Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2021, published 110th ILC session (2022)

Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) - Ethiopia (Ratification: 2003)

The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It hopes that the next report will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous comments.

Repetition

Article 7(2)(d) of the Convention. Effective and time-bound measures. Identifying and reaching out to children at special risk. Street children. The Committee previously noted that there are between 150,000 and 200,000 street children nationally, with a further 1 million children vulnerable or at risk of being on the street. It also noted that the Government and UNICEF launched a programme addressing the needs and concerns of street children which provides services in education, health, counselling and legal services.

The Committee notes the Government’s indication that 19,485 children were reintegrated with their families between the years 2015 and 2017 and psychosocial support was provided to both children and families. The Government also states that community care coalitions working within communities have been established, and that within these community initiatives, 788,001 children were provided with support in the year 2016–17, so that they could go to schools and not to be engaged in exploitative labour. The Government finally refers to the five year urban safety net programme, which aims at benefiting 604,000 Ethiopian citizens, and is also a stepping stone towards minimizing the vulnerability of families and of their children. While taking due note of this information, the Committee encourages the Government to continue to take effective and time-bound measures for the removal of street children and to report on the progress made in this regard.