WPC  8N)6t׎s瞂J,@@ߨi 9DqɇxE?[ߚL 8<@؋03FCiA.Z#ږ+\x#l!:AkwM) 0i V\r@qz|OuVY0OjKMsM 0V!#Mmx =%'@iAgX4'Ldy{^iPN!NDZ *5cPW([Cu1xi-5r $9İ XJ|EzxE0dPw8ib%:ـ?uQ!XB  J9X+o[X` hp x (#%'0*,.8135@8:<H?A++7oXX?["'*dE*??["'*dE*?HH1HH2HH3HH4HH5HH6HH7HH8HH91011121314151617181920212223 .*. Ї2425262728   x(2c$ ZbF!UKUS.,  TRW6&3'6&A43'T  33+B.++b >uQ!XB    fp2Doc InitInitialise Document Style$S (    I. 1. A. a.(1)(a) i) a)S%&'($0 ($0 0 (($0 0 0   A_ekqwDocumentDocument StyleI.1.A.a.(1)(a)i)a)h:Default ParaDefault Paragraph Font        L8K6innehll 1innehll 1   !        5+ ` hp x (#5L8K6innehll 2innehll 2   ` !        5+ ` hp x (#5L;K6innehll 3innehll 3  ` !        5+ ` hp x (#5L;K6innehll 4innehll 4   !        5+ ` hp x (#5L;K6innehll 5innehll 5  h!        5+ ` hp x (#5L8K6innehll 6innehll 6   !        5+ ` hp x (#5L!6innehll 7innehll 7          L8K6innehll 8innehll 8   !        5+ ` hp x (#5L8K6innehll 9innehll 9   !        5+ ` hp x (#5@;K0index 1index 1  ` !        5+ ` hp x (#5@8K0index 2index 2   ` !        5+ ` hp x (#5h5K:citatfrteckcitatfrteckingsrubrik   !        5+ ` hp x (#5P-"8beskrivningbeskrivning       SV  US     ^:_Equation Ca_Equation Caption        'dxd Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5(2c$ ZbF!UKUS.,  TRW6&3'6&A43'T  33+B.++b >uQ!XB    ($     9:;8A<< c  >c"UKUS.,  33B.++b >uQ!XB  .?.CRC(2c$ ZbF!UKUS.,  TRW6&3'6&A43'T  33+B.++b >uQ!XB    -A.UniversBoldScalableWPC  9513 ,, !y}vH794?7463 52 51 40403/2/2.1.1- 0-0-0,/,/+?. . .  -  -  - ? ,  ,  ,  +  +? ? +  +  ?*  *  *  )  ?)  ) ?  )  ? )( ( ( ?( ' ?' ' ?' '&??& ??&  &    ?        ??     ?   ???    ?   ?   ?   ?     ? ?    ? ?   ? ?  ?    ?  ?  ?    ?  ?? ?  ? ?   ? ?  ?? ?  ?    ?   ??  ?   ?    ? ? ?     ?  ?? ?   ?   ???  ??  ? ? ?? ?? ??  ????   ???? ? ? ? ? ?  ??  ? ? ? ? ??  ?? ?? ?  ?  ?     ?   ?  ?  ? ? ? ?   ??   ?        ? ?  ??   ???  ? ? ? ? ? ? ?   ? ?? ??  ?? ?  ? ?  ? ??  ? ???  ?? ?  ? ?? ?  ?     ??     ??   ??  ???? ? ? ? x? ?8 ?? ? ?  ?? 8 ??  ? 8 ??  ?    | ??  <?   ? ??   ?  ???  ????  ???  ??|  ?  ???  ??  ??  ?  ?  ???  >?  <?  8?  0?   ???   ????   ???   ???   ?    ?   ??   ???  ? ??  ? ? ? ? ?  ? ? ?? ? ??? ? ?  ? ?? ?? ?? ? ?? ?? ??? ??? ? ??? ???? ?  ? ? ?? ?? ??  ? ? ?  ?  ? ? ?? ??? ??? ?? ?  ??? ???????  ? ??? ?  ?8? ?~??<? ?8? ??8?? ?? 0??   ? ?`?? ?@??? ? ???? ? ?? ?? ??  ?  ?0 ??0? &?8 ?8 ??` ?  ?  ?? ?  ???????????? ?  ??????? ??  ? ?!?!8<>?~? |?| |?0 < >  ? ?? ? ? ???? ?? ?? ???????????????????   ?<? < x x     ?? ???0? ???$?$?? ?? ? ? ? ? ?? ??? ???????????? ???? ??? ??x ??  ?? ?  ?????? ?? ?"? "??  <?  ?  ??   ? ?  ? ? ???  ???  ??? ~ ??? @? ? ?p ?     @         ?  ? ? ? ? ???????@?? ??8??? |??? ???? ?? ?? ??    ?  ?    ?>?|? ? ? ? ??  ?? ? ?? ???????? ?? ? ??? ? ?? ?  ?  ? ? ?? ??p`?  ? ~? ~?~??~?????~????~???|???<??`8???8??0???0 ??  ?? ? ????? ?x ?x ?|? ??|? ? > ?  > ?? ? ? ? ??x ? ?|  ?~? ? ? ??  ??  ?? ? ?  ??? ? ???  ?? ?         ?        ?    ? ??  ???? ? ? ? ?    ?  ?   ??   ??         ??        ?  ?  ? ? ?  ?  ? |?  ? |? ?? ? < ?  >     ?? ??  ?? ??  ?       ??  ? ??? ? ?? ??  ? ? ?  ?      ?   ?? ?  ?  ?  ??  ? p ?   ? ?   ?    ?   ?   ?   ?  ??|? ? ???? ?? ??  ?  ???  ??  ??   ?~  ?| ? p ? ?? ? ?? ? ?  ??  ?   ?         ? ?   ?   ?      ?  ? ???   ???   ?? ?? ?? ?  ?? ?  ?   ?  ?  ?? ?  ?  ?     ?   ?  ?     ? ?   ??  ??  ?  ?   ?      ?    "? ?  " ?   ?  ? ?     ? ??  ?       ?    ?   ?  ?   ?? ?   ?  ?      ??     ?    ?    ??   ?     ?  ?   ?    ?    ??  ?  ??  ??  ?    ? ? ? ??       ? ?  ?  ? ?    ?      ? ? ?        ? ??  ? ?         ? |  >   ?       ? ? ? ???  ?? @?? ?   ??  ?  ? ? ? ?  ? ??       ??? ????    ? ?     ? ?        ?   ?  ?       ??  ? ???  ?    ?  ?   ??       ? ?           ?  ? ~  x  p   ? ? ?  ? ?  ?     ?         ?         ?? ? ? ? ??? ? ?? ? ?   * * `*?* )? ?)??))))))?'?'?'''' & &?  ' ? '  (  ) )? * ?*?+?,-J'%$# # " " !?  ?   q?   ?       ?   ?!33 ?!)( ( ' ?' ' & &?%%?%$$ # ?# ?# ? ? ???   ?  - -? ?- , , ?, , , , + +  +  +  ?+  *?  *!*!* "* #*3)3)?3)3)3)?3)3)3)2(?2(2(2(?2(2(2(2(2(1(?1(1(1(1(1(1(1)1A0A0A?0A?0A0A?0B0B1B1B1v)@#UNLOGO.WPG C >c"UKUS.,  33B.++b >uQ!XB   }R C cg   }RConventiononthe  RightsoftheChild,A.UniversBoldScalable Pleasedonotchangeanyofthecodeswhichappearbeforethiscomment.Distr.etc.muststartontheFirstTabforalongsymbolortheSecondforashorterone.D !(   ++P..P..PCRC/C/50..P..Ppage     U H'   ++PCRC/C/50page    (2c$ ZbF!UKUS.,  TRW6&3'6&A43'T  33+B.++b >uQ!XB    ($     K$  8.++b >uQ!8ӀAtthe287thmeeting,heldon26January1996.(2J$ ZbF!UKUS.,  TRW6&3'6&A43'T  33+B.++b >uQ!XB    3333Ӏ  0   f Z!  Ӏ    ڀTermexpireson28February1997. e Z!  Ӏ    ڀTermexpireson28February1999. !(     c<ORB>z \\: p @ H@c x >"   H H ..H CRC/C/50H ..H page     H'     c<QRB>z \nt p @ H@c > >"  CRC/C/50page     dTable_A !(  ++P+..P..PCRC/C/50..P..Ppage     X H'  ++P+CRC/C/50page      CRight ParRight-Aligned Paragraph NumbersI.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)#|c<6X9`("Courier 12cpid6X@8;@-A.UniversBoldScalable}p?7-A.UniversBoldScalablep?7,A.UniversBoldScalable  p?7 (bF$UKUS.,  TRW6&3'6&A43'T  33+B.++b >uQ!XB   dS)h)F7  ZbF!UKUS.,  TRW6&3'6&A43'T  33+B.++b >uQ!XB    R?+?["'F dEF ??["'QG dEQG ?<=UEAz|_ p @ H@E__?a UNITED R NATIONS <AWGCz|2n ` @ H@E?2nJ?2n<BUEAz|   p @ H@E   >  ?j?a?j! ??++7! E +?EX+ ! ++??!  