JOINT STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT The EU Special Incentive Arrangement for Sustainable Development and Good Governance ('GSP+') assessment of Bolivia covering the period 2016 - 2017 Accompanying the document Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council Report on the Generalised Scheme of Preferences during the period 2016 - 2017
Date: 2018-01-19
Institutions: Directorate-General for Trade and Economic Security, European Commission
Subjects: Bolivia, EU market, common commercial policy, environmental protection, generalised preferences, governance, human rights, international convention, sustainable development, tariff preference

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  EN 

   EUROPEAN COMMISSION HIGH REPRESENTATIVE OF THE UNION FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND SECURITY POLICY Brussels, 19.1.2018  SWD(2018) 24 final  JOINT STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT  The EU Special Incentive Arrangement for Sustainable Development and Good Governance ('GSP+') assessment of Bolivia covering the period 2016 - 2017 Accompanying the document Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council Report on the Generalised Scheme of Preferences during the period 2016 - 2017 {COM(2018) 36 final} - {SWD(2018) 23 final} - {SWD(2018) 25 final} - {SWD(2018) 26 final} - {SWD(2018) 27 final} - {SWD(2018) 28 final} - {SWD(2018) 29 final} - {SWD(2018) 30 final} - {SWD(2018) 31 final} - {SWD(2018) 32 final}  
 
 
Bolivia GSP+ Assessment  

1.  Country Overview 

Under  President  Morales,  who  has  been  in  office  since  2006,  a  new  Constitution  was 
approved  by  referendum  in  2009.  The  text  includes  provisions  on  the  protection  of  human 
rights and makes explicit references to the rights of Mother Earth and indigenous values. The 
Constitution  also  recognises  the  right  of  indigenous  communities  to  self-government,  to 
establish  a  legal  system  and  policies  regarding  indigenous  rights,  and  to  govern  their  own 
institutions, languages, symbols and land rights. On 29 September 2017, the TCP (Supreme 
Constitutional Court) declared 'admissible' an appeal presented by the ruling party (MAS) to 
declare  invalid  the  articles  of  the  Constitution  which  limit  the  number  of  presidential 
mandates. End November 2017, the Constitutional Tribunal ruled in favour of the claimants 
and removed the constitutional limit to the number of consecutive mandates , thus paving the 
way for Morales (and other elected authorities) to stand for a fourth term and, potentially, for 
an  indefinite  number  of  times.  The  next  presidential  elections  are  planned  to  take  place  in 
November 2019. 

While  the  Government  continues  to  make  significant  efforts  to  reduce  poverty,  Bolivia  still 
faces challenges linked to inequality in income distribution: the Gini coefficient was 0.48 in 
2014 (down from 0.58 in 2005)1. As also highlighted in the 2016 GSP Report2, child labour in 
agriculture and mining is a serious issue that needs to be addressed. In addition, there is still a 
need to strengthen institutional capacities and the justice system. 

Bolivia  is  the  world's  third-largest  producer  of  coca  leaf  and  cocaine.  The  chewing  of  coca 
leaf  is  a  traditional  practice  in  the  country  and  permitted  on  its  territory.  The  fight  against 
illicit  drugs  continues  to  be  a  challenge  in  Bolivia  and  cooperation  with  the  EU  is  an 
important element in addressing this issue. 

Bolivia is the largest recipient of bilateral EU development assistance in Latin America (EUR 
281  million  in  2014-2020).  For  the  period  2017-2020,  development  assistance  continues  to 
focus on justice reform, counter-narcotics and integrated water resources management. 

2.   Compliance with GSP+ Obligations 

2.1.  UN Human Rights Conventions (Conventions 1-7) 

Status of ratification and reporting 

Bolivia has maintained the ratification of the seven UN human rights conventions relevant to 
the GSP+. 

1 The Gini index measures the extent to which the distribution of income among individuals or households within an 
economy deviates from a perfectly equal distribution. A Gini index of 0 represents perfect equality, while an index of 1 
implies perfect inequality. Source: https://data.worldbank.org/ 

2https://eeas.europa.eu/sites/eeas/files/european_commission._2016._report_on_the_generalised_scheme_of_preferences_dur
ing_the_period_2014-2015.pdf 

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Bolivia  complies  with  its  reporting  obligations  to  monitoring  bodies,  except  under  the 
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD), 
the  International  Covenant  on  Economic,  Social  and  Cultural  Rights  (CESC)  and  the 
Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). For CERD, CESC and CRC, the reports due in 
2013, 2010 and 2015 respectively have not yet been submitted.  

Status of implementation of the conventions 

International  Convention  on  the  Elimination  of  All  Forms  of  Racial 
Discrimination (CERD) 

Though  the  Constitution  does  provide  measures  for  sanctioning  racism  and  all  forms  of 
discrimination, several shortcomings need to be addressed. In its 2013 report, the UN special 
rapporteur  on  racism  highlighted  that  discrimination  against  indigenous  peoples,  Afro-
Bolivians and other vulnerable communities and groups still persisted and was exacerbated by 
structural  inequalities  that  reinforce  their  exclusion  and  vulnerability.  In  particular  women 
continue to suffer from discrimination based on ethnic origin.  

In  October  2014,  the  Universal  Periodic  Review  (UPR)  of  Bolivia  led  to  a  number  of 
recommendations  on  combating  racism  and  all  forms  of  discrimination,  especially  with 
respect  to  women,  children,  indigenous  peoples  and  Afro-Bolivians.  Following  the  UPR, 
Bolivia  set up  a  national  interagency  system  (SIPLUS)  for the  follow-up  and  monitoring  of 
recommendations  on  human  rights.  The  Plurinational  Policy  on  Human  Rights  2015-2020 
covers – among others – the rights of indigenous and Afro-Bolivian minorities.   

During  2016-2017,  the  Ministry  of  Labour  has  been  implementing  the  2017  Annual 
Operational Plan (AOP), which includes projects and actions on the creation of procedures for 
discrimination  and  racism  in  employment.  The  creation  of  an  information  system  to  collect 
labour  statistics  of  vulnerable  groups  is  also  covered.  Training  and  awareness-raising  on 
racism and discrimination are foreseen as well. 

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (CCPR) 

As  also  described  in  the  2016  GSP  Report,  the  UN  Special  Rapporteur  on  the  rights  to 
freedom of  peaceful assembly  and  of association filed  a brief to  the Constitutional Court  in 
2015.  The  UN  Special  Rapporteur  argued  that  the  national  law  and  the  relevant  executive 
decree  unjustifiably  restrict  the  right  to  freedom  of  association  through  conditioning  legal 
personality upon the organisation's contribution to economic and social development and by 
stipulating the possibility of revoking NGOs' legal status on grounds of non-compliance with 
sectorial  policies  and  standards.  This  issue  still  remains.  The  Bolivian  authorities  have 
indicated  that  the  restrictive  provisions  in  the  national  law  are  deemed  necessary  because 
some organisations have been found operating 'irregularly'. There were no indications given 
of any revisions foreseen to the national law. 

In its 2013 observations, the UN Human Rights Committee recommended that Bolivia should 
redouble  its  efforts  to  ensure  judicial  independence,  including  by  establishing  a  system  of 
judicial  appointments  and  judicial  service,  based  on  objective  and  transparent  criteria.  A 
General  Summit  on  Justice  took  place  in  June  2016.  Its  recommendations  are  now  being 
fleshed  out.  Among  these,  a  new  law  (and  procedure)  for  the  pre-selection  of  candidate 
judges,  which  should  ensure  a  higher  degree  of  independence  and  better  competence 
standards, has been adopted in April 2017.   

