In 2019, Sierra Leone made a moderate advancement in efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor. In early 2020, the government officially overturned a 10-year-old policy that prohibited pregnant girls from attending regular public schools or taking secondary and post-secondary school entrance exams. The government also published a report on the results of a 2018 household-level survey on child labor and employment. However, children in Sierra Leone engage in the worst forms of child labor, including in the mining sector and in commercial sexual exploitation, sometimes as a result of human trafficking. Children also perform dangerous tasks in quarrying stone and fishing. The types of hazardous work prohibited for children do not cover all sectors where child labor is known to occur, and the government does not have a sufficient number of labor inspectors to adequately enforce labor laws throughout the country. In addition, Sierra Leone lacks a national policy and social program to address all relevant worst forms of child labor.
Children in Sierra Leone engage in the worst forms of child labor, including in the mining sector and in commercial sexual exploitation, sometimes as a result of human trafficking. Children also perform dangerous tasks in quarrying stone and fishing. (1) In 2019, the government published a report based on household-level survey data collected in 2018, which included a discussion of child labor in Sierra Leone. (1,2) Table 1 provides key indicators on children's work and education in Sierra Leone.
Children |
Age |
Percent |
---|---|---|
Working (% and population) |
5 to 14 |
35.1 (Unavailable) |
Attending School (%) |
5 to 14 |
78.2 |
Combining Work and School (%) |
7 to 14 |
32.2 |
Primary Completion Rate (%) |
81.8 |
Source for primary completion rate: Data from 2018 published by UNESCO Institute for Statistics, 2020. (3)
Source for all other data: International Labor Organization's analysis of statistics from the Demographic and Health Survey, 2017. (4)
Based on a review of available information, Table 2 provides an overview of children's work by sector and activity.
Sector/Industry |
Activity |
---|---|
Agriculture |
Cultivation of cassava, coffee, cocoa, palm oil, peanuts, and rice (1,5) |
Fishing, including deep-sea fishing,† mending nets, and working on boats in the open sea† (1) |
|
Industry |
Mining† for alluvial diamonds, sand, and gold, including loading gravel in sacks or basins, carrying sacks on their heads, washing, and sieving (1) |
Quarrying† and crushing stone, including granite, and transporting gravel (1) |
|
Construction, activities unknown (1) |
|
Manufacturing,† activities unknown (1,2,6) |
|
Services |
Scavenging scrap metals and recyclable materials from dumpsites (1,7-9) |
Domestic work (1,9) |
|
Street work, including begging, trading, and selling goods (1,9,10) |
|
Portering, including carrying heavy loads† (1) |
|
Working as apprentices, including in auto repair shops and on transportation vehicles, including mini buses and motorbike taxis (9,11) |
|
Categorical Worst Forms of Child Labor‡ |
Forced begging, sometimes as a result of human trafficking (1,12) |
Forced domestic work, sometimes as a result of human trafficking (1,12) |
|
Commercial sexual exploitation, sometimes as a result of human trafficking (1,12) |
|
Forced labor at street hawking, domestic work, mining, agriculture, scavenging for scrap metal, and motorbike taxi driving, granite and alluvial diamond mines, sometimes as a result of human trafficking (1,11,12) |
† 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.
