Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) - Sierra Leone (Ratification: 2011)

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2023, published 112nd ILC session (2024)

Previous comment

Article 6 of the Convention. Programmes of action. National Action Plan against the Worst Forms of Child Labour. The Committee notes with interest the Government’s information that the National Action Plan (NAP) against the Worst Forms of Child Labour including Child Trafficking has been reviewed and adopted for the period 2022–26. The NAP identifies four key policy areas: (1) advocating for adequate legislation and law enforcement; (2) promoting access to affordable, relevant and quality education; (3) ensuring effective social protection strategies and actions towards the most vulnerable households; and (4) promoting the involvement of key stakeholders in supporting the elimination of the worst forms of child labour. The key target groups are children at risk of falling into the worst forms of child labour, children who engage in hazardous work and the families of these children. The Committee notes that the NAP contains a detailed list of activities and expected outcomes with associated timeframes. The Committee requests the Government to: (i) provide specific information on the measures taken to implement the NAP on the Worst Forms of Child Labour 2022–26; and (ii) indicate if the expected outcomes have been reached and the timeframes met.

Article 7(2). Effective and time-bound measures. Clause (a). Preventing the engagement of children in the worst forms of child labour. Access to free basic education. The Committee notes that one of the priority areas of the NAP on the Worst Forms of Child Labour including Child Trafficking 2022–26 is to ensure access to quality education for all children. The aim is to raise awareness on the importance of education and collaborate with stakeholders to improve access (especially in remote areas), mobilize additional resources and monitor school attendance. The Committee also notes, from the 2022 UNICEF Country Office Annual Report, that the gross enrolment rate at the primary school level increased from 137 per cent to 152 per cent between 2021 and 2022, indicating that a large number of under- and over-aged students enrolled at that level. The gross enrolment rate for lower secondary education also increased from 78 per cent in 2021 to 97 per cent in 2022. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on: (i) the measures taken, including within the framework of the NAP on the Worst Forms of Child Labour including Child Trafficking 2022–26, to ensure access to free basic education for all children; and (ii) the results achieved, including statistical data on school enrolment, attendance and completion rates for the primary and lower secondary levels.

Clause (d). Identifying and reach out to children at special risk. Children in street situations. Recalling that children in street situations are at an increased risk of being involved in the worst forms of child labour, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on: (i) the progress reached in preparing and adopting a national policy and a draft bill to address the plight of these children; (ii) the measures taken to remove children from the street and to provide the necessary direct assistance for their rehabilitation and social integration; and (iii) the results achieved in this regard, such as the number of children rescued and socially integrated according to such measures.

Article 8. International cooperation and assistance. The Government indicates that the National Task Force on Human Trafficking seeks to cooperate with foreign governments in the investigation and prosecution of human trafficking. The Committee also takes note of the Freetown Roadmap on Enhancing the Combat of Trafficking in Persons in the ECOWAS Region, signed in April 2023. Through the Roadmap, the Government committed to take the necessary measures to: (1) identify and address the root causes of trafficking in persons, including child exploitation; (2) focus on an effective implementation of the ECOWAS Child Policy and Strategic Plan of Action 2019–30, the ECOWAS Child Protection Strategic Framework, the ECOWAS Regional Action Plan on the Elimination of Child Labour and Forced Labour and the ECOWAS Roadmap on Preventing and Responding to Child Marriage; 3) ensure that all persons enjoy the right to legal identity; 4) implement strategies to build the resilience of the most vulnerable groups through the identification of risk factors such as poverty, family instability, physical and sexual abuse and climate change, and the provision of appropriate social risk management interventions and strengthening social protection; and 5) endorse and operationalize the Roadmap. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the measures taken, including within the framework of theFreetown Roadmap on Enhancing the Combat of Trafficking in Persons in the ECOWAS Region, to combat the trafficking of children, and on the results achieved in this regard.

Labour inspection and application of the Convention in practice. Concerning labour inspection and the application of the Convention in practice, the Committee refers to its detailed comments under the Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138).

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2023, published 112nd ILC session (2024)

Previous comment

Articles 3(a) and 7(1) of the Convention. Worst forms of child labour and penalties. Trafficking in children. The Committee notes with interest, from the Government’s report, the adoption of the Anti-Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Act, 2022, which replaces and repeals the Anti-Human Trafficking Act, 2005. The new Act provides for more dissuasive penalties, including not less than 25 years’ imprisonment for persons convicted of trafficking (section 12). The Committee notes, however, that the Government does not reply to its previous requests for statistical information on the number and nature of offences reported, investigations, prosecutions, convictions and penal sanctions imposed regarding the trafficking of children under 18 years. It notes, from the Government’s report on the application of the Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138), that the Government is working on collecting data on court decisions. The Committee requests the Government to take the necessary measures to ensure that thorough investigations and prosecutions of offenders are carried out and sufficiently effective and dissuasive penalties are applied in practice. The Committee also requests the Government to collect and provide information on the application of the Anti-Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Act in practice, including statistics on the number and nature of offences reported, investigations, prosecutions, convictions and penal sanctions imposed regarding the trafficking of children under 18 years.

Articles 3(d) and 4(1). Hazardous work and determination of types of hazardous work. Concerning the adoption of the list of hazardous types of work and determination of the types of hazardous work, the Committee refers to its detailed comments under the Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138).

Article 5. Monitoring mechanisms. National Task Force on Anti-Human Trafficking. The Committee notes that the Government merely repeats the information previously provided, namely that: (1) training has been widely conducted for border patrol agents; (2) a Family Support Unit within the Sierra Leone police force has been established across the country to deal with matters relating to offences against children and young persons; and (3) it established a Fast-Track Court for Sexual Offences (Sexual Offence Mobile Court). The Committee further notes, that the Anti-Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Act, in its sections 2 to 10, sets out the responsibilities and functions of the National Task Force on Anti-Human Trafficking, including: implementing and enforcing the Act; receiving and investigating reports of activities of human trafficking; monitoring migration patterns; initiating measures to inform and educate the public about the causes and consequences of human trafficking; collecting, storing and publishing data on human trafficking; cooperating with foreign governments; advising the Government; assisting victims; and publishing its annual report. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the activities of, and results achieved by, the National Anti-Task Force on Human Trafficking to combat trafficking in children, including on the specific measures taken to: (i) implement the Anti-Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Act; (ii) investigate reports of child trafficking; (iii) raise awareness among the public on the causes and consequences of trafficking in children; (iv) collect and publish data on trafficking in children; and (v) collaborate with other governmental agencies to this end. It also requests the Government to provide a copy of the annual report of the Task Force. The Committee once again requests the Government to: (i) provide information on the scope, functions and operationalization of the Family Support Unit of the Sierra Leone police; and (ii) indicate if the Sexual Offence Mobile Court has allowed for the prosecution of cases of trafficking in children.

National Technical Steering Committee, Child Welfare Committees and National Commission for Children. Noting the absence of information provided by the Government, the Committee once again requests it to: (i) strengthen national, state, district and community level monitoring mechanisms to combat trafficking in children; and (ii) provide information on the activities of the National Commission for Children, and the National Technical Steering Committee on preventing and combating trafficking in children, as well as the results achieved.

The Committee is raising other matters in a request addressed directly to the Government.

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

Articles 3(d) and 4(1) of the Convention. Hazardous work and determination of types of hazardous work. Concerning the adoption of the list of hazardous types of work and determination of the types of hazardous work, the Committee refers to its detailed comments under the Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138).

