In 2020, Djibouti made moderate advancement in efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor. The Ministry of Labor unveiled a national labor inspection strategy, and for the first time, the labor inspectorate targeted sectors and geographical areas where children are at risk of child labor, including its worst forms. The Ministry of Education and Professional Training also maintained continuity of education for Djibouti's most vulnerable children, including refugees, following nationwide school closures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. However, children in Djibouti are subjected to the worst forms of child labor, including in commercial sexual exploitation, sometimes as a result of human trafficking. Children also engage in child labor in street work. Minimum age provisions apply only to children with a formal employment contract, which does not comply with international standards. Law enforcement efforts are also inadequate to prevent and combat child labor, in part because labor inspectors lack the authority to assess penalties. In addition, the government did not make adequate efforts to enforce laws related to the worst forms of child labor due to lack of financial and human resource allocations and reporting mechanisms.
Children in Djibouti are subjected to the worst forms of child labor, including in commercial sexual exploitation, sometimes as a result of human trafficking. Children also engage in child labor in street work. (1-3) Table 1 provides key indicators on children’s work and education in Djibouti.
|
Children |
Age |
Percent |
|---|---|---|
|
Working (% and population) |
5 to 14 |
12.3 (23,693) |
|
Attending School (%) |
5 to 14 |
67.4 |
|
Combining Work and School (%) |
7 to 14 |
10.2 |
|
Primary Completion Rate (%) |
63.0 |
Source for primary completion rate: Data from 2020, published by the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, 2021. (4)
Source for all other data: International Labor Organization's analysis of statistics from Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 3 (MICS 3), 2006. (5)
Based on a review of available information, Table 2 provides an overview of children's work by sector and activity.
|
Sector/Industry |
Activity |
|---|---|
|
Agriculture |
Caring for livestock, including goats and cattle (6) |
|
Services |
Domestic work† (2) |
|
Street work, such as shining shoes, washing and guarding cars, cleaning storefronts, sorting merchandise, collecting garbage, begging, and selling items (2,7,8) |
|
|
Working in restaurants, small shops, and family businesses (2) |
|
|
Categorical Worst Forms of Child Labor‡ |
Commercial sexual exploitation, sometimes as a result of human trafficking (2,7-9) |
|
Forced domestic work and begging, each sometimes as a result of human trafficking (2,7-9) |
|
|
Use in illicit activities, including the selling of marijuana (6) |
† 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.
Reports suggest that children, including undocumented migrant girls, are vulnerable to commercial sexual exploitation in Djibouti City and along the Ethiopia-Djibouti trucking corridor. (7,10) Djibouti is also host to the largest number of foreign military installations in the world, including thousands of military personnel and security contractors. This foreign military presence heightens the risks of commercial sexual exploitation of girls. (11) Djibouti is a heavily trafficked transit country for mixed-migration flows from Ethiopia, Yemen, the East Africa region, and the Arabian Peninsula. In 2019, roughly 200,000 migrants (600–1,000 per day) transited through the country, 47 percent of whom were children. (12-14) Djibouti City alone hosted more than 30,000 refugees and asylum seekers and 150,000 people on the move. (12,13,15) Border closures in Ethiopia and Yemen in the wake of the pandemic cut off well-travelled migration routes. Many migrants, including children, in transit to the Arabian Peninsula border were stranded in Djibouti. (12,16)
Nationwide school closures to contain the pandemic disrupted education for at least 138,000 children. Close to 40 percent of these children lacked access to distance learning equipment. (3) Children in refugee camps attend schools located within the camps. (3) Some undocumented children were allowed to attend school but could not sit for exams. Many undocumented migrant or street children in Djibouti City do not have access to public education. (3) In addition, Djibouti requires national birth certificates or UNHCR refugee documentation to graduate, which may serve as a disincentive for undocumented children to attend school, and, as a result, they remain vulnerable to exploitation. (2) They may be allowed to attend public schools outside the camps if they are able to furnish refugee documents. Private schools are out of reach for these children because they cannot afford to pay the tuition fees. (3) Children in rural areas, where access to documentation is limited, also face obstacles to attaining birth certificates. (2)
Djibouti's primary school enrollment rate increased from 75 percent to 92 percent between 2009 and 2019. (12) However, enrollment rates are lower for girls and for all children living in rural or impoverished areas, making these children more vulnerable to child labor. (17) Although primary and middle schools are tuition free, other school-related expenses may prevent children from attending school. (18,19) Despite the passage of a National Refugee Law in 2017, which guarantees education as a fundamental right to refugees and asylum seekers lawfully residing in Djibouti, over 40 percent of refugees ages 6 to 16 were not enrolled in school. (13,14,20)
Djibouti 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 Djibouti’s legal framework to adequately protect children from the worst forms of child labor, including the prohibition of commercial sexual exploitation of children.
