CRC/C/15/Add.137
page 11
Internally displaced children
60.
The Committee expresses its concern that the State party has one of the largest internally
displaced populations in the world, forced to leave their home towns owing to the high level of
violence in certain regions of the country. The Committee is also concerned about the social
deprivation faced by these populations, mainly composed of women and children, especially
their limited access to housing, health services and education. The Committee is further
concerned about reports that many displaced persons have been the victims of grave human
rights violations and about the thousands of displaced families who have fled to neighbouring
countries, where refugee status has been denied them by the local authorities.
61.
The Committee recommends that the State party give the highest priority to the
protection of the rights of children belonging to internally displaced groups. In this regard,
the Committee endorses the recommendations made in the reports of the Special
Representative of the Secretary-General on Internally Displaced Persons to the
Commission on Human Rights on the situation in the State party (see
E/CN.4/2000/83/Add.1 and Add. 2), and recommends that the State party, in cooperation
with the international community, urgently follow up these recommendations, in particular
that on the incorporation of the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement
(E/CN.4/1998/53/Add.2) in the State party’s legislation and policies on internally displaced
persons.
Economic exploitation, including child labour
62.
With regard to its recommendation concerning measures for the eradication of child
labour (CRC/C/15/Add.30, para. 19), the Committee welcomes the technical cooperation
programme with the International Labour Organization (ILO)/International Programme for the
Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC). Nevertheless, the Committee remains concerned that
economic exploitation is still one of the major problems affecting children in the State party.
The Committee is also concerned at the insufficient law enforcement and the lack of adequate
monitoring mechanisms to address this situation, especially in the informal sector. The
Committee is further concerned at the situation of children working in the coca-leaf plantations.
63.
The Committee expresses most particular concern for children who work or live in the
street in order to survive and who require special attention because of the risks to which they are
exposed.
64.
The Committee encourages the State party to ratify ILO Convention No. 182
Concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms
of Child Labour (1999). The Committee recommends that the State party take effective
measures to address the situation of children involved in hazardous labour, especially in
the informal sector and the coca-leaf plantations. The Committee also recommends that
the child labour laws should be strictly enforced, the labour inspectorates strengthened and