Distr.  GENERAL  CRC/C/50  22March1996  Original:ENGLISH@ #COMMITTEEONTHERIGHTSOFTHECHILD@&Reportontheeleventhsession e3 @OO((Geneva,826January1996)@1CONTENTS! ++,3"++h!Chapter , Paragraphs 3" Page  3++? f!U##++,3I.  CONCLUSIONSANDRECOMMENDATIONSADOPTEDBY    THECOMMITTEEONTHERIGHTSOFTHECHILDf!f!Vf!.OO>""ZU#4##\#   B+ +? U##++f!U#mBII.  ORGANIZATIONALANDOTHERMATTERSJ.//6  115""ZU#5  g "   A. ? StatespartiestotheConventionJ.:  12""ZU#5 w"E"$   B. ? OpeninganddurationofthesessionJ.=  3""ZU#5 U$#$&   C. ? MembershipandattendanceJ.3  48""ZU#5 3&&(   D. ? AgendaJ.   9""ZU#6 ('*   E. ? PresessionalworkinggroupJ.5  1013""ZU#6 )),   F. ? OrganizationofworkJ..  14""ZU#7 ++.   G. ? FutureregularmeetingsJ.;;1  15""ZU#7 -y-0 -- III.  REPORTSBYSTATESPARTIESUNDERARTICLE44 /W/2   OFTHECONVENTIONJ.SS'  16240""ZU#8 x0F03 ....A.? ..? Submissionofreports....1618U#.."8 . GE.9611831(E)  33 ++P   } FG8.++b >uQ!8@..CONTENTS(continued) ++,3"Chapter,..,Paragraphs3"..3"Page)+ +? U##)....B.? ..? Considerationofreports....19240U#.."8̀....? ..? 1. .. Concludingobservations:Yemen....2648U#.."9....? ..? 2. .. Concludingobservations:Mongolia....4979U#.."13....? ..? 3. .. Concludingobservations:FederalRepublic....? ..?  .. ofYugoslavia(SerbiaandMontenegro)....80122U#.."17....? ..? 4. .. Concludingobservations:Iceland....123149U#.."23....? ..? 5. .. Concludingobservations:Republicof....? ..?  .. Korea....150181U#.."26....? ..? 6. .. Concludingobservations:Croatia....182209U#.."31....? ..? 7. .. Concludingobservations:Finland....210240U#.."35..IV...OVERVIEWOFTHEOTHERACTIVITIESOFTHECOMMITTEE....241264U#.."39....A.? ..? MethodsofworkoftheCommittee....241248U#.."39....B.? ..? CooperationwithUnitedNationsandother....? ..? competentbodies....249263U#.."40....C.? ..? Futuredayofgeneraldiscussion....264U#.."50..V...DRAFTPROVISIONALAGENDAFORTHETWELFTHSESSION....265U#.."51..VI...ADOPTIONOFTHEREPORT....266U#.."52@..6Annexes ++f!U## ..I...StateswhichhaveratifiedoraccededtotheConvention....ontheRightsoftheChildasat26January1996(187)f!..f!U#.."53..II...MembershipoftheCommitteeontheRightsoftheChildf!..f!U#.."59..-III...StatusofsubmissionofreportsbyStatespartiesunder....article44oftheConventionontheRightsoftheChild....asat26January1996f!..f!U#.."60..IV...ListofinitialreportsconsideredbytheCommittee....ontheRightsoftheChildasat26January1996f!..f!U#.."71..V...Provisionallistofinitialreportsscheduledfor....considerationattheCommittee'stwelfthand....thirteenthsessionsf!..f!U#.."74̇@..CONTENTS(continued) ++,3"@..Annexes(continued),..,3"..3"Page ++f!U## ..VI...Letterdated3January1996fromtheAmbassadorofthe....FederalRepublicofYugoslaviatotheUnitedNations....OfficeatGenevaaddressedtotheChairpersonofthe....CommitteeontheRightsoftheChildf!..f!U#.."75..-VII...Letterdated9January1996fromtheChairpersonof....theCommitteeontheRightsoftheChildaddressedto....theAmbassadoroftheFederalRepublicofYugoslavia....totheUnitedNationsOfficeatGenevaf!..f!U#.."76VIII...StatementbytheCommitteeontheRightsoftheChild....tothesecondUnitedNationsConferenceonHuman....Settlements(HabitatII)f!..f!U#.."77..IX...Generaldiscussionon"Thechildandthemedia"f!..f!U#.."80..X...Listofdocumentsissuedfortheeleventhsession....oftheCommitteef!..f!U#.."828.++b >uQ!8@.. I.CONCLUSIONSANDRECOMMENDATIONSADOPTEDBY ( THECOMMITTEEONTHERIGHTSOFTHECHILDb..bTheCommitteeontheRightsoftheChild,b..bReaffirmingtheimportanceitattachestomaintainingeffectivecooperationandmeaningfuldialoguewithUnitedNationsbodiesactiveinthefieldofhumanrightsandinareasofimportancetotherealizationofchildren'srights,b..bRecognizingtheneedtoensureitsactiveparticipationinactivitiesofrelevancetoitsworkwhicharetakingplacewithintheframeworkoftheUnitedNationssystemwideaction,b..bStressingtheimportanceofensuringtheinvolvementoftheCommitteeintheUnitedNationsConferenceonHumanSettlements(HabitatII)andinitspreparatoryprocess,b..bRecallingtheimportanceoftherighttohousingasanillustrationoftheindivisibilityandinterdependenceofchildren'shumanrights,b..b1. .. WelcomestheparticipationoftheCommitteeintheExpertGroupMeetingontheHumanRighttoAdequateHousing,organizedbytheCentreforHumanRightsandtheUnitedNationsCentreforHumanSettlements(Habitat)aswellastheattentionpaidbytheMeetingtothespecificsituationofchildren;b..b2. .. AlsowelcomesthedecisionofUNICEFtoorganize,incooperationwiththeUnitedNationsCentreforHumanSettlements(Habitat)anexpertseminaronchildren'srights,housingandneighbourhood,whichwilltakeasabasicreferencetheprinciplesandprovisionsoftheConventionontheRightsoftheChild;b..b3. .. DecidestoberepresentedbyoneofitsmembersatthatexpertSeminarandurgestheSecretariattoadoptallnecessarymeasurestoensuresuchparticipation;b..b4. .. AlsodecidestosubmitawrittencontributiontotheUnitedNationsConferenceonHumanSettlements(HabitatII)andfollowcloselythedraftingprocessoftheHabitatAgendawithaviewtoensuringthatthesituationandthefundamentalrighttoadequatehousingofchildrenareclearlyreflectedinthedocument;b..b5. .. StressestheimportanceofensuringtheparticipationofajointdelegationofhumanrightstreatybodiesintheHabitatIIConferenceasameanstoreinforcethehumanrightscomponentinthedeliberationsofandfollowuptotheConference.