Sierra Leone is a source, transit, and destination country for children trafficked for forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation. (13-15) Sierra Leone has a form of internal child trafficking called "men pikin," meaning foster care in Krio, in which family members send children with promises of better educational opportunities to relatives in urban areas. However, some children are instead subjected to forced labor, including in street hawking, domestic work, mining, agriculture, scavenging for scrap metal, and motorbike taxi driving. Some children sent to Koranic schools are trafficked for labor exploitation. (9) In addition, LGBTQI children are at a higher risk for human trafficking. (16) There are also reports that children, mostly boys ages 5–17, are forced to mine for diamonds for long hours in hazardous conditions, sometimes without pay. (13-15)
In December, the Economic Community of West African States ruled that Sierra Leone's policy, which prohibited pregnant girls from attending regular public schools or taking secondary and post-secondary school entrance exams, was illegal. Since that time, the government has allowed pregnant girls to take secondary and post-secondary school entrance exams, and on March 30, 2020, the government officially overturned its policy that prevented pregnant girls from attending school and taking entrance exams. (1,17,18) Despite government initiatives to make education free through secondary school, substantial barriers remain, including a lack of schools and teachers, limited transportation to schools, and sexual abuse by teachers. (1,19-21) ) However, the government enacted the Sexual Offenses Amendment Act in 2019, which provides harsher punishments for offenders, which may lessen a barrier to education. (22) The government also conducted a survey of household data throughout the country; however, the data were not disaggregated to illustrate the level of child labor found in Sierra Leone. (2)
Sierra Leone has ratified all key international conventions concerning child labor (Table 3).
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 Sierra Leone's legal framework to adequately protect children from the worst forms of child labor, including the lack of specific provisions on light work.
Standard |
Meets International Standards |
Age |
Legislation |
---|---|---|---|
Minimum Age for Work |
Yes |
15 |
Section 125 of the Child Right Act; Section 52 of Chapter 212, Employers and Employed Act (23,24) |
Minimum Age for Hazardous Work |
Yes |
18 |
Section 128 of the Child Right Act; Sections 47–56 of Chapter 212, Employers and Employed Act (23,24) |
Identification of Hazardous Occupations or Activities Prohibited for Children |
Yes |
Section 128 of the Child Right Act; Sections 47–56 of Chapter 212, Employers and Employed Act; Sections 164 and 170 of the Mines and Minerals Act (23-25) |
|
Prohibition of Forced Labor |
Yes |
Part II, Section 2, and Part IV, Sections 14–15 and 21 of the Anti-Human Trafficking Act; Section 19 of the Constitution of Sierra Leone (26,27) |
|
Prohibition of Child Trafficking |
Yes |
Part II, Section 2, and Part IV, Sections 14–15 and 21 of the Anti-Human Trafficking Act; Section 60 of the Child Right Act (23,26) |
|
Prohibition of Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children |
Yes |
Sections 19–34 of the Sexual Offenses Act; Part II, Section 2, of the Anti-Human Trafficking Act (22,26,28) |
|
Prohibition of Using Children in Illicit Activities |
Yes |
Sections 7 and 13 of the National Drugs Control Act (29) |
|
Minimum Age for Voluntary State Military Recruitment |
Yes |
18 |
Section 28 of the Child Right Act (23) |
Prohibition of Compulsory Recruitment of Children by (State) Military |
N/A* |
||
Prohibition of Military Recruitment by Non-state Armed Groups |
No |
||
Compulsory Education Age |
Yes |
15 |
Section 3 of the Education Act; Section 125 of the Child Right Act (23,30) |
Free Public Education |
Yes |
Section 3 of the Education Act; Section 9 of the Constitution of Sierra Leone; Section 11(c) of the Child Right Act (23,27,30) |
* No conscription (29)
Although Sierra Leone's Child Right Act identifies areas of hazardous work prohibited for children, such as porterage of heavy loads, going to sea, and working in places in which machines are used, the types of hazardous work identified do not include, among others, street work. (15,23,24,) Furthermore, children may be exposed to hazardous conditions while working in agriculture and domestic work. (15,23,24,31)
The Child Right Act sets the minimum age for light work at age 13; however, it is not specific enough to prevent children from involvement in child labor because it does not limit the number of hours per week for light work, determine the activities in which light work may be permitted, or specify the conditions in which light work may be undertaken. (32)
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 the Ministry of Labor and Social Security (MLSS) that may hinder adequate enforcement of their child labor laws.