Article 6. Programmes of action. National Action Plan against the Worst Forms of Child Labour. The Committee previously noted the Government's information that the National Action Plan against the Worst Forms of Child Labour including child trafficking had been developed, finalized, and validated. The Committee requested the Government to provide information on the adoption and implementation of the National Action Plan against the Worst Forms of Child Labour.

The Committee notes the response of the Government that there are plans to review, validate and print the National Action Plan against the Worst Forms of Child Labour, in 2021. The Committee requests the Government to provide up-to-date information on the process of adoption of the National Action Plan on the Worst Forms of Child Labour, as well as to provide information on the implementation matrix of this action plan.

Article 7(2). Effective and time-bound measures. Clause (a). Preventing the engagement of children in the worst forms of child labour. Access to free basic education. The Committee previously noted that the Education Act of 2004 provided for free and compulsory basic education, comprising of six years of primary education and three years of junior secondary education to all its citizens (section 3(1) and (2)). The Committee also expressed its concern at the discrimination against girls concerning access to education and requested the Government to pursue its efforts to ensure access to free basic education, including by taking measures to increase the school enrolment and completion rates, both at the primary and secondary level, giving particular attention to girls.

The Committee notes the response of the Government that the Free Quality Education Program, which has the objective to improve nationwide access to quality pre-primary, primary, secondary education and school-level technical or vocational training, is fully operational in Sierra Leone. The Committee also notes the overturn of the Government policy that prevented pregnant girls from attending public schools and writing entrance examinations. The Committee notes the Government's response that it overturned a 10-year policy that prevented pregnant girls from attending public and taking entrance examinations, in March 2020. It further notes the information on the Government's initiative to provide tertiary education grant support to girls enrolled in science and engineering programs, as well as persons enrolled in Distance Education Teacher Certificate Programs, Language Arts, Mathematics and Science, Medicine, Agriculture, Technical/Vocational Education and Training, and Early Childhood Education Programs and students with special needs. Accordingly, the Committee encourages the Government to continue to pursue measures that ensure access to free basic education, including by taking measures to increase the school enrolment and completion rates, both at the primary and lower secondary level, giving particular attention to girls. It also requests the Government to provide information, disaggregated by age and gender, on the impact of the recently adopted measures and the results achieved.

Clause (b). Direct assistance for the removal of children from the worst forms of child labour and for their rehabilitation and social integration. Former child combatants. The Committee previously requested the Government to take the necessary steps to address the physical and psychological recovery of former child combatants, especially girls, and to monitor the situation of those who were not included in the Government’s disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes (DDR) a view to providing them with the necessary assistance to fully rehabilitate and reintegrate into the society.

The Committee notes the response of the Government that psychosocial counselling was provided for former child combatants and that they are reintegrated into the society. However, the Committee notes that the Committee on the Rights of the Child’s 2021 List of Issues for Sierra Leone, (CRC/C/SLE/QPR/6-7, paragraph 32) indicates the need for measures to be taken by the Government to establish a mechanism for the early identification of returning children who may have been involved in armed conflict, particularly children returning from Libya, and to provide physical and psychological recovery, and social integration services for such children. The Committee once again requests the Government to take the necessary measures to address the physical and psychological recovery of former child combatants, especially girls, and to monitor the situation of those who were not included in the DDR programmes to provide them with the necessary assistance to fully rehabilitate and reintegrate them in society. It also requests the Government to provide information on the impact of the measures taken in this regard, in particular the number of children who were provided with the necessary assistance.

Clause (d). Identify and reach out to children at special risk. Street children. The Committee previously noted the initiative taken by the Government to help identify and reach out to children at special risk, such as its efforts to remove children from the street and provide the necessary direct assistance from their rehabilitation through the implementation of the Street Children Project by the Ministry of Social Welfare Gender and Child Affairs (MSWGCA).

The Committee notes the information provided by the Government that a national policy and a draft bill are being developed, to address the plight of street children. Recalling that street children are at an increased risk of being involved in the worst forms of child labour, the Committee again requests the Government to continue its efforts to remove children from the street and to provide the necessary direct assistance for their rehabilitation and social integration. The Committee also requests the Government to provide information on the results achieved in this regard, such as the number of children rescued and socially integrated according to such measures.

Article 8. International cooperation and assistance. Following its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government's statement that cooperation with the West African Network of Child Protection and the ECOWAS Anti-Human Trafficking Unit on combating the trafficking of children under 18 years of age has led to: (i) the criminalization of ‘sex trafficking’ under the Anti-Trafficking Act (2005); (ii) the criminalization of 'child prostitution' under the Sexual Offences Act (2012); (iii) an ongoing review of the Anti-Trafficking Act (2005), to eliminate the provision of a fine in lieu of imprisonment for convicted traffickers, increase penalties and improve victim protection measures; (iv) the adoption of a new 2021-2023 National Action Plan by the Anti-Trafficking Task Force, which is led by the Ministry of Social Welfare and the Ministry of Justice; and (v) the establishment of regional Trafficking in Persons taskforce bodies in all 16 regions of Sierra Leone. While noting the importance of these developments and recalling the importance of international cooperation in combatting trafficking of children, the Committee encourages the Government to pursue its efforts to promote bilateral and multilateral agreements with other countries on trafficking of children. The Committee also request the Government to continue to provide information on the results achieved in this respect.

Labour inspection and application of the Convention in practice. Concerning labour inspection and the application of the Convention in practice, the Committee refers to its detailed comments under the Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138).

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

Articles 3(a) and 7(1) of the Convention. Worst forms of child labour and penalties. Trafficking in children. The Committee previously noted that section 2 of the Anti-Human Trafficking Act (2005) penalized trafficking in persons for exploitation. Noting the limited prosecution and conviction rates under the Anti-Human Trafficking Act (2005), and the absence of a specific action plan to implement the Act, the Committee previously requested the Government to ensure that thorough investigations and robust prosecutions of offenders are carried out.

The Committee notes that the Anti-Human Trafficking Act (2005) establishes the National Task Force on Anti-Human Trafficking and empowers the task force to coordinate the implementation of the Act, especially concerning the enforcement of the law against trafficking and the prosecution of corrupt public officials who facilitate trafficking. The Committee also notes that the National Task Force on Anti-Human Trafficking adopted a new 2021–2023 Anti-Trafficking National Action Plan, which contains a strategic objective to ensure that human trafficking and smuggling incidents are thoroughly investigated, and cases successfully prosecuted, with expected results of at least 35 trafficking cases investigated in 2021, 40 in 2022 and 45 in 2023. It further notes the information that the Government allocated 1 billion Leones ($103,740) to anti-trafficking efforts in the fiscal year 2020.

The Committee, however, notes from the report of the Government that only four successful prosecutions of offenders in both 2020 and 2021. It also notes the absence of a report on the allocation of funds for the Government's anti-trafficking efforts in the fiscal year 2021, and the adverse effect this might have on anti-trafficking efforts including the implementation of the anti-human trafficking national action plan. The Committee, therefore, reiterates its request to the Government to strengthen its efforts to combat trafficking in children and to ensure that thorough investigations and prosecutions of offenders are carried out and sufficiently effective and dissuasive penalties are applied in practice. The Committee once again requests the Government to provide information on the application of the Anti-Human Trafficking Act in practice, including statistics on the number and nature of offences reported, investigations, prosecutions, convictions and penal sanctions imposed regarding the trafficking of children under 18 years. It also requests the Government to provide information on the implementation of the Anti-Trafficking Action Plan (2021–2023), and the results achieved.

