trespassed the law. In the event where this is not feasible, the Committee calls upon
the State Party to ensure that children who are detained with their parents get
access to food, medication, education and healthy environment. In cases where
children of imprisoned parents are staying with extended families or foster care, the
State Party should facilitate visits insofar as it does not contradict with the best
interest of the child. The State Party is also recommended to give attention to the
Committee’s General Comment No. 1 on Article 30 of the African Children’s Charter.
Children in situation of exploitation and abuse
47. The Committee appreciates the fact that any form of child labour is prohibited below
the ages of 15 years; that children below the age of 18 cannot engage in
employment in hazardous and unhealthy works, night works and overtime works;
and that the Government has established the National Committee against Child
Labour. However, the State Party report indicates that the Labour Inspector can
authorize the employment of children below the age of 15 if the work is not harmful
to their health or intellectual development. Furthermore, one in four children suffers
from child labour; and many children work in the mines and quarries where they face
health problems as well as sexual exploitations. In order to rectify these situations,
the Committee recommends that the State Party removes all exceptions of child
labour below the ages of 15 both in the formal and informal sectors. The Committee
also urges the State Party to put sanctions against those who employ children and to
closely monitor the working conditions of children who are employed.
48. Concerning the sale, trafficking and sexual exploitation of children, the Committee
notes with appreciation the legislative and administrative measures that are being
taken to combat these practices. Nonetheless, a large number of children are
trafficked to Middle East for domestic servitude and commercial sexual exploitation.
Sexual exploitation is also very common within the country. Young girls are used as
sex workers even by their parents. This situation is exacerbated by impunity which
results from the failure of the government to reprimand such acts through
prosecution and conviction of perpetrators. Accordingly, the Committee strongly
recommends for the State Party to control that children are not trafficked and forced
to undertake domestic works and commercial sexual works [child prostitution] by:
- putting stringent requirements on the travel of both accompanied and
unaccompanied children;
- Entering into bilateral and multilateral treaties with Middle East Countries to
ensure that children are not subjected to any form of exploitation in those
countries;
- Innovating other forms of earning livelihood to address the poverty of the
society;
- Investigating, prosecuting and convicting perpetrators including family
members; and
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