|
Standard |
Meets International Standards |
Age |
Legislation |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Minimum Age for Work |
No |
16 |
Article 5 of the Labor Code (21) |
|
Minimum Age for Hazardous Work |
Yes |
18 |
Articles 108 and 110 of the Labor Code (21) |
|
Identification of Hazardous Occupations or Activities Prohibited for Children |
Yes |
Article 110 of the Labor Code (21) |
|
|
Prohibition of Forced Labor |
Yes |
Articles 2 and 290 of the Labor Code; Article 23 of the Law Regarding Terrorism and Other Serious Crimes (21,22) |
|
|
Prohibition of Child Trafficking |
Yes |
Article 1 of the Law on the Fight Against the Trafficking of Persons and the Illegal Smuggling of Migrants; Article 23 of the Law Regarding Terrorism and Other Serious Crimes (22,23) |
|
|
Prohibition of Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children |
No |
Articles 394, 396, and 462–463 of the Penal Code; Articles 1 and 8 of the Law on the Fight Against the Trafficking of Persons and the Illegal Smuggling of Migrants (23,24) |
|
|
Prohibition of Using Children in Illicit Activities |
Yes |
Articles 355–356 and 461 of the Penal Code (24) |
|
|
Minimum Age for Voluntary State Military Recruitment |
Yes |
18 |
Article 1 of the National Army Amendment Decree (25) |
|
Prohibition of Compulsory Recruitment of Children by (State) Military |
N/A* |
||
|
Prohibition of Military Recruitment by Non-state Armed Groups |
Yes |
Articles 149–151 and 461 of the Penal Code (24) |
|
|
Compulsory Education Age |
Yes |
16 |
Articles 4 and 14 of the Law on the Orientation of the Education System (26) |
|
Free Public Education |
Yes |
Article 16 of the Law on the Orientation of the Education System (26) |
* No conscription (27)
The Labor Code’s minimum age provision applies only to children who perform work under a formal employment agreement, which does not conform to international standards requiring the protection of all children under the law establishing a minimum age for work. (21,24,28,29) Djibouti's hazardous work provision is also incomplete. Although the Labor Code prohibits the employment of children between the ages of 16 and 18 in domestic work, hotels, and bars, Article 111 calls for the creation of a more complete hazardous work list, which has not been adopted. (21,24,29-31) Furthermore, laws do not specifically criminalize the offering or procuring of child for pornographic performances or the use of a child for prostitution. (23,24)
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 their child labor laws.
|
Organization/Agency |
Role |
|---|---|
|
Ministry of Labor (MOL) |
Enforces all labor laws, including child labor laws and regulations. (8) Through its General Inspectorate of Labor and Social Laws (GILSL), regulates youth employment. (2,28) |
|
Djibouti National Police, including the Brigade for Minors |
Enforce criminal laws and investigate crimes related to child labor. (8) During the reporting period, the government created a specialized office within the National Directorate of the Police to coordinate migration issues, including trafficking in persons. The National Police also operated an anti-vice and minor protection squad, the Brigade for Minors, to handle crime committed by children. (2,3,32) |
|
Ministry of Justice |
Prosecutes child labor cases referred by MOL. (8) |
|
National Commission on Human Rights |
Receives complaints and investigates cases of human rights violations, including child labor. (8,33) Assists victims in obtaining legal aid to prosecute violators. (33) |
Labor Law Enforcement
In 2020, labor law enforcement agencies in Djibouti took actions to combat child labor (Table 6). However, gaps exist within the operations of the Ministry of Labor (MOL) that may hinder adequate labor law enforcement, including human resource allocation.
