Measuring the worst forms of child labour: the case of begging children in Dakar

Summary

In Senegal the number of destitute children begging in the street is becoming alarming, especially in the Dakar region, and has drawn growing attention by the Government, as well as by international and nongovernmental organizations. Raggedy begging children are a common sight in many urban centers. They beg where human traffic is high – at busy street intersections, in front of supermarkets, mosques, banks and markets. Usually aged less than 15 years, these children are extremely poor and face severe living condition. They are often exploited, and they are also likely to be victims of human trafficking, sexual abuse and various types of violence. The translation of the increasing attention by policy makers to the issue of begging children into concrete policy action, however, has been hampered by the lack of reliable information on the number and characteristics of the target population.

This paper presents a detailed profile of begging children in the Dakar region, and it also identifies some strategic options to accelerate and reinforce the national response.