A/HRC/45/8/Add.1 67. During her visit, the Special Rapporteur was informed that “witch children” were often used as an excuse for expelling undesired children from their families and communities. Such children are often from fragmented families in which they are perceived to be a burden. The ostracized children, many of them children with a disability, become vulnerable to exploitation, trafficking in persons and child labour, including in its worst forms. VI. Government response: institutional framework for child protection and for poverty alleviation Protection from child labour, child marriage and other forms of abuse 68. Togo has achieved progress in introducing a comprehensive legislative, policy and institutional framework related to child protection, and specifically related to addressing child labour. The estimated rate of children aged 5 to 14 engaged in the worst forms of child labour reportedly declined from 46.7 per cent in 2010 to 21.7 per cent in 2017.34 69. Although a comprehensive cross-sectoral strategy to end child labour is not yet in place, the Government has established institutional mechanisms for the enforcement of laws and regulations on child labour. This includes a National Steering Committee against Child Labour, which is part of the obligations of Togo related to its membership in the ECOWAS Regional Action Plan for the Elimination of Child Labour, Especially the Worst Forms.35 70. The Unit to Combat Child Labour, under the Ministry of Civil Service, Labour, Administrative Reform and Social Protection, is tasked with removing children from child labour, awareness-raising and the collection of data. The situation of child labour is monitored in all five regions of the country by focal points appointed by the Unit to Combat Child Labour. 71. The Ministry of Civil Service, Labour, Administrative Reform and Social Protection employs 146 labour inspectors, working across several agencies. Their responsibilities include raising public awareness, investigation of allegations of child labour, and, in collaboration with the respective protection agencies, removal of children from the worst forms of child labour and their rehabilitation. 72. The Special Rapporteur was informed that the provisions of the Labour Code provided the inspectors with a mandate to suspend or close facilities that employed children. Furthermore, labour inspectors can report child labour cases to the public prosecutor. The labour inspectors also collaborate with civil society actors and trade unions, and they may refer cases to the courts. To date, labour inspectors have registered 1,470 children, including 418 girls, in situations of child labour, such as rock quarries (835), forced begging (577) and domestic work (28). During the Special Rapporteur’s visit, it was not made clear whether the labour inspectors and non-governmental organizations systematically submitted complaints to the judicial authorities or not, but it is estimated that the actual figures relating to child labour are higher than in the data provided, due to general underreporting in this regard. 73. The Ministry of Justice is mandated with the enforcement of criminal laws relating to the worst forms of child labour and with the prosecution of perpetrators. 74. In 2019, the Government established a National Committee on the Rights of the Child, which is a key governmental body for child protection. The Committee is composed of representatives from the Ministry of Social Action, Promotion of Women and Literacy, the Ministry of Labour, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Human Rights, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Local Authorities. In addition, two representatives from the Government’s child protection entities are part of this body, as 34 35 12 E/ICEF/2018/P/L.21, para. 6. ECOWAS Child Policy and its Strategic Action Plan (2019–2023).