Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2025, published 114th ILC session (2026)

Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) - Syrian Arab Republic (Ratification: 2003)

Noting that the Government’s previous report was submitted in 2017, the Committee welcomes the efforts made by the Government to fulfil its reporting obligations despite the complexity of the situation on the ground and the continued hostilities in certain parts of the country.

Article 7(2). Effective and time-bound measures. Clause (b). Preventing the engagement of children in the worst forms of child labour, removing them from such work and ensuring their rehabilitation and social integration. Sexual slavery. The Committee notes the absence of information in the Government’s report regarding the measures taken or envisaged to identify and remove children from sexual slavery. The Committee, once again, requests the Government to provide information on the effective and time-bound measures taken to ensure the rehabilitation and social integration of children who are, or have been, victims of sexual slavery.

Clause (d). Identifying and reaching out to children at special risk. Internally displaced children. The Committee notes the absence of information in the Government’s report on this point.

The Committee notes that according to the UNICEF, the number of people internally displaced is 7.24 million and the number of children reached 7.5 million (Humanitarian Action for Children 2024 (Revision (1) Syrian Arab Republic).

Observing that internally displaced children are at an increased risk of being engaged in the worst forms of child labour, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on the effective and time-bound measures to protect these children from the worst forms of child labour. It requests the Government to provide information on the results achieved.

The Committee reminds the Government that it may avail itself of the technical assistance of the Office in this regard.