Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2014, published 104th ILC session (2015)

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

Article 7(2) of the Convention. Effective and time-bound measures. Clause (a). Preventing the engagement of children in the worst forms of child labour. Access to free basic education. Further to its previous comments, the Committee notes the detailed information provided by the Government concerning the adoption of the “Programme for the strategic development of basic education” (PDSEB), covering the 2012–21 period. One of the strategic goals of the PDSEB is to achieve universal primary school attendance by 2021. The Government indicates that, despite the efforts made in recent years, Burkina Faso will be unable to achieve universal school attendance by 2015 but that, under the PDSEB, the intermediate goal is to achieve a primary school completion rate of 75.1 per cent by 2015. The PDSEB also seeks to increase the transition rate from primary to post-primary education to 93.2 per cent by 2015 and then to 95 per cent by 2021, achieving gender parity by 2025.

The Committee notes that, according to the information provided by the Government in relation to the Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138), efforts have been made by the State, and its partners, to improve the primary school enrolment rate. Among other things, the budget for the Ministry of National Education has been considerably increased, which has enabled improvements in education in terms of the building of new infrastructure (the number of classrooms increased from 43,661 in 2011–12 to 47,709 in 2012–13) and the recruitment of a significant number of teachers (increasing from 43,330 in 2011–12 to 47,271 in 2012–13). The Committee notes with interest the Government’s indication that the gross primary school enrolment rates rose from 79.6 per cent in 2011–12 (81.1 per cent for boys and 78.1 per cent for girls) to 81.3 per cent in 2012–13 (81.6 per cent for boys and 81 per cent for girls).

However, the Committee notes that, according to statistics from the Ministry of National Education and Literacy for 2012–13, the net school enrolment rate is 63.2 per cent at national level (63.5 per cent for boys and 62.8 per cent for girls). Moreover, the primary school completion rate remains very low, standing at 59.5 per cent in 2012–13 (59.3 per cent for boys and 59.7 per cent for girls). Considering that education contributes to preventing the engagement of children in the worst forms of child labour, the Committee strongly requests the Government to intensify its efforts to ensure access to free basic education for all children. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing information on the specific measures adopted in this respect and their impact on increasing the school enrolment and completion rates.

Clauses (a) and (b). Preventing the engagement of children in the worst forms of child labour. Direct assistance for the removal of children from the worst forms of child labour and for their rehabilitation and social integration. 1. Sale and trafficking of children. The Committee previously noted that the Government, through the Ministry of Social Action and National Solidarity (MASSN), has been conducting awareness-raising activities for the main parties affected by the sale and trafficking of children. It also noted that victims of trafficking in Burkina Faso are catered for in transit centres, where boys and girls have separate accommodation. The victims are provided with food, clothing, and medical and psychosocial care, and those suffering from trauma receive additional psychological support. The repatriation of foreign victims of trafficking is not compulsory, particularly where victims are likely to be subject to reprisals in their country of origin.

The Committee notes with interest the Government’s indications that, from January 2009 to December 2013, a total of 5,684 children who were victims of trafficking were intercepted, cared for in transit centres and reunited with their families. Of this total, 4,802 were victims of internal trafficking (1,562 girls and 3,240 boys) and 882 were victims of cross-border trafficking (177 girls and 705 boys). All these children received assistance in the form of food, clothing and medical care. Psychological support was provided for some children. The Committee strongly encourages the Government to continue its efforts to prevent children under 18 years of age from becoming victims of trafficking for economic or sexual exploitation and to remove children from sale and trafficking and ensure their rehabilitation and social integration. It requests the Government to continue providing information on the measures taken in this respect and on the results achieved.