2 

 
The  effective  implementation  of  the  right  to  prior,  free  and  informed  consent,  particularly 
with  respect  to  extractive  industry  projects,  is  still  pending.  According  to  the  UN  Human 
Rights  Committee,  the  development  of  a  draft  law  on  this  topic  was  accompanied  by 
consultation but not by adequate consent from indigenous communities. 

The  Human  Rights  Committee  expressed  concerns  about  reports  of  verbal  and  physical 
violence  against  human  rights  defenders  and  journalists,  and  the  increasing  number  of 
criminal proceedings being brought against them. Some of the recommendations in the 2014 
UPR, which are still pending, addressed the issue of protection of human rights defenders and 
journalists, as well as of the necessity to guarantee freedom of expression and the media law 
to be in accordance with international human rights instruments.  

Though  overcrowding  of  prisons  and  the  overuse  of  pre-trial  detention  remain  issues  to  be 
tackled, Bolivia recognised them as deficiencies in the judicial system and has made efforts to 
address them. Legislation was introduced in 2014 to accelerate the processing of court cases 
and reduce delays. A decree adopted in 2013 foresaw granting of pardon or amnesty for minor 
offences.  A  second  decree  was  adopted  in  July  2015,  also  granting  pardon  or  amnesty  to 
persons  incarcerated  preventively,  while  accused  of  minor  offences.  As  a  result,  the 
percentage  of  people  under  pre-trial  detention,  as  a  percentage  of  all  those  in  custody,  fell 
from  83.3%  in  2014  to  68.8%  in  2016.  However,  the  general  overcrowding  of  prisons  is 
estimated  at 305%.  Changes  to the Criminal  System code,  which is  being drafted following 
the General Justice Summit of June 2016, are underway.   

International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) 

Though the rights to health and education are recognised in the Constitution as fundamental 
rights, measures to strengthen these rights need to be taken. Recommendations raised in the 
2014  UPR3 include  improving  access  to  health  services  for  women  in  order  to  reduce  the 
maternal  mortality  rate,  in  particular  in  rural  areas.  In  addition,  the  recommendations  also 
included  a  national  policy  to  improve  the  quality  of  education  and  to  provide  adequate 
educational infrastructure to rural areas. These recommendations should be followed-up. 

Convention  on  the  Elimination  of  All  Forms  of  Discrimination  Against 
Women (CEDAW) 

The shortcomings identified in the 2016 GSP Report with regard to CEDAW, are still found 
to persist: (i) marginalisation of indigenous and Afro-Bolivian communities (mainly women), 
(ii) violence against women, including trafficking, domestic and sexual violence with a lack 
of  support  and  rehabilitation  for  victims,  (iii)  the  prioritisation  by  the  judicial  system  of 
reconciliation and family integrity over protection from domestic violence, (iv) vulnerability 
of girls in child labour, and (v) the high rate of teenage pregnancies. 

Two  laws  on  violence  against  women  were  enacted  in  2012  and  2013.  In  addition,  the 
Comprehensive Plurinational System to prevent, address, punish and eliminate gender-based 
violence (2013-2015) was adopted. However, there have been few successful prosecutions on 
femicide. Most femicides continue to be registered as homicides, warranting a lower penalty. 
However,  the  number  of  prosecutions  has  increased.  In  2016,  104  femicides  have  been 
reported in the country which marks an increase of 11 reported femicide cases compared to 
2015. The creation of a unified register of violence against women, where perpetrators will be 

3 A/HRC/WG.6/20/BOL/3 

3 

 
                                                 
registered, is ongoing. The establishment of specialised courts exclusively dedicated to cases 
of violence against women, as envisaged in the Comprehensive Act to Guarantee Women a 
Life Free of Violence, is delayed.  

Bolivia  adopted  a  plan  on  early  pregnancy  prevention  for  adolescents  and  young  people  in 
2015.  The  plan  aims  to  contribute  to  decreasing  early  pregnancy  by  strengthening  the 
protection of sexual and reproductive rights through education and better access to justice and 
health  services.  In  addition,  Bolivia  is  still  implementing  the  Strategic  Plan  on  Sexual  and 
Reproductive  Health  2009-2015,  the  objective  of  which  is  to  educate  and  promote  the 
exercise of sexual and reproductive rights of women and men.  

High levels of maternal mortality have been related both to insufficient health and nutritional 
care and to clandestine abortion (which is a crime under current law). In particular, access to 
obstetric  care  for  pregnant  women  in  rural  and  remote  areas  and  among  indigenous  women 
and  women  of  African  descent  needs  to  be  improved.  The  Universal  Maternal  and  Infant 
Insurance  Scheme  (SUMI)  is  addressing  the  health  and  nutritional  aspects.  The  new  draft 
Penal  Code,  now  under  discussion  despite  opposition  by  the  right-wing  opposition  and  the 
Church, foresees decriminalisation of abortion in a large number of circumstances.  

Access  of  women  to  formal  employment  opportunities  should  be  improved,  as  well  as 
measures to protect women from harassment in the workplace. In general, the UN CEDAW 
Committee  urged  Bolivia  to  enhance  women's  awareness  of  their  rights  and  the  means  to 
enforce  them,  targeting  specific  groups  of  women  such  as  indigenous  women  and  Afro-
Bolivian women living in rural and remote areas as well as women with disabilities. 

Convention  against  Torture  and  Other  Cruel,  Inhuman  or  Degrading 
Treatment or Punishment (CAT) 

As in the 2016 GSP Report, the key concerns regarding CAT are the inadequate definition of 
torture under the national law and deficient prosecution of torture cases. This was highlighted 
already in 2013 by the UN Committee against Torture. Bolivia plans to address this issue in 
the context of an overall reform of the penal system, taking into account the Constitution and 
its  commitments  under  international  conventions.  SEPRET  (Service  for  Prevention  of 
Torture)  is  a  specialised  body  in  charge  of  prevention  of  torture  and  ill  treatments  and  has 
become  fully  operational.  A  number  of  activities  (such  as  awareness-raising  and  training  of 
civil  servants  and  civil  society)  has  been  developed  over  the  past  18  months,  including  the 
establishment of a law for a 'Truth Commission' in charge of investigating crimes committed 
under  the  dictatorships,  which  plagued  the  country  until  the  early  1980s.  Incidents  of  ill-
treatment  by  police  have  been  reported.  The  UN  Committee  against  Torture  has  underlined 
the need for prompt and impartial investigation. Bolivia should also take the necessary steps 
to ensure redress for victims of ill-treatment or torture. 

Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) 

The salient shortcomings as identified in the 2016 GSP Report remain areas of concern. Even 
though  forced  labour  and  exploitation  of  children  are  forbidden  by  the  Constitution,  child 
labour is widespread, especially in rural areas. In 2008, the ILO and INE (National Institute of 
Statistics) established that 22.7% of children aged 5 to 13 worked. A new baseline survey on 
child  labour  was  carried  out  between  October  and  December  2016.  Data  is  currently  being 
consolidated  and  the  report  should  be  finalised  soon.  Based  on  the  first  analysis,  the 
Government expects that eradication of child labour in the mining sector (involving children 
under 18 years) will be the main focus of future actions.  

4 

 
Human trafficking remains a challenge for Bolivia, including policies on the return of victims 
of  human  trafficking  and  their  rehabilitation  and  reintegration  into  the  labour  market.  In 
August  2015,  the  Ministry  of  Justice  presented  a  National  Plan  against  Human  Trafficking 
2015-2019. According to the Supreme Tribunal of Justice, 184 processes of trafficking were 
conducted in 2014 – but only 11 reached a sentence. More recent statistics were not provided.  