Article 5. Monitoring mechanisms. 1. National Task Force on Anti-Human Trafficking. The Committee previously noted that the Government established a National Task Force on Anti-Human Trafficking to coordinate, monitor and supervise the implementation of the Anti-Human Trafficking Act. It requested the Government to provide information on the activities of the National Task Force on Anti-Human Trafficking in preventing and combating trafficking in persons and the results achieved.

The Committee notes the response of the Government that the Task Force has conducted training for border patrol agents; created a Family Support Unit within the Sierra Leone police force; created a Fast-Track Court for Sexual Offences (Sexual Offence Mobile Court); convicted 4 offenders; criminalized the offence of the Worst Forms of Child Labour; and Developed an Anti-Trafficking Action Plan 2021–2023.

The Committee further notes that section 4 of the Anti-Human Trafficking Act (2005) empowers the National Task Force on Anti-Human Trafficking to coordinate the implementation of the Act, including the rendering of assistance to victims of trafficking, the prevention of trafficking through the adoption and encouragement of local initiatives to improve the economic well-being and opportunity for potential victims and increased public awareness of the causes and consequences of trafficking. The Committee, therefore, requests the Government to provide information on the role of the Task Force in the creation of the Sexual Offence Mobile Court, as well as the scope, function and operationalisation of this court. It also requests information on the scope, functions and operationalisation of the Family Support Unit of the Sierra Leone police created by the Taskforce.

2. National Technical Steering Committee, Child Welfare Committees and National Commission for Children. The Committee previously noted the Government's information that a National Technical Steering Committee on Child Labour (NTSC) was established to guide policy, strategy and documentation relating to child labour in Sierra Leone. The Committee also noted that Child Welfare Committees (CWCs) were established at the national, regional, district, and community levels to coordinate all child protection activities, as well as to monitor and supervise child labour in the local communities. It requested the Government to provide information on the activities and impact of the NTSC, CWCs and the National Commission for Children on preventing and combating trafficking in persons.

The Committee notes the information that the CWCs are in operation at national, regional, district and chiefdom levels, and that members of the CWCs provide counselling services for victims of the worst forms of child labour, and report complex issues to the Ministry of Social Welfare. It further notes the information that the CWCs have developed Standard Operating Procedures to curb cross border trafficking across the Guinea and Sierra Leone migration corridor.

The Committee also notes the response of the Government on the functions of the National Commission for Child Labour. However, it notes the lack of information on the impact of the activities of the Commission on preventing child labour and trafficking in persons in Sierra Leone. It further notes with concern the information provided by the Government that the National Technical Steering Committee is not functional. While noting the measures taken by the Government, the Committee urges it to continue its efforts to strengthen national, state, district and community level monitoring mechanisms to combat trafficking in children. It also requests the Government to provide information on the impact of the activities of the National Commission for Child Labour, and the National Technical Steering Committee, once this becomes functional, on preventing and combating trafficking in children, as well as the results achieved.

The Committee is raising other matters in a request addressed directly to the Government.

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

The Committee notes with concern 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

Articles 3(a) and 7(1) of the Convention. Worst forms of child labour. Trafficking in children and penalties. The Committee previously noted that section 2 of the Anti-Human Trafficking Act penalized trafficking in persons for the purpose of exploitation. Moreover, section 22 of the Anti-Human Trafficking Act provides that any person convicted of the offences related to trafficking in persons shall be liable to a fine not exceeding 50 million Sierra Leone leones (SLL) (approximately US$11,615) or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years or to both. The Committee further noted the Government’s information that from 2005 to 2011, 13 convictions were made on child trafficking.

The Committee notes that according to the concluding observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW, CEDAW/C/SLE/CO/6, paragraph 22) of March 2014, Sierra Leone remains a source, transit and destination country for women and children trafficked for purposes of sexual exploitation and forced labour. CEDAW also expressed its concern at the reported high incidence of internal trafficking of women and girls from rural areas, the limited prosecution and conviction rates under the Anti-Human Trafficking Act (2005), and the absence of a specific action plan to implement the Act. The Committee therefore requests the Government to strengthen its efforts to combat trafficking in children, and to ensure that thorough investigations and robust prosecutions of offenders are carried out and sufficiently effective and dissuasive penalties are applied in practice. The Committee once again requests Government to provide information on the application of the Anti-Human Trafficking Act in practice, including statistics on the number and nature of offences reported, investigations, prosecutions, convictions and penal sanctions imposed with regard to the trafficking of children under 18 years.

Articles 3(d) and 4(1). Hazardous work and determination of types of hazardous work. With regard to the adoption of the list of hazardous types of work, the Committee refers to its detailed comments under the Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138).

Article 5. Monitoring mechanisms. 1. National Task Force on Anti-Human Trafficking. The Committee previously noted that a National Task Force on Anti-Human Trafficking was established to coordinate, monitor and supervise the implementation of the Anti-Human Trafficking Act, and to assist potential victims of trafficking by providing shelter, psychosocial counselling, medical assistance, as well as family reunification.

The Committee notes the absence of information in this regard. The Committee therefore once again requests the Government to provide information on the activities of the National Task Force on Anti-Human Trafficking in preventing and combating human trafficking and the results achieved.

2. National Technical Steering Committee, Child Welfare Committees and National Commission for Children. The Committee previously noted the Government’s information that a National Technical Steering Committee on Child Labour (NTSC) was established to provide guidance on policy, strategy and substance relating to child labour in Sierra Leone, to provide technical support and participation towards annual reviews of national activities, to mainstream child labour issues in other development programmes and policies, and to review and endorse project proposals developed under the various support programmes. The Committee also noted that Child Welfare Committees were established at the national, regional, district, and community levels to coordinate all child protection activities as well as to monitor and supervise child labour in the local communities.

The Committee notes the Government’s information in its report that, the National Commission for Children was established by an Act of Parliament in July 2014, and became operational in February 2015. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the activities of the NTSC, Child Welfare Committees and National Commission for Children, as well as their impact on the prevention and elimination of the worst forms of child labour.

Article 6. Programmes of action. National Action Plan against the Worst Forms of Child Labour. The Committee previously noted the Government’s indication that a draft National Action Plan against the Worst Forms of Child Labour has been elaborated.  

The Committee notes from the written replies of the Government to the list of issues in relation to the combined third to fifth periodic reports to the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) of September 2016 that, following several consultations and workshops with relevant stakeholders and line ministries, the National Action Plan against the Worst Forms of Child Labour including Child Trafficking was developed, finalized and validated; however, the implementation of this Action Plan has been rescheduled to commence in 2016–18 (CRC/C/SLE/Q/3-5/Add.1, paragraph 102). The Committee requests the Government to indicate whether the National Action Plan against the Worst forms of Child Labour has been adopted, and to provide information on its implementation.

Article 7(2). Effective and time-bound measures. Clause (a). Preventing the engagement of children in the worst forms of child labour. Access to free basic education. The Committee previously noted that the Education Act of 2004 provided for free and compulsory basic education, comprising of six years of primary education and three years of junior secondary education to all its citizens (section 3(1) and (2)). The Committee also noted that, within the framework of the ILO–IPEC TACKLE project 2008–13, two main action programmes were implemented to provide educational support to children and their families in targeted regions, namely “Community responses to child labour” and “Community Action for Rural Empowerment (CREAM)”. The Committee further expressed its concern at the discrimination against girls with regard to access to education.

