A Poisonous Mix - Human Rights Watch

The government has drawn up a national list of hazardous work for children, which
prohibits the use of children in many forms of labor in traditional gold mining. Specifically,
it prohibits digging of shafts, cutting and carrying of wood for underground shafts,
transport of rock from the shaft, crushing, grinding, panning in water, and the use of
explosives, mercury, and cyanide. 82 A decree also stipulates how much weight children are
allowed to carry, according to their age, gender, and mode of transport. 83
Mercury is not prohibited in Mali, but it is listed in the government’s list of dangerous
waste, subjecting it to strict rules for trade. 84
According to the law on education, education is free (gratuit) in Mali; this means that any
school fees are illegal. 85 The same law also stipulates that education is compulsory;
parents have an obligation to place their children in school during a nine-year period of
basic education (enseignement fondamental), starting at age six. 86
The Penal Code contains protections against violence, child neglect, and child trafficking. 87
Child trafficking is defined as displacement of a child in conditions that are exploitative
and turn the child into a commodity. 88 A new initiative for a separate anti-trafficking law is
currently underway. 89
The Child Protection Code spells out key protections for children, such as the right to be
treated equally and the right to be free from violence, neglect, sexual abuse, and
exploitation. 90 The Code specifically bans economic exploitation, including trafficking or
child labor that harms the child’s education, health, morals, or development. It puts the
minimum age for child labor at 15. 91
82 Order No. 09-0151/MTFPRE SG completing the list of hazardous work prohibited for children under 18 years, (Arrêté n° 09-
0151/MTFPRE SG complétant la liste des travaux dangereux interdits aux enfants de moins de 18 ans), February 4, 2009.
83 Décret n° 96-178/ P-RM portant application de diverses dispositions de la loi n° 92 -020 du 23 septembre 1992 portant
code du travail en République du Mali, art. D 189.23.
84 Décret n° 07-135/P-RM fixant la liste des déchets dangereux, 2007.
85 Loi n° 99-046 portant loi d’orientation sur l’éducation, December 28, 1999, art. 7.
86 Loi n° 99-046 portant loi d’orientation sur l’éducation, arts. 26, 34.
87 Loi n° 01-079 portant Code pénal, August 20, 2001.
88 Code pénal, art. 244.
89 Human Rights Watch interview with a member of National Assembly, Hon. Moussa Coumbere, Kolondiéba, April 7, 2011.
90 Code de protection de l’enfant, Ordonnance N° 02-062/P-RM, June 5, 2002. The Code is an ordinance, a legally binding
standard adopted by the government without parliamentary approval.
91 Ibid., arts. 20, 58.
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