@..Z II.ORGANIZATIONALANDOTHERMATTERS@.. A.StatespartiestotheConvention1.b..bAsat26January1996,theclosingdateoftheeleventhsessionoftheCommitteeontheRightsoftheChild,therewere187StatespartiestotheConventionontheRightsoftheChild.TheConventionwasadoptedbytheGeneralAssemblyinresolution44/25of20November1989andopenedforsignatureandratificationoraccessioninNewYorkon26January1990.Itenteredintoforceon2September1990,inaccordancewiththeprovisionsofarticle49.AlistofStatesthathavesigned,ratifiedoraccededtotheConventioniscontainedinannexItothepresentreport.2.b..bThetextsofthedeclarations,reservationsorobjectionsmadebyStatespartieswithrespecttotheConventionarereproducedindocumentCRC/C/2/Rev.4.@.. B.Openinganddurationofthesession3.b..bTheCommitteeontheRightsoftheChildhelditseleventhsessionattheUnitedNationsOfficeatGenevafrom8to26January1996.TheCommitteeheld28meetings(260thto287th).AnaccountoftheCommittee'sdeliberationsatitseleventhsessioniscontainedintherelevantsummaryrecords(CRC/C/SR.260266,269,272274,276284and287).Attheopeningofthesession,theHighCommissionerforHumanRights,Mr.JosAyalaLasso,addressedtheCommittee,andinformeditofrecentdevelopmentsrelevanttotheprotectionandpromotionoftherightsofthechildthathadtakenplacewithintheframeworkoftheGeneralAssembly,aswellasothertreaty-monitoringbodies.TheCommitteeheldapressconferenceattheendofitssession.@..C.Membershipandattendance4.b..bAllthemembersoftheCommitteeexceptMr.SwithunTachionaMombeshoraattendedtheeleventhsession.Alistofthemembers,showingtheexpirydatesoftheirtermsofoffice,appearsinannexIItothepresentreport.5.b..bThefollowingUnitedNationsbodieswererepresentedatthesession:UnitedNationsChildren'sFund,OfficeoftheUnitedNationsHighCommissionerforRefugees.6.b..bThefollowingspecializedagencieswerealsorepresented:InternationalLabourOrganization,WorldHealthOrganization.7.b..bArepresentativeoftheInternationalCommitteeoftheRedCrossalsoattended.8.b..bRepresentativesofthefollowingnongovernmentalorganizationswerealsoinattendance:b..bCategoryIb..bInternationalMovementATDFourthWorld.̇b..bCategoryII0b..bDefenceforChildrenInternational,FriendsWorldCommitteeforConsultation(Quakers),InterAfricanCommitteeonTraditionalPracticesAffectingtheHealthofWomenandChildren,InternationalAbolitionistFederation,InternationalFederationTerredesHommes.b..bRosterb..bWorldOrganizationagainstTorture.b..bOthersb..b0b..bInternationalInnerWheel,NGOGroupfortheRightsoftheChild,OneWorldProductions.@..D.Agenda9.b..bAtits260thmeeting,on8January1996,theCommitteeadoptedthefollowingagenda(CRC/C/47):b..b1. .. Adoptionoftheagenda.b..b2. .. Organizationalandothermatters.b..b3.0 .. SubmissionofreportsbyStatespartiesinaccordancewitharticle44oftheConvention.b..b4.0 .. ConsiderationofreportsofStatesparties.b..b5.0 .. MethodsofworkoftheCommittee.b..b6. .. FuturemeetingsoftheCommittee.b..b7. .. Othermatters.b..b8. .. BiennialreportoftheCommitteeonitsactivities.@..E.Presessionalworkinggroup10.b..bInaccordancewiththedecisionoftheCommitteeatitsfirstsession,apresessionalworkinggroupmetatGenevafrom20to24November1995.AllthemembersexceptMr.SwithunTachionaMombeshoraandMrs.MariliaSardenbergparticipatedintheworkinggroup.TheworkinggroupelecteditsBureau.RepresentativesoftheUnitedNationsChildren'sFund,theOfficeoftheUnitedNationsHighCommissionerforRefugees,theInternationalLabourOrganization,theUnitedNationsEducational,ScientificandCulturalOrganizationandtheFoodandAgriculturalOrganizationoftheUnitedNationsalsoparticipatedinthemeetingsoftheworkinggroup.ArepresentativeoftheNGOGroupfortheConventionontheRightsoftheChild,aswellasrepresentativesfromvariousnongovernmentalorganizations,attendedthesession.11.b..bThepurposeofthepresessionalworkinggroupistofacilitatetheCommittee'sworkunderarticles44and45oftheConvention,primarilybyreviewingStatepartyreportsandidentifyinginadvancethemainquestionsthatwouldneedtobediscussedwiththerepresentativesofthereportingStates.Italsoprovidesanopportunitytoconsiderquestionsrelatingtotechnicalassistanceandinternationalcooperation.12.b..bThepresessionalworkinggroupheldeightmeetings,atwhichitexaminedlistsofissuesputbeforeitbymembersoftheCommitteerelatingtotheinitialreportsofeightcountries:Croatia,Cyprus,Finland,Iceland,Lebanon,Mongolia,RepublicofKoreaandYemen.ThelistsofissuesweretransmittedtothePermanentMissionsoftheStatesconcernedwithanoterequesting,ifpossiblebefore10April1995,writtenanswerstotheissuesraisedinthelist.13.b..bOnthebasisofadecisiontakenatthepresessionalworkinggroupofthefifthsessionoftheCommittee,theworkinggroupestablishedinformalcontactswiththePermanentMissionsofStateswhosereportswerescheduledforconsiderationattheforthcomingsession,inordertoinformthemoftheprocedurefortheconsiderationofreportsandtoclarifythepurposesofthedialoguewithrepresentativesofStatesparties.@..F.Organizationofwork14.b..bTheCommitteeconsideredtheorganizationofworkatits260thmeeting,on8January1996.TheCommitteehadbeforeitthedraftprogrammeofworkfortheeleventhsession,preparedbytheSecretaryGeneralinconsultationwiththeChairpersonoftheCommittee,andthereportoftheCommitteeonitstenthsession(CRC/C/46).@..NG.Futureregularmeetings15.b..bTheCommitteenotedthatthetwelfthsessionwouldtakeplacefrom20Mayto7June1996andthepresessionalworkinggroupwouldmeetfrom29Januaryto2February1996.