is set at 12 and hence the implication is that children above the age of 12 can be involved in labour, a situation that can adversely affect their welfare and development. Moreover, the Committee observes that large numbers of children (20%) between 5 and 14 years of age are involved in child labour including worst forms of child labour, and the rate is higher in rural areas as it is reaching up to 32%. The root causes identified for such high rate of child labour include poverty, social traditions and patterns and poor education system. The Committee, while commending the State Party’s efforts in addressing the root causes, mainly poverty, through various strategies, is concerned that less attention is given to labour inspection, holding perpetrators accountable and sensitization of the community. Therefore, the Committee recommends that the State Party intensify its efforts in conducting continuous and thorough labour inspections to rescue children from child labour and hold perpetrators accountable. Moreover as household chores accounts for the highest form of child labour, the Committee encourages the State Party to undertake sensitizations and campaigns with special attention in rural areas to change societal patterns and encourage families to send their children to school. Sale, abduction and trafficking of children 47. The Committee notes that children are trafficked from and to the State Party for forced labour and commercial sex purposes. However the magnitude of the problem is not assessed by the State Party as there is no data on the status of child trafficking and abduction in the State Party. The Committee also notes that even though there is a law which prohibits and penalizes trafficking, the rate of investigation and prosecution of trafficking is declining in the State Party. The Committee strongly recommends that the State Party conducts a survey to assess the situation of trafficking and abduction of children and identify the causes and patterns with a view to develop prevention and protection measures. It also recommends that the State Party undertakes a close monitoring and inspection of the construction and mining sector to prevent child trafficking for forced labour. Moreover, the Committee recommends that children who are trafficked and used for criminal activities should be treated as victims and not criminals. The Committee also encourages the State Party to investigate and prosecute trafficking cases. 48. The Committee commends that the State Party is undertaking protection measures by providing assistance for child victims and encourages the State Party to continue such efforts and further train law enforcement and social service officials on identification of vulnerable children. Sexual abuse and exploitation 49. The Committee notes with concern that commercial sexual exploitation is increasing in the State Party and that children are the main victims of such exploitation. In addition, the Committee has been reliably informed there are sexual abuses 14