The  2014  Law  on  Children  and  Adolescents  sets  out  a  wide  range  of  measures  for  the 
protection  of  children,  including  the  protection  of  personal  integrity  and  protection  against 
violence  (including  sexual  violence),  prohibition  to  engage  children  in  various  forms  of 
hazardous  work  (such  as  mining  and  construction)  as  well  as  collection  of  data  on  child 
labour. At the same time, the law conflicts with ILO Convention 138 (see section on labour 
rights conventions). 

Further  steps  are  still  needed  to  address  the  situation  of  the  Guaraní  children  in  the  Chaco 
region. Concerns relate to children engaging in hazardous work in mining, the high number of 
children  living  in  prison  with  their  parents,  violence  against  children  including  trafficking, 
and domestic and sexual violence. In line with the 2013-2015 Access to Justice Programme, 
the  Bolivian  authorities  are  taking  measures  to  eradicate  forced  labour  among  indigenous 
families,  especially  children  in  the  Chaco  and  the  Bolivian  Amazon  regions,  through  pilot 
projects  in  four  departments.  However,  Bolivia  takes  the  view  that  some  of  the  activities 
undertaken by indigenous children should not be regarded as child labour, as such activities 
are seen as part of the community's social upbringing and cultural identity. 

Work  plans  have  been  elaborated  to  promote  the  removal  of  children  living  in  prison  and 
provide alternative care. A joint effort in 2013 by the Ombudsman, the prison regime and the 
prisoners reduced the number of children living in prison by approximately 30%. 

Future actions and priorities 

Bolivia's future actions and priorities are covered by the 2014-2018 National Human Rights 
Action Plan. This plan includes six strategic areas: civil and political rights; economic, social 
and cultural rights; the rights of rural native peoples and nations; women's rights; the rights of 
people  in  vulnerable  situations;  and  the  management  of  rights.  The  Patriotic  Agenda  2025 
contains  13  pillars  with  references,  among  others,  to  eradication  of  poverty,  access  to 
education and health. The Human Rights Action Plan gives priority to the rights highlighted 
in the Patriotic Agenda. 

Conclusions 

This assessment is based on the existing documents  from the UN monitoring bodies related to 

the  effective  implementation  of  the  UN  Human  Rights  conventions.  In  2014,  Bolivia  also 

underwent  its  second  UPR  that  allowed  for  a  frank  discussion  on  advances  and  further 

challenges in the area of human rights. During the reporting period, Bolivia was elected to 

the UN Human Rights Council for the period 2015-2017. 

Bolivia  continued  to  make  substantial  progress  in  effectively  implementing  human  rights 

commitments  in  2016-2017,  taking  into  account  the  overall  socioeconomic  situation.  The 

Constitution, together with the Patriotic Agenda 2025 and the National Human Rights Action 

5 

 
Plan  2014-2018,  provide  a  solid  basis  to  better  promote  and  protect  human  rights.  In 

particular,  Bolivia  has  made  efforts  to  eradicate  poverty  and  improve  access  to  education, 

health, food and housing as well to address reproductive health issues. 

Bolivia  has  adopted  several  new  legislative  acts  to  improve  the  human  rights  situation,  in 

particular  for  women,  and  to  implement  its  international  human  rights  commitments. 

However, the challenge remains to ensure that the legislation is implemented systematically 

and effectively. 

The marginalisation of indigenous and Afro-Bolivian communities (mainly women), violence 

against  women,  including  trafficking  are  persistent  issues.  A  particular  concern  is  the 

minimum age to work, as stipulated in the Law of Children and Adolescents, which conflicts 

with  ILO  Convention  138  (see  section  on  labour  rights  conventions),  but  the  2016  baseline 

study should become a important tool for its eradication.  

Following the outcomes of the 2016 Justice General Summit, the Government has undertaken 

substantial steps to strengthen the independence and efficiency of the justice system, though 

further actions is needed to guarantee full respect of fundamental freedoms. 

2.2.  ILO Labour Rights Conventions (Conventions 8-15) 

Status of ratification and reporting 

Over the reporting period, Bolivia has maintained the ratification of all eight ILO fundamental 
conventions and has complied with all its reporting obligations. 

Status of implementation of the conventions 

Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining (Conventions 87 and 98) 

In  its  2016  Observation,  the  ILO  Committee  of  Experts  on  the  Application  of  Conventions 
and  Recommendations  (CEACR)  requested  Bolivia  to  provide  further  information  on  the 
investigations  conducted  with  regard  to  the  allegations  of  police  aggression  during  trade 
unions' demonstrations as well as on related judicial procedures. According to the information 
provided by the national authorities, the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security 
through  the  General  Direction  of  Union  Affairs  is  involved  in  conflict  prevention  and 
mediation. 

The  CEACR  issued  requests  on  several  legislative  matters  and  noted  with  satisfaction  the 
information  provided  by  Bolivia  concerning  the  repeal  of  section  234  of  the  Penal  Code, 
namely the requirement of a 75% majority of workers in order to call a strike. 

The  CEACR  also  noted  the  Government's  indication  that:  (i)  a  new  General  Labour  Act  is 
being  prepared  which,  among  other  matters,  provides  for  the  inclusion  of  rural  and 
agricultural  workers  so  that  they  can  benefit  from  all  social  rights,  and  envisages  a 
requirement  of  20  workers  to  establish  a  union  at  the  enterprise  or  industrial  level;  and  (ii) 

6 

 
with regard to the right of public officials to organise, a bill on public servants is also being 
prepared, which is to be examined and approved by the legislative authorities. These two laws 
are still pending.  

The  CEACR  also  stated  in  its  2016  observation  that  it  trusted  that  the  new  General  Labour 
Act  concerning  public  servants  and  the  new  Labour  Code  will  be  adopted  in  the  very  near 
future;  that  they  will  be  the  subject  of  consultations  with  all  of  the  most  representative 
organisations of workers and employers and that accordingly: (i) the amount of the fines to be 
imposed on acts of anti-union discrimination or interference will be updated so as to ensure 
that they are sufficiently dissuasive; and (ii) the guarantees set out in the Convention will be 
explicitly afforded to public servants who are not engaged in the administration of the State 
and to all agricultural workers, whether they are employed persons or own account workers. 

Abolition of Forced Labour (Conventions 29 and 105) 

In its latest Direct Request (adopted in 2014), the CEACR recognised the measures adopted to 
combat  the  practices  of  forced  labour  and  servitude.  These  practices  affect  in  particular 
certain  members  of  the  indigenous  communities,  such  as  the  Quechua  and  Guaraní  peoples 
working  in  agriculture.  Further  efforts  to  eradicate  these  practices  and  protect  victims  are 
needed though. The CEACR noted in particular the activities carried out by the Fundamental 
Rights Unit of the Ministry of Labour within the framework of the Development Plan for the 
Guaraní  People,  the  strengthening  of  labour  inspection  at  regional  level  and  the  land 
distribution process.  

The  CEACR  encouraged  the  Government  to  continue  strengthening  the  State  presence  in 
areas  where  incidents  of  forced  labour  have  been  identified  and  recalled  the  importance  of 
measures  to  combat  the  root  causes  of  vulnerability  of  the  victims,  of  policies  aimed  at 
ensuring  greater  autonomy  of  at-risk  groups  and  of  combating  poverty.  The  CEACR  also 
requested  the  Government  to  strengthen  the  capacity  of  other  actors  involved  in  combating 
forced labour, such as prosecution authorities and judges. 

The  CEACR  also  urged  the  Government  to  ensure  close  cooperation  between  the  labour 
inspectorate and the public prosecutor so that no situation of forced labour goes unpunished.  