@..III.REPORTSBYSTATESPARTIESUNDERARTICLE44OFTHECONVENTION@..A.Submissionofreports16.b..bTheCommitteehadbeforeitthefollowingdocuments:b..b(a) .. NotesbytheSecretary-GeneraloninitialreportsbyStatespartiesduein1992(CRC/C/3),1993(CRC/C/8/Rev.3),1994(CRC/C/11/Rev.3),1995(CRC/C/28),1996(CRC/C/41)and1997(CRC/C/49);b..b(b) .. NotebytheSecretary-GeneralontheStatespartiestotheConventionandthestatusofsubmissionofreports(CRC/C/48);b..b(c) .. NotebytheSecretary-Generalonthefollow-uptotheconsiderationofinitialreportsbyStatespartiestotheConvention(CRC/C/27/Rev.4);b..b(d) .. NotebytheSecretary-GeneralonareasinwhichtheneedfortechnicaladviceandadvisoryserviceshavebeenidentifiedinthelightoftheobservationsadoptedbytheCommittee(CRC/C/40/Rev.2).TheCommitteewasinformedthat,inadditiontothesevenreportsthatwerescheduledforconsiderationbytheCommitteeatitspresentsession(seeparas.19-240below)andthosewhichhadbeenreceivedpriortotheCommittee'stenthsession(seeCRC/C/46,para.16),theSecretary-GeneralhadreceivedtheinitialreportsofAustralia(CRC/C/8/Add.31andannex),Ghana(CRC/C/3/Add.39)andtheLaoPeople'sDemocraticRepublic(CRC/C/8/Add.32).ThestatusofsubmissionofreportsbyStatespartiesunderarticle44oftheConventionisgiveninannexIII.17.b..bAlistofinitialreportsconsideredbytheCommittee,asof26January1996,aswellasaprovisionallistofinitialreportsscheduledforconsiderationattheCommittee'stwelfthandthirteenthsessionsarecontainedrespectivelyinannexesIVandVtothepresentreport.18.b..bInresponsetotheinvitationaddressedtotheCommitteebytheGovernmentofTunisiaduringtheconsiderationofthelatter'sinitialreport,twomembersoftheCommittee(Mrs.AkilaBelembaogoandMr.YouriKolosov)participatedinameetingheldinTunison10and11January1996tocommemoratetheNationalDayoftheChild.@..B.Considerationofreports19.b..bAtitseleventhsession,theCommitteeexaminedinitialreportssubmittedbysevenStatespartiesunderarticle44oftheConvention.Itdevoted19ofits28meetingstotheconsiderationofreports(CRC/C/SR.261-266,269,272-274,276-284).20.b..bThefollowingreports,listedintheorderinwhichtheyhadbeenreceivedbytheSecretary-General,werebeforetheCommitteeatitseleventhsession:FederalRepublicofYugoslavia(CRC/C/8/Add.16),Croatia(CRC/C/8/Add.19andannex),Yemen(CRC/C/8/Add.20),RepublicofKorea(CRC/C/8/Add.21),Iceland(CRC/C/11/Add.6),Finland(CRC/C/8/Add.22)andMongolia(CRC/C/3/Add.32).21.b..bInaccordancewithrule68oftheprovisionalrulesofprocedureoftheCommittee,representativesofallthereportingStateswereinvitedtoattendthemeetingsoftheCommitteeatwhichtheirreportswereexamined.22.b..bAlltheStatespartiesconcerned,excepttheFederalRepublicofYugoslavia,sentrepresentativestoparticipateintheexaminationoftheirrespectivereports.23.b..bInaletterdated3January1996addressedtotheChairpersonoftheCommittee,thePermanentRepresentativeoftheFederalRepublicofYugoslaviatotheUnitedNationsOfficeatGenevaindicatedthathisGovernmentwasnotinapositiontotakepartintheCommittee'sdeliberations.(SeeannexVIforthefulltextoftheletter.)ReferencewasmadeinthelettertothefactthatthepositionoftheFederalRepublicofYugoslaviaremainedunchangedfromthatexplainedinapreviousletterof24March1994(seeCRC/C/43,annexVI).Initsreplydated9January1995,theCommitteetooknoteofthereasonspresentedbytheGovernmentoftheFederalRepublicofYugoslaviaasunderlyingitsposition;reiteratedthatitconsideredtheFederalRepublicofYugoslaviaduty-boundasaStatepartytotheConventionandwouldcontinuetoproceedonthebasisofthatunderstanding;referredtothefruitfuldialogueestablishedbetweentheFederalRepublicofYugoslaviaandtheCommitteeandtothevaluableopportunitythattheparticipationofitsGovernmentrepresentativeswouldprovidetopursuethedialogueinthebestinterestsofthechildrenoftheFederalRepublicofYugoslavia;andexpressedthehopethattheGovernmentwouldreconsideritsdecision(forthefulltextoftheletter,seeannexVII).24.b..bThefollowingsections,arrangedonacountry-by-countrybasisaccordingtothesequencefollowedbytheCommitteeinitsconsiderationofthereports,containconcludingobservationsreflectingthemainpointsofdiscussionandindicating,wherenecessary,issuesthatwouldrequireaspecificfollow-up.25.b..bMoredetailedinformationiscontainedinthereportssubmittedbytheStatespartiesandinthesummaryrecordsoftherelevantmeetingsoftheCommittee.@.. 1.Concludingobservations:Yemen26.b..bTheCommitteeconsideredtheinitialreportofYemen(CRC/C/8/Add.20)atits261st,262ndand263rdmeetings(CRC/C/SR.261-263),heldon9and10January1996,andadopted* J   ׀thefollowingconcludingobservations:@..tA.Introduction27.b..bTheCommitteenoteswithappreciationthesubmissionoftheinitialreportofYemenanditsself-criticalapproachinidentifyinganumberofareasofconcern.Itregrets,however,thatthereporthasnotfollowedtheguidelinesforthepreparationofStatesparties'initialreportsandthatsomeareascoveredbytheConventionhavenotbeenaddressedtherein.@..B.Positiveaspects28.b..bTheCommitteewelcomesthecommentsmadebytheStateparty'sdelegationontheimportanceitattachestotheguidanceofferedbytheCommitteeastostepstobetakentoimplementtheConventioneffectively,includingwithaviewtobringingdomesticlawintolinewiththeConvention.@.. C.Factorsanddifficultiesimpedingthe # implementationoftheConvention29.b..bTheCommitteetakesnotethatYemenhashadtoface,duringthelastfewyears,seriouspolitical,economicandsocialchallenges,includingthosearisingfromtheunificationprocess,thereturnofalargenumberofYemeniexpatriatesaftertheGulfwar,thewarof1994andthesubstantialinfluxofrefugeesfromtheHornofAfrica.Thosefactorshaveadverselyaffectedthesituationofchildren.30.b..bTheCommitteealsonotesthepersistenceofcertaintraditionsandcustomswhicharecontrarytotheprinciplesandprovisionsoftheConvention.