proportion doubles in rural area compared to urban area (14.2 and 29.5%); revealing a gap to the detriment of rural children, despite the fact that they manage to maintain a momentum for education nearing the level of urban residents (87.8 in rural areas against 89.8% in urban areas). The Niari department records the highest number and almost abnormal of 50.8% of children aged 5-14 who work (i.e. 1 in 2 children), while its closest follower (Bouenza) is far behind (35 4%), closely followed by Likouala with 32.3%. Fortunately, school attendance rates are very high (respectively 81.4%, 90.3% and 88.3%). The departments record high percentages of children who, attend school and work at the same time (respectively 53.5% and 35.7% 33.2%). The best situation is witnessed in Pointe-Noire with only 8.0% of working children, but also with an average rate of school attendance at around 89.3%. There must be quite a number of children out of school. Results by age group (5-11 years and 12-14 years) are surprising; Nearly one (1) child of 511 years out of 4 works and school attendance is low 85.7%). One may wonder if the economic situation of the parents has not worsen in the meantime to the point of that children are forced to work. However, one can highlight some logic between child labour and the level of school attendance, as well as the educational level of the mother and the quintiles of economic wellbeing. When the level of education of the mother increases there is a gradual decline in the percentage of working children: 29.0% for children of households with uneducated mothers to 8.8% for households with mothers with upper secondary level). It is a similar case, according to the level of income, when income increases, the percentage of working children declines (32.4%) for the poorest against 10.9% for the richest) while the rate of school attendance increases from 85.2% among the poorest to 91.1% for the richest. Nevertheless, the level of school attendance among working children - who are, therefore, more affected than others- is maintained at a high level (around 81 to 91.0% on average), except in the Sangha (78.3%). In the same previous logically, when the level of education of the mother, and the level of well-being of the household increases, the percentage of children attending school increases while the rate of working children decreases. 3 - Abuse and Torture Based on our understanding, mistreatment and abuse that may result cannot be equated with torture. There must be clear and unambiguous definitions on this matter. It seems to us that these situations were addressed in the previous chapters. 4 - Sexual exploitation and abuse The lack of sufficient resources allocated to services responsible for investigating cases of exploitation is partly due to the lack of a legal mechanism and a coherent institutional framework. Legally, it should be recalled that before the adoption of Law No. 4-2010 of 14 June 2010 on the protection of children in the Republic of Congo, the country ranked at Tier 2 by the US Senate, did not have an appropriate legal framework against human trafficking, especially children. In other words, there was no study structure and decision on the matter, which could even lead to discussions on lack of resources. 112