|
Overview of Labor Law Enforcement |
2019 |
2020 |
|---|---|---|
|
Labor Inspectorate Funding |
Unknown (2) |
Unknown |
|
Number of Labor Inspectors |
21 (2) |
22 (3) |
|
Inspectorate Authorized to Assess Penalties |
No (2,21) |
No (3,21) |
|
Initial Training for New Labor Inspectors |
Yes (2) |
Yes (3) |
|
Training on New Laws Related to Child Labor |
N/A (2) |
N/A (3) |
|
Refresher Courses Provided |
No (2) |
Yes (3) |
|
Number of Labor Inspections Conducted |
103 (2) |
30 (3) |
|
Number Conducted at Worksite |
73 (2) |
5 (3) |
|
Number of Child Labor Violations Found |
Unknown (2) |
6 (3) |
|
Number of Child Labor Violations for Which Penalties Were Imposed |
Unknown |
0 (3) |
|
Number of Child Labor Penalties Imposed that Were Collected |
Unknown |
0 (3) |
|
Routine Inspections Conducted |
Yes (2) |
Yes (3) |
|
Routine Inspections Targeted |
No (2) |
Yes (3) |
|
Unannounced Inspections Permitted |
Yes (2) |
Yes (3) |
|
Unannounced Inspections Conducted |
Yes (2) |
Yes (3) |
|
Complaint Mechanism Exists |
No (2) |
No (3) |
|
Reciprocal Referral Mechanism Exists Between Labor Authorities and Social Services |
Yes (2) |
Yes (3) |
Due to the pandemic, labor inspections were restricted to Djibouti City. Thus while the MOL's General Inspectorate of Labor and Social Laws (GILSL) normally conducts site visits in al-Sabieh, Dikhil, Tadjourah, and Obock, labor inspectors did not target these regions in 2020. (3) Nevertheless, for the first time, the GILSL targeted sectors in which children are at risk of child labor, including in construction, transport, trade, hotels, and restaurants. (3) During the reporting period, GILSL also inspected business in public works, transportation and warehouses, banks, and market services. (3) Inspectors removed six children as a result of an inspection. The government did not indicate whether these children received social services or not. (3)
In 2020, 3 MOL officials underwent workplace health and security training at the Arab Labor Organization, and 18 controllers completed a 1-year diploma course at the National Institute of Public Administration. (3) MOL requires additional offices and equipment for effective regional inspection coverage. The inauguration of a new MOL building during the reporting period is expected to address some of these concerns. (3) The government also made efforts to publicize its laws on child labor. To this end, the MOL continued to publish notices in local newspapers reminding businesses that child labor is strictly forbidden in Djibouti. (3) MOL also published its 2020–2024 labor inspection plan, which assesses the current number of labor inspection personnel as insufficient to cover the entire country. (3) The GILSL currently employs 30 inspectors and controllers, and plans to hire an additional 20 controllers by the end of 2024. (2,3)
Labor inspections are not routinely scheduled. They are carried out in reaction to repeated or serious complaints, and are limited to the formal sector, despite the fact that the majority of child labor violations occur in the informal sector. (2) The labor inspectorate is also not able to assess penalties. (2) Finally, although a mechanism for filing and responding to labor complaints exists, reports indicate that it is inefficient and opaque. (2) MOL did not issue any violations, penalties, or fines for child labor in 2020. (3)
The government does not publish data on child labor violations. Funding for the GILSL reportedly increased in 2020, but the government did not provide budget figures for this report. (3,34)
Criminal Law Enforcement
In 2020, criminal law enforcement agencies in Djibouti took actions to combat child labor (Table 7). However, gaps exist within the operations of the Djibouti National Police that may hinder adequate criminal law enforcement, including prosecution planning.
