2020 Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor: Bolivia

 
Moderate Advancement

In 2020, Bolivia made moderate advancement in efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor. The government approved a resolution allowing Venezuelan minors without identification documents or with expired documents to regularize their immigration status, enabling them to access the educational system. The Office of Women and Family in the municipality of Tarija began a project with the Ministry of Labor to create a list of children working in the streets and reintegrate this population into their families and schools. In addition, the Attorney General announced the formation of department-level special prosecutor offices dedicated to pursuing crimes of human trafficking and smuggling and installing special prosecutors with greater knowledge of these crimes. Finally, under the Juancito Pinto Program, more than 2.3 million participating students received $73 million in aid to encourage school retention in primary and secondary schools. However, children in Bolivia are subjected to the worst forms of child labor, including commercial sexual exploitation, sometimes as a result of human trafficking, and mining. Children also perform dangerous tasks in agriculture, including in the production of sugarcane. Although Bolivian law requires that apprentices attend school, it does not set a minimum age for participation in apprenticeships. In addition, Article 1 of Supreme Decree No. 1875 sets the minimum age for compulsory military service at 17 years, which does not comply with international standards.

I. Prevalence and Sectoral Distribution of Child Labor

Children in Bolivia are subjected to the worst forms of child labor, including commercial sexual exploitation, sometimes as a result of human trafficking, and mining. (1) Children perform dangerous tasks in agriculture, including through the production and harvesting of sugarcane. (2) Table 1 provides key indicators on children's work and education in Bolivia.

Table 1. Statistics on Children’s Work and Education

Children

Age

Percent

Working (% and population)

5 to 14

19.4 (467,874)

Working children by sector

5 to 14

 

Agriculture

 

68.4

Industry

 

8.6

Services

 

23.0

Attending School (%)

5 to 14

74.2

Combining Work and School (%)

7 to 14

16.9

Primary Completion Rate (%)

 

91.6

Source for primary completion rate: Data from 2019, published by UNESCO Institute for Statistics, 2021. (3)
Source for all other data: International Labor Organization's analysis of statistics from Encuesta de Niñas, Niños y Adolescentes (ENNA), 2019.
(4)

Based on a review of available information, Table 2 provides an overview of children's work by sector and activity.

Table 2. Overview of Children's Work by Sector and Activity

Sector/Industry

Activity

Agriculture

Planting and harvesting corn and peanuts (5)

 

Production and harvesting of Brazil nuts/chestnuts† and sugarcane† (2,5)

 

Ranching and raising cattle† and plucking chickens (1,2,6-8)

Industry

Mining† of gold, silver, tin, and zinc (2,9,10)

 

Construction,† including heavy lifting and shoveling (1,2,6)

 

Production of bricks† (1,2)

Services

Street vending, juggling, shoe shining, and assisting transportation operators (2,6,11,12)

 

Cleaning cemeteries (grave sites) and hospitals† (9,11-13)

 

Domestic work (2,6,14)

Categorical Worst Forms of Child Labor‡

Forced labor in ranching, and in the production and harvesting of Brazil nuts and sugarcane (14,15)

 

Forced begging, and forced labor in mining and domestic service (1,2,6,7,14-16)

 

Commercial sexual exploitation, sometimes as a result of human trafficking (2,6,17,18)

 

Use in illicit activities, including robbery and producing or transporting drugs (7,14,15)

† Determined by national law or regulation as hazardous and, as such, relevant to Article 3(d) of ILO C. 182.
‡ Child labor understood as the worst forms of child labor per se under Article 3(a)–(c) of ILO C. 182.