Through  the  'Fundamental  Rights'  unit  of  the  Ministry  of  Labour,  Bolivia  stepped-up  its 
monitoring and prevention efforts in the field, with  500 inspections carried out  in 2016 and 
147  in  the  first  4  months  of  2017.  Workers'  complaints  were  dealt  with  in  623  cases. 
However, only administrative fines could be applied and the Government has not been able to 
provide information on convictions against perpetrators.  

The  Organic  Law  against  Trafficking  and  Smuggling  of  Persons  defines  the  fundamental 
components of trafficking in persons and provides for penalties. Moreover, the law establishes 
a  framework  to  combat  trafficking  through  measures  and  mechanisms  for  prevention, 
comprehensive victim protection, international and national cooperation, and punishment. As 
provided  in  the  act,  the  Plurinational  Council  against  the  Trafficking  and  Smuggling  of 
Persons  has  been  established.  This  Council  consists  of  various  ministries  and  civil  society 
organisations that deal with the issue of trafficking. A national plan against the trafficking of 
persons, covering the period 2015-2019 was developed. Bolivia has made  efforts to step up 
the detection of trafficking cases via comprehensive inspections.  

7 

 
Minimum Age for Work and Worst Forms of Child Labour (Conventions 138 
and 182) 

Child labour is a persistent issue in Bolivia. In 2015, Bolivia carried out five studies on child 
and  adolescent  labour  in  specific  geographical  areas  (for  example,  Potosi,  Amazon,  Santa 
Cruz) and economic activities, including those known as hazardous activities (such as mining 
and harvesting of sugar cane). Some of these studies have resulted in action plans. However, 
further  measures  to  eliminate  the  worst  forms  of  child  labour  as  well  as  statistics  on  worst 
forms of child labour are needed. A national survey on child labour was carried out in 2016, 
of which the results are pending. 

In 2015, the CEACR again urged Bolivia to take the necessary measures to prevent children 
from  becoming  victims  of  debt  bondage  or  forced  labour  in  the  sugar  cane  and  Brazil  nut 
harvesting industries, remove child victims from these worst forms of child labour and ensure 
their rehabilitation and social integration. 

Moreover, worst forms of child labour also occur in mines and in the construction sector and 
also affect street children. An estimated 3,800 children work in tin, zinc, silver and gold mines 
in the country, while overall, according to a national report published by ILO-IPEC in 2008, 
437,000  children  under  14  years  of  age  were  engaged  in  hazardous  work.  Thus,  the  large 
majority of the estimated 491,000 working children under 14 years performs hazardous work. 
A new survey (with data collected between October and December 2016 data) was expected 
to be published in 2017 at the time of writing.  The results of this survey should feed into the 
national plan for the eradication of child labour. 

Given  the  lack  of  resources  as  regards  labour  inspectors  in  the  country  and  the  difficulties 
encountered in gaining access to some plantations, there is a need to increase efforts in order 
to effectively detect child labour. The CEACR requested the Government, in cooperation with 
UNICEF, to intensify its efforts to protect indigenous children from the worst forms of child 
labour. 

According to the Government, due to increased mechanisation of agriculture, child labour is 
decreasing,  notably  in  the  sugar  cane  industry.  A  certification  called  'Triple  Sello'  (Triple 
Seal), developed by the Bolivian Institute of Foreign Trade, is available to companies that are 
willing  to  undergo  an  audit  to  demonstrate  that  there  has  been  no  discrimination,  no  forced 
labour and no child labour throughout the production process of their products.  

With regards to trafficking, the CEACR noted with interest the adoption of the Integral Law 
on the Sale and Trafficking of Persons in February 2012, especially the provisions under this 
law  which  give  special  attention  to  children,  such  as  by  enhanced  penalties  for  trafficking 
crimes that involve children and the protection and the rehabilitation of child victims. Once a 
case of trafficking is identified, it is reported to the police, prosecutors, and the Ombudsmen 
for Children and Adolescents. 

Given  the  importance  of  basic  education  in  preventing  the  engagement  of  children  in  the 
worst forms of child labour and noting the discrepancy between school attendance in primary 
and  secondary  school,  the  CEACR  strongly  encouraged  the  Government  to  continue 
strengthening  its  efforts  to  improve  the  functioning  of  the  education  system  and  to  increase 
the school attendance rate at the secondary level, including within the framework of the 2013-
2017  Plan  of  Action  with  UNICEF  and  the  Institutional  Strategic  Plan  (PEI).  According  to 
statistical  information  from  2013  provided  by  UNICEF,  the  net  enrolment  ratio  in  primary 
school was 82% for boys and 81.1% for girls, but decreases to 70.7% for boys and 72.3% for 

8 

 
girls in secondary school. In 2017, the Government indicated that in 2016, the dropout rates at 
the  primary  school  level  had  dropped  to  2.2%  (from  4.5%  in  2005);  at  the  secondary  level 
they had dropped to 4.9% (from 7.8% in 2005). 

In 2014, Bolivia adopted Law No. 548 on the Code for Children and Adolescents, authorising 
children  to  work  from  age  12  for  an  employer  and  from  age  10  if  self-employed.  The 
Government stated that lowering the working age reflected the Bolivian reality as one of the 
poorest countries in South America. 

In its 2015 observations, the CEACR deeply deplored these amendments and emphasised that 
the  objective  of  ILO  Convention  138  is  to  eliminate  child  labour  and  that  it  allows  and 
encourages the raising of the minimum age but does not permit the lowering of the minimum 
age  once  specified. The CEACR recalled that Bolivia specified a minimum age  of  14 years 
when ratifying the Convention and that the derogation from the minimum age for admission 
to employment under section 129 of the Children's and Adolescents' Code is not in conformity 
with this provision of ILO Convention 138. 

Moreover, the CEACR noted with deep concern the distinction between the minimum age for 
children  who  are  self-employed,  at  10  years,  and  for  children  who  are  in  an  employment 
relationship, at 12 years. The CEACR is of the firm view that self-employed children should 
be  guaranteed  at  least  the  same  legislative  protection  as  children  in  an  employment 
relationship,  particularly  in  view  of  the  fact  that  many  of  these  children  are  working  in  the 
informal economy under hazardous conditions. It therefore strongly urged the Government to 
take immediate measures to ensure the amendment of parts of the Children's and Adolescents' 
Code to fix the minimum age for admission to employment or work as well as for admission 
to  apprenticeship  in  conformity  with  the  age  specified  at  the  time  of  ratification  and  the 
requirements of the ILO Convention 138, meaning to at least 14 years. 

Moreover,  the  CEACR  urged  the  Government  to  take  immediate  measures  to  ensure  the 
amendment of the Children's and Adolescents' Code to establish a lower minimum age of 12 
years for admission to light work, in conformity with the ILO Conventions. 

The  Government  argued  that  these  two  exceptions  have  a  transitory  character  of  5  years,  a 
period after which Bolivia intended to have eradicated child labour. 

The  CEACR  also  urged  the  Government  to  take  measures  to  implement  a  national  plan  of 
action for children to ensure the progressive elimination of all forms of child labour, and not 
just its worst forms, paying particular attention to children living in rural areas and engaged in 
hazardous types of work. This national plan for the eradication of child labour is pending.  