|
Overview of Criminal Law Enforcement |
2019 |
2020 |
|---|---|---|
|
Initial Training for New Criminal Investigators |
Unknown (2) |
Unknown (3) |
|
Training on New Laws Related to the Worst Forms of Child Labor |
N/A (2) |
N/A (3) |
|
Refresher Courses Provided |
Yes (2) |
Unknown (3) |
|
Number of Investigations |
Unknown (2) |
30 (3) |
|
Number of Violations Found |
Unknown (2) |
2 (3) |
|
Number of Prosecutions Initiated |
Unknown (2) |
Unknown (3) |
|
Number of Convictions |
Unknown (2) |
Unknown (3) |
|
Imposed Penalties for Violations Related to The Worst Forms of Child Labor |
Unknown (2) |
Unknown (3) |
|
Reciprocal Referral Mechanism Exists Between Criminal Authorities and Social Services |
Yes (2) |
Yes (3) |
During the reporting period, the government dedicated additional resources to the protection of vulnerable populations. (3) The police continued to make periodic arrests on suspicion of human trafficking for labor or commercial sexual exploitation of minors. Police also maintained their presence along key child trafficking corridors, particularly along the Siesta Beach road in Djibouti City. (35) However, due to procedural errors made in the investigation phase, a number of cases were ultimately not prosecutable. (35)
Djibouti maintains a referral mechanism for victims of child trafficking, commercial sexual exploitation, or abandonment, but not for children found in other types of child labor. The government does not publicly release information on its criminal law enforcement efforts. (2) NGOs communicate human trafficking indicators to the police, who refer these cases to the prosecutor’s office. (6,29,35) The NGO Caritas International implements separate memorandums of understanding with the Ministry of Women and Family and the National Commission of Human Rights. (3,35) During the reporting period, a youth judge regularly visited Caritas facilities to provide counselling. The government also provided lawyers pro bono to represent unaccompanied children in court. (3) In addition, the government allocated the Ministry of Women and Family Affairs a plot of land to build a shelter and counseling center for women and children who are victims of violence. (3)
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 efforts to address all forms of child labor outside the scope of human trafficking.
|
Coordinating Body |
Role & Description |
|---|---|
|
Anti-Trafficking Working Group |
Coordinates efforts to combat human trafficking through the development of a collaboration and outreach strategy focusing on the operationalization of the National Action Plan on Trafficking in Persons (2015–2022). The inter-agency working group is led by the Ministry of Justice, and includes representatives from the MOL and the Ministry of the Interior. (1,36) The Anti-Trafficking Working Group did not meet regularly due to the pandemic, disrupting intra-agency coordination. The working group attempted to host video conference meetings after the 4 month government lockdown, but was not successful due to low participation. (3,32) Low participation rates precipitated a steep drop in the number of human trafficking cases investigated and prosecuted throughout the year. (3) |
|
National Council for Children |
Coordinates, implements, and monitors child protection policies and programs. Guides and defines government policy on child protection, including efforts to implement the Convention on the Rights of the Child. (37) Led by the Prime Minister and includes eight other agencies, representatives from NGOs, the private sector, and elected officials. (38) Advocates for (1) newborn refugees and migrants to receive birth certificates; (2) education under governmental programs for refugees and asylum seekers; and (3) family reunification for unaccompanied migrant minors.(6) Research was unable to determine whether the Council was active in 2020. |
|
Ministry of Women and Family |
Creates child protection policies, and coordinates their implementation. The ministry also develops and implements programs to combat all forms of violence against children. (2,3) Through its National Policy for Children in Djibouti, focuses on the survival, development, protection, and participation of children. (2,35) The working group includes representatives from the Ministry of Justice, the National Police/Gendarmerie, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health, the National Women's Union, the infant orphanage Daryel, and the National Agency for the Disabled, all of which coordinate efforts on the care of children at risk and child victims of violence. Despite challenges associated with the pandemic, the Ministry of Women and Family continued to hold regular meetings to coordinate efforts on child protection. (3) During the reporting period, the Ministry of Women and Family also undertook, in collaboration with the MOL and the Secretary of State for Youth and Sports, a 3 day onsite public awareness campaign to warn traders and entrepreneurs in Djibouti City against the use of minors in the workplace. (3) |
Although the government has established an Anti-Trafficking Working Group, research did not find evidence that the government coordinates efforts to address other forms of child labor, including street work.