Indigenous children are particularly vulnerable to the worst forms of child labor. Some indigenous Guaraní families have been forced into labor in the harvest of sugarcane. (15) In Tarija, the sugarcane and Brazil nut harvest seasons attract over 3,000 internal migrants—many of them children—who are vulnerable to forced labor and human trafficking. (15)

The cultural practice known as padrinazgo, which involves rural families sending their children to urban areas to live with individuals for better access to education, social services, and food, often leads to forced labor, including in domestic work and third-party businesses. (15) Girls, on average age 14, were found to subjected to commercial sexual exploitation, including sex trafficking, in El Alto. (2,6) Research indicates that the commercial sexual exploitation of Bolivian children thrives due to the strength of the legal sex industry in Bolivia, the persistence of poverty, cultural norms that contribute to the denigration of women and girls, and the demand for child sex tourism. (2,6,18) Bolivian children are also subjected to commercial sexual exploitation, including sex trafficking, and forced labor both within the country and abroad. (14) Research found that young females age 13 to 17 were increasingly being targeted for trafficking through cyber recruitment. (19) The government does not have a system in place to track data on forced child labor, commercial sexual exploitation of children, or engagement of children in illicit activities. (6)

Bolivian law requires children to attend school up to age 17. (20,21) Attendance rates for secondary education remain low in rural areas. (6) As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the government suspended in-person schooling in March of 2020 and initially announced a plan to end the school year and automatically advance students to the next grade level. This plan was later modified and the government committed to a hybrid learning model utilizing a mix of in-person, virtual, and television and radio instruction. (2) In January 2020, the government approved a resolution allowing Venezuelan minors without identification documents or with expired documents to regularize their immigration status. This would allow these children access to the Bolivian education system. (2,22)

II. Legal Framework for Child Labor

Bolivia has ratified all key international conventions concerning child labor (Table 3).

Table 3. Ratification of International Conventions on Child Labor

Convention

Ratification

ILO C. 138, Minimum Age

ILO C. 182, Worst Forms of Child Labor

UN CRC

UN CRC Optional Protocol on Armed Conflict

UN CRC Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography

Palermo Protocol on Trafficking in Persons

The government has established laws and regulations related to child labor (Table 4). However, gaps exist in Bolivia's legal framework to adequately protect children from the worst forms of child labor, including compulsory recruitment by State military.

Table 4. Laws and Regulations on Child Labor

Standard

Meets International Standards

Age

Legislation

Minimum Age for Work

Yes

14

Articles 8 and 58 of the General Labor Law; Article 129 of the Child and Adolescent Code; Sentence 0025/2017 of the Plurinational Constitutional Tribunal; Article 3 of Law No. 1139 (23-26)

Minimum Age for Hazardous Work

Yes

18

Articles 58–59 of the General Labor Law; Articles 5 and 136 of the Child and Adolescent Code (23,24)

Identification of Hazardous Occupations or Activities Prohibited for Children

Yes

 

Article 136 of the Child and Adolescent Code (24)

Prohibition of Forced Labor

Yes

 

Articles 15, 46, and 61 of the Constitution; Article 291 of the Penal Code; Article 34 of the Comprehensive Law against Human Trafficking and Smuggling (20,27,28)

Prohibition of Child Trafficking

Yes

 

Article 15 of the Constitution; Article 34 of the Comprehensive Law against Human Trafficking and Smuggling (20,28)

Prohibition of Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children

Yes

 

Articles 34–35 of the Comprehensive Law against Human Trafficking and Smuggling; Articles 281 bis, 32, 321 bis, 322, and 323 bis of the Penal Code (28,29)

Prohibition of Using Children in Illicit Activities

Yes

 

Articles 47, 48, and 56 of the Law on Coca and Controlled Substances (30)

Minimum Age for Voluntary State Military Recruitment

Yes

16*

Articles 2 of the General Directive of Pre-Military Recruitment; Articles 2 and 7 of the Law of National Military Service (31,32)

Prohibition of Compulsory Recruitment of Children by (State) Military

No

 

Articles 108 and 249 of the Constitution; Article 1 of Supreme Decree No. 1875; Article 1 of Supreme Decree No. 21479 (20,33,34)

Prohibition of Military Recruitment by Non-state Armed Groups

No

   

Compulsory Education Age

Yes

17‡

Article 81 of the Constitution; Articles 1, 8–9, and 11–14 of the Avelino Siñani-Elizardo Pérez Education Law (20,21)

Free Public Education

Yes

 

Articles 17 and 81 of the Constitution; Article 1 of the Avelino Siñani-Elizardo Pérez Education Law; Article 115 of the Child and Adolescent Code (24,20,21)