Organization/Agency |
Role |
---|---|
Ministry of Labor and Social Security (MLSS) |
Formulates, implements, and monitors compliance with child labor regulations through its Child Labor Unit. (1) MLSS District Labor Officers enforce labor laws in the formal sector. (1) In October 2019, the Ministry of Labor embarked on nationwide sensitization and popularization of the labor migration policy, impacting child labor. (33) |
Ministry of Justice's Director of Public Prosecution |
Responsible for undertaking criminal proceedings, including enforcement of criminal laws against forced child labor, child trafficking, commercial sexual exploitation, recruitment and use of child soldiers, and use of children in illicit activities. (1) |
Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources |
Enforces regulations against the use of child labor in mining. Authorized to suspend licenses of mining operators found using child labor. (1,24) |
Ministry of Gender and Children's Affairs (MGCA) |
Serves as the umbrella agency to oversee child protection issues, including child labor.(1,31) In November 2019, President Bio announced the split of the Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender, and Children Affairs (MSWGCA) into the Ministry of Social Welfare (MSW) and the Ministry of Gender and Children's Affairs (MGCA). (1,33) |
Ministry of Internal Affairs' Police and Transnational and Organized Crime Unit |
The Sierra Leone Police lead the investigation and prosecution of sexual abuse, domestic violence, and child abuse through Family Support Units, which are mandated to minimize and eradicate the incidence of sexual abuse, domestic violence, and child abuse. (1) Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU) enforces human trafficking laws and provides statistical data and general information on particular cases of human trafficking. (1) |
The Child Right Act requires the establishment of a Child Welfare Committee in every village and chiefdom, however, research indicates that these committees have been established in only a few parts of the country due to budgetary constraints. (33, 35, 36) The Ministries of Social Welfare and Justice lead the TIP Task Force. (33)
Labor Law Enforcement
In 2019, labor law enforcement agencies in Sierra Leone took actions to combat child labor (Table 6). However, gaps exist within the operations of the MLSS that may hinder adequate labor law enforcement, including labor inspector training.
Overview of Labor Law Enforcement |
2018 |
2019 |
---|---|---|
Labor Inspectorate Funding |
Unknown (13) |
$475,600 (1) |
Number of Labor Inspectors |
27 (15) |
30 (1) |
Inspectorate Authorized to Assess Penalties |
Yes (13) |
Yes (1) |
Initial Training for New Labor Inspectors |
Yes (13) |
Yes (1) |
Training on New Laws Related to Child Labor |
N/A |
N/A (1) |
Refresher Courses Provided |
No (13) |
No (1) |
Number of Labor Inspections Conducted |
350 (13) |
450 (1) |
Number Conducted at Worksite |
350 (13) |
450 (1) |
Number of Child Labor Violations Found |
0 (13) |
0 (1) |
Number of Child Labor Violations for Which Penalties Were Imposed |
0 (13) |
N/A (1) |
Number of Child Labor Penalties Imposed that Were Collected |
N/A |
N/A (1) |
Routine Inspections Conducted |
Yes (13) |
Yes (1) |
Routine Inspections Targeted |
Yes (13) |
Unknown (1) |
Unannounced Inspections Permitted |
Yes (13) |
Yes (1) |
Unannounced Inspections Conducted |
Yes (13) |
Yes (1) |
Complaint Mechanism Exists |
No (13) |
No (1) |
Reciprocal Referral Mechanism Exists Between Labor Authorities and Social Services |
No (13) |
No (1) |
The number of labor inspectors is likely insufficient for the size of Sierra Leone's workforce, which includes more than 2.9 million workers. According to the ILO's technical advice of a ratio approaching 1 inspector for every 40,000 workers in least developed economies, Sierra Leone would employ about 75 inspectors. (37,38) In addition to the insufficient number of inspectors, enforcement of child labor laws remains challenging due to insufficient training and the lack of resources for inspections. (1) Although the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources can conduct inspections of mines and revoke licenses from license holders who are found to be using child labor, reports indicate that a limited number of inspectors and a lack of funding may have hindered the enforcement of these laws in the diamond-mining sector. (13,16,24,32) Routine inspections were conducted only in the formal sector. The MLSS inspected the construction, agriculture, mining, manufacturing, and fishing industries. Labor inspections were not conducted in the informal economy in which most child labor is known to occur. (1)
Criminal Law Enforcement
In 2019, criminal law enforcement agencies in Sierra Leone took actions to combat child labor (Table 7). However, gaps exist within the operations of the criminal enforcement agencies that may hinder adequate criminal law enforcement, including lack of data on criminal law enforcement efforts.