2. Project for small-scale gold mines in West Africa. In its previous comments, the Committee noted the Government’s information to the effect that it had implemented a project in partnership with UNICEF entitled “Child labour in small-scale mines and quarries”, involving activities in 23 small-scale mines and quarries in five regions of Burkina Faso. The Committee noted that, as part of the project, the Government had undertaken a study on child labour in small-scale gold mines and quarries in the five aforementioned regions. The study showed that around one third of the population at the 86 small-scale gold mines were children, of whom the total number was 19,881 (51.4 per cent boys and 48.6 per cent girls). Children were used at all levels of mineral extraction, such as work in mine galleries, dynamiting of rocks, rock breaking, crushing and sieving, selling food and water, and hauling minerals to sheds.

The Committee notes the Government’s statement that it is still implementing the “Child labour in small-scale mines and quarries” project in partnership with UNICEF. To date, the project has resulted in the removal of thousands of children from small-scale gold mines, who have then benefited from various alternatives, including: training in the BISONGO learning centres established at the gold mines; enrolment or re-enrolment in school; and helping the oldest children to take up gainful employment or enrol in training centres of the National Employment Promotion Agency with a view to apprenticeships in various trades. The Committee strongly encourages the Government to continue its efforts to remove children from the worst forms of child labour in small-scale gold mines and to ensure their rehabilitation and social integration in the context of the UNICEF project “Child labour in small-scale mines and quarries” or through any other time-bound measures. It requests the Government to continue providing information on the results achieved.

Clause (d). Identifying children at special risk. HIV/AIDS orphans. Further to its previous comments, the Committee notes the detailed information from the Government on the measures taken for the protection of people living with HIV/AIDS and for orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs). The Committee notes with interest that 217,366 OVCs (including 108,653 girls) have so far received various forms of support in the context of the “Strategic framework for combating HIV/AIDS 2011–15”. A total of 85,675 OVCs, including 44,212 girls, have received support for education and apprenticeships. In addition, 1,500 OVCs who were no longer in school have been placed in trade apprenticeships as part of their social and economic integration. In October 2013, the Government also adopted enhanced social protection measures to alleviate the suffering of vulnerable population groups, including OVCs. Accordingly, 10,200 OVCs have had their school fees paid, 12,000 have received school kits, 1,200 have received health kits, 2,700 have been provided with bicycles to make the journey easier between home and school, and more than 12,000 families have been provided with food aid. The Government indicates that these actions have been stepped up in 2014.

However, the Committee notes that, according to UNAIDS estimates, there were some 120,000 HIV/AIDS orphans in Burkina Faso in 2013. The Committee therefore strongly encourages the Government to continue its efforts for the protection of HIV/AIDS orphans and requests it to continue providing information on the results achieved in terms of the number of OVCs whose engagement in the worst forms of child labour was prevented in this way.

Article 8. International cooperation and assistance. 1. Regional cooperation. Further to its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that it signed a cooperation agreement with Côte d’Ivoire in 2013 with regard to combating the cross-boundary trafficking of children. Furthermore, the Government indicates that it has stepped up awareness raising campaigns for communities in the border areas adjoining neighbouring countries with regard to the dangers faced by children and the worst forms of child labour. The Committee encourages the Government to continue its efforts to strengthen international cooperation and assistance with a view to eliminating the trafficking of children for economic or sexual exploitation and requests it to continue providing information on the results achieved in this respect.

2. Poverty eradication. In its previous comments, the Committee noted that the “National Plan of Action to combat the worst forms of child labour in Burkina Faso 2011–15” (PAN/PFTE) forms part of the “Strategy for accelerated growth and sustainable development 2011–15” (SCADD), which replaces the poverty reduction strategy framework.

The Committee notes the Government’s information on the measures taken as part of the implementation of SCADD. These include the consolidation of social safety nets for vulnerable groups, the granting of investment and installation credits to finance self-employment for young graduates, pay rises for all public and private sector workers, and increased allowances in the context of national funds and the special job creation programme. Noting once again 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 strongly encourages the Government to continue its efforts to reduce the incidence of poverty, particularly in the context of the implementation of SCADD and the PAN/PFTE. It requests the Government to provide information on the results achieved, especially with regard to the effective reduction of poverty among children who are victims of sale and trafficking and those engaged in hazardous work.