* The minimum age for combat is 18 per Article 36 of the Law of National Military Service (31)
‡ Age calculated based on available information (20,21)

Although legislation was passed in 2018 to clarify the minimum age for work in Bolivia as 14, because the minimum age for work is still lower than the compulsory education age, children may be encouraged to leave school before the completion of compulsory education. (24,26) The Child and Adolescent Code allows children ages 14 to 18 to work with authorization from the Offices of the Child Advocate on the conditions that the work is not precarious to the child's well-being and is not conducted for more than 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week. (26)

Although Bolivian law requires employers to grant apprentices time necessary to attend school, it does not set a minimum age for participation in apprenticeships. (23) Articles 108 and 249 of the Constitution require Bolivian males to perform compulsory military service in accordance with national law. (20) Article 1 of Supreme Decree No. 1875, passed in 2014, lowered the minimum age at which compulsory military service may begin from age 18, as previously established, to age 17, which does not comply with international standards. (33,34)

III. Enforcement of Laws on Child Labor

The government has established institutional mechanisms for the enforcement of laws and regulations on child labor (Table 5). However, gaps exist within the operations of enforcement agencies that may hinder adequate enforcement of child labor laws.

Table 5. Agencies Responsible for Child Labor Law Enforcement

Organization/Agency

Role

Ministry of Labor (MOL)

Enforces child labor laws and addresses forced labor of indigenous peoples. Refers cases to the Labor Courts for adjudication of penalties and unpaid wages. (2) Engages municipal Offices of the Child Advocate to ensure the protection of children's rights. (1,35) Assists in the implementation of the Child and Adolescent Code. (1,24)

Municipal Offices of the Child Advocate

Authorize children from the age of 14 to engage in work and register them in the government's Child and Adolescent Information System (SINNA), pursuant to the Child and Adolescent Code. Protect the rights and welfare of children, including by accompanying child labor inspectors and referring criminal child labor cases to prosecutors and for social services. (1,24) SINNA is administered by the Ministry of Justice and Transparency. (24,26)

Prosecutor's Office

Enforces criminal laws against forced labor, trafficking of children, commercial sexual exploitation, and the use of children in illicit activities at the departmental level in coordination with the Attorney General. (1,36) The Attorney General's Office (AGO) oversees the investigations and prosecutions at the national level. The AGO's National Coordinator's Office oversees regional prosecutors who, in conjunction with the Bolivian National Police, pursue cases of human trafficking and maintain a database of these cases. (36)

Bolivian National Police

Maintain the Special Force in the Fight Against Crime, which runs the Trafficking in Persons Division, made up of 15 investigative human trafficking units and the Police Unit for Migratory Control and Assistance, which patrols national borders. (37)

In 2020, the Office of Women and Family within the municipality of Tarija began a project with the Ministry of Labor (MOL) to create a list of children working on the streets and utilize a multidisciplinary team to reintegrate this vulnerable population into their families and schools. A UNICEF representative estimated that approximately 80 percent of child workers in Tarija suffered some sort of physical violence during their experience working on the streets. (2)

Following the 2018 amendment of the Child and Adolescent Code, Municipal Offices of the Child Advocate are now responsible for registering working children ages 14 and older in the government's Child and Adolescent Information System. (1,26) Reports indicate that up to 15 percent of municipalities in Bolivia lack an Office of the Child Advocate; many more are reported to lack sufficient resources and the capacity to perform their mandate and raise awareness of children’s rights and their parents’ obligations under the Code. (15)

In La Paz and Santa Cruz, Child Advocate Offices reported additional barriers to implementation of the registration section of the Code. These barriers include lack of cooperation from parents to register their working children and prohibitive financial obstacles to obtain the proper paperwork required for registration. (15)

Labor Law Enforcement

In 2020, labor law enforcement agencies in Bolivia took actions to combat child labor (Table 6). However, gaps exist within the operations of MOL that may hinder adequate labor law enforcement, including financial resource allocation.