The Committee notes the absence of information on this point. The Committee therefore once again urges the Government to pursue its efforts to ensure access to free basic education, including by taking measures to increase the school enrolment and completion rates, both at primary and secondary level, giving particular attention to girls. It requests the Government to provide information on the concrete measures taken in this regard, and on the results achieved, providing data disaggregated by age and gender.

Clause (b). Direct assistance for the removal of children from the worst forms of child labour and for their rehabilitation and social integration. Former child combatants. The Committee previously noted that the Government representative of Sierra Leone, at the 55th Session of the CRC on consideration of the initial reports of Sierra Leone under the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict (CRC–OPAC) stated that once the war had ended, the country took various measures to assist child victims of war, regardless of whether they had been directly involved in the hostilities, including psychosocial services, vocational training and school re-entry programmes under the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes (DDR). The Committee also noted that the CRC OPAC expressed its concern at the limited number of children who benefited from the DDR programmes, relative to the estimated number of children who participated in the armed conflict, as well as the inadequate attention paid to the physical and psychological recovery of former child combatants, particularly girls formerly associated with armed groups, the majority of whom had been victims of sexual violence.

The Committee notes the absence of relevant information in the Government’s report.  The Committee once again requests the Government to take the necessary measures to address the physical and psychological recovery of former child combatants, especially girls, and to monitor the situation of those who were not included in the DDR programmes with a view to providing them with the necessary assistance to fully rehabilitate and reintegrate them in society. It also requests the Government to provide information on the impact of the measures taken in this regard, in particular the number of children who were provided with the necessary assistance.

Clause (d). Identify and reach out to children at special risk. Street children. The Committee notes that the CRC–OPSC expressed its concern at the high number of children living or working in the streets who are particularly vulnerable to sexual and other forms of exploitation and the absence of an effective strategy to address this issue.

The Committee notes the Government’s information in its report that, the Street Children Project has been implemented by the Ministry of Social Welfare Gender and Child Affairs (MSWGCA). The Committee also notes from the written replies of the Government to the list of issues in relation to the combined third to fifth periodic reports to the CRC of September 2016 that, MSWGCA has been providing family tracing and reunification support services with the support of development partners. Moreover, focal agencies (NGOs and INGOs) have been identified in all 14 districts of the country and are all functional in their respective districts. (CRC/C/SLE/Q/3-5/Add.1, paragraph 100). Recalling that street children are at an increased risk of being involved in the worst forms of child labour, the Committee requests the Government to continue its efforts to remove children from the street and to provide the necessary direct assistance for their rehabilitation and social reintegration. The Committee also requests the Government to provide information on the results achieved in this regard, such as the number of children rescued and socially integrated pursuant to such measures.

Article 8. International cooperation and assistance. The Committee previously noted that Sierra Leone is a party to the West African Network of Child Protection, which was launched in March 2013 to monitor vulnerable children’s movement within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) region. The Committee also noted the Government’s cooperation with the ECOWAS Child Protection Unit, the ECOWAS Anti-Human Trafficking Unit and the Manu River Union for border community security.

The Committee notes the absence of information in the Government’s report in this regard. The Committee therefore once again requests the Government to provide information on the impact of the West African Network of Child Protection and the ECOWAS Anti-Human Trafficking Unit on combating the trafficking of children under 18 years of age.

Labour inspection and application of the Convention in practice. The Committee previously noted the Government’s statement that no child labour was detected in the formal economy, while only limited inspections were carried out in the informal economy. It further noted the Government’s statement that the law enforcement bodies and the labour inspectors lack sufficient training on identifying, monitoring and investigating cases related to child labour and its worst forms. The Government further indicated that proper records and documents on child labour are not available.

The Committee notes that the Government does not provide relevant information on this point. However, the Committee notes that the Government provided results of the National Child Labour Survey 2011 in its written replies to the list of issues in relation to the combined third to fifth periodic reports to the CRC (CRC/C/SLE/Q/3-5/Add.1, Annex II) of September 2016, according to which, 895,428 (45.9 per cent) of children between 5 and 17 years of age were engaged in child labour, while about half of them (428,775 children) were involved in hazardous work. The Committee further notes that, according to the State of the World’s Children 2014 (UNICEF), more than a quarter (26 per cent) of children aged 5–17 in Sierra Leone were involved in hazardous child labour. The Committee therefore once again requests the Government to take the necessary measures to strengthen the capacity and functioning of the labour inspectorate and the law enforcement bodies to detect cases of the worst forms of child labour, including training and capacity-building activities. It also requests the Government to continue its efforts to ensure that sufficient data on the situation of children involved in the worst forms of child labour is made available, including statistics and information on the nature, extent and trends of the worst forms of child labour. To the extent possible, all information should be disaggregated by gender and age.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2019, published 109th ILC session (2021)

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

Articles 3(a) and 7(1) of the Convention. Worst forms of child labour. Trafficking in children and penalties. The Committee previously noted that section 2 of the Anti-Human Trafficking Act penalized trafficking in persons for the purpose of exploitation. Moreover, section 22 of the Anti-Human Trafficking Act provides that any person convicted of the offences related to trafficking in persons shall be liable to a fine not exceeding 50 million Sierra Leone leones (SLL) (approximately US$11,615) or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years or to both. The Committee further noted the Government’s information that from 2005 to 2011, 13 convictions were made on child trafficking.

The Committee notes that according to the concluding observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW, CEDAW/C/SLE/CO/6, paragraph 22) of March 2014, Sierra Leone remains a source, transit and destination country for women and children trafficked for purposes of sexual exploitation and forced labour. CEDAW also expressed its concern at the reported high incidence of internal trafficking of women and girls from rural areas, the limited prosecution and conviction rates under the Anti-Human Trafficking Act (2005), and the absence of a specific action plan to implement the Act. The Committee therefore requests the Government to strengthen its efforts to combat trafficking in children, and to ensure that thorough investigations and robust prosecutions of offenders are carried out and sufficiently effective and dissuasive penalties are applied in practice. The Committee once again requests Government to provide information on the application of the Anti-Human Trafficking Act in practice, including statistics on the number and nature of offences reported, investigations, prosecutions, convictions and penal sanctions imposed with regard to the trafficking of children under 18 years.

Articles 3(d) and 4(1). Hazardous work and determination of types of hazardous work. With regard to the adoption of the list of hazardous types of work, the Committee refers to its detailed comments under the Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138).

Article 5. Monitoring mechanisms. 1. National Task Force on Anti-Human Trafficking. The Committee previously noted that a National Task Force on Anti-Human Trafficking was established to coordinate, monitor and supervise the implementation of the Anti-Human Trafficking Act, and to assist potential victims of trafficking by providing shelter, psychosocial counselling, medical assistance, as well as family reunification.

The Committee notes the absence of information in this regard. The Committee therefore once again requests the Government to provide information on the activities of the National Task Force on Anti-Human Trafficking in preventing and combating human trafficking and the results achieved.

2. National Technical Steering Committee, Child Welfare Committees and National Commission for Children. The Committee previously noted the Government’s information that a National Technical Steering Committee on Child Labour (NTSC) was established to provide guidance on policy, strategy and substance relating to child labour in Sierra Leone, to provide technical support and participation towards annual reviews of national activities, to mainstream child labour issues in other development programmes and policies, and to review and endorse project proposals developed under the various support programmes. The Committee also noted that Child Welfare Committees were established at the national, regional, district, and community levels to coordinate all child protection activities as well as to monitor and supervise child labour in the local communities.