The government has established policies related to child labor (Table 9). However, policy gaps exist that hinder efforts to address child labor, including implementation.
|
Policy |
Description |
|---|---|
|
National Action Plan on Trafficking in Persons (2015–2022) |
Aims to strengthen the legislative framework to combat human trafficking, protect and assist human trafficking victims, and establish a national referral mechanism between law enforcement officials and social services providers. (39) The Anti-Trafficking Working Group, which coordinates the action plan's implementation, did not meet regularly due to the pandemic. (3) |
|
Government of Djibouti Policies |
Includes the National Policy for Children in Djibouti (2018–2022), which sets out fundamental rights for children, including access to basic social services and mobilizes national resources toward these ends. (40) The National Strategic Action Plan for Children in Djibouti, which was renewed in 2017, provides political and strategic guidelines for implementing the country's child protection policy. (41) The National Education Plan (2017–2020) aimed to expand preschool education opportunities for children in underserved regions, while reforming secondary, technical, and vocational education nationwide. The plan targeted a 100 percent primary enrollment rate, with a 90 percent enrollment rate for children ages 11 to 14. (40,42) The National Social Protection Strategy (2018–2022) seeks to broaden social protections for vulnerable children and youth. (40) Research was unable to determine whether activities were undertaken to implement these policies during the reporting period. |
|
UNDAF (2018–2022) |
Focuses primarily on programs that build capacity for victim recognition and protection, and assists the government in the development of its "Vision 2035" plan, which is aligned with the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The government has launched or expanded several new policies and programs under this framework, including a revised Social Protection Strategy. (34,40) |
In 2020, and for the fifth consecutive year, the National Action Plan on Trafficking in Persons was not operational. During the reporting period, the task force extended the implementation period for two more years, to 2022. (3) Research was unable to determine whether existing policies address other forms of child labor, including street and domestic work.
In 2020, the government funded and participated in programs that may contribute to eliminating or preventing child labor (Table 10). However, gaps exist in these social programs, including the adequacy of programs to address the full scope of the problem.
|
Program |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Ministry of Women and the Family Programs |
Includes the Social Assistance Program (2016–present), which provides children and their families in vulnerable communities with education and in-kind support. Between 2016 and 2019, 3,086 families benefited from food aid and 500 school kits were distributed. (40) Similarly, the Support Project for Girls and Women in Precarious Situations (2017–present) is a multi-sectoral program aimed at reducing girls' economic and social vulnerability through education and training. (40) The Country Strategic Option Program (2019–2024) is a rural poverty-reduction program established under Djibouti's revised Social Protection Strategy. (40,43) Djibouti's Support Program for Children with Academic Difficulties, established in 2017, aims to provide academic support for children from low-income families. (40) Research was unable to determine whether activities were undertaken to implement these social programs during the reporting period. |
|
Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework |
Government commitment, under the UNHCR, to provide refugees with access to education, healthcare, employment, and income generation. During the reporting period, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Solidarity collaborated with UNHCR to launch a biometric registration and social assistance campaign for urban refugees. (3) These registered populations will receive food aid. The operation covers 1,200 urban and vulnerable refugee households living in Djibouti City and affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. (3,12,44) IOM's Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (VARR)* supported NGOs, including SOS Children Village and Caritas Djibouti, in hosting migrant street children in 2020. (32) Government agencies and law enforcement, the Ethiopian embassy in Djibouti, and IOM coordinated efforts through VARR to facilitate the voluntary return of 537 migrants, including 102 minors, 412 to their country of origin. The large majority of returnees were Ethiopian. (32) IOM funded the construction of facilities that host and provide services to vulnerable children, including victims of human trafficking referred by state and non-state services, many of whom previously slept on the street or at Siesta Beach. (16,35) Caritas's overnight shelter opened in June 2019, and has since hosted 137 children. (35) |
