01-sudan-general-education-sector-strategic-plan-2018-2023.pdf"}] | 2018-2023 | General Education Sector Strategic Plan (ESSP) | National Education Sector Coordination Framework |