@.."D.Principalsubjectsofconcern31.b..bTheCommitteeisconcernedabouttheunclearstatusoftheConventioninthedomesticlegalframeworkandabouttheinsufficientstepstakentobringexistinglegislationintofullconformitywiththeConvention,includinginthelightofthegeneralprinciplesoftheConvention,inparticulartheprinciplesofnon-discrimination(art.2),thebestinterestsofthechild(art.3)andrespectfortheviewsofthechild(art.12).32.b..bTheCommitteeisalsoconcernedatthelackofconformityoflegislativeprovisionswithrespecttothelegaldefinitionofthechild,asisthecaseoftheminimumageformarriageandtheageofcriminalresponsibility,whichissetattoolowanagelevel.33.b..bTheCommitteeexpressesitsdeepconcernatthepersistenceofdiscriminatoryattitudestowardsgirls,hamperingtheenjoymentoftheirbasicrightsincludinginsituationsofearlymarriage.ThelowermarriageableageforgirlsthanforboysraisesseriousquestionsastoitscompatibilitywiththeConvention,inparticulararticle2.34.b..bTheCommitteeisalsoconcernedattheinsufficientmeasuresandprogrammesfortheprotectionoftherightsofthemostvulnerablechildren,inparticulargirls,childrenlivinginruralareas,childrenvictimsofabuse,childrenaffectedbyarmedconflicts,disabledchildren,"akhdam"childrenandchildrenwhoareforcedtoliveand/orworkinthestreets,includingchildbeggars.35.b..bTheCommitteeexpressesitsdeepconcernabouttheinsufficientmeasurestakentoensurethefullimplementationoftheprovisionsandprinciplesoftheConventionintheareaoftheadministrationofjuvenilejusticeincludingarticles37,39and40.36.b..bTheCommitteeregretstheinsufficientstepstakentocreateawarenessoftheConventionandtodisseminateinformationontherightsofthechildtochildrenandadultsalike,aswellasthelackoftrainingactivitiesforprofessionalgroupsworkingwithandforchildren,includingteachers,socialworkers,healthpersonnel,judgesandlawenforcementofficials.37.b..bThelackofacomprehensivepolicyonchildrenandofasystematicandcarefullyplannedcoordinationofmechanismsandprogrammestomonitorthesituationofchildrenisamatterofconcern.TheCommitteealsonotestheinsufficientmeasurestakentogatherreliablequantitativeandqualitativedata,toevaluatetheprogressachievedandtoassesstheimpactofpoliciesadoptedconcerningchildren.38.b..bAsregardstheimplementationofarticle4,theCommitteeisconcernedabouttheinsufficientmeasurestakentoensuretheimplementationofeconomic,socialandculturalrightstothemaximumextentofavailableresources,inparticularinrelationtothemostvulnerablegroups.@.. E.Suggestionsandrecommendations39.b..bTheCommitteerecommendsthattheStatepartypursueitseffortswithaviewtoensuringfullcompatibilityofitsnationallawwiththeConventionontheRightsoftheChild,takingdueregardofthegeneralprinciplesoftheConvention,includingthoserelatingtotheprohibitionofdiscrimination,thebestinterestsofthechildandrespectfortheviewsofthechild.Inthisregard,specialmeasuresshouldbetakentoraisetheminimumageformarriagewhileensuringthattheageisthesameforboysandgirls.Similarly,theageofcriminalresponsibilityshouldnotbesetattoolowanageanditshouldbeensuredthatbelowsuchanage,childrenarepresumednottohavethecapacitytoinfringethepenallaw,inthelightofarticle40,paragraph3(a),oftheConvention.40.b..bTheCommitteeencouragestheGovernmentofYementopursueitseffortstopromoteadvocacyandcreateawiderawarenessandunderstandingoftheprinciplesandprovisionsoftheConvention,inthelightofarticle42oftheConvention.TheGovernmentshouldpursuesucheffortsinclosecooperationwithcommunityandreligiousleadersaswellaswithnon-governmentalorganizations,withaviewtopromotingchangeinpersistingnegativeattitudestowardschildren,particularlythosebelongingtothemostvulnerablegroups.41.b..bTheCommitteeencouragestheStatepartytopayspecialattentiontoenhancingtheroleofthefamilyinthepromotionofchildren'srights,andinthisregardstressestheimportanceofthestatusofwomeninfamilyandsociallife.Inthisregard,theCommitteerecognizestheimportanceofdevelopingfamilycounsellingservices,bothinurbanandruralareas.42.b..bTheCommitteerecommendsthattheStatepartyensurespecifictrainingactivitiesontheConventiontoprofessionalgroupsworkingwithandforchildren,includingteachers,socialworkers,healthpersonnel,judgesandlawenforcementofficials.AttentionshouldbegiventoincorporatingtheConventioninschoolcurriculaasrecommendedbytheGeneralAssemblyinproclaimingtheUnitedNationsDecadeforHumanRightsEducationandbytheWorldConferenceonHumanRights.43.b..bTheCommitteealsorecommendsthattheStatepartyestablishapermanentandmultidisciplinarymechanismforthecoordinationandmonitoringoftheimplementationoftheConventionontherightsofthechild,bothatthenationalandlocallevels,inurbanaswellasruralareas,andtoallowforthedefinitionofacomprehensivepolicyonchildren.Closercooperationwithnon-governmentalorganizationsshouldalsobepromoted.44.b..bTheCommitteeencouragestheGovernmenttoimprovethesystemofcollectingstatisticalandotherdatainallareascoveredbytheConvention,withaviewtoevaluatingprogressintherealizationofchildren'srights.Appropriatedisaggregatedindicatorsshouldbeidentifiedinordertopayparticularattentiontoallgroupsofchildren,includingthemostvulnerableonessuchasgirls,childrenlivinginruralareas,childrenvictimsofabuse,childrenaffectedbyarmedconflicts,