24. In fact, as already indicated, several legislative measures were adopted, in
particular:
Law 2005-06 which makes certain offences like human trafficking and
exploiting others through begging punishable ;
The criminal code which prohibits begging in its Articles 241 to 247a;
Article 245 paragraph 2 (Law 75-77 of 09 July 1977) expressly states that
« those who allow children of below 18 years in their custody to beg shall
be liable to a term of imprisonment of between 3 to 6 months ».
25. Beyond these aspects, the government, in collaboration with other bodies,
has implemented programmes for children in vulnerable situations. This applies
to a programme which links the State through the Ministry of Children’s Affairs,
UNICEF and NGOs, the purpose of which is to strengthen priority actions to
eliminate the worst forms of child labour and protect them from all forms of
exploitation, abuses and violence.
26. The project dubbed ‘’Rehabilitating the Rights of Talibés’’ under the
Programme dubbed Children in Extremely Difficult Situations (Cooperation
Programme between the government of Senegal and UNICEF (1992-1996) with
the overall objective of contributing to combating begging among talibés,
whose number is estimated at 100.000. A similar Programme organized with the
same partners on the Daaras, lays emphasis on improving living conditions and
education of children in Koranic schools (talibés) and street children. In addition
to these government efforts, other initiatives such as the Dahra de Malika, the
Paul Guérin LA JOIE Foundation and that of the Training Centre for Talibés of
Saint-Louis also provided support.
27. Girls and boys living in dangerous situations are between 2.5 to 3 %, even 4 %
of the total population of the country estimated approximately at 10.000.000
inhabitants at the beginning of this 3rd Millennium6’’. It must be underscored that
Organisations such as ENDA T.M, Pour le Sourire de l’Enfant, Street Children
Solidarity Fund
(FSER), Espoir Sans Frontière, the Senegalese Community
Initiatives Development Association (ASDIC), are working proactively on the
well-being of street children.
28. In addition to this arrangement, the State is involved in information and
social communication activities.
III. ON THE ISSUE OF PRISON CONDITIONS
29. To implement the recommendations contained in the last concluding
observations, the highest Senegalese authorities initiated a series of actions
aimed at improving the living conditions of detainees and especially at
6
Cf. National Care Programme for Children in Dangerous Situations, Prime Minister’s Office, MFDSSN,
December 2000.
10