The Committee notes the Government’s information in its report that, the National Commission for Children was established by an Act of Parliament in July 2014, and became operational in February 2015. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the activities of the NTSC, Child Welfare Committees and National Commission for Children, as well as their impact on the prevention and elimination of the worst forms of child labour.

Article 6. Programmes of action. National Action Plan against the Worst Forms of Child Labour. The Committee previously noted the Government’s indication that a draft National Action Plan against the Worst Forms of Child Labour has been elaborated.  

The Committee notes from the written replies of the Government to the list of issues in relation to the combined third to fifth periodic reports to the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) of September 2016 that, following several consultations and workshops with relevant stakeholders and line ministries, the National Action Plan against the Worst Forms of Child Labour including Child Trafficking was developed, finalized and validated; however, the implementation of this Action Plan has been rescheduled to commence in 2016–18 (CRC/C/SLE/Q/3-5/Add.1, paragraph 102). The Committee requests the Government to indicate whether the National Action Plan against the Worst forms of Child Labour has been adopted, and to provide information on its implementation.

Article 7(2). Effective and time-bound measures. Clause (a). Preventing the engagement of children in the worst forms of child labour. Access to free basic education. The Committee previously noted that the Education Act of 2004 provided for free and compulsory basic education, comprising of six years of primary education and three years of junior secondary education to all its citizens (section 3(1) and (2)). The Committee also noted that, within the framework of the ILO–IPEC TACKLE project 2008–13, two main action programmes were implemented to provide educational support to children and their families in targeted regions, namely “Community responses to child labour” and “Community Action for Rural Empowerment (CREAM)”. The Committee further expressed its concern at the discrimination against girls with regard to access to education.

The Committee notes the absence of information on this point. The Committee therefore once again urges the Government to pursue its efforts to ensure access to free basic education, including by taking measures to increase the school enrolment and completion rates, both at primary and secondary level, giving particular attention to girls. It requests the Government to provide information on the concrete measures taken in this regard, and on the results achieved, providing data disaggregated by age and gender.

Clause (b). Direct assistance for the removal of children from the worst forms of child labour and for their rehabilitation and social integration. Former child combatants. The Committee previously noted that the Government representative of Sierra Leone, at the 55th Session of the CRC on consideration of the initial reports of Sierra Leone under the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict (CRC–OPAC) stated that once the war had ended, the country took various measures to assist child victims of war, regardless of whether they had been directly involved in the hostilities, including psychosocial services, vocational training and school re-entry programmes under the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes (DDR). The Committee also noted that the CRC OPAC expressed its concern at the limited number of children who benefited from the DDR programmes, relative to the estimated number of children who participated in the armed conflict, as well as the inadequate attention paid to the physical and psychological recovery of former child combatants, particularly girls formerly associated with armed groups, the majority of whom had been victims of sexual violence.

The Committee notes the absence of relevant information in the Government’s report.  The Committee once again requests the Government to take the necessary measures to address the physical and psychological recovery of former child combatants, especially girls, and to monitor the situation of those who were not included in the DDR programmes with a view to providing them with the necessary assistance to fully rehabilitate and reintegrate them in society. It also requests the Government to provide information on the impact of the measures taken in this regard, in particular the number of children who were provided with the necessary assistance.

Clause (d). Identify and reach out to children at special risk. Street children. The Committee notes that the CRC–OPSC expressed its concern at the high number of children living or working in the streets who are particularly vulnerable to sexual and other forms of exploitation and the absence of an effective strategy to address this issue.

The Committee notes the Government’s information in its report that, the Street Children Project has been implemented by the Ministry of Social Welfare Gender and Child Affairs (MSWGCA). The Committee also notes from the written replies of the Government to the list of issues in relation to the combined third to fifth periodic reports to the CRC of September 2016 that, MSWGCA has been providing family tracing and reunification support services with the support of development partners. Moreover, focal agencies (NGOs and INGOs) have been identified in all 14 districts of the country and are all functional in their respective districts. (CRC/C/SLE/Q/3-5/Add.1, paragraph 100). Recalling that street children are at an increased risk of being involved in the worst forms of child labour, the Committee requests the Government to continue its efforts to remove children from the street and to provide the necessary direct assistance for their rehabilitation and social reintegration. The Committee also requests the Government to provide information on the results achieved in this regard, such as the number of children rescued and socially integrated pursuant to such measures.

Article 8. International cooperation and assistance. The Committee previously noted that Sierra Leone is a party to the West African Network of Child Protection, which was launched in March 2013 to monitor vulnerable children’s movement within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) region. The Committee also noted the Government’s cooperation with the ECOWAS Child Protection Unit, the ECOWAS Anti-Human Trafficking Unit and the Manu River Union for border community security.

The Committee notes the absence of information in the Government’s report in this regard. The Committee therefore once again requests the Government to provide information on the impact of the West African Network of Child Protection and the ECOWAS Anti-Human Trafficking Unit on combating the trafficking of children under 18 years of age.

Labour inspection and application of the Convention in practice. The Committee previously noted the Government’s statement that no child labour was detected in the formal economy, while only limited inspections were carried out in the informal economy. It further noted the Government’s statement that the law enforcement bodies and the labour inspectors lack sufficient training on identifying, monitoring and investigating cases related to child labour and its worst forms. The Government further indicated that proper records and documents on child labour are not available.

The Committee notes that the Government does not provide relevant information on this point. However, the Committee notes that the Government provided results of the National Child Labour Survey 2011 in its written replies to the list of issues in relation to the combined third to fifth periodic reports to the CRC (CRC/C/SLE/Q/3-5/Add.1, Annex II) of September 2016, according to which, 895,428 (45.9 per cent) of children between 5 and 17 years of age were engaged in child labour, while about half of them (428,775 children) were involved in hazardous work. The Committee further notes that, according to the State of the World’s Children 2014 (UNICEF), more than a quarter (26 per cent) of children aged 5–17 in Sierra Leone were involved in hazardous child labour. The Committee therefore once again requests the Government to take the necessary measures to strengthen the capacity and functioning of the labour inspectorate and the law enforcement bodies to detect cases of the worst forms of child labour, including training and capacity-building activities. It also requests the Government to continue its efforts to ensure that sufficient data on the situation of children involved in the worst forms of child labour is made available, including statistics and information on the nature, extent and trends of the worst forms of child labour. To the extent possible, all information should be disaggregated by gender and age.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2017, published 107th ILC session (2018)

Articles 3(a) and 7(1) of the Convention. Worst forms of child labour. Trafficking in children and penalties. The Committee previously noted that section 2 of the Anti-Human Trafficking Act penalized trafficking in persons for the purpose of exploitation. Moreover, section 22 of the Anti-Human Trafficking Act provides that any person convicted of the offences related to trafficking in persons shall be liable to a fine not exceeding 50 million Sierra Leone leones (SLL) (approximately US$11,615) or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years or to both. The Committee further noted the Government’s information that from 2005 to 2011, 13 convictions were made on child trafficking.