|
UNICEF-Funded Projects |
In collaboration with the Government of Djibouti through the National Office for Assistance to Refugees and Affected Populations, the Humanitarian Action for Children Project and the UNICEF Country Program promote access to quality education for children, especially from rural and poor urban areas; increase birth registration; and provide support for orphans and vulnerable children. (8,46) UNICEF also supported 440 migrant street children, providing literacy and vocational training and other social services, and funded the training of the newly created Brigade for Minors within the Police Department. (2,13) In March 2020, the Minister of Social Affairs and Solidarity (MASS) and the UNICEF Resident Representative signed a memorandum of understanding for a 2020–2021 national social protection strategy. The strategy defines collaboration between the two parties in capacity-building for social workers, care of vulnerable families, and child protection. (3) In May 2020, MASS and UNICEF signed the biannual work plan for development and child protection for the period 2020–2021. The aim is to consolidate achievements to date and focus on ensuring the sustainability of care of children from vulnerable families through integrated and multi-sectoral services. (3) |
|
World Bank-Funded Programs |
The Integrated Cash Transfer and Human Capital Project (2019–2022) seeks to expand the social safety net system and provide basic services in targeted poor communities. (2,47,48) The Expanding Opportunities for Learning Project (2019–2024), a $28 million project, supports Djibouti's efforts to expand access to quality education for 35,000 at-risk or underserved children, including girls, refugees, and disabled students. The Government of Djibouti and the International Development Association (IDA) agreed to co-finance the program, which aims to expand access to and improve retention in primary and lower secondary education for disadvantaged and vulnerable population groups. The project also plans to build the capacity of teachers and administrators in underserved areas. (14,49-51) During the reporting period, the World Bank coordinated efforts to expand education opportunities with the Global Partnership for Education and other implementing partners. (49-51) In December 2020, the World Bank approved a $30 million IDA grant to improve living conditions and socio-economic inclusion of Djibouti's most vulnerable host communities and refugees, including children. (3) |
|
WFP Djibouti Country Strategic Plan (2020–2024)* |
Supports the government's priorities for achieving food and nutrition security through activities that constitute a significant shift from previous WFP programs: stronger partnerships to strengthen national capacity in school feeding, nutrition, social protection, emergency preparedness, agricultural production support for rural and urban women and men equitably, vocational training for peace, and prosperity and supply chain management. (3,52) It provides for a gradual transition from WFP's previous activities by focusing on support for nationally led social protection programming. Provided social protection, human capital development, and resilience programming. (52-54) Replaces the WFP's Djibouti Transitional Interim Country Strategic Plan. (52,54) In December 2020, provided unconditional in-kind food distributions and cash-based transfers to 71,874 refugees, asylum seekers, migrants, and vulnerable households in rural and urban areas. The WFP also supported the National Family Solidarity Program†. The program, implemented by the State Secretariat for National Solidarity, establishes cash transfers to support Djiboutian households in extreme poverty. (45,55) |
* Program was launched during the reporting period.
† Program is funded by the Government of Djibouti.
‡ The government had other programs that may have included the goal of eliminating or preventing child labor. (27,56,57)
The Government of Djibouti, in line with the 2017 Djibouti Declaration on Refugee Education, is working to implement its commitment to integrate child refugees into its national education system. (14,20,58,59) Nevertheless, research found no evidence of programs to assist children involved in domestic work, street work, and commercial sexual exploitation. (29) There are no official government-run shelters to assist child victims. The government has authorized NGOs to host migrant street children and orphans overnight, but it does not provide support or services to assist in these efforts. (6,9) In 2020, the Ministry of Education and Professional Training collaborated with international partners to maintain continuity of education for Djibouti's most vulnerable children, including refugees, unaccompanied and separated children, those in remote areas, and children with disabilities. (3)
Based on the reporting above, suggested actions are identified that would advance the elimination of child labor in Djibouti (Table 11).