In  2015,  Bolivia's  implementation  of  the  ILO  Convention  138  was  discussed  as  a  double-
footnoted  country case (requiring the  Government of Bolivia to  provide full  information) at 
the  International  Labour  Conference  (ILC).  The  ILC  Committee  on  the  Application  of 
Standards (CAS) urged the Government to: 

•  repeal  the  provisions  of  the  legislation  setting  the  minimum  age  for  admission  to 
employment or work and light work of the Children's and Adolescents' Code of 17 July 2014; 

•  immediately  prepare  a  new  law,  in  consultation  with  the  social  partners,  increasing  the 
minimum age for admission to employment or work in conformity with the ILO Convention 
138; 

9 

 
•  provide  the  labour  inspectorate  with  more  human  and  technical  resources,  as  well  as 
training, with a view to a more efficient and concrete approach in relation to implementing the 
ILO Convention 138 in law and practice; 

• avail itself of ILO technical assistance to bring the legislation into compliance with the ILO 
Conventions; and to report in detail to the CEACR for its upcoming session. 

However, the Government expressed disagreement with the conclusions and sent observations 
at a later stage, justifying work from the age of 10 years for cultural reasons, and indicating 
that the country is working on gradually eradicating child labour.  

Cooperation with the ILO should be improved in order to ensure that measures taken by the 
Government are in compliance with international standards. 

Elimination of Discrimination (Conventions 100 and 111) 

Bolivia's  general  approach  to  combat  racism  and  discrimination  at  the  workplace  was  to 
establish  the  National  Committee  against  Racism  and  All  Forms  of  Discrimination  and  to 
create units for combating racism and all forms of discrimination in all Bolivian Ministries. 
These  institutions  are  expected  to  implement  action  plans  and  trainings  in  line  with  the 
national legislation against racism. However, in 2017 the CEACR pointed out that the wage 
gap  between  indigenous  and  non-indigenous  workers  still  exists  without  visible  measures 
adopted  or  implemented  to  address  the  issue.  The  CEACR  requested  Bolivia  to  ensure 
equality in access to education and vocational training for indigenous peoples, Afro-Bolivians 
and  migrants  to  enable  them  to  enjoy  equality  of  opportunity  in  access  to  employment  and 
remuneration. It seems that no progress has been acknowledged recently in this area. 

Regarding  Convention  111,  in  its  latest  Direct  Request  (adopted  in  2015),  the  CEACR 
requested  the  Government  to  provide  information  on:  1)  the  measures  taken  to  tackle  and 
prevent sexual harassment at the workplace, 2) the measures taken or envisaged to promote 
women's access to formal employment without discrimination, including through measures to 
afford men and women better education and vocational training opportunities, 3) the activities 
undertaken by the National Committee against Racism and All Forms of Discrimination and 
whether  an  action  policy  against  racism  and  discrimination  has  been  adopted,  4)  the 
implementation of Act No. 223 and Supreme Decree No. 1893 of 12 February 2014, including 
statistical information on the number of persons with disabilities who participate in the labour 
market and have access to education and vocational training, and 5) policies and programmes 
on HIV and AIDS adopted under Act No. 3729 of 2007 for the prevention of HIV/AIDS, and 
on  any  other  laws  and  regulations,  collective  agreements  or  judicial  rulings  that  seek  to 
provide specific protection against the stigma and discrimination based on real or perceived 
HIV status in employment and occupation. 

Furthermore,  stronger  measures  to  ensure  equal  remuneration  between  women  and  men  are 
needed.  The  CEACR  has  made  repeated  observations  and  recommendations  to  Bolivia  to 
provide  information  on  the  state  of  play  and  measures  taken  to  ensure  equal  treatment  and 
non-discrimination  in  employment.  In  2016,  the  CEACR  made  a  continuous  request  to 
Bolivia to establish and provide information and data on remuneration received by men and 
women to be able to ascertain the wage gap in the country. Information is also lacking on the 
measures taken by Bolivia to reduce the wage gap. Bolivia reported that the preliminary draft 
amendment  to  the  General  Labour  Act  stipulates  promotion  and  integration  of  women  in 
employment,  which  includes  equal  remuneration.  However,  the  act  is  pending  adoption  and 
there  has  been  no  progress  in  this  regard.  It  is  worth  noting  initiatives  such  as  the  National 

10 

 
Equal  Opportunities  Plan  'Women  building  a  new  Bolivia  to  live  well'  and  the  2014-2018 
Institutional  Strategic  Plan.  Nevertheless, their  strategic  vision  and  concrete  implementation 
are  not  always  clear.  In  2016,  the  CEACR  requested  Bolivia  to  take  the  necessary  steps  to 
ensure  that  sufficient  financial  and  human  resources  are  available  to  secure  adequate 
promotion of equality of opportunity and treatment in employment and occupation.  

Future actions and priorities 

In 2016, Bolivia collected new data on the situation of girls, boys and adolescents in labour 
activities  and  plans  to  publish  this  data.  It  will  be  important  to  ensure  that  the  data  and 
statistics  have  been  collected  in  accordance  with 
to  allow 
comparability over time and to provide a genuine picture of the situation in the country. The 
survey should serve as a basis for future policies and programs that aim at the eradication of 
causes  and  determinants  of  child  labour.  The  Ministry  of  Labour  is  also  preparing  an 
Intervention  Program  2016-2020  on  work:  (i)  under  14  years,  (ii)  14-17  years,  and  (iii) 
exceptional  permits,  which  will  be  implemented  by  governorates  and  municipalities. 
Concerning  forced  and  compulsory  labour,  the  work  on  the  elimination  of  forced  labour  in 
indigenous families in the Chaco, Amazonia and Integrated North Santa Cruz will continue. 

international  standards 

Conclusions 

While  the  national  legislation  is  broadly  in  compliance  with  the  ILO  fundamental 

conventions,  Bolivia  needs  to  improve  its  follow-up  to  the  ILO  supervisory  body's 

observations and recommendations. Enforcement also remains a concern. However, the most 

salient  shortcomings  are  related  to  the  ILO  Conventions  on  child  labour  and  minimum  age 

for work. The issue of the implementation of these two conventions was already raised in the 

2016 GSP Report. Bolivia was asked to supply full particulars to the ILO Conference in order 

to address the strong concerns expressed by the ILO experts, which are still pending from the 

country  case  discussion  at  the  International  Labour  Conference  in  June  2015.  The  issue  is 

regularly raised in the context of the EU-Bolivia political dialogue. 

While  taking  note  of  the  efforts  by  the  Bolivian  Government  to  address  the  issue  of  child 

labour,  it  should  be  underlined  that  such  endeavours  should  be  carried  out  in  accordance 

with  international  labour  standards.  Tackling  child  labour  requires  a  holistic  approach: 

legislation  and  enforcement,  education  and  training,  social  protection  and  promotion  of 

decent work opportunities.  

11 

 
 
 
2.3.  UN Conventions on Environmental Protection and Climate 

Change (Conventions 16-23) 

Status of ratification and reporting 

Over  the  reporting  period,  Bolivia  has  maintained  ratification  of  all  GSP+  relevant 
conventions  on  environmental  protection  and  climate  change.  Bolivia  is  now  almost  fully 
compliant  with  reporting  on  these  conventions.  The  first  and  third  national  reports  on  the 
implementation  of  the  Cartagena  Protocol  and  the  first  Biennial  Progress  Report  under  the 
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) are due.  

Climate change, deforestation, soil and water pollution and soil erosion are key environmental 
challenges in Bolivia. 

Status of implementation of the conventions 

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and 
Fauna (CITES) 

Bolivia  has  achieved  category  1  status4,  as  its  national  legislation  is  now  in  line  with  the 
Convention. The Supreme Decree no. 3048 on the International Trade of Endangered Species 
of  Wild  Fauna  and  Flora  was  approved  on  11  January  2017  to  establish  administrative 
procedures  for  the  protection  of  wildlife  under  CITES.  As  for  reporting  requirements,  it  is 
important to note that Bolivia is now fully up to date with its biennial reports. 