Table 6. Labor Law Enforcement Efforts Related to Child Labor

Overview of Labor Law Enforcement

2019

2020

Labor Inspectorate Funding

$144,665 (6)

Unknown (2)

Number of Labor Inspectors

102 (6)

71 (2)

Inspectorate Authorized to Assess Penalties

No (6)

No (2)

Initial Training for New Labor Inspectors

Yes (6)

Yes (2)

Training on New Laws Related to Child Labor

N/A (6)

N/A

Refresher Courses Provided

Unknown (6)

No (2)

Number of Labor Inspections Conducted

145 (6)

Unknown (2)

Number Conducted at Worksite

Unknown (6)

Unknown (2)

Number of Child Labor Violations Found

Unknown (6)

Unknown (2)

Number of Child Labor Violations for Which Penalties Were Imposed

Unknown (6)

Unknown (2)

Number of Child Labor Penalties Imposed that Were Collected

Unknown (6)

Unknown (2)

Routine Inspections Conducted

Yes (6)

Yes (2)

Routine Inspections Targeted

Yes (6)

Yes (2)

Unannounced Inspections Permitted

Yes (6)

Yes (2)

Unannounced Inspections Conducted

Yes (6)

Yes (2)

Complaint Mechanism Exists

Yes (6)

Yes (2)

Reciprocal Referral Mechanism Exists Between Labor Authorities and Social Services

Yes (6)

Yes (2)

Due to changes in administration personnel following the 2020 presidential elections, figures regarding inspectorate funding were not available for inclusion in this report. Furthermore, the pandemic and subsequent budget cuts severely limited inspection operations due to government restrictions on movement and the reduction of the number of inspectors. (2) The MOL indicated that by October, its mobile inspection units were again operational and were conducting an estimated 20 inspections per week, but total figures and disaggregated data were not available for inclusion in this report. (2)

However, the number of labor inspectors is likely insufficient for the size of Bolivia's workforce, which includes approximately 5.7 million workers. According to the ILO’s technical advice of a ratio approaching 1 inspector for every 15,000 workers in industrializing economies, Bolivia would employ about 380 labor inspectors. (38) The MOL reported that its budget was insufficient to conduct labor inspections. (2)

The MOL, Prosecutor's Office, and the Ministry of Justice do not have a consolidated database or systematized records of the number of violations found related to child labor. (1,6)

The government reported that children removed from child labor are referred to the municipal Offices of the Child Advocate for services, but information on the number of children referred for services is not publicly available. (1,2,6) Rural offices of the Child Advocate in municipalities throughout the country lack proper funding, personnel, and materials. While municipalities are required to allot a certain percentage of their budget to the Offices of the Child Advocate, this percentage has decreased over the last few years. (1,2)

Criminal Law Enforcement

In 2020, criminal law enforcement agencies in Bolivia took actions to combat child labor (Table 7). However, gaps exist within the operations of the criminal law enforcement agencies that may hinder adequate criminal law enforcement, including insufficient training.

Table 7. Criminal Law Enforcement Efforts Related to Child Labor

Overview of Criminal Law Enforcement

2019

2020

Initial Training for New Criminal Investigators

Unknown (6)

Unknown (2)

Training on New Laws Related to the Worst Forms of Child Labor

Unknown (6)

Unknown (2)

Refresher Courses Provided

Unknown (6)

Unknown (2)

Number of Investigations

Unknown (6)

Unknown (2)

Number of Violations Found

Unknown (6)

Unknown (2)

Number of Prosecutions Initiated

Unknown (6)

Unknown (2)

Number of Convictions

Unknown (6)

Unknown (2)

Imposed Penalties for Violations Related to The Worst Forms of Child Labor

Unknown (6)

No (2)

Reciprocal Referral Mechanism Exists Between Criminal Authorities and Social Services

Yes (6)

Yes (2)

In September 2020, the Attorney General announced the formation of department-level special prosecutor offices dedicated to pursuing crimes of human trafficking and smuggling and installing special prosecutors with greater knowledge of these crimes. From August 31 to September 11, the government, in cooperation with UNODC, provided virtual training to 48 of these new, specialized trafficking in persons prosecutors. (19)

However, the Government of Bolivia did not provide further data on criminal law enforcement efforts related to the worst forms of child labor for inclusion in this report. The Municipal Offices of Children and Adolescents, which hold the municipal Child's Advocate Offices, also completely closed during the pandemic, so prosecutions against child labor offenders largely stopped. (2)