disabledchildren,"akhdam"childrenandchildrenwhoareforcedtoliveand/orworkinthestreets.Researchactivitiesshouldalsobeundertakenintheseareasincooperationwithacademicinstitutionsandnon-governmentalorganizations.45.b..bTheCommitteerecommendsthattheStateparty,inthelightofarticle4oftheConventionandoftheprinciplesofnon-discriminationandthebestinterestsofthechild,undertakeallappropriatemeasures,tothemaximumextentoftheavailableresources,toensurebudgetaryallocationstoservicesforchildren,particularlyintheareasofeducationandhealth,andthatpriorityattentionispaidtotheprotectionoftherightsofchildrenbelongingtothemostdisadvantagedgroups,includinggirls,childrenlivinginruralareas,childrenaffectedbyarmedconflicts,disabledchildren,"akhdam"childrenandchildrenwhoareforcedtoliveand/orworkinthestreets.46.b..bTheCommitteerecommendsthatspecialprotectionmeasuresbeadoptedandimplementedinrelationtorefugeechildren,childreninvolvedwiththejuvenilejusticesystem,particularlywhendeprivedoftheirliberty,childreninvolvedinchildlabourandchildrenforcedtoliveand/orworkinthestreets,includingchildbeggars.Inthisregard,theCommitteeencouragestheStatepartytotakeintoconsiderationtherecommendationsithasformulatedatitsthematicdiscussions,includingontheeconomicexploitationofthechildandtheadministrationofjuvenilejustice.47.b..bTheCommitteerecommendsthataprogressreportbepreparedinaccordancewiththeCommittee'sguidelinesforinitialreportsandtakingintoaccounttheconcernsexpressedduringthedialogueheldwiththeGovernment,andsubmittedtotheCommitteebyJanuary1997.48.b..bTheCommitteerecommendsthatinthelightofarticle44,paragraph6,oftheConvention,thereportsubmittedbytheGovernment,therelevantsummaryrecordsofthedebatewiththeCommitteeanditsconcludingobservationsbemadewidelyavailabletothepublic.@..( 2.Concludingobservations:Mongolia49.b..bTheCommitteeconsideredtheinitialreportofMongolia(CRC/C/3/Add.32)atits264thto266thmeetings(CRC/C/SR.264-266),heldon10and11January1996,andadopted*thefollowingconcludingobservations:@..tA.Introduction50.b..bTheCommitteeexpressesitsappreciationtotheGovernmentofMongoliaforthesubmissionofitsinitialreport,itswritteninformationinreplytothequestionssetoutinthelistofissues(CRC/C.11/WP.2)anditsconstructiveandfruitfuldialogue.TheCommitteeisencouragedbythefrankandcooperativetoneofthediscussion,inwhichtherepresentativesoftheStatepartyindicatednotonlythepolicyandprogrammedirections,butalsothedifficultiesencounteredduringimplementationoftheConvention.@..B.Positiveaspects51.b..bTheCommitteetakesnotewithsatisfactionthattheGovernmenthasputchildrenhighonitspoliticalagenda,duringadifficultperiodofpoliticalandeconomictransition,byorganizingseveralhigh-levelmeetingssuchastheNationalSummitonChildProtectionandDevelopment(1995),bydeclaring1995theYearforChildrenand1996theYearforEducation,andbyallocating20percentofitsnationalbudgettoeducation.52.b..bTheCommitteewelcomestheStateparty'swishtoseekadviceandtechnicalassistancetoensurefullimplementationoftheprovisionsoftheConventionontheRightsoftheChildinitslegislationandinthefieldoftheadministrationofjuvenilejustice.53.b..bTheCommitteenotestheeffortsbytheGovernmentinthefieldoflawreform,especiallytheadoptionofanewConstitution,anewLawonEducationandthecurrentdraftingoflegislationontherightsofthechild.54.b..bTheCommitteealsowelcomestheestablishmentofmechanismstodealwithchildren'sissuesandthequestionofchildren'srights,inparticulartheNationalCentreforChildren(NCC)andtheNationalCouncilforChildren.55.b..bTheCommitteeisencouragedbytheGovernment'swillingnesstodisseminatetheConventionontheRightsoftheChildwithinMongoliansocietyandtomakepublicthroughthemedia,andespeciallytelevisionprogrammes,allitsrelatedactions.@.. C.Factorsanddifficultiesimpedingthe # implementationoftheConvention56.b..bTheCommitteenotesthedifficultiesfacingMongoliainthepresentperiodofpoliticaltransition,socialchangeanddeepeconomiccrisis.Thesituationofmanychildrenhasworsenedasaconsequenceofgrowingpovertyandincreasingunemployment.TheCommitteealsonotesthegeographicalandclimatologicalparticularitiesoftheStatepartywhichcan,tosomeextent,affectthedailylifeofchildren.@.."D.Principalsubjectsofconcern57.b..bTheCommitteeisworriedabouttheimpactonchildrenofthedifficulteconomicsituationprevailinginthecountry.Inthisconnection,itisparticularlyconcernedastowhetherappropriatemeasureshavebeenundertakentoprotectchildren,particularlythosebelongingtothemostvulnerablegroups,inthelightofarticles3and4oftheConvention.58.b..bTheCommitteeisconcernedattheinsufficientattentionpaidtotheneedforanefficientcoordinationmechanismbetweenvariousministries,aswellasbetweencentralauthoritiesandlocalauthorities,intheimplementationofpoliciesforthepromotionandprotectionoftherightsofthechild.59.b..bTheCommitteeisconcernedattheinsufficientattentionpaidtosystematicandcomprehensivedatacollection,identificationofappropriateindicatorsandmonitoringmechanismsinallareascoveredbytheConvention,especiallythemosthiddensuchaschildabuseorill-treatment,butalsoinrelationtoallgroupsofchildrenincludingminoritygroupchildren,nomadchildren,childrenofsingle-parentfamilies,childreninruralareas,institutionalizedanddisabledchildren,andchildrenlivingand/orworkingonthestreets.60.b..bTheCommitteeexpressesitsconcernthattheStatepartyhasnotyettakenfullyintoaccountinitslegislationthegeneralprinciplesoftheConvention:article2(principleofnon-discrimination),article3(principleofthebestinterestsofthechild),article6(righttolife,survivalanddevelopment)andarticle12(respectfortheviewsofthechild).61.b..bTheCommitteeisconcernedattheinsufficientstepsundertakentoensurebirthregistrationofchildrenandbythefactthatchildrenlivinginremoteareasmightnotberegisteredandthereforebedeprivedoftheirfundamentalrights.62.b..bTheCommitteeisworriedbytheabsenceoflegislationregulatinginternationaladoptions.63.b..bTheCommitteeisworriedbythehighrateofschooldrop-outs,especiallyamongboyslivinginruralareas,andthereportedincreaseofchildlabour.Itisalsoconcernedbythedifficultiesencounteredbychildrenlivinginruralandremoteareasandbydisabledchildrenintheiraccesstobasicservicessuchashealthcare,socialservicesandeducation.64.b..bTheCommitteeisconcernedthatappropriatemeasureshavenotyetbeentakentopreventandcombateffectivelyill-treatmentofchildrenwithinthefamilyandabouttheinsufficientinformationexistingonthismatter.Theproblemofsexualexploitationofchildrenalsorequiresspecialattention.65.b..bThesituationinrelationtotheadministrationofjuvenilejusticeandinparticularitscompatibilitywitharticles37and40oftheConvention,aswellasotherrelevantstandardssuchastheBeijingRules,theRiyadhGuidelinesandtheUnitedNationsRulesfortheProtectionofJuvenilesDeprivedoftheirLiberty,isamatterofconcerntotheCommittee.@.. E.Suggestionsandrecommendations66.b..bTheCommitteerecommendsthattheStatepartytakefurtherstepstostrengthencoordinationbetweenthedifferentgovernmentalmechanismsinvolvedinhumanrightsandchildren'srights,atbothcentralandlocallevels,andensureclosercooperationwithnon-governmentalorganizations.67.b..bTheCommitteefurtherrecommendsthattheStatepartyundertaketogatherallnecessaryinformationonthesituationofchildreninthevariousareascoveredbytheConvention,includingonchildrenbelongingtothemostvulnerablegroups.ItalsosuggeststhatamultidisciplinarymonitoringsystembeestablishedtoassesstheprogressachievedanddifficultiesencounteredintherealizationoftherightsrecognizedbytheConventionatthecentralandlocallevels,andinparticulartomonitorregularlytheeffectsofeconomicchangeonchildren.SuchamonitoringsystemshouldenabletheStatepartytoshapeappropriatepoliciesandtocombatprevailingsocialdisparitiesandtraditionalprejudices.TheCommitteealsoencouragestheStatepartytoconsidertheestablishmentofanindependentmechanism,suchasanombudsperson.68.b..bTheCommitteeisoftheopinionthatgreatereffortsarerequiredtomaketheprovisionsandprinciplesoftheConventionwidelyknownandunderstoodbyadultsandchildrenalike,inthelightofarticle42oftheConvention.TheCommitteewishestoencouragetheStatepartytofurtherdevelopasystematicapproachtoincreasingpublicawarenessoftheparticipatoryrightsofchildreninthelightofarticle12oftheConvention.69.b..bTheCommitteerecommendsthatperiodictrainingprogrammesontherightsofthechildbeorganizedforprofessionalgroupsworkingwithorforchildrenincludingteachers,lawenforcementofficials,socialworkersandjudges,andthathumanrightsandchildren'srightsbeincludedintheirtrainingcurricula.70.b..bChildren'sbirthregistrationshouldbegivenprioritytoensurethateverychildisrecognizedasapersonandenjoyshis/herfullrights.TheCommitteeencouragesfurtherstepstoensurebirthregistrationofchildren,includingtheestablishmentofmobileregistrationoffices.71.b..bInthelightofarticle2oftheConvention,theCommitteealsorecommendsthattheStatepartytakeallnecessarymeasurestofightschooldrop-outamongboysinruralareasandtopreventtheirinvolvementinchildlabour,andtoreinforcetheaccesstobasicservicesforchildren(health,educationandsocialcare)inruralareasandfordisabledchildrenthroughoutthecountry.72.b..bTheCommitteerecommendsthat,intheframeworkofitslegalreform,theGovernmenttakefullyintoaccounttheprovisionsoftheConventionontheRightsoftheChild,especiallyitsgeneralprinciples(arts.2,3,6and12).73.b..bInrelationtointercountryadoption,theCommitteeisoftheopinionthattheStatepartyshould,assoonaspossible,draftandadoptlegislationtoregulatethisactivity.TheStatepartyisalsoencouragedtoratifytheHagueConventiononProtectionofChildrenandCooperationinRespectofIntercountryAdoptionof1993.74.b..bInordertopromotetheprotectionofrefugeechildren,theCommitteerecommendsthattheStatepartyratifythe1951ConventionrelatingtotheStatusofRefugees.75.b..bTheCommitteeencouragestheGovernmentofMongoliatopayparticularattentiontothefullimplementationofarticle4oftheConventionandtoensurejudiciousdistributionofresourcesatthecentralandlocallevels.Budgetallocationsfortheimplementationofeconomic,socialandculturalrightsshouldbeensuredtothemaximumextentofavailableresourcesandinthelightofthebestinterestsofthechild.76.b..bInthelightofarticle19oftheConvention,theCommitteefurtherrecommendsthattheGovernmenttakeallappropriatemeasures,includinglegislativeones,tocombatill-treatmentwithinthefamilyandsexualabuseofchildren.Itsuggests,interalia,thattheauthoritiesgatherinformationandinitiateacomprehensivestudytoimproveunderstandingofthenatureandscopeoftheproblemandsetupsocialprogrammestopreventalltypesofchildabuse.77.b..bInthefieldoftheadministrationofjuvenilejustice,theCommitteerecommendsthatlegalreformbepursuedandtakefullyintoaccounttheConventionontheRightsoftheChild,inparticulararticles37,39and40,andotherrelevantinternationalstandardsinthisfield,suchastheBeijingRules,theRiyadhGuidelinesandtheUnitedNationsRulesfortheProtectionofJuvenilesDeprivedoftheirLiberty.Particularattentionshouldbepaidtothepreventionofjuveniledelinquency,theprotectionoftherightsofchildrendeprivedoftheirliberty,respectforfundamentalrightsandlegalsafeguardsinallaspectsofthejuvenilejusticesystemandfullindependenceandimpartialityofthejudiciarydealingwithjuveniles.78.b..bIntheframeworkoftheongoingtechnicalassistanceprogrammesoftheCentreforHumanRightsandtheCrimePreventionandCriminalJusticeBranch,lawreforminthefieldofchildren'srightsandtrainingofprofessionalsworkingwithchildrenshouldbeinitiated.Specialattentionshouldbepaidtotrainingintherelevantinternationalstandards,inparticularforjudges,lawenforcementofficials,correctionalofficersandsocialworkers.TheGovernmentisencouragedtoconsiderrequestingthisspecificassistancefromtheCentreforHumanRightsandtheCrimePreventionandCriminalJusticeBranch.ItisfurthersuggestedthattheGovernmentconsiderseekingtechnicalassistancefromotherrelevantorganizations,includingtheInternationalLabourOrganization,theOfficeoftheUnitedNationsHighCommissionerforRefugees,theUnitedNationsChildren'sFundandtheWorldHealthOrganization.TheCommitteealsoencouragestheinternationalcommunitytoprovidetechnicalassistanceandadvicetotheStatepartyinitscurrentefforts.̇79.b..bTheCommitteeencouragestheStatepartytodisseminatewidelytheStateparty'sreport,thesummaryrecordsofthediscussionofthereportintheCommitteeandtheconcludingobservationsadoptedbytheCommitteefollowingitsconsiderationofthereport.TheCommitteewouldliketosuggestthatthesedocumentsbebroughttotheattentionofParliamentandthatthesuggestionsandrecommendationsforactioncontainedthereinbefollowedup.Inthisregard,theCommitteesuggeststhatcooperationwithnon-governmentalorganizationsbereinforced.@.. 3.Concludingobservations:FederalRepublic ( ofYugoslavia(SerbiaandMontenegro)80.b..bTheCommitteeconsideredtheinitialreportoftheFederalRepublicofYugoslavia(SerbiaandMontenegro)(CRC/C/8/Add.16)atits269thmeeting(CRC/C/SR.269),heldon15January1996.AstheCommitteewasunabletobenefitfromthepresenceoftherepresentativesoftheStateparty,theexaminationoftheStateparty'sreportintheCommitteeproceededonthebasisofwritteninformationsubmittedbytheGovernmentaswellasotherdocumentsreceived,includingthereportsoftheSpecialRapporteuronthesituationofhumanrightsintheterritoryoftheformerYugoslavia.SubsequenttotheconsiderationofthisinformationandtakingintoaccounttherecentpositivedevelopmentsintheformerYugoslavia,theCommitteedecidedtorequesttheStatepartytosubmitaprogressreporttoitbeforetheendof1997.InviewoftheconsiderableimportancetheCommitteeattachestoadialoguewiththeStateparty'srepresentatives,theCommitteeexpressesthehopethatontheoccasionoftheexaminationoftherequestedprogressreport,theCommitteewillbeabletobenefitfromthepresenceofandexchangeofviewswiththerepresentatives.TheCommitteefurtherdecidedtoadopt*thefollowingconcludingobservations:@.. A.Factorsanddifficultiesimpedingthe " implementationoftheConvention81.b..bTheCommitteerecognizesthatseriousdifficultieshavebeenfacedbytheFederalRepublicofYugoslaviasinceitbecameapartytotheConvention.Mentionmaybemade,inthisregard,oftheStateparty'stransitiontoamarket-orientedeconomyandtheattendantproblemsexperiencedbythepopulationduringthisperiod.Thebreak-upoftheformerYugoslaviaproducedotherseriousconsequences,includingofaneconomicnature.82.b..bAlthoughtheStatepartyhasnotbeenthetheatreofwar,theconsequencesofhostilitiesintheneighbouringterritorieshashadasevereimpactonthepopulation.83.b..bThelargeinfluxofrefugeeshasplacedafurtherstrainonresourcesintheFederalRepublicofYugoslavia,especiallyastheStatepartyappearstohavereceivedlessinternationalsupportinsharingtherefugeeburdenthanothercountriesintheregion.84.b..bSuchconsequencesofthewarontheterritoryoftheformerYugoslavia,combinedwiththerealitiesofsanctionsseemtohaveledtoaworseningoftheindicatorsofthehealthandeducationsituationofthechildrenoftheFederalRepublic,includinglowerimmunizationcoverage,morenutrition-relateddisordersandillnesses,andanincreaseinthenumberofchildrensufferingfrommildandseriousmentaldisorders.ThesanctionsagainsttheFederalRepublicmayhaveledtotheisolationofprofessionalsdealingwiththerightsofthechild.@.."B.Principalsubjectsofconcern85.b..bTheCommitteeremainsuncertainastotheextenttowhichasystemfortheindependentmonitoringoftherightsofthechild,suchasanombudspersonforchildrenorasimilarnationalinstitution,existsandoperatesintheStateparty.86.b..bTheCommitteeraisesvariouspointsofconcernwithreferencetotheimplementationofarticle2oftheConventionrelatingtonon-discrimination.ItexpressesgraveconcernaboutthesituationofAlbanian-speakingchildreninKosovo,especiallywithregardtotheirhealthandeducation,aswellasthedegreetowhichthispopulationisprotectedfromabusebythepolice.FromtheinformationreportedtotheCommittee,itappearsthattherejectionbythepopulationoftheGovernment'sdecisiontoapplyauniformeducationsystemandcurriculumhasbeenfollowedbythesummarydismissalof18,000teachersandothereducationprofessionalsandtomorethan300,000school-agechildrennotattendingschool.ThesubsequentdevelopmentofaparallelsystemofeducationandthetensionssurroundingthisdevelopmentinKosovohaveresultedinfurtherdetrimentaleffects,includingtheclosureofschoolsandtheharassmