Selected Child Labor Measures Adopted by Governments
| Ratified Convention 138 6/28/2000 |
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| Ratified Convention 182 6/28/2000 |
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| ILO-IPEC Member |
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| National Plan for Children |
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| National Child Labor Action Plan |
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| Sector Action Plan (Trafficking) |
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Incidence and Nature of Child Labor
UNICEF estimated that 63.5 percent of children ages 5 to 14 years in the Central African Republic were working in 2000.[886] Although children work in many sectors of the economy, most children are engaged in agricultural work in rural areas.[887] Some children work on farms at school. [888] Children also reportedly work alongside adult relatives in diamond fields. In the capital of Bangui, street children are engaged in begging.[889]
Indigenous children, including pygmy children, are forced into agricultural, domestic and other forms of labor by other ethnic groups in the country.[890]
Reports indicate that children fought for both pro-government and rebel forces during the coup that occurred in March 2003.[891] The security situation in the country was generally stable during 2004, and there were no reports of children involved in armed conflict during the year.
Children in the Central African Republic are also involved in prostitution.[892]
Children are trafficked to the Central African Republic generally from Nigeria, Sudan and Chad for work in domestic service, small shops, and agriculture. Traveling merchants, herders, and other foreigners working in and transiting the country sometimes brought boys and girls with them. Such children did not attend school and were not paid for their work. There are some reports that children are trafficked from the country to Nigeria and other nearby nations for work in agriculture.[893]
Despite the coup and suspension of the Constitution in 2003, certain laws prior to the coup remained in force in 2004.[894] Education continued to be free and compulsory until age 14.[895] However, children had to pay for their own books, supplies, and transportation.[896] In addition, penalties were rarely applied for children's nonattendance.[897] In 2001, the most recent year for which such data are available, the gross primary enrollment rate was 66.1 percent.[898] Enrollment rates for boys were higher than for girls; in 2001, the gross primary enrollment rate was 79.4 percent for males, and 53.0 percent for females.[899] Many reports indicate that male teachers from the primary to university levels pressure female students into sex in exchange for good grades.[900] Gross and net enrollment ratios are based on the number of students formally registered in primary school and therefore do not necessarily reflect actual school attendance. In 2000, the net primary attendance rate was 38.3 percent. The net primary attendance rate for children living in urban areas in 2000 was almost double the rate for children living in rural areas.[901] Chronic financial problems in the education system as well as the 2003 coup have led to the closure of many of the country’s schools.[902] UNESCO reports that the student-teacher ratio in Central Africa Republic is more than 70 to 1.[903]
Child Labor Laws and Enforcement
Article 125 of the Labor Code, which remained in force during 2004, sets the minimum age for employment at 14 years. However, children who are at least 12 years of age may engage in light work.[904] Children under 18 years are forbidden to perform certain kinds of work, including work in mines and work that involves carrying heavy loads, or work at night between the hours of 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.[905] Forced labor was prohibited under the former Constitution; at the date of this writing it was unclear whether this provision is included in the new Constitution approved by referendum in December 2004.[906] The minimum age for enlistment into the armed forces is 18.[907]
The Penal Code prohibits procurement of individuals for sexual purposes, including assisting in or profiting from prostitution, with penalties that include imprisonment for 3 months to 1 year and a fine of 100,000 to 1,000,000 francs (USD 177 to 1,778). Those found guilty of engaging in such acts with minors, which the code defines as persons less than 15 years of age, face penalties of imprisonment from 1 to 5 years and a fine of 200,000 to 2,000,000 francs (USD 354 to 3,556). The Penal Code also establishes penalties including imprisonment from 2 to 5 years and 100,000 to 800,000 francs (USD 177 to 1,422) if a school official commits an offense against the decency of a female student.[908] The law does not specifically prohibit trafficking. However, traffickers can be prosecuted under anti-slavery laws, mandatory school age laws, the prostitution provisions of the Penal Code, and the Labor Code.[909] In addition, Article 212 of the Penal Code establishes a penalty of imprisonment from 5 to10 years for any person who abducts or causes the abduction of a child younger than 15 years of age.[910]
Labor inspectors with the Ministry of Labor and Civil Service, labor tribunals, the Attorney General, and the police are responsible for enforcing child labor laws,[911] but the U.S. Department of State reported that enforcement occurs infrequently.[912] Minor’s brigades have been established to punish persons responsible for forcing children into prostitution. However, few cases have been prosecuted due to the reluctance of victims’ families to press charges.[913] The government does not investigate trafficking cases.[914]
Current Government Policies and Programs to Eliminate the Worst Forms of Child Labor
With support from UNICEF, the Government of the Central African Republic made efforts in 2004 to implement an action plan to provide care to AIDS orphans, who are often compelled to begin working at an early age.[915] The government has also established a plan to combat trafficking, but there is no information available to assess the current status of the plan.[916]
In August, the World Bank and IMF approved a package of aid programs for the country, which reportedly includes financing for education, including salaries for teachers.[917] UNICEF continued to provide support to a non-formal community schools program that is intended to promote girls’ education.[918] UNICEF and WFP are working to provide access to water, sanitation, and school meals in the country's education system.[919] The new government endorsed the country's National Plan of Action for Education for All in April 2004, which runs until 2015 and is intended to achieve the following goals: protection and education of pre-school-aged children; universal basic education; the availability of relevant training for youth and adults; increased literacy; a reduction in the disparity between boys and girls' participation in education; improved educational quality; and widespread citizen education on HIV/AIDS.[920]
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