Research has shown that children rescued from the worst forms of child labor are often not referred to social services providers because some cities lack shelters and other social services for children. (15,17,39,40) Shelters maintained by departmental governments are underfunded and child victims are often cast out of shelters on the basis of fixed timelines—after spending the maximum number of days allowed—rather than an assessment of need. (17) The government did not report the number of children referred to receive social services. While children can report workforce abuse to the Child Advocate’s Office, they rarely do. (15)

In addition, low rates of dedicated training on human trafficking hampered law enforcement efforts. The high rate of rotation among police, prosecutors, and judges—a standard practice to help combat corruption—leads to insufficient knowledge, lack of experience on human trafficking, and a judicial backlog for these types of cases. (39)

IV. Coordination of Government Efforts on Child Labor

The government has established mechanisms to coordinate its efforts to address child labor (Table 8). However, gaps exist that hinder the effective coordination of efforts to address child labor, including efficacy in accomplishing mandates.

Table 8. Key Mechanisms to Coordinate Government Efforts on Child Labor

Coordinating Body

Role & Description

National Commission for the Progressive Eradication of Child Labor

Coordinates national enforcement efforts on child labor issues. Led by MOL, and includes the ministries of Justice, Education, and Planning, and several NGOs. (1) Although the Bolivian government continued to undertake activities through this coordinating body in 2020, research could not determine specific activities and their efficacy in addressing child labor. (2)

Plurinational System for the Comprehensive Protection of Children and Adolescents

Coordinates national efforts to manage and implement the Plurinational Plan for Children and Adolescents, the Coordinating Council for Children and Adolescents, and the Congress on Children’s Rights. Evaluates and advises on national plans, public policies, reports, and budget allocation relating to children's and adolescents’ rights. (24) In coordination with the National Institute of Statistics, monitors and updates SINNA. Led by the Ministry of Justice. (24) Although the Bolivian government continued to undertake activities through this coordinating body in 2020, research could not determine specific activities and their efficacy in addressing child labor. (2)

Plurinational Council against Human Trafficking and Smuggling of Persons

Coordinates anti-trafficking efforts and implements national laws and policies on human trafficking and smuggling. (1,28,41) Chaired by the Minister of Justice and comprising eight ministries, the Public Advocate, and NGOs. (42) In cooperation with UNODC, the government led a series of virtual training sessions in August 2020 for government officials serving on the Council. The training reached 151 officials on the Council and focused on human trafficking prevention, protection, and prosecution. (19)

Department-Level Councils against Human Trafficking and Smuggling

Coordinate efforts of the Plurinational Council against Human Trafficking and Smuggling of Persons in Bolivia's nine departments. Comprising officials from the Special Force in the Fight Against Crime, MOL, the ministries of Migration and Education, the Human Rights Ombudsman's Office, and NGO representatives. (28,41) In 2020, in commemoration of "National Day against Human Trafficking,” the departmental councils joined the Plurinational Council and UNODC to launch an informational campaign to raise public awareness on human trafficking crimes and encourage prevention. The campaign utilized digital platforms and social networks of public institutions and civil society to reach the public. (19)

On September 22, the government signed a memorandum of understanding with IOM to allow the implementation of a national information system to combat human trafficking. (19) The ILO determined that the National Commission for the Progressive Eradication of Child Labor has not fulfilled its role as the central coordinating body, and its activities, while ongoing, have not resulted in any significant coordination. (1,43) Reports also indicate that some of MOL's departmental sub-commissions on child labor have not been active, due in part to a lack of resources. (16)

V. Government Policies on Child Labor

The government has established policies related to child labor (Table 9). However, policy gaps exist that hinder efforts to address child labor, including implementing a new national action plan.

Table 9. Key Policies Related to Child Labor

Policy

Description

Bolivian General Plan for Economic and Social Development (2016–2020)

Set goals for economic and social development including eliminating child labor. (44)

National Action Plan to Combat Trafficking and Smuggling of Persons (2015–2020)

Established eight lines of action drawn from the original five core areas of the Plurinational Policy to Combat Trafficking and Smuggling of Persons, including building capacity and coordination among criminal law enforcement agencies. (17,36) Although the plan was refined in 2016, an updated version awaits approval and publication. (6)

Research could not determine any activities undertaken to implement key policies related to child labor in 2020.

