Child Labor and Forced Labor Reports

Vanuatu

Vanuatu
2022 Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor:

Moderate Advancement

In 2022, Vanuatu made moderate advancement in efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor. During the reporting period, the government partnered with the United Nations Children's Fund to launch several child protection programs. This included establishing a free 24/7 child helpline to connect callers with trained child protection offices to report concerns. Additionally, the National Child Protection Referral Pathway guidance document was released, which outlined the roles for different stakeholders and service providers to support children, including psychosocial support. Lastly, the government streamlined the issuance of national identification cards for children. Although research is limited, there is evidence that children in Vanuatu are subjected to the worst forms of child labor, including in commercial sexual exploitation, sometimes as a result of human trafficking, and forced domestic work. Children also perform dangerous tasks in forestry and logging. Vanuatu’s minimum age for hazardous work, 15, is below the international standard of age 18. Vanuatu also lacks a referral mechanism between criminal authorities and social services providers.

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