Methodology and TerminologyField research for this report was carried out during December 2006 and February 2007, in Conakry, the capital of Guinea, and two other locations of Lower Guinea, Forécariah and Kilomètre Trente-Six. Human Rights Watch researchers planned the research in consultation with a range of national NGOs working in the area of child labor and exploitation. Three associations helped us make contact with girl domestic workers: Action Against Exploitation of Women and Children (Action Contre l’Exploitation des Enfants et des Femmes, ACEEF), Guinean Association of Social Assistants (Association Guinéenne des Assistantes Sociales, AGUIAS) and High Council of Malians (Haut Conseil des Maliens). In addition, the international agency Population Services International (PSI) put us in touch with sex workers, two of whom had previously worked as child domestic workers. A total of 40 girl domestic workers and former girl domestic workers were identified and interviewed. We attempted to get interviewees of different ages, in urban and rural areas, living with relatives or strangers, and in different current life circumstances. However, some girls did not know their precise age because they had no birth registration. They gave the age they were told they had, but this could have been inaccurate. Also, it proved harder to reach out to young girls, as they often have less opportunity to leave the house and establish contact with the outside world. Thirty-three of the 40 interviewees were children at the time of the interview, between the ages of 8 and 17.1 Local NGO staff translated interviews from Malinke, Sousou or Peulh into French; they also helped carry out some of the interviews. In addition, we interviewed four parents of girl domestic workers, two guardians of domestic workers, a deputy head teacher, a medical doctor, members of the Malian community in Guinea, national and international NGOs, UNICEF, ILO and diplomatic staff in Guinea. From the government, Human Rights Watch interviewed the then Minister of Social Affairs, Women’s Promotion and Childhood,2 as well as several officials in her Ministry; officials in the Ministry of Education; officials from the Ministry of Justice; and a police commissioner dealing with crimes against children. Consultation with national NGOs was also instrumental in developing the report’s recommendations. Methodological challengesResearch into abuses against children, and in particular sexual violence against girls, is highly sensitive. Victims often feel ashamed about what happened to them or that their guardian will find out about their testimony. Furthermore, talking about their experiences might re-traumatize them.3 The length and content of the interviews was adapted to the age of the girl. Interviews with girls under ten did not last longer than 15 minutes, while those with older girls could take up to an hour. When girls needed immediate assistance, for example, because of continued experiences of rape by a guardian, local NGOs were informed and took action. Thirty-six interviews were translated by locals who were known to the interviewee. We attempted to have a female interviewer and a female translator. However, this was not always possible. Thirty-one interviews were done by a female researcher and nine by male researchers. Several interviews were done with male translators. Interviews were carried out in a quiet setting and the names of the interviewees kept confidential; all names used in this report for child domestic workers are pseudonyms, unless marked otherwise. As the research took place during a period of political upheaval in Guinea, travel to Upper Guinea had to be cancelled. This study is therefore focused on the situation of girl domestic workers in the coastal region, commonly known as Lower Guinea. TerminologyThis report uses the words child domestic worker and girl domestic worker to describe the girls who are the subject of the research. The term child domestic worker is more commonly used but obscures the fact that almost all child domestic workers in Guinea are girls. In general, we call the persons who recruit girls for domestic service intermediaries or recruiters. We only use the word trafficker when referring to persons that are involved in the crime of trafficking. In order to describe the adults for whom the girl is working, the report uses the term host, guardian, or employer. These terms are quite different and point to the different roles and responsibilities such adults have. We also use the French word for guardian, tutrice (female) and tuteur (male), used by domestic workers themselves. The choice of these terms reflects that fact that adults who have girl domestic workers in their house have legal duties both as de facto guardians and as employers.4 1 In this report, “child” refers to anyone under the age of 18. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child states: “For purpose of this present Convention, a child is every human being below the age of 18 years unless under the law applicable to the child, majority is attained earlier.” Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), adopted November 20, 1989, G.A. Res. 44/25, annex, 44 U.N. GAOR Supp. (No 49) at 167, U.N. Doc. A/44/49 (1989), entered into force September 2, 1990, art. 1. 2 Hereafter short Minister or Ministry of Social Affairs. 3 The National Child Traumatic Stress Network, “Understanding Child Traumatic Stress,” 2005, http://www.nctsn.org/nctsn_assets/pdfs/edu_materials/understanding_child_traumatic_stress_brochure_9-29-05.pdf (Accessed May 7, 2007); World Health Organization, “Putting Women First: Ethical and Safety Recommendations for Research on Domestic Violence against Women,” WHO/FCH/GWH//01.1, 2001, http://www.who.int/gender/violence/en/womenfirtseng.pdf (Accessed April 19, 2007). 4 See Chapter III, “The double role of employer and guardian” for more detail, below. |