|
Committee on the Rights of the Child Concludes its 36th SessionThe Committee on the Rights of the Child concluded its 36th session and issued its conclusions and recommendations on the situation of children in El Salvador, Panama, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Liberia, Myanmar, Dominica, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and France whose reports on efforts to comply with the Convention on the Rights of the Child were considered this session. The conclusions and recommendations were contained in the Committee's final report for the three-week session, which was adopted today by the Committee's 18 Experts. After reviewing the report of El Salvador, the Committee welcomed a number of positive developments during the reporting period relating to ratification of international conventions and adoption of legislation. The Committee recommended, among other things, that the State party strengthen current efforts to address the problem of domestic violence and child abuse; and that it takes all necessary measures to address all issues of discrimination, including social discrimination and discrimination against children with disabilities. Concerning the report of Panama, the Committee noted with appreciation the establishment of various mechanisms aimed at protecting and promoting the rights of children. It recommended, among other things, the adoption and effective implementation of adequate legislation to prevent and combat trafficking, sexual exploitation and pornography of children. It also recommended that all necessary measures be taken to ensure that indigenous children enjoyed all of their rights without discrimination. After having considered the report of Rwanda, the Committee welcomed the adoption of the 2003 Constitution, which contained provisions on human rights, including children's rights. It took note of the efforts made by the State party in order to re-establish the identity of a large number of children evacuated to different countries during and just after the genocide of 1994. It recommended that the State party strengthen its efforts to ensure the reunification of those children with their families. With regard to the report of Sao Tome and Principe, the Committee welcomed the adoption of laws and the establishment of various mechanisms aimed at protecting and promoting the rights of children. It recommended, among other things, that the State party ensure the implementation of all relevant laws guaranteeing that the best interests of the child be a primary consideration in all actions concerning children. It also recommended that the State party amend current legislation to prohibit corporal punishment in all places. Responding to the report of Liberia, the Committee found positive developments in the various measures to adopt domestic legislation as well as ratification of international conventions relating to child rights. It observed that the armed conflict in the State party had caused very severe and large-scale violations of the human rights of children. It urged the State party to undertake every measure possible to restore enjoyment by the children in Liberia of their rights as enshrined in the Convention. In the report of Myanmar, the Committee welcomed the adoption of several laws with the view of promoting and protecting the rights of children. The Committee recommended, among other things, that the State party strengthen its efforts to systematically involve communities and other elements of civil society, including children's associations, throughout all stages of the implementation of the Convention. Concerning the report of Dominica, the Committee noted with appreciation the adoption of various laws in order to enhance the implementation of the Convention. The Committee recommended, among other things, that the State party remove all provisions from laws that allowed corporal punishment and explicitly prohibit corporal punishment by law. It also recommended that the State party undertake effective measures to reduce the rate of teenage pregnancies. With regards to the report of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the Committee noted with appreciation the adoption of laws aimed at enhancing the implementation of the Convention. Among its recommendations, the Committee encouraged the State party to strengthen its cooperation with UN agencies and the international donor community in the area of policy planning, and to provide them with full access to all vulnerable groups. It also recommended that the State party undertake a comprehensive study to assess the nature and the extent of human trafficking, in particular involving children.. And concerning the report of France, the Committee welcomed the adoption by the State party of several laws and noted with appreciation the positive developments relating to the implementation of the Convention. The Committee urged, among other things, the State party to establish a central registry for data collection and introduce a comprehensive system of data collection incorporating all the areas covered by the Convention. It also recommended that France pursue its efforts to prevent and combat child abuse and neglect. The Committee's next session will be held from 13 September to 1 October 2004. Scheduled for consideration are reports of Brazil, Iran, Croatia, Botswana, Antigua and Barbuda, Kyrgystan, Equatorial Guinea, Angola, and the Bahamas. Concluding Observations for the 36th Session of the Committee on the Rights of the Child [documents] The following Concluding Observations to the States Party reports considered at the 36th Session of the Committee on the Rights of the Child are available (in English) on the website of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. French and Spanish versions are forthcoming. Liberia: http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu2/6/crc/doc/co/Liberia-CO1.pdf Dominica: http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu2/6/crc/doc/co/Dominica-1.pdf Sao Tome and Principe: http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu2/6/crc/doc/co/Sao%20Tome%20and%20Principe-CO1.pdf Panama: http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu2/6/crc/doc/co/Panama-CO2.pdf Korea, DPR: http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu2/6/crc/doc/co/DPRK-CO2.pdf Myanmar: http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu2/6/crc/doc/co/Myanmar-CO2.pdf Rwanda: http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu2/6/crc/doc/co/Rwanda-CO2.pdf El Salvador: http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu2/6/crc/doc/co/El%20Salvador-CO2..pdf France: http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu2/6/crc/doc/co/France-CO2.pdf For the full report, go to: http://www.unog.ch/news2/documents/newsen/crc04025e.htm For
further information about the 36th Session of the Committee on the Rights
of the Child, visit: http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu2/6/crc/doc/session36..htm Alternative Reports submitted to the Committee by NGOs are available on the CRIN website. The reports can be searched by country, CRC session or by NGO. Go to: http://www.crin.org/resources/treaties/CRC.html?catName=International+Treaties&flag=legal&ID=6 The 37th Session of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child will take place in Geneva, Switzerland, from 13 September to 1 October 2004. States Parties reports being considered are: Botswana, Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Equatorial Guinea, Brazil, Angola, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Croatia. Information about this session is available at: http://www.ohchr.org/english/bodies/crc/crcs37.htm - This link will include all the country documentation for the Committee's 37th session, including: States Parties Reports, lists of issues, States' written replies to the lists of issues, delegation lists and statements, as well as the Committee's concluding observations. It will be updated on a daily basis during the session. For
more information, contact: |