Overview of Criminal Law Enforcement |
2018 |
2019 |
---|---|---|
Initial Training for New Criminal Investigators |
Yes (13) |
Yes (1) |
Training on New Laws Related to the Worst Forms of Child Labor |
N/A |
No (1) |
Refresher Courses Provided |
No (13) |
No (1) |
Number of Investigations |
0 (13) |
0 (1) |
Number of Violations Found |
Unknown (13) |
Unknown (1) |
Number of Prosecutions Initiated |
Unknown (13) |
Unknown (1) |
Number of Convictions |
Unknown (13) |
Unknown (1) |
Imposed Penalties for Violations Related to The Worst Forms of Child Labor |
Unknown (15) |
Unknown (1) |
Reciprocal Referral Mechanism Exists Between Criminal Authorities and Social Services |
Yes (13) |
Yes (1) |
Reports indicate that criminal law enforcement in Sierra Leone, particularly efforts to address human trafficking, is hampered by a lack of coordination, limited funding, and a lack of training of law enforcement personnel and the judiciary. (1) The government does not provide information on the number of violations found, prosecutions initiated, convictions, or whether it imposed penalties for violations related to the worst forms of child labor. (1,15) On February 11, 2020, and for the first time in 15 years, the High Court of Sierra Leone convicted perpetrators of human trafficking. (39)
The government has established mechanisms to coordinate its efforts to address child labor (Table 8). However, gaps may exist that hinder the effective coordination of efforts to address child labor, including efficacy in accomplishing mandates.
Coordinating Body |
Role & Description |
---|---|
National Technical Steering Committee on Child Labor |
Coordinates efforts to address child labor. (1) Led by MLSS and MGCA and includes representatives from 10 other government agencies, international organizations, and NGOs. As part of the National Technical Steering Committee on Child Labor, the National Commission for Children advises the government on ways to improve child welfare. (1) |
National Trafficking in Persons Task Force |
Coordinates the needs and requirements of agencies that provide shelter and services for human trafficking victims, gathers data on reported human trafficking cases, and meets regularly to develop policies related to child trafficking. During the reporting period, the Government of Sierra Leone made efforts to increase funding to fight human trafficking.(1) |
Child Welfare Committees |
Promote awareness of children's rights and report child welfare concerns to officials responsible for children's issues. Provide recommendations on the support of village children and address complaints and concerns by village inhabitants. (1,34,35) |
During the reporting period, Child Welfare Committees in all district capitals across the country were active monitoring mining sites.
The Government of Sierra Leone has established policies related to child labor (Table 9). However, gaps exist that hinder efforts to address child labor, including the lack of policies that cover all worst forms of child labor.
Policy |
Description |
---|---|
National Action Plan on Human Trafficking (2015–2020) |
Includes strategies to address human trafficking through prevention efforts, victim identification, protection and referral of victims to services, training of personnel, and government coordination and monitoring. (1,14) In 2019, this plan was implemented. Among the activities during the reporting period include providing temporary housing to TIP survivors and training social welfare personnel in TIP caregiving and police in victim identification. (33) |
‡ The government had other policies that may have addressed child labor issues or had an impact on child labor. (1,19,40)
Although the Government of Sierra Leone has adopted the National Action Plan on Human Trafficking, research found no evidence of a policy on other worst forms of child labor.
