Guatemala, CRC/C/GTM/CO/3-4

Children in migration situations

82. The Committee is concerned about the extreme vulnerability of unaccompanied migrant children, who run the risk of becoming victims of crimes such as sale and trafficking in persons.

83. The Committee recommends that the State party enact a migration law that addresses the situation faced by migrant children and create tools to address the existing problems, especially with regard to unaccompanied migrant children. The Committee brings to the State party’s attention its General Comment No. 6 (2005) on the treatment of unaccompanied and separated children outside their country of origin.

Economic exploitation including child labour

88. While taking note of the State party efforts to address the economic exploitation of children, the Committee remains concerned that the global financial crisis has had a negative impact of children in the State party, and families have sought new survival strategies such as the inclusion of children in hazardous work and/or migration and trafficking for labour exploitation purposes. It also reiterates its concern about the disparity between the legal minimum age for admission to employment (14 years) and the age for the end of compulsory education (15 years).

89. The Committee recommends that elimination of child labour should be a priority on the social and poverty eradication agenda and be addressed in the national budget due to the high incidence and seriousness of the problem in the State party. A comprehensive and holistic approach, with universal coverage in line with international standards should be adopted with a view to its progressive eradication.  It further recommends that the State party redefine the minimum age for admission to employ.