The Committee notes that according to the concluding observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW, CEDAW/C/SLE/CO/6, paragraph 22) of March 2014, Sierra Leone remains a source, transit and destination country for women and children trafficked for purposes of sexual exploitation and forced labour. CEDAW also expressed its concern at the reported high incidence of internal trafficking of women and girls from rural areas, the limited prosecution and conviction rates under the Anti-Human Trafficking Act (2005), and the absence of a specific action plan to implement the Act. The Committee therefore requests the Government to strengthen its efforts to combat trafficking in children, and to ensure that thorough investigations and robust prosecutions of offenders are carried out and sufficiently effective and dissuasive penalties are applied in practice. The Committee once again requests Government to provide information on the application of the Anti-Human Trafficking Act in practice, including statistics on the number and nature of offences reported, investigations, prosecutions, convictions and penal sanctions imposed with regard to the trafficking of children under 18 years.

Articles 3(d) and 4(1). Hazardous work and determination of types of hazardous work. With regard to the adoption of the list of hazardous types of work, the Committee refers to its detailed comments under the Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138).

Article 5. Monitoring mechanisms. 1. National Task Force on Anti-Human Trafficking. The Committee previously noted that a National Task Force on Anti-Human Trafficking was established to coordinate, monitor and supervise the implementation of the Anti-Human Trafficking Act, and to assist potential victims of trafficking by providing shelter, psychosocial counselling, medical assistance, as well as family reunification.

The Committee notes the absence of information in this regard. The Committee therefore once again requests the Government to provide information on the activities of the National Task Force on Anti-Human Trafficking in preventing and combating human trafficking and the results achieved.

2. National Technical Steering Committee, Child Welfare Committees and National Commission for Children. The Committee previously noted the Government’s information that a National Technical Steering Committee on Child Labour (NTSC) was established to provide guidance on policy, strategy and substance relating to child labour in Sierra Leone, to provide technical support and participation towards annual reviews of national activities, to mainstream child labour issues in other development programmes and policies, and to review and endorse project proposals developed under the various support programmes. The Committee also noted that Child Welfare Committees were established at the national, regional, district, and community levels to coordinate all child protection activities as well as to monitor and supervise child labour in the local communities.

The Committee notes the Government’s information in its report that, the National Commission for Children was established by an Act of Parliament in July 2014, and became operational in February 2015. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the activities of the NTSC, Child Welfare Committees and National Commission for Children, as well as their impact on the prevention and elimination of the worst forms of child labour.

Article 6. Programmes of action. National Action Plan against the Worst Forms of Child Labour. The Committee previously noted the Government’s indication that a draft National Action Plan against the Worst Forms of Child Labour has been elaborated.  

The Committee notes from the written replies of the Government to the list of issues in relation to the combined third to fifth periodic reports to the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) of September 2016 that, following several consultations and workshops with relevant stakeholders and line ministries, the National Action Plan against the Worst Forms of Child Labour including Child Trafficking was developed, finalized and validated; however, the implementation of this Action Plan has been rescheduled to commence in 2016–18 (CRC/C/SLE/Q/3-5/Add.1, paragraph 102). The Committee requests the Government to indicate whether the National Action Plan against the Worst forms of Child Labour has been adopted, and to provide information on its implementation.

Article 7(2). Effective and time-bound measures. Clause (a). Preventing the engagement of children in the worst forms of child labour. Access to free basic education. The Committee previously noted that the Education Act of 2004 provided for free and compulsory basic education, comprising of six years of primary education and three years of junior secondary education to all its citizens (section 3(1) and (2)). The Committee also noted that, within the framework of the ILO–IPEC TACKLE project 2008–13, two main action programmes were implemented to provide educational support to children and their families in targeted regions, namely “Community responses to child labour” and “Community Action for Rural Empowerment (CREAM)”. The Committee further expressed its concern at the discrimination against girls with regard to access to education.

The Committee notes the absence of information on this point. The Committee therefore once again urges the Government to pursue its efforts to ensure access to free basic education, including by taking measures to increase the school enrolment and completion rates, both at primary and secondary level, giving particular attention to girls. It requests the Government to provide information on the concrete measures taken in this regard, and on the results achieved, providing data disaggregated by age and gender.

Clause (b). Direct assistance for the removal of children from the worst forms of child labour and for their rehabilitation and social integration. Former child combatants. The Committee previously noted that the Government representative of Sierra Leone, at the 55th Session of the CRC on consideration of the initial reports of Sierra Leone under the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict (CRC–OPAC) stated that once the war had ended, the country took various measures to assist child victims of war, regardless of whether they had been directly involved in the hostilities, including psychosocial services, vocational training and school re-entry programmes under the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes (DDR). The Committee also noted that the CRC OPAC expressed its concern at the limited number of children who benefited from the DDR programmes, relative to the estimated number of children who participated in the armed conflict, as well as the inadequate attention paid to the physical and psychological recovery of former child combatants, particularly girls formerly associated with armed groups, the majority of whom had been victims of sexual violence.

The Committee notes the absence of relevant information in the Government’s report.  The Committee once again requests the Government to take the necessary measures to address the physical and psychological recovery of former child combatants, especially girls, and to monitor the situation of those who were not included in the DDR programmes with a view to providing them with the necessary assistance to fully rehabilitate and reintegrate them in society. It also requests the Government to provide information on the impact of the measures taken in this regard, in particular the number of children who were provided with the necessary assistance.

Clause (d). Identify and reach out to children at special risk. Street children. The Committee notes that the CRC–OPSC expressed its concern at the high number of children living or working in the streets who are particularly vulnerable to sexual and other forms of exploitation and the absence of an effective strategy to address this issue.

The Committee notes the Government’s information in its report that, the Street Children Project has been implemented by the Ministry of Social Welfare Gender and Child Affairs (MSWGCA). The Committee also notes from the written replies of the Government to the list of issues in relation to the combined third to fifth periodic reports to the CRC of September 2016 that, MSWGCA has been providing family tracing and reunification support services with the support of development partners. Moreover, focal agencies (NGOs and INGOs) have been identified in all 14 districts of the country and are all functional in their respective districts. (CRC/C/SLE/Q/3-5/Add.1, paragraph 100). Recalling that street children are at an increased risk of being involved in the worst forms of child labour, the Committee requests the Government to continue its efforts to remove children from the street and to provide the necessary direct assistance for their rehabilitation and social reintegration. The Committee also requests the Government to provide information on the results achieved in this regard, such as the number of children rescued and socially integrated pursuant to such measures.

Article 8. International cooperation and assistance. The Committee previously noted that Sierra Leone is a party to the West African Network of Child Protection, which was launched in March 2013 to monitor vulnerable children’s movement within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) region. The Committee also noted the Government’s cooperation with the ECOWAS Child Protection Unit, the ECOWAS Anti-Human Trafficking Unit and the Manu River Union for border community security.

The Committee notes the absence of information in the Government’s report in this regard. The Committee therefore once again requests the Government to provide information on the impact of the West African Network of Child Protection and the ECOWAS Anti-Human Trafficking Unit on combating the trafficking of children under 18 years of age.

Labour inspection and application of the Convention in practice. The Committee previously noted the Government’s statement that no child labour was detected in the formal economy, while only limited inspections were carried out in the informal economy. It further noted the Government’s statement that the law enforcement bodies and the labour inspectors lack sufficient training on identifying, monitoring and investigating cases related to child labour and its worst forms. The Government further indicated that proper records and documents on child labour are not available.