In 2019, 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 the adequacy of programs to address the problem in all sectors.
Program |
Description |
---|---|
Child Trafficking Shelters† |
Government-funded program that refers child trafficking victims to privately run shelters that house child victims of forced labor and human trafficking. (41) In 2019, the government provided World Hope International with a building to be used as a recovery and rehabilitation shelter for human trafficking victims. (1) |
Free Quality School Education (2018–2023) |
Program that covers the costs of school tuition and fees, food programs in remote communities, textbooks, and some teaching materials. (1) In 2019, 21 percent of the national budget was allocated to implement this program, which increased access to primary, secondary, vocational, and university education. (1) President Bio, Vice President Jalloh, and other government officials each donated 3 months of their salaries to establish a government program to pay for textbooks, eliminate school fees, and train teachers in an effort to support free public primary and secondary education for more than 2 million students. (13,17,18,42,43) Immediately after implementation, school enrollment at the primary and secondary school levels increased. (33) |
† Program is funded by the Government of Sierra Leone.
‡ The government had other social programs that may have included the goal of eliminating or preventing child labor. (44,45)
Sierra Leone has insufficient and under-funded shelters and safe houses for children who have been withdrawn from working on the streets or in forced labor. (6,14,25)
Although the Government of Sierra Leone has implemented programs to assist child trafficking survivors, research found no evidence that it has carried out programs specifically designed to assist children working on the streets, in agriculture, and in domestic work. (1)
Based on the reporting above, suggested actions are identified that would advance the elimination of child labor in Sierra Leone (Table 11).
Area |
Suggested Action |
Year(s) Suggested |
---|---|---|
Legal Framework |
Ensure that the law criminally prohibits the recruitment of children under age 18 by non-state armed groups. |
2016 – 2019 |
Ensure that children are protected from hazardous work in sectors that have dangerous conditions and in which child labor is known to occur, including in agriculture and domestic work. |
2014 – 2019 |
|
Ensure that the law's light work provisions are specific enough to prevent children's involvement in child labor. |
2015 – 2019 |
|
Establish a complaint and reciprocal referral mechanism for labor law enforcement efforts. |
2015 – 2019 |
|
Increase the number of labor inspectors to meet ILO's technical advice. |
2011 – 2019 |
|
Provide labor law and criminal law enforcement officials with sufficient resources to adequately enforce labor laws throughout the country. |
2012 – 2019 |
|
Enforce laws prohibiting child labor in mining, particularly in the diamond mining sector. |
2015 – 2019 |
|
Publish information on the number of labor law violations found and routine inspections targeted as well as criminal violations found, prosecutions initiated, convictions obtained, and whether penalties were imposed for the worst forms of child labor. |
2011 – 2019 |
|
Improve coordination between criminal law enforcement agencies and provide sufficient training to enforcement personnel and the judiciary to ensure that violations are adequately investigated and prosecuted. |
2014 – 2019 |
|
Coordination |
Ensure that the National Trafficking in Persons Task Force, and all government bodies, are active and able to adequately coordinate anti-child labor efforts. |
2018 – 2019 |
Ensure that Village Child Welfare Committees are established and operational in all areas. |
2014 – 2019 |
|
Adopt policies to address child labor in relevant sectors, such as mining, quarrying, and commercial sexual exploitation. |
2019 |
|
Social Programs |
Ensure that data for household surveys are disaggregated so the prevalence of child labor in Sierra Leone is known. |
2019 |
Institute programs to address child labor in the education sector by providing transportation, increasing the number of schools, and eliminating abuse by teachers. |
2013 – 2019 |
|
Increase the availability of and funding for shelters and safe houses for victims of forced labor and for children removed from street work. |
2009 – 2019 |
|
Institute programs to address child labor in the sectors of agriculture, domestic work, and street vending. |
2019 |
-
U.S. Embassy- Freetown. Reporting. January 21, 2020.