Bolivia's national policy for addressing child labor, the National Plan for the Progressive Eradication of Child Labor (2000–2010), expired in 2010. (45)

VI. Social Programs to Address Child Labor

In 2020, the government funded and participated in programs that include the goal of eliminating or preventing child labor (Table 10). However, gaps exist in these social programs, including funding and adequacy of programs to address the full scope of the problem in all sectors and regions.

Table 10. Key Social Programs to Address Child Labor

Program

Description

Juancito Pinto Subsidy Program†

Government program that provides a conditional cash transfer to all primary and some secondary school students to increase school attendance and reduce the dropout rate. (46) The 2020 Juancito Pinto program provided $73 million (504 million Bolivianos) directly to the more than 2.3 million participating students to encourage school retention in primary and secondary schools. (2)

Safe Terminal Program†

A child sex tourism prevention campaign launched by the Bolivian government in 2018, which includes training, awareness activities, and informational workshops for officials of transport and accommodation companies in the city of La Paz. In the department of Tarija, the campaign focuses on the development and implementation of codes of ethics and conduct to promote children's rights in private sector companies' corporate social responsibility programs. (17) Although the government of Bolivia continued to support this program in 2020, research could not determine specific activities carried out. (2)

Human Rights of Children Working in Sugarcane, Brazil Nuts, and Mining†

Human Rights Ombudsman's Office program that promotes the elimination of the worst forms of child labor, along with labor and social protections for working adolescents ages 14 to 17. (43) Although the government of Bolivia continued to support this program in 2020, research could not determine specific activities carried out. (2)

Bolivian Foreign Trade Institute's Triple Seal Initiative†

Initiative of the Department of Santa Cruz's Ministry of Labor. Collaborative effort with the Bolivian Institute of Standardization and Quality, UNICEF, and ILO to develop a voluntary certification program that recognizes companies that comply with Bolivian law and ILO conventions on child labor, forced labor, and worker discrimination in the production of their goods. (18) The project has led to the removal of over 5,000 children, or 95 percent of all child labor, from the sugarcane industry in the Department of Santa Cruz. (47) Although the government of Bolivia continued to support this program in 2020, research could not determine specific activities carried out. (2)

Child Trafficking Awareness-Raising Campaigns†

Government program implemented with the Bolivian Network for the Fight Against Human Trafficking and Smuggling that conducts awareness-raising campaigns to educate the public about the Comprehensive Law against Human Trafficking and Smuggling. (35) Although the government of Bolivia continued to support this program in 2020, research could not determine specific activities carried out. (2)

† Program is funded by the Government of Bolivia.
‡ The government had other social programs that may have included the goal of eliminating or preventing child labor. (1,16,48,49)

Although Bolivia has programs that target child labor, the scope of these programs is insufficient to address the extent of the problem, particularly in the production of Brazil nuts and sugarcane, ranching and cattle raising, mining, domestic work, street work, and commercial sexual exploitation. (16) The Juancito Pinto subsidy program continues to expand and has been adequate in rural areas. However, reports indicate that the $29 per year per student subsidy is insufficient to meaningfully cover costs, such as transportation, associated with attending school in larger cities. For example, reports indicate that costs associated with attending school in La Paz's sister city, El Alto, may reach $410 per year. (16)

VII. Suggested Government Actions to Eliminate Child Labor

Based on the reporting above, suggested actions are identified that would advance the elimination of child labor in Bolivia (Table 11).

Table 11. Suggested Government Actions to Eliminate Child Labor

Area

Suggested Action

Year(s) Suggested

Legal Framework

Ensure that the law prohibits children under the age of 14 from participating in apprenticeships.

2010 – 2020

 

Ensure that the law establishes 18 as the minimum age for compulsory recruitment by the state military and criminally prohibits the recruitment of children under age 18 into non-state armed groups.

2015 – 2020

 

Raise the minimum age for work to the age up to which education is compulsory.