The Committee notes that the Government does not provide relevant information on this point. However, the Committee notes that the Government provided results of the National Child Labour Survey 2011 in its written replies to the list of issues in relation to the combined third to fifth periodic reports to the CRC (CRC/C/SLE/Q/3-5/Add.1, Annex II) of September 2016, according to which, 895,428 (45.9 per cent) of children between 5 and 17 years of age were engaged in child labour, while about half of them (428,775 children) were involved in hazardous work. The Committee further notes that, according to the State of the World’s Children 2014 (UNICEF), more than a quarter (26 per cent) of children aged 5–17 in Sierra Leone were involved in hazardous child labour. The Committee therefore once again requests the Government to take the necessary measures to strengthen the capacity and functioning of the labour inspectorate and the law enforcement bodies to detect cases of the worst forms of child labour, including training and capacity-building activities. It also requests the Government to continue its efforts to ensure that sufficient data on the situation of children involved in the worst forms of child labour is made available, including statistics and information on the nature, extent and trends of the worst forms of child labour. To the extent possible, all information should be disaggregated by gender and age.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2013, published 103rd ILC session (2014)

The Committee notes the Government’s first report.

Article 3 of the Convention. Worst forms of child labour. Clause (a). All forms of slavery or practices similar to slavery. 1. Sale and trafficking of children. The Committee notes that according to section 2(1) of the Anti-Human Trafficking Act, it is an offence for any person to engage in the trafficking in persons. Section 2(2) of the Anti-Human Trafficking Act further stipulates that a person is said to be engaged in the trafficking in persons if he undertakes the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons by means of threat or use of force or other form of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, or the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person for the purpose of exploitation. The term “exploitation” as used in this section includes: keeping a person in a state of slavery; compelling or causing a person to provide forced labour or services; keeping a person in servitude, including sexual servitude; exploitation of the prostitution of another; engaging in any form of commercial sexual exploitation, and for exploitation during armed conflicts.

The Committee also notes section 15(c) of the Anti-Human Trafficking Act, which states that in a prosecution for trafficking, the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of a child for the purpose of exploitation shall be regarded as trafficking in persons even if this does not involve any of the means specified in section 2(2). Moreover, section 22 of the Anti-Human Trafficking Act provides that any person convicted of the offences related to trafficking in persons shall be liable to a fine not exceeding 50 million Sierra Leone leones (approximately US$11,615) or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years or to both. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the application of Anti-Human Trafficking Act in practice, including, for example, statistics on the number and nature of offences reported, investigations, prosecutions, convictions and penal sanctions imposed with regard to the trafficking of children under 18 years.

2. Slavery, debt bondage, forced or compulsory labour. Section 19 of the Constitution of 1991 stipulates that no person shall be held in slavery or servitude or be required to perform forced labour or traffic or deal in human beings. The Committee notes that according to section 32 of the Child Rights Act, no person shall subject a child to exploitative labour which deprives the child of its health, education or development.

The Committee notes, however, that the Committee on the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution, and child pornography (CRC-OPSC), in its concluding observations of 14 October 2010, expressed concern at the exploitation of children in forced labour, inter alia, as domestic workers and in hazardous labour, particularly in the mining sector and in agriculture, servitude remains widespread. The CRC-OPSC also expressed concern at the lack of investigation and prosecution of offenders in this regard (CRC/C/OPSC/SLE/CO/1, paragraph 25). The Committee requests the Government to take the necessary measures to protect children under 18 years of age from all forms of exploitation in forced labour and to ensure that thorough investigations and robust prosecutions of offenders are carried out and sufficiently effective and dissuasive penalties are applied in practice.

3. Compulsory recruitment of children in armed conflict. The Committee notes that pursuant to section 28(1) of the Child Rights Act, every child has the right to be protected from involvement in armed or any other kind of violent conflicts, and accordingly, the minimum age for recruitment into the armed forces shall be 18 years. Section 28(2) further states that the Government shall not recruit or transcript any child (defined as persons under the age of 18 years) into military or paramilitary services or permit such recruitment or transcription by the armed forces.

The Committee also notes that the Committee on the Rights of the Child on the implementation of the Optional Protocol on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict (CRC-OPAC), in its concluding observations of 2010, welcomed the adoption of the Republic of Sierra Leone Recruitment Policy in 2004, followed by the adoption of the Republic of Sierra Leone Recruitment Act in 2006, which prohibits both the voluntary and compulsory enlistment into the armed forces of all persons below 18 years of age (CRC/C/OPAC/SLE/CO/1, paragraph 4).

Clause (b). Use, procuring or offering of a child for prostitution, for the production of pornography or for pornographic performances. The Committee notes that according to section 30 of the Sexual Offences Act, a person who participates as a client or is otherwise involved with a child in any act of child prostitution or invites, persuades or induces a child to engage in child prostitution with him/her or any other person shall be guilty of an offence and shall be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding 15 years. Furthermore offering, arranging, facilitating or benefiting from child prostitution is an offence under section 31 of the Sexual Offences Act.

With regard to child pornography, the Committee notes that section 26 of the Sexual Offences Act makes it an offence to make, produce, distribute, transmit, print, publish, import, export, sell or possess child pornography. Moreover, according to section 28 of the Sexual Offences Act, a person who invites or causes a child to be in any way concerned in the making or production of child pornography or procures a child for the purpose of producing child pornography or having the care of a child, consents to or allows the child to be used for the production of child pornography shall be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding 15 years.

Clause (c). Use, procuring or offering a child for illicit activities, in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs. The Committee notes section 7 of the National Drugs Control Act of 2008 which states that a person who, without lawful authority: (a) prepares, extracts, manufactures, produces, or cultivates a prohibited drug; (b) collects, transports, imports, exports, trans-ships or transmits any prohibited drug; and (c) supplies, administers, sells, exposes or offers for sale or otherwise deals in or with any prohibited drug, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to life imprisonment. The Committee also notes that section 13 of the National Drugs Control Act provides for grounds for an aggravated offence which include making use or taking advantage of a minor (defined as persons under the age of 18 years) in committing the offences under this Act.

In addition, according to section 15 of the National Drugs Control Act, an attempt or conspiracy to commit an offence or aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring the commission of an offence under this Part shall be punishable as if the offence had been committed.

Clause (d) and Article 4(1). Hazardous work and determination of hazardous work. The Committee notes that according to section 128 of the Child Rights Act of 2007, the minimum age for engagement of a person in hazardous work, which poses a danger to the health, safety or morals of a person, is 18 years.

The Committee also notes that according to section 128(3) of the Child Rights Act, hazardous types of work prohibited to children under 18 years of age include: going to sea; mining and quarrying; porterage of heavy loads; manufacturing industries where chemicals are produced or used; work in places where machines are used; and work in places such as bars, hotels and places of entertainment where a person may be exposed to immoral behaviour. Section 126 of the Child Rights Act and section 48 of the Employers and Employed Act of 1935 as amended further prohibits night work of persons under the age of 18 years. Furthermore, as per section 55 of the Employers and Employed Act, young persons under the age of 18 years shall not be employed or work in vessels as trimmers or stokers.

The Committee notes the Government’s information that the Ministry of Labour and Social Security has developed a list of types of hazardous work prohibited to children under 18 years of age after consultations with the social partners, child protection agencies and civil society organizations. The Committee also notes from the Government’s report that this list of types of hazardous work has been validated and is currently awaiting Cabinet approval as a Statutory Supplementary Instrument. The Committee requests the Government to take the necessary measures, without delay, to ensure the adoption of the Statutory Supplementary Instrument containing a list of types of hazardous activities prohibited to children under 18 years of age.