-
Government of Sierra Leone and the World Bank. Sierra Leone Integrated Household Survey (SLIHS) Report 2018. 2019.
https://www.statistics.sl/images/StatisticsSL/Documents/SLIHS2018/SLIHS_2018_New/sierra_leone_integrated_household_survey2018_report.pdf. -
UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Gross intake ratio to the last grade of primary education, both sexes (%). Accessed March 1, 2020. 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/. -
ILO. Analysis of Child Economic Activity and School Attendance Statistics from National Household or Child Labor Surveys. Original data from the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 6, 2017. Analysis received March 2020. Please see "Children's Work and Education Statistics: Sources and Definitions" in the Reference Materials section of this report.
-
Sierra Leone Children's Fund official. Interview with USDOL official. December 2, 2016.
-
Save the Children. Stolen Childhoods: End of Childhood Report 2017. June 1, 2017.
https://www.savethechildren.org/content/dam/usa/reports/emergency-response/end-of-childhood-report.PDF. -
Margai, Joseph S. Women and children scavenge in dumpsites to eke a living. Concord Times, January 29, 2016.
http://slconcordtimes.com/women-and-children-scavenge-in-dumpsites-to-eke-a-living/. -
Drury, Flora. The girls as young as FIVE earning less than £1 a DAY sifting through piles of rotting rubbish on Sierra Leone's 'Bomeh' dumps. Daily Mail, April 21, 2016.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3545678/The-girls-young-FIVE-earning-1-DAY-sifting-piles-rotting-rubbish-Sierra-Leone-s-Bomeh-dumps.html. -
U.S. Embassy- Freetown. Reporting. February 20, 2020.
-
Margai, Joseph S. Child labourers not sure about their future. Concord Times, February 10, 2016.
http://slconcordtimes.com/child-labourers-not-sure-about-their-future/. -
Thomas, Abdul Rashid. Child labour on the increase in Sierra Leone – weak and unimplemented laws Sierra Leone Telegraph. July 23, 2019.
https://www.thesierraleonetelegraph.com/child-labour-on-the-increase-in-sierra-leone-weak-and-unimplemented-laws/. -
U.S. Department of State. Trafficking in Persons Report- 2019: Sierra Leone. Washington, DC, 2019.
https://www.state.gov/reports/2019-trafficking-in-persons-report-2/sierra-leone/. -
U.S. Embassy- Freetown. Reporting. February 20, 2019.
-
U.S. Department of State. Trafficking in Persons Report- 2018: Sierra Leone. Washington, DC. 2018.
https://www.state.gov/reports/2018-trafficking-in-persons-report/sierra-leone/. -
U.S. Embassy- Freetown official. E-mail communication to USDOL official. July 12, 2019.
-
U.S. Department of State. Country Reports on Human Rights Practices- 2019: Sierra Leone. Washington, DC, 2019.
https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/SIERRA-LEONE-2019-HUMAN-RIGHTS-REPORT.pdf. -
Pujol-Mazzini, Ross, and MacSwan. West African court voids Sierra Leon's ban on pregnant schoolgirls. Reuters. December 12, 2019.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-leone-education/west-african-court-voids-sierra-leones-ban-on-pregnant-schoolgirls-idUSKBN1YG263. -
Hodal, Kate. Sierra Leone lifts ban on pregnant girls going to school but shutdown expected. The Guardian. Marche 31, 2020.
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/mar/31/sierra-leone-lifts-ban-on-pregnant-girls-going-to-school-but-shutdown-expected. -
Government of Sierra Leone. Education Sector Plan 2018–2020. n.d.
https://www.globalpartnership.org/content/education-sector-plan-2018-2020-sierra-leone-0. -
Okello, Christina. Sierra Leone Makes Schools Free but Scraps University Subsidies. Radio France Internationale. August 24, 2018.
https://allafrica.com/stories/201808270419.html. -
UNICEF. Sierra Leone country program document 2015–2018. E/ICEF/2014/P/L.10. 2014. Source on file.