Basel Convention 

Bolivia  has  reported  on  numerous  activities  connected  to  the  export  of  hazardous  wastes, 
which  it  will  continue  to  carry  out.  Priorities  include  exports  of  hazardous  waste  from 
different companies, as well as developing specific rules to implement the Basel Convention. 
The 2015 National Report was submitted in December 2016. 

Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) 

As regards the revised National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP), work is on-
going. To this end, Bolivia signed on 29 October 2015 a technical assistance agreement with 
the  Inter-American  Development  Bank  (IADB)  for  the  elaboration  of  the  Biodiversity 
Strategy  establishing  guidelines  for  the  conservation,  use  and  exploitation  of  biodiversity. 
Work on the strategy started in September 2016 and will take about 18 months.  

Regarding the previous lack of compliance with reporting obligations, Bolivia reported that, 
due to lack of staff, the 4th National Report includes actions that should have been reported in 
the  2nd  and  3rd  Reports.  Official  consultation  with  the  secretariat  of  the  Convention  on 
Biological  Diversity  is  underway  to  confirm  that  this  is  acceptable  and  the  matter  can  be 
closed. The 5th National Report has also been submitted. 

Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants 

Bolivia  plans  to  carry  out  activities  related  to  environmentally  friendly  management  of 
the 
polychlorinated  biphenyls  (PCBs),  contaminated  equipment  and  waste,  and 

to 

4 Category 1: legislation that is believed generally to meet all requirements for effective implementation of CITES. Source: 
https://cites.org/eng/legislation/National_Legislation_Project 

12 

 
                                                 
strengthening of technical capacity. Furthermore, it will put in place specific regulations for 
the elimination of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) until the year 2025. Projects framed in 
the  management  of  POPs  are  being  prepared  to  protect  human  health  and  the  environment 
from POPs. 

As of May 2017, Bolivia's National Implementation Plan (NIP) of the Stockholm Convention 
is available, but the updating of the NIP is pending.  

Concerning  previous  remarks  of  non-compliance  with  reporting  requirements  in  the  2016 
Report, Bolivia submitted the 2006 and 2010 reports to the Stockholm Convention secretariat 
on 22 July 2016. The 2014 report was submitted online on 15 March 2016. 

Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety 

Bolivia's 3rd national report was submitted in 2016. The technical regulation on 'food labelling 
and  products  intended  for  human  consumption  that  are,  contain  or  derive  from  genetically 
modified organisms' was approved. 

Conventions on Climate Change 

The Ozone Secretariat has noted the challenges faced by Bolivia to consistently report on the 
consumption of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC). A proposal to update the decree to control 
Ozone  Depleting  Substances  (ODS)  to,  inter  alia,  incorporate  the  accelerated  HCFC  phase-
out  schedule,  establish  quotas  per  importer,  and  limit  the  validity  of  licenses,  has  been 
pending  approval  since  2016.  The  decree  in  place  has  already  allowed  the  authorities  to 
enforce  control  measures  and  limit  ODS  imports.  Therefore,  the  pending  approval  of  the 
revised decree does not compromise the country's ability to meet the HCFC phase-out targets.  

The country has begun enforcement of the licensing and quota system since 1 January 2013. 
Through an administrative resolution of the Environment Vice Ministry, Bolivia issues yearly 
HCFC import quotas in accordance with the Montreal Protocol control targets. The country is 
in compliance with the Montreal Protocol control targets as well as with the targets specified 
in its HCFC phase-out management plan (HPMP) Agreement. The import licensing and quota 
system will enable the country to achieve compliance with the Montreal Protocol's phase-out 
schedule for HCFCs.  

Bolivia's  3rd  national  communication  to  the  United  Nations  Framework  Convention  on 
Climate  Change  (UNFCCC)  is  to  be  submitted  shortly.  Bolivia  has  not  yet  submitted  any 
Biennial Progress Report. 

Bolivia has refused a specific commitment on CO2 emissions. The principal argument of the 
Bolivian Government is that the main contributors to CO2 emissions are first in line to accept 
responsibility and undertake concrete actions on the matter. The contribution is linked to the 
achievement  of  living  well  in  the  context  of  climate  change  with  regards  to  water,  energy, 
forest  and  agriculture  and  livestock.  To  this  end,  it  relies  on  policy  measures  in  water 
management,  development  of  renewable  energy  and  land  use  activities  (with  quantifiable 
targets for 2030). 

On  12  October  2015,  Bolivia  submitted  its  Intended  Nationally  Determined  Contribution 
(INDC), which did not contain any greenhouse gas emission reduction targets. In September 
2016,  President  Morales  presented  to  the  UN  the  national  law  which  ratified  the  Paris 
Agreement. 

13 

 
Conclusions 

During the past two years, Bolivia addressed its non-compliance with the CITES Convention 

both at legislative level and reporting level and has thereby achieved category 1 status. 

Measures  to  implement  the  Convention  on  Biological  Diversity  are  under  way  thanks  to 

international cooperation. Institutional strengthening and coordination remain a challenge. 

Regarding  the  UN  conventions  on  Climate  Change,  though  Bolivia  has  not  taken  a  public 

position on CO2 reduction targets, it has developed quantifiable targets for a range of other 

policy measures, such as renewable energy use. Actions to ensure the implementation of these 
measures  should  be  encouraged.  Bolivia  has  still  to  finalise  and  submit  its  1st  Biennial 
Progress Report on the UNFCCC. Its 1st and 3rd National Reports on the Cartagena Protocol 

are also due.  

2.4.  UN Conventions on Good Governance (Conventions 24-27) 

Status of ratification and reporting 

Bolivia has maintained ratification of the UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances and the 
UN Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances. 

After  having  withdrawn  in  January  2012  from  the  Single  Convention  on  Narcotic  Drugs  of 
1961  as  amended  by  the  1972  Protocol,  Bolivia  re-acceded  to  the  Convention  in  January 
2013, with a reservation on chewing of coca leaf, a traditional practice in the country. Since 
January  2013, the chewing of coca leaf and the consumption and use  of the coca leaf in  its 
natural  state  for  'cultural  and  medicinal  purposes'  are  permitted  on  the  territory  of  the 
Plurinational State of Bolivia by virtue of the reservation. 

As of January 2015, Bolivia was compliant with all requests for monitoring information from 
the  monitoring  body  of  the  three  core  UN  conventions  on  fighting  illegal  drugs  (the 
International Narcotic Control Board – INCB). 

Bolivia ratified the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) in 2005 and has maintained 
ratification. Bolivia also complied with its reporting obligations. The most recent review by 
the  Convention's  monitoring  body,  the  Implementation  Review  Group,  was  carried  out  in 
2013. The Executive Summary of the review has been available to the public since December 
2014. 

Status of implementation of the conventions 

UN Conventions Fighting Illegal Drugs 

The  new  National  Strategy  to  Fight  against  Drug  Trafficking  and  Reduction  of  Surplus 
Cultivation  of  Coca  (ENLC  &  CCEC)  for  2016-2020  has  recently  been  approved  and  the 
Government  is  currently  developing  the  Action  Plan.  The  strategy  establishes  the  following 
pillars:  reduction  of  supply,  reduction  of  demand,  control  of  surplus  coca  crops  and  shared 
international responsibility. 

14 

 
The  2015  UNODC  monitoring  report,  presented  in  July  2016,  revealed  a  decline  of  coca 
cultivation in Bolivia, for the fifth consecutive year.  

