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The Committee notes with regret that the Government’s report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous direct request, which read as follows:

Articles 1(1) and 2(1). Trafficking in persons, and particularly children. The Committee notes that Guinea-Bissau is one of the beneficiary countries of the Assisted Voluntary Return Programme for Child Victims of Trafficking in the ECOWAS region, established by the International Organization for Migration. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide detailed information on the phenomenon of the trafficking of children in Guinea-Bissau towards neighbouring countries. In particular, it requests the Government to indicate the measures adopted or envisaged to combat trafficking, whether the victims are children or adults, and to specify the difficulties encountered by the public authorities in arresting and punishing those responsible for any removal of persons with a view to exploiting their labour or for their sexual exploitation.

Article 2(2)(c) of the Convention. Work exacted from a person as a consequence of a conviction in a court of law. In its previous comments, the Committee requested the Government to provide information on the progress made towards the adoption of texts governing the prison system, and particularly prison labour, and on the conditions under which convicted persons may be required to perform work within and outside prisons. The Committee notes the Government’s indication in its report that no detainee is obliged to work, within or outside prison, and that in practice prisoners work to meet their personal needs. It also emphasizes that, as a result of the conflict, the prisons have been destroyed and that the construction of a high-security prison is planned. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on any progress achieved in this respect. It would also be grateful if the Government would provide information on any change that has occurred, in law or practice, with regard to prison labour: the adoption of a general text issuing regulations governing the prison system or internal rules for the future prison.