-
Government of Sierra Leone. Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act. 2019.
https://sierralii.org/sl/legislation/act/2019/8. -
Government of Sierra Leone. The Child Right Act. Enacted: 2007.
http://www.sierra-leone.org/Laws/2007-7p.pdf. -
Government of Sierra Leone. The Laws of Sierra Leone: Employers and Employed Act (Chapter 212). Enacted: 1960.
http://www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/docs/MONOGRAPH/28611/57066/F2005526770/SLE28611.pdf. -
Government of Sierra Leone. The Mines and Minerals Act, 2009. Enacted: 2010.
http://www.sierra-leone.org/Laws/2009-12.pdf. -
Government of Sierra Leone. The Anti-Human Trafficking Act. Enacted: 2005. Source on file.
-
Government of Sierra Leone. The Constitution of Sierra Leone. Enacted: 1991.
http://www.sierra-leone.org/Laws/constitution1991.pdf. -
Government of Sierra Leone. The Sexual Offenses Act. Enacted: 2012. Source on file.
-
Government of Sierra Leone. National Drugs Control Act. Enacted: 2008.
http://www.sierra-leone.org/Laws/2008-10.pdf. -
Government of Sierra Leone. The Education Act. Enacted: 2004
http://www.sierra-leone.org/Laws/2004-2p.pdf. -
Government of Sierra Leone. Draft National Action Plan for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour 2014–2017. 2014. Source on file.
-
U.S. Embassy- Freetown. Reporting. February 5, 2018.
-
US Embassy - Freetown. E-mail communication to USDOL official. July 9, 2020.
-
Risso-Gill, Isabelle, and Leah Finnegan. Children's Ebola Recovery Assessment: Sierra Leone. Save the Children, 2016.
https://www.savethechildren.org/content/dam/global/reports/emergency-humanitarian-response/ebola-rec-sierraleone.pdf. -
U.S. Embassy- Freetown official. E-mail communication to USDOL official. May 31, 2018.
-
U.S. Embassy- Freetown official. E-mail communication to USDOL official. February 28, 2017.
-
UN. World Economic Situation and Prospects 2017 Statistical Annex. New York, 2017. Please see "Labor Law Enforcement: Sources and Definitions" in the Reference Materials section of this report.
https://www.un.org/development/desa/dpad/wp-content/uploads/sites/45/publication/2017wesp_full_en.pdf. -
CIA. The World Factbook. Accessed February 8, 2018. Please see "Labor Law Enforcement: Sources and Definitions" in the Reference Materials section of this report.
https://www.cia.gov/Library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2095rank.html. -
U.S. Embassy- Freetown. Reporting. February 7, 2020.
-
Government of Sierra Leone. National Ebola Recovery Strategy for Sierra Leone (2015–2017). March 2015.
https://ebolaresponse.un.org/sites/default/files/sierra_leone_-_national_recovery_strategy_2015-2017.pdf. -
U.S. Embassy- Freetown. Reporting. December 5, 2019.
-
Global Education Monitoring Report. Free education for all in Sierra Leone? Can it happen? September 17, 2018.
https://gemreportunesco.wordpress.com/2018/09/17/free-education-for-all-in-sierra-leone-can-it-happen/. -
U.S. Embassy- Freetown. Reporting. March 1, 2019.
-
World Bank. Sierra Leone Safety Nets Project (P143588). June 16, 2017: Implementation Status & Results Report - Sequence 6.
http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/464401497646600608/pdf/ISR-Disclosable-P143588-06-16-2017-1497646591946.pdf. -
Milton, Betty. Sierra Leone News: EU signs €1.1m with GOAL on child labour, human trafficking. Awoko Newspaper, October 18, 2017.
http://awoko.org/2017/10/19/sierra-leone-news-eu-signs-e1-1m-with-goal-on-child-labour-human-trafficking/.