2018 – 2020

Enforcement

Authorize the labor inspectorate to assess penalties for child labor, including its worst forms.

2015 – 2020

 

Publish information on child labor law enforcement, including whether inspectors received refresher training, the number of inspections conducted at worksites, the number of child labor violations as a result of inspections, and the number of penalties imposed and collected.

2009 – 2020

 

Ensure that inspectors receive refresher course trainings each year.

2020

 

Increase the number of labor inspectors responsible for enforcing laws on child labor to meet the ILO's technical advice.

2013 – 2020

 

Provide sufficient funding to increase the Ministry of Labor's capacity to ensure the adequate enforcement of child labor laws.

2013 – 2020

 

Ensure that there are systematized records or a consolidated database on the number of violations found related to child labor.

2019 – 2020

 

Establish and maintain in every municipality an Office of the Child Advocate with sufficient resources to ensure that legal protections are extended to all children who are permitted to work, that parents are assisted in registering their children for work, and that coordination of the provision of services to children who are removed from child labor, including its worst forms, occurs in each region.

2014 – 2020

 

Ensure that Offices of the Child Advocate publicly report on the number of children authorized to work and the number of children rescued from child labor and referred for social services.

2015 – 2020

 

Publish information on training for criminal investigators, including whether they receive training on the worst forms of child labor and refresher training; the number of criminal child labor investigations, violations found, prosecutions initiated, and convictions.

2011 – 2020

 

Ensure that penalties are imposed for violations related to the worst forms of child labor.

2020

 

Ensure that there are sufficient shelters for victims of the worst forms of child labor and human trafficking throughout the country and that victims are not cast out of shelters due to fixed timelines.

2018 – 2020

 

Provide sufficient training, including training on human trafficking, to criminal law enforcement agencies to ensure adequate enforcement of laws related to the worst forms of child labor. Address issues of high rotation among police, prosecutors, and judges as well as judicial backlog to ensure adequate prosecution.

2015 – 2020

Coordination

Ensure that coordinating bodies report specific activities taken to address child labor throughout the year.

2020

 

Ensure that the National Commission for the Progressive Eradication of Child Labor fulfills its central coordinating role and develops concrete mechanisms to improve coordination among participating agencies and organizations.

2009 – 2020

 

Ensure that all Ministry of Labor departmental sub-commissions designed to combat child labor convene and receive sufficient resources to carry out their functions.

2014 – 2020

 

Ensure that all Department-Level Councils against Human Trafficking are fully operational as required by the Comprehensive Law against Human Trafficking and Smuggling.

2014 – 2020

Government Policies

Establish and implement a new National Plan for the Progressive Eradication of Child Labor.

2010 – 2020

 

Ensure that all policies that address child labor are active and take actions each reporting period, including the Bolivian General Plan for Economic and Social Development.

2019 – 2020

 

Approve and publish a national action plan to address the trafficking and smuggling of persons.

2019 – 2020

Social Programs

Expand national programs, especially those targeting children in rural areas to increase secondary school attendance.

2010 – 2020

 

Increase the Juancito Pinto subsidy to ensure that schoolchildren are able to cover the costs associated with attending school.

2014 – 2020

 

Expand social programs to address the worst forms of child labor at sites in which hazardous child labor exists, particularly in the production of Brazil nuts and sugarcane, ranching and cattle raising, mining, domestic work and street work, and commercial sexual exploitation.

2009 – 2020

 

Ensure that all social programs that address the worst forms of child labor are active and publish information on activities each reporting period.

2019 – 2020

References
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  2. U.S. Embassy- La Paz. Reporting. January 15, 2021.
  3. UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Gross intake ratio to the last grade of primary education, both sexes (%). Accessed March 3, 2021. For more information, please see “Children's Work and Education Statistics: Sources and Definitions” in the Reference Materials section of this report. http://data.uis.unesco.org/.
  4. ILO. Analysis of Child Economic Activity and School Attendance Statistics from National Household or Child Labor Surveys. Original data from Encuesta de Niñas, Niños y Adolescentes (ENNA), 2019. Analysis received March 2021. Please see “Children's Work and Education Statistics: Sources and Definitions” in the Reference Materials section of this report.
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