Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2012, published 102nd ILC session (2013)

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

Article 5 of the Convention and Part V of the report form. Monitoring mechanisms and application of the Convention in practice. 1. Trafficking. Following its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government’s information that with regard to the investigation proceedings related to the case of trafficking of four children between the ages of 15 and 17 years for labour exploitation, two Lithuanian citizens were convicted by the Gulating Court of Appeal on 19 June 2012 and sentenced to imprisonment for four to five years. Likewise, in another case involving exploitation of children within a travelling group of Roma, six Romanians were convicted for trafficking offences and sentenced to imprisonment for three years and six months.

2. Prostitution. The Committee had previously noted the Government’s information that at the initiative of the Ministry of Children, Equality and Social Inclusion, the Norwegian Social Research (NOVA) developed a professional guide on working with young people who sell or exchange sex. Noting the comments made by the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) that this professional guide was published only in Norwegian, while most of the children engaged in such activities were not Norwegians, the Committee had requested the Government to take the necessary measures to publish the professional guide in languages most spoken by children who are engaged in such activities, so as to serve the purpose for which they have been developed.

The Committee notes the Government’s statement that the professional guide developed by NOVA on how to help and support young people who sell or exchange sex is aimed at people who work in the social services and that all employees in these services understand Norwegian. The Government further states that in case of any language difficulties whereby the employees of the social services cannot properly communicate with young people who sell sex, the public authorities are obligated to use an interpreter.

Article 6. Programmes of action to eliminate the worst forms of child labour. National Plan of Action against Human Trafficking. The Committee previously noted the Government’s indication that a new action plan against human trafficking entitled “United Against Human Trafficking 2011–14” had been launched, consisting of several measures to prevent trafficking in children as well as to develop care services for child victims of trafficking. The Committee notes the Government’s information that one of the major measures taken in this new action plan is the introduction of a new provision in the Child Welfare Act that will permit children at risk of being exploited in human trafficking to be placed temporarily in a child welfare institution. According to the Government’s report, in 2011 there were 69 victims of trafficking under the age of 18 years who received assistance, out of which 25 children received housing care by the central child welfare authority.

Article 7(2). Effective and time-bound measures. Clause (d). Identifying and reaching out to children at special risk. Unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. The Committee previously noted from the Government’s report, the comments made by the LO that there were instances in which unaccompanied asylum-seeking children were not provided with adequate attention and that the Government did not provide information on the number of children who disappeared from the reception centres in 2010. It noted the Government’s indication that it has been envisaged to implement measures to prevent and investigate the disappearance of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children from care centres and the asylum reception centres within the action plan “United Against Human Trafficking”. Furthermore, a working group was established in 2008 to study cases of children who had disappeared from reception centres for asylum seekers.

The Committee notes the Government’s information that care centres and asylum reception centres have clear guidelines on how to handle and follow-up cases of children disappearing from these centres. It also notes from the Government’s report that the Ministry of Children, Equality and Social Inclusion has issued a circular describing the responsibilities of the municipalities in cases where children disappear from care centres and asylum reception centres. The Committee further notes the Government’s indication that in 2010, two children disappeared from care centres.