CRC/C/PAN/CO/3-4
No. 6 (2005) on the treatment of unaccompanied and separated children outside their
country of origin. The Committee also encourages the State party to seek technical
assistance from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR).
Economic exploitation, including child labour
66.
The Committee is concerned that State authorities continue to apply the
Constitutional provision of 14 years as the minimum age for admission to employment,
despite the existence of Law 17/2000, which establishes a higher standard of 15 years. It is
also concerned at the existence of legal provisions that allow the State party to grant
permits for children from 12 to 14 years to work in agriculture and domestic service. The
Committee reiterates its concern at the high numbers of children aged between 5 and 17
years old who are working, despite the measures taken by the State party to combat child
labour, such as the establishment of the Committee for the Eradication of Child Labour and
the Protection of Young Workers (CETIPPAT). It is also concerned that the State party has
no effective labour inspection system and other mechanisms to protect children who work
and do not have identification document or legal identity.
67.
The Committee recommends that the State party take the necessary steps to
harmonize its legislative framework with the international standards established in
ILO Convention No. 138 related to the minimum age of employment; and, to ensure
that authorities respect and implement Law 17/2000. The Committee reiterates its
recommendation, in line with Human Rights Committee recommendations of 2008
(CCPR/C/PAN/CO/3, para. 20), that the State party adopt measures to ensure the full
application of the law aimed at eradicating child labour, and establish an effective
labour inspection system and other monitoring and enforcement mechanisms. The
Committee further recommends that the State party strengthen the mechanisms to
protect children who work and who have no identification document or legal identity.
Sexual exploitation
68.
The Committee is concerned at the lack of information on the implementation of the
National Plan for the Prevention and Elimination of Commercial Sexual Exploitation of
Children. The Committee takes note of the US$ 1 airport tax for programmes to prevent
and protect children from sexual exploitation, but remains concerned as to how this fund is
allocated.
69.
The Committee recommends that the State party policies and programmes for
the prevention, recovery and reintegration of child victims of sexual exploitation and
abuse, including the National Plan, are in accordance with the outcome documents
adopted at the 1996, 2001 and 2008 World Congress against Commercial Sexual
Exploitation of Children held in Stockholm, Yokohama and Rio de Janeiro. The
Committee further recommends that the State party allocate sufficient budgetary and
administrative resources, using among others the proceeds of the US$ 1 airport tax, to
the National Commission for the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation Offences so that it
can fulfil its mandate and implement the National Plan and related programmes.
Sale and trafficking
70.
The Committee takes note of the State party’s commitment, under the 2010
universal periodic review process (para. 68.22), to enforce and amend the relevant
legislation on trafficking in women and girls, and to adopt appropriate and efficient policies
and programmes to address this situation.
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