In 2016, the EU pledged EUR 60 million over four years to support the implementation of the 
National Strategy to Fight against Drug Trafficking and Reduction of Surplus Cultivation of 
Coca (ENLC & RCEC). The program includes EU support to counter-narcotics efforts and a 
contribution  to  the  technical  capacity-building  of  national  police  forces  provided  by  their 
European counterparts. The program is structured in three components: (i) budget support for 
the strategy (EUR 50 million), (ii) support to UNODC for crop monitoring and seizures (EUR 
4.3  million)  and  (iii)  a  contract  with  the  International  and  Ibero-American  Foundation  for 
Administration  and  Public  Policies  (FIIAPP)  regarding  technical  assistance  and  training  of 
Bolivian institutions involved in the fight against drug trafficking and connected crimes (EUR 
4 million).   

In October 2016, the INCB undertook a monitoring visit to Bolivia to discuss its compliance 
with  the  three  international  drug  control  treaties,  in  particular  the  1961  Convention  as 
amended by the 1972 Protocol. The INCB delegation was informed about progress made in 
the control of coca cultivation, the reduction of illicit cultivation in recent years and measures 
taken against trafficking.  

Bolivia  adopted  two  new  laws  in  March  2017,  the  general  law  on  coca  and  the  law  on  the 
fight against illicit trafficking of controlled substances respectively. The general law on coca 
includes  the  following  elements:  i)  an  increase  from  12,000  ha.  to  22,000  ha.  for  the 
maximum  legal  area  of  coca  leaf  production,  ii)  the  expansion  of  systematic  registration  of 
coca leaf producers and traders, iii) the Ministry of Rural Development and Land as the only 
entity  responsible  for  controlling  the  circulation,  transportation  and  marketing  of  coca  leaf 
(including  legal  markets),  iv)  the  promotion  of  research  and  development  of  industrial 
products  derived  from  coca,  including  the  opening  of  markets  within  the  framework  of 
international agreements. 

The  law  on  the  fight  against  illicit  trafficking  of  controlled substances  covers  the  following 
elements:  i)  establishment  of  mechanisms  to  combat  illicit  trafficking  in  controlled 
substances,  including  research,  control  and  monitoring  of  such  substances,  ii)  the 
modernisation  of  research  techniques  for  wiretapping  and  regulation  of  the  figures  of 
collaborators and informants, iii) the definition of the regime for seized and confiscated goods 
and regulation of loss of ownership of goods in favour of the State, iv) the updating of lists of 
controlled substances and chemical precursors.  

Both  laws  now  need  to  be  implemented,  which  will  be  supported  by  the  UNODC.  Bolivia 
continues  to  be  one  of  the  three  largest  cocaine-producing  countries  in  the  world  and  is  a 
significant transit zone for Peruvian cocaine. At the 6th EU-Bolivia High Level Dialogue held 
in  February  2017,  the  EU  encouraged  the  Bolivian  Government  to  strengthen  cooperation 
with  neighbouring  countries  and  to  tackle  the  trafficking  of  controlled  drugs.  There  is, 
however,  some  concern  about  the  impact  of  the  increase  of  the  legal  area  of  coca  leaf 
production to 22,000 ha. on the production of cocaine. 

UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) 

The Executive Summary of the 2013 review by the UNCAC Implementation Review Group 
(IRG)  noted  that  Bolivia  had  established  a  Ministry  for  Institutional  Transparency  and  the 
Fight  Against  Corruption.  However,  in  January  2017  that  Ministry  was  merged  with  the 
Ministry of Justice.  

15 

 
The  2013  review  concluded  that  Bolivia  carried  out  major  legislative  and  institutional 
reforms,  demonstrating  that  the  country's  political  commitment  to  combating  corruption  is 
yielding results. However, the IRG also recommended that Bolivia should focus on ensuring 
appropriate criminalisation of corruption. In particular, Bolivia should criminalise trading in 
influence and abuse of functions, all elements of active bribery in the private sector, passive 
bribery in the private sector and embezzlement in the private sector. Progress is also required 
on international cooperation and the extradition framework. 

Bolivia is developing a new Penal Code and should include 'solicitation' and 'benefits for third 
parties'  in  the  section  on  active  bribery.  Greater  inter-agency  cooperation  and  increased 
resources for anti-corruption efforts are also expected. 

Bolivia was ranked number 113 out of 176 countries in the 2016 Transparency International 
Corruption  Perception  Index,  with  a  perceived  level  of  public  sector  corruption  score  of  33 
out  of  100  (whereby  zero  means  'highly  corrupt').  This  marks  a  deterioration  compared  to 
scores in 2015 (34) and 2014 (35). 

Conclusions 

Together  with  the  international  community,  Bolivia  is  making  efforts  to  tackle  drug 

trafficking. Although Bolivia's eradication  programme is  meeting  its own stated  targets, the 

country  is  still  the  third-largest  producer  of  coca  leaf.  Bolivia's  policy  decision  to  consider  

22,000 ha. of coca cultivation as licit and its withdrawal from the 1961 UN Single Convention 

on Narcotic Drugs (followed by its reaccession with reservations in early 2013) undermined 

Bolivia's  efforts  to  meet  its  international  drug  control  obligations.  Considering  Bolivia's 

limited resources to fight drug trafficking, Bolivia relies on international cooperation to step 

up efforts to face the increasing demand for cocaine in consuming countries. 

Bolivia's  new  counternarcotic  laws  permit  enhanced  controls  of  precursor  chemicals  and 

enhanced monitoring of coca cultivation. Implementation of these new laws will be crucial to 

bolstering Bolivia's counter-narcotics efforts.  

Further  work  is  needed  to  pursue  cases  of  corruption  and  to  tackle  a  wider  range  of 

corruption  in  the  private  and  public  sectors.  Greater  international  cooperation  is  also 

required.  

3.   Trade and Economy 

3.1.  Trade Picture 

Bolivia is a resource-rich country with strong growth due to its natural gas exports. However, 
the country continues to be one of the least developed countries in Latin America. Bolivia's 
exports  are  heavily  dependent  on  primary  commodities  such  as  minerals  (zinc,  lead,  silver 
ores) and agricultural products (such as soya beans). Since 2004, economic growth in Bolivia 
was  on  average  4.9%,  due  to  high  commodity  prices,  increased  mineral  and  natural  gas 

16 

 
exports and a  prudent  macroeconomic policy. The positive economic context had a positive 
effect  on  poverty  reduction.  Due  to  the  decline  in  international  oil  prices,  Bolivia's  main 
challenge  will  be  to  ensure  these  positive  economic  and  social  results  in  a  less  favourable 
global environment. 

In  2016,  Bolivia's  exports  to  the  EU  amounted  to  EUR  530  million,  an  11%  decrease 
compared to 2015.  

3.2.  GSP+ Statistics 

Figure 1 to Figure 3 below describe Bolivia's utilisation of GSP+ in the context of its overall 
exports to the EU. In 2016, GSP+ exports from Bolivia to the EU accounted for about 10% of 
Bolivia's total exports to the EU. As the GSP+ permits duty-free access to the EU market for 
the vast majority of products (6,200 tariff lines), it provides a good opportunity for Bolivia to 
further  diversify  its  trade  exports  from  primary  commodities  into  other  more  value-added 
products. Overall, GSP+ exports to the EU have decreased by 46% between 2014 and 2016. 
The preference utilisation rate of Bolivia is high at 94.1% in 2016, though slightly decreasing 
compared to 95.8% and 95.7% in 2014 and 2015 respectively. 

Source for all statistics: Eurostat data as of September 2017. 

Figure 1 

Bolivia - Imports to the EU, 2014-2017 

Figures in thousand EUR 

2014 

2015 

2016 

2017 (Q1-2) 

Total imports to EU 
GSP+ eligible imports 
GSP+ preferential imports 
GSP+ utilisation rate 

518,567 
107,094 
102,577 
95.8% 

596,432 
84,340 
80,755 
95.7% 

529,748 
58,705 
55,225 
94.1% 

225,846 
29,790 
28,672 
96.2% 

Trend 2014-
2016 

2.2% 
-45.2% 
-46.2% 
-1.8% 

17 

 
  
  
  
 
Figure 2 

Bolivia - Imports to the EU, 2014-2016 

596.432 

13.54% 
0.60% 

529.748 

10.42% 
0.66% 

600.000

500.000

400.000

300.000

518.567 

19.78% 

0.87% 

200.000

79.31% 

85.86% 

88.92% 

GSP+ preferential imports

GSP+ eligible imports
which do not use GSP+
preferences

Other preferential and
non-preferential imports

100.000

0

)
R
U
E
d
n
a
s
u
o
h
t
(

U
E
e
h
t
o
t

s
t
r
o
p
m

I

2014

2015

2016

Figure 3 

Bolivia -  
Product Diversification of GSP+ Preferential Imports, 2016 

Cereals

16% 

4% 

5% 

6% 

13% 

Beverages, spirits and vinegar

33% 

Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts or
other parts of plants

Wood

Raw hides and skins

Inorganic chemicals; organic or inorganic
compounds of precious metals, of rare-
earth metals, of radioactive elements or of
isotopes
All other chapters

23% 

18 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ANNEX 

Bolivia – Treaty Ratification and Reporting  

Convention 

Status of ratification / 
reservations5 

Compliance with reporting obligations to 
monitoring bodies 

1. Convention on the 
Prevention and Punishment 
of the Crime of Genocide 

2. International Convention 
on the Elimination of All 
Forms of Racial 
Discrimination 

3. International Covenant on 
Civil and Political Rights 

4. International Covenant on 
Economic, Social and 
Cultural Rights 

5. Convention on the 
Elimination of All Forms of 
Discrimination against 
Women 

6. Convention against 
Torture and Other Cruel, 
Inhuman or Degrading 
Treatment or Punishment 

7. Convention on the Rights 
of the Child 

Ratification: 14.06.2005 

No reporting obligations 

No reservations 

Ratified: 22.09.1970 

Lack of compliance with reporting obligations 

No reservations 

Last report submitted on 20.01.2010. 

Latest report was due on 21.10.2013. 

Accession: 12.08.1982 

Compliant with reporting obligations 

No reservations  

Last report submitted on 16.08.2011. 

Next report due on 01.11.2018. 

Accession: 12.08.1982 

Lack of compliance with reporting obligations 

No reservations 

Last report submitted on 30.01.2007. 

Latest report was due on 30.06.2010. 

Ratification: 08.06.1990 

Compliant with reporting obligations 

No reservations 

Last report submitted on 19.11.2013. 

Ratification: 12.05.1999 

Lack of compliance with reporting obligations 

No reservations 

Last report submitted on 18.10.2011. 

Latest report was due on 31.05.2017. 

Ratification: 12.06.1990 

Lack of compliance with reporting obligations 

No reservations 

Last report submitted on 20.02.2008. 

8. Convention concerning 
Forced or Compulsory 
Labour, No. 29 

Ratification: 2005 

Latest report was due on 01.09.2015. 

Compliant with reporting obligations 

Latest CEACR (ILO Committee of Experts on the 
Application of Contentions and Recommendations) 
comments: Direct Request 2014. 

9. Convention concerning 
Freedom of Association and 
Protection of the Right to 
Organise, No. 87 

10. Convention concerning 
the Application of the 
Principles of the Right to 
Organise and to Bargain 

Ratification: 1965 

Compliant with reporting obligations 

Latest CEACR comments: Observation 2016. 

Ratification: 1973 

Compliant with reporting obligations 

Latest CEACR comments: Observation 2016; Direct 
Request 2016. 

5 Reservations do not apply in the ILO system, so there is no relevance to providing information on reservations under each 
of these conventions. 

19 

 
 
                                                 
Collectively, No. 98 

11. Convention concerning 
Equal Remuneration of Men 
and Women Workers for 
Work of Equal Value, No. 
100 

12. Convention concerning 
the Abolition of Forced 
Labour, No. 105 

13. Convention concerning 
Discrimination in Respect of 
Employment and 
Occupation, No. 111 

14. Convention concerning 
Minimum Age for 
Admission to Employment, 
No. 138 

15. Convention on Worst 
Forms of Child Labour, No. 
182 

Ratification: 1973 

Compliant with reporting obligations 

Latest CEACR comments: Observation 2016; Direct 
Request 2016. 

Ratification: 1990 

Compliant with reporting obligations 

Latest CEACR comments: Observation 2014; Direct 
Request 2014. 

Ratification: 1977 

Compliant with reporting obligations 

Latest CEACR comments: Direct Request 2016. 

Ratification: 11.06.1997  

Compliant with reporting obligations 

Minimum age specified: 14 
years  

Latest CEACR comments: Observation 2015; Direct 
Request 2015. CAS Country Case at ILC 2015. 

Ratification: 06.06.2003 

Compliant with reporting obligations 

Latest CEACR comments: Observation 2014; Direct 
Request 2014. 

16. CITES 

Ratification: 06.07.1979 

Lack of compliance with reporting obligations 

Biennial Report for 2014-2015 submitted in February 
2016. 

Annual Reports for 2015 and 2016 due. 

17. Montreal Protocol 

Accession: 03.10.1994 

Compliant with reporting obligations 

Most recent data for 2016 was submitted. 

18. Basel Convention 

Ratification: 15.11.1996  

Compliant with reporting obligations 

No reservations 

National Report for 2015 was submitted on 
31.12.2016. 

2016 National Report is due on 31.12.2017. 

19. Convention on 
Biological Diversity 

Ratification: 03.10.1994 

Compliant with reporting obligations 

Latest report submitted on 27.03.2015 (Fifth National 
Report). 

Sixth National Report is due on 31.12.2018. 

20. UN Framework 
Convention on Climate 
Change 

21. Cartagena Protocol on 
Biosafety 

Ratification: 03.10.1994 

Lack of compliance with reporting obligations 

No reservations 

Third National Communication was due in 2013. 

First Biennial Report was due on 31.12.2014. 

Ratification: 22.05.2002 

Compliant with reporting obligations 

No reservations 

Latest (Third National) Report was submitted on 
10.02.2016. 

22. Stockholm Convention 

Ratification: 03.06.2003 

Compliant with reporting obligations 

No reservations 

National Reports of 2006 and 2010 were submitted on 
22.07.2016. National Report of 2014 was submitted on 

Interim National Report (2005) was submitted in May 
2006. 

20 

 
 
23. Kyoto Protocol 

Ratification: 30.11.1999 

No reporting obligations 

No reservations 

15.03.2016.  

24. UN Single Convention 
on Narcotic Drugs 

Accession: 11.01.2013 

Reservation on coca leaf.6 

Reviewing is fulfilled by the International Narcotics 
Control Board (INCB). 

25. UN Convention on 
Psychotropic Substances 

26. UN Convention against 
Illicit Traffic in Narcotic 
Drugs and Psychotropic 
Substances 

27. UN Convention against 
Corruption 

Accession: 20.03.1985 

No reservations 

Ratification: 20.08.1990 

Ratification: 05.12.2005 

No reservations 

Reviewing is fulfilled by the UN Office on Drugs 
and Crime (UNODC).  

A review covering the period 2010-2015 was 
performed in July 2014 and issued in January 2015. 

6 Reservation made on paragraphs which could be interpreted as establishing as a criminal offence the use, consumption, 
possession, purchase, or cultivation of the coca leaf for personal consumption.  

21