Article 5. Monitoring mechanisms. 1. National Task Force on Anti-Human Trafficking. The Committee notes from the Government’s report that a National Task Force on Anti-Human Trafficking was established to coordinate, monitor and supervise the implementation of the Anti-Human Trafficking Act, and to assist potential victims of trafficking by providing shelter, psychosocial counselling, medical assistance, as well as family reunification. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the activities of the National Task Force on Anti-Human Trafficking in preventing and combating human trafficking and the results achieved.

2. National Technical Steering Committee and Child Welfare Committees. The Committee notes the Government’s information that a National Technical Steering Committee on Child Labour (NTSC) was established to provide guidance on policy, strategy and substance relating to child labour in Sierra Leone, to provide technical support and participation towards annual reviews of national activities, to mainstream child labour issues in other development programmes and policies, and to review and endorse project proposals developed under the various support programmes. The Committee also notes the Government’s information that Child Welfare Committees were established at the national, regional, district, chiefdom and community levels to coordinate all child protection activities as well as to monitor and supervise child labour in the local communities. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the activities of the NTSC and the Child Welfare Committees and their impact on preventing and eliminating the worst forms of child labour.

Article 6. Programmes of action. National Action Plan against the Worst Forms of Child Labour. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that a draft National Action Plan against the Worst Forms of Child Labour has been elaborated. The Committee requests the Government to take the necessary measures to adopt, without delay, the National Action Plan against the Worst forms of Child Labour and to provide information on its implementation.

Article 7(2). Effective and time-bound measures. Clause (a). Preventing the engagement of children in the worst forms of child labour. Access to free basic education. The Committee notes that the Education Act of 2004 provides for free and compulsory basic education, comprising of six years of primary education and three years of junior secondary education to all its citizens (section 3(1) and (2)). According to section 3(4) of the Education Act, any parent or guardian who neglects to send their child to school for basic education commits an offence and shall be punished.

The Committee notes the Government’s information that within the framework of the ILO–IPEC TACKLE project 2008–13, two main action programmes were implemented, namely “Community responses to child labour” and the “Community Action for Rural Empowerment (CAREM)”. The Community responses to child labour programme, implemented in the Western area and the Eastern province where diamond mining is prevalent, has led to the withdrawal and prevention of 1,500 children from child labour and who were then provided with educational support. Moreover, 600 families benefited through income-generating activities and were further linked to micro financing institutions in order that they may receive support for their child’s education even after the project.

The CAREM programme was implemented in the Southern province within which 200 children benefited through educational support. According to the TACKLE project report, the project has contributed to Sierra Leone’s Education for All (EFA) goals to attain universal primary education. The project has also contributed to increasing school enrolment and retention rates, and to preventing early marriages among girls and teenage pregnancies.

However, according to the survey tables of Understanding Children’s Work (UCW), an Inter-Agency Research Cooperation Programme, of the total child population of 1,684,964 children between the ages of 5–14 years, only 73.6 per cent of children are attending school, of which 77 per cent complete primary education.

The Committee further notes that the Government representative of Sierra Leone, at the 48th session of the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) acknowledged that despite campaigns launched throughout the country to raise awareness of school attendance by girls and publicize the introduction of free education, girls continued to suffer discrimination in access to education (CRC/C/SR.1330, 18 December 2009, paragraph 39). The Committee expresses its concern at the situation of girls with regard to access to education. Recalling that free basic education contributes to preventing the engagement of children in the worst forms of child labour, the Committee urges the Government to take the necessary measures to ensure access to free basic education and to strengthen the functioning of the education system, including by taking measures to increase the school enrolment and completion rates, both at primary and secondary level, giving particular attention to girls. It requests the Government to provide information on the concrete measures taken in this regard.

Clause (b). Direct assistance for the removal of children from the worst forms of child labour and for their rehabilitation and social integration. Former child combatants. The Committee notes that the Government representative of Sierra Leone, at the 55th session of the CRC on consideration of the initial reports of Sierra Leone under the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict stated that once the war had ended, the country took various measures to assist child victims of war, regardless of whether they had been directly involved in the hostilities. For example, psychosocial services were made available to them, vocational training was provided to ex-combatants, and school re-entry programmes were offered to children under the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programme (DDR) (CRC/C/SR.1551, paragraph 28).

The Committee also notes that the CRC-OPAC, in its concluding observations of 14 October 2010, while noting the efforts made by the State towards the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of children recruited into armed groups or used in hostilities, expressed concern that, relative to the estimated number of children who participated in the armed conflict, few benefited from the DDR programme. The CRC-OPAC further remained concerned about the inadequate attention paid to the physical and psychological recovery of former child combatants, particularly girls formerly associated with armed groups, the majority of whom had been victims of sexual violence (CRC/C/OPAC/SLE/CO/1, paragraphs 27 and 29). The Committee requests the Government to take the necessary measures to address the physical and psychological recovery of former child combatants, especially girls, and to monitor the situation of those who were not included in the DDR with a view to providing them with the necessary assistance to fully rehabilitate and reintegrate them. It requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken in this regard.

Clause (d). Identify and reach out to children at special risk. Street children. The Committee notes that the CRC-OPSC, in its concluding observations of 14 October 2010, expressed its concern at the high number of children living or working in the streets who are particularly vulnerable to sexual and other forms of exploitation and the absence of an effective strategy to address this issue (CRC/C/OPSC/SLE/CO/1, paragraph 23). Recalling that street children are at an increased risk of being involved in the worst forms of child labour, the Committee urges the Government to take effective and time-bound measures to remove children from the street and to provide the necessary direct assistance for their rehabilitation and social reintegration. The Committee requests the Government to indicate the measures taken in this regard and on the results achieved.

Article 8. International cooperation and assistance. The Committee notes from the Government’s report that Sierra Leone is a party to the West African Network of Child Protection which was launched in March 2013 to monitor vulnerable children’s movement within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) region. The report further indicates the country’s cooperation with the ECOWAS Child Protection Unit, and the ECOWAS Anti-Human Trafficking Unit which coordinate, monitor and report on all trafficking issues in the subregion as well as the Manu River Union for border community security, comprising of Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone to address the threat of cross border movements of armed groups. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the significant impact of the West African Network of Child Protection and the ECOWAS Anti-Human Trafficking Unit on combating the trafficking of children under 18 years of age.

Part V of the report form. Application of the Convention in practice. The Committee notes the Government’s information that from 2005–11, 13 convictions were made on child trafficking. The Committee also notes the Government’s statement that no child labour was detected in the formal economy, while only limited inspections were carried out in the informal economy. It further notes the Government’s statement that the law enforcement bodies and the labour inspectors lack sufficient training on identifying, monitoring and investigating cases related to child labour and its worst forms. More often wrong cases are levied on perpetrators and most cases are not reported. The Government further indicates that proper records and documents on child labour are not available. The Committee requests the Government to take the necessary measures to strengthen the capacity and functioning of the labour inspectorate and the law enforcement bodies to detect cases of the worst forms of child labour. It also requests the Government to ensure that sufficient data on the situation of children involved in the worst forms of child labour is made available, including statistics and information on the nature, extent and trends of the worst forms of child labour, the number of children protected by the measures giving effect to the Convention, the number and nature of the infringements reported, investigations, prosecutions, convictions and penalties imposed. To the extent possible, all information should be disaggregated by sex and age.