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Article 5 of the Convention. Monitoring mechanisms. National Steering Committee. The Committee previously noted that a National Steering Committee (CDN) had been established to monitor activities related to child labour, and particularly the trafficking of children. It also noted that, owing to certain constraints, the National Steering Committee had been unable to meet, but that measures had been taken with a view to making it operational and extending its mission to all initiatives to combat the worst forms of child labour.

The Committee notes the Government’s indications that certain budgetary and technical constraints have prevented the implementation of many projects, and that the operation of the National Steering Committee appears to be insufficient. According to the Government’s report, the National Steering Committee will be reorganized and its tasks redefined in the context of the National Plan of Action to combat the trafficking and worst forms of child labour. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the orientation of the activities of the National Steering Committee in the context of the National Plan of Action to combat the trafficking and worst forms of child labour, and on the measures adopted by the National Steering Committee.

Article 7(2). Effective and time-bound measures. Clause (b). Removal of children from the worst forms of child labour and their rehabilitation and social integration. Children enrolled and used in armed conflict. The Committee noted previously that, according to a report by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict of 6 August 2008 (A/63/227, paragraph 7), the armed forces and groups have taken coordinated steps to identify and release children associated with their forces with a view to ensuring their social integration.

The Committee observes that the Government’s report does not provide information on this subject. It notes that, according to the report of 13 April 2010 of the Secretary-General of the United Nations on Children and Armed Conflict in Côte d’Ivoire (A/64/742-S/2010/181, paragraph 66), the armed forces and groups have agreed to an “open door” policy in cooperation with the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) whereby any allegations of the use of child soldiers can be immediately investigated with their full cooperation and with unrestricted access. According to the report of the Secretary-General, during the reporting period there was no substantiated evidence of the use of child soldiers by those parties. The Committee once again requests the Government to provide information on the time-bound measures taken to ensure that child soldiers released from armed forces and groups receive appropriate assistance for their rehabilitation and social integration, including by reintegrating them into the school system or into vocational training.

Clause (d). Children at special risk. Children orphaned by HIV/AIDS. In its previous comments, the Committee noted that, according to the information contained in the December 2008 Epidemiological Fact Sheet of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the World Health Organization (WHO), there were approximately 420,000 HIV/AIDS orphans in Côte d’Ivoire. It noted that a national programme for the care of orphans and other vulnerable children of HIV/AIDS (PNOEV) was being implemented and that a National Strategic Plan for 2006–10 had been adopted.

The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the issue of HIV/AIDS is a particular concern of the Government of Côte d’Ivoire. It notes in this regard that a ministry responsible for combating HIV/AIDS has been established with responsibility for the formulation and implementation of the PNOEV and the National Strategic Plan. The Committee notes that, according to the information contained in the Côte d’Ivoire’s national report of March 2010 submitted in the context of the follow-up to the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS (the UNGASS report), that the number of orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs) between 0 and 17 years of age who live in shelters and receive free external aid increased from 22.1 per cent in 2008 to 27.1 in 2009. Furthermore, among the results achieved in the context of the PNOEV in the years 2008–09, the report indicates that 116,500 OVCs have been taken into care at the national level, 1,580 social workers have been trained in caring for OVCs and a national database on OVCs has been developed. The Committee also notes that, according to the national report submitted by Côte d’Ivoire in accordance with paragraph 15(a) of the Annex to Human Rights Council Resolution 5/1 of 3 September 2009 (A/HRC/WG.6/6/CIV/1, paragraph 125), ten social care centres for OVCs are available within the country.

The Committee welcomes these measures for the care of OVCs. Nevertheless, it notes that, according to the UNGASS report, the number of orphans and children who are vulnerable due to HIV/AIDS is 430,000. Furthermore, the school attendance rate of orphans between the ages of 10 and 14 years fell between 2007 and 2009, declining from 62.4 per cent in 2007 to 35.7 per cent in 2009. The Committee expresses concern at the high number of child victims of HIV/AIDS in the country and the low rate of school attendance by orphans. The Committee urges the Government to renew its efforts to ensure that child HIV/AIDS orphans are not engaged in the worst forms of child labour. It requests the Government to continue providing information on the measures adopted and the results achieved in the context of the PNOEV, and particularly to ensure the access of OVCs to free basic education.

Clause (e). Taking account of the special situation of girls. The Committee previously noted that awareness-raising campaigns are conducted with a view to the school attendance of young girls in the northern and north-eastern zones where the school attendance rate of girls is low. It requested the Government to provide information on the measures taken, including in the context of the implementation of the ILO/IPEC/LUTRENA project, with a view to protecting girls from the worst forms of child labour.

The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the LUTRENA project accorded special situation to the situation of girls in the implementation of its activities by giving priority to vulnerable girls in the selection of beneficiaries. According to the Government’s report, girls represent 54 per cent of beneficiaries. Accordingly, 448 girls between the ages of 5 and 17 years out of 840 children were removed from the worst forms of child labour, of whom 19 were victims of trafficking. Noting that the LUTRENA project was completed on 31 March 2010, the Committee requests the Government to continue taking immediate and effective measures for the protection of girls from the worst forms of child labour, and requests it to continue providing information on the number of girls who benefit from these measures. It also once again requests the Government to indicate the specific rehabilitation and social integration measures taken to ensure the access of all girls to free basic education and to vocational training.