|
Area |
Suggested Action |
Year(s) Suggested |
|---|---|---|
|
Legal Framework |
Ensure that all children are afforded minimum age for work protections under the law, including children working outside formal employment relationships. |
2015 – 2020 |
|
Ensure that laws criminally prohibit the use of children in prostitution and the procuring or offering of a child for pornographic performances. |
2012 – 2020 |
|
|
Ensure that hazardous occupations and activities prohibited for children are comprehensive. |
2009 – 2020 |
|
|
Enforcement |
Ensure that all regions are targeted for labor inspections, that the labor inspectorate has the necessary equipment for regional inspection coverage, and that labor inspections are conducted routinely. |
2017 – 2020 |
|
Employ inspectors or controllers dedicated to child labor law enforcement, and ensure that inspections target the informal sector, in which the majority of child labor occurs. |
2018 – 2020 |
|
|
Collect and publish data on the extent and nature of child labor to inform policies and programs. |
2019 – 2020 |
|
|
Strengthen the labor inspectorate by allowing inspectors to assess penalties. |
2015 – 2020 |
|
|
Ensure that a labor complaint mechanism exists, and that it is effective and transparent. |
2010 – 2020 |
|
|
Ensure that a criminal referral mechanism exists for all forms of child labor and that it is efficient and transparent. |
2018 – 2020 |
|
|
Provide the necessary resources, including training, for the Djibouti National Police to make viable referrals for the prosecution of child labor-related violations. |
2017 – 2020 |
|
|
Coordination |
Establish coordinating mechanisms to combat all forms of child labor and ensure existing mechanisms function as mandated. |
2009 – 2020 |
|
Government Policies |
Take concrete steps to combat child trafficking by implementing the National Action Plan on Trafficking in Persons. |
2017 – 2020 |
|
Implement existing policies to address all forms child labor, including street and domestic work. |
2016 – 2020 |
|
|
Social Programs |
Enhance efforts to eliminate barriers and make education accessible for all children in rural areas, including girls, by removing school-related expenses. |
2015 – 2020 |
|
Ensure that all children, including refugees and asylum seekers, have access to education by removing requirements for national birth certificates or UNHCR refugee documentation to attend school. |
2019 – 2020 |
|
|
Implement programs to specifically address children involved in domestic work, street work, and commercial sexual exploitation. |
2009 – 2020 |
- U.S. Department of State. Trafficking in Persons Report- 2018: Djibouti. Washington, DC, June 28, 2018.
https://www.state.gov/reports/2018-trafficking-in-persons-report/djibouti/ - U.S. Embassy- Djibouti. Reporting. February 12, 2020.
- U.S. Embassy- Djibouti. Reporting. January 15, 2021.
- 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/
- ILO. Analysis of Child Economic Activity and School Attendance Statistics from National Household or Child Labor Surveys. Original data from Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 3 (MICS 3), 2006. Analysis received March 2021. For more information, please see "Children's Work and Education Statistics: Sources and Definitions" in the Reference Materials section of this report.
- U.S Embassy- Djibouti official. E-mail communication to USDOL official. June 12, 2018.
- U.S. Department of State. Trafficking in Persons Report- 2019: Djibouti. Washington, DC, June 20, 2019.
https://www.state.gov/reports/2019-trafficking-in-persons-report-2/djibouti/ - U.S. Embassy- Djibouti. Reporting. February 7, 2019.
- U.S. Embassy- Djibouti. Reporting. March 12, 2019.
- U.S. Embassy- Djibouti official. E-mail communication to USDOL official. March 28, 2018.
- Acheson, Ray. Remote Warfare and Sexual Violence in Djibouti. Reaching Critical Will of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom. August 2017.
https://wilpf.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/2017_RemoteWarfareAndSexualViolenceInDjibouti.pdf - United Nations Djibouti. UN and Partners COVID-19 Response Plan: Djibouti. November 21, 2020.
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https://igad.int/attachments/article/1725/Djibouti Declaration on Refugee Education.pdf
