Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2011, published 101st ILC session (2012)

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

Article 7(2) of the Convention. Effective and time-bound measures. Clauses (a) and (b). Preventing the engagement of children in the worst forms of child labour and direct assistance for the removal children from these worst forms of child labour. Further to its previous comments, the Committee notes the indication in the Government’s report of the adoption of a National Plan of Action for the Gradual and Progressive Elimination of Child Labour in Honduras (2008–15) (National Plan of Action). It observes that the objectives of the National Plan of Action include removing children from hazardous types of work and the worst forms of child labour. The Secretariat for Labour and Social Security also launched an initiative in 2010 for the establishment of a platform of indicators as a basis for evaluating the attainment of the objectives of the National Plan of Action. The Committee also notes the Government’s indication that Honduras has made significant progress in the formulation of a roadmap to ensure that it is a country free from child labour and its worst forms, as the strategic national framework targeting the achievement of the objectives set out in “Decent Work in the Americas: An agenda for the Hemisphere”, namely the elimination of the worst forms of child labour by 2015 and the eradication of child labour in all its forms by 2020. Finally, the Committee notes the information provided in the Government’s report concerning the implementation of a project for the comprehensive development of the family. One of the components of the project, entitled Mano Amiga is targeted at young persons living in the crematoria in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula. According to the Government, 31,400 people between the ages of 14 and 30 have benefited from assistance within the framework of this programme. The Committee requests the Government to provide additional information on the specific measures adopted or envisaged in the framework of the National Plan of Action for the Gradual and Progressive Elimination of Child Labour in Honduras (2008–15) and the roadmap to prevent children from becoming victims of the worst forms of child labour and to provide the necessary and appropriate direct assistance for their removal from these worst forms of child labour and their rehabilitation and social integration. It also requests the Government to provide information on the results achieved in terms of the number of children who have in practice been prevented from or removed from the worst forms of child labour and who have benefited from reintegration measures.

Clause (d). Children at special risk. Children orphaned or vulnerable due to HIV/AIDS. The Committee noted previously that, according to the paper entitled AIDS epidemic update, published by UNAIDS and the WHO in December 2006, the increasing incidence of the virus in the country is a cause of concern. It also noted that, in its concluding observations of February 2007 (CRC/C/HND/CO/3, paragraph 62), the Committee on the Rights of the Child expressed concern at this situation. It observed that the Government is implementing various programmes of action targeting children orphaned or vulnerable due to HIV/AIDS.

The Committee notes that, according to the Government’s report on the progress achieved in the implementation of the UNGASS communiqué to UNAIDS in March 2010, the HIV/AIDS epidemic mainly affects the young economically active population of reproductive age. Furthermore, according to the report, there was a significant number of child orphans and other vulnerable children in Honduras in 2009, totalling around 61,849. However, it notes that the Government’s report does not provide information on the measures adopted to protect orphans living with HIV/AIDS from the worst forms of child labour. Considering that the HIV/AIDS pandemic has serious consequences for orphans who are likely to be exposed to the worst forms of child labour, the Committee requests the Government to intensify its efforts to prevent child orphans of HIV/AIDS from being engaged in the worst forms of child labour and to ensure their rehabilitation and social integration, and it requests it to provide information on the specific measures taken in this respect.

Article 8. International cooperation. Poverty reduction. In its previous comments, the Committee noted that, in its concluding observations of February 2007 (CRC/C/HND/CO/3, para. 19), the Committee on the Rights of the Child expressed concern that the increase in the amount of funds available through, for instance, debt reduction programmes and international cooperation, have not resulted in a proportionate strengthening of child protection mechanisms. It also noted that the Government signed a tripartite agreement concerning the adoption of the Decent Work Country Programme in August 2007, which takes into account child labour.

The Committee notes the Government’s report does not provide information on this subject. It observes that, according to the results of the 2010 household survey conducted by the National Institute of Statistics (INE) accessible on the website of the INE (www.ine.gob.hn), 66 per cent of the population in Honduras lives in poverty and 45 per cent in extreme poverty. Considering that poverty reduction programmes contribute to breaking the cycle of poverty, which is essential for the elimination of the worst forms of child labour, the Committee expresses the firm hope that the Government, within the framework of its Poverty Reduction Strategy Programme, will take measures targeting the effective reduction of poverty among children at risk of being engaged in or who are victims of the worst forms of child labour. Furthermore, the Committee once again requests the Government to provide information in its next report on the measures taken, in the framework of the implementation of the Decent Work Country Programme, for the elimination of the worst forms of child labour.