CMNT_TITLE

Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) - Botswana (RATIFICATION: 2000)

Other comments on C182

Observation

Direct Request

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Article 7(2) of the Convention. Effective and time-bound measures. Clause a). Prevent the engagement of children in the worst forms of child labour. Access to free basic education. The Committee notes, in reply to its previous comments that the Government refers to various initiatives to improve access to free basic education. It states that the Access and Retention Strategy has been implemented in different quarters, including the revision of the curriculum to make it more outcome based and more relevant to learners; the introduction of a second meal at primary level; the provision of grants; and the rolling out the Reception Class Programme (RCP) to all primary schools. The RCP is currently offered to 613 schools with an enrolment of 25,640 learners. An Out of School Education for Children (OSEC) initiative which also provides food to children has been introduced. In 2019, 1,552 children were enrolled in the OSEC programme, of which 371 children were integrated into formal education. The Committee also notes the Government’s information in its report under the Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No.138) that the Ministry of Basic Education operates outreach programmes for children in farm employment in the Ghanzi region. Moreover, the Government is working with communities to construct “Satellite Primary schools” for children in remote areas.

The Committee notes that according to the UNESCO statistics, in 2021 the gross enrolment rate at the primary and secondary level was 99.02 and 73.6 respectively. The Committee notes that the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, in its concluding observations of June 2019, expressed concern about the low completion rates, the large number of children who are out of school and at the high dropout rates, particularly among girls due to pregnancy (CRC/C/BWA/CO/2-3, paragraph 52). While noting the measures taken by the Government, the Committee requests the Government to strengthen its efforts to improve the functioning of the education system and to ensure access to free basic education for all children by focusing on increasing school completion rates and reducing school dropout rates, particularly of girls. It requests the Government to continue to provide information on the measures taken in this regard and on the results achieved, including updated statistical data on school enrolment and drop-out rates, disaggregated by age and gender.

Clause (d). Identifying and reaching out to children at special risk. 1. HIV/AIDS orphans and other vulnerable children (OVCs). Following its previous comments, the Committee notes from the National Situation Analysis on Orphans and Vulnerable Children Reportof 2019 (2019 Situation Analysis Report) that approximately 35 per cent of children are orphans (15.4 per cent) or vulnerable children in Botswana. The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development along with other ministries, police service and other government personnel provide services specifically targeted to orphans and vulnerable children. This includes free or subsidized schooling, school feeding programmes and the post-secondary dispensation programme, in addition to social protection measures to other needy children and their families. The Orphan Care and Needy Children Program which provides assistance packages have served around 65,000 orphans and vulnerable children in 2017 and about 28 per cent households with an orphan child received support. Moreover, Residential Care Facilities (RCF) provide care and accommodation, psychosocial support, counselling and other services to orphans or children separated from their families as well as neglected or trafficked children while the Remote Area Dwellers Hostel (RADH) provides boarding and educational access to children who may not otherwise have the opportunity to attend school. However, this report indicates lower school enrolment rates and higher drop-out rates among orphans and vulnerable children. The Committee also observes that, in Botswana, according to the UNAIDS estimates of 2021, approximately 76,000 children aged between 0 to 17 years are orphans due to AIDS. While noting the measures taken by the Government, the Committee strongly encourages the Government to pursue its efforts to ensure that children orphaned by HIV/AIDS and OVCs are prevented from being engaged in the worst forms of child labour, including through providing for their education. It requests the Government to continue providing information on the measures taken in this regard and on the results achieved.

2. Street children. The Committee notes from the 2019 Situation Analysis Report that children, some of whom are orphans or neglected children or those coming from poor families, are seen living or spending time on the streets of Jwaneng, Ghanzi and Letlhakane regions and are often subject to violence, abuse, sexual and labour exploitation. There are no specialized services targeting these children and the Government interventions are limited to occasional repatriation efforts of taking them to their homes or RCF or RADH. Recalling that street children are at particular risk of becoming engaged in the worst forms of child labour, the Committee requests the Government to take effective and time-bound measures to remove children from such situations and to ensure their rehabilitation and social integration. It requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken and the results achieved in this respect.