Congo, Democratic Republic of the NO ADVANCEMENT

In 2013, the Democratic Republic of the Congo made no advancement in efforts to reduce the worst forms of child labor. The Government is receiving a “No Advancement” assessment because some elements of the Congolese National Army continue to abduct and forcibly recruit children for use in armed conflict, labor, and sexual exploitation. The Government released results from the National Survey on the Situation of Children and Adolescents Outside of School, issued two directives that provide protections to children affected by armed conflict, and launched a project to combat child labor in the mining sector. However, children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo also continue to engage in child labor in agriculture and in the worst forms of child labor in the forced mining of gold, cassiterite (tin ore), coltan (tantalum ore), and wolframite (tungsten ore). I. PREVALENCE AND SECTORAL DISTRIBUTION OF CHILD LABOR Children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are engaged in child labor in agriculture and in the worst forms of child labor in the forced mining of gold, cassiterite (tin ore), coltan (tantalum ore), and wolframite (tungsten ore). Children are also abducted and forcibly recruited for use in armed conflict.(1-7) Table 1 provides key indicators on children’s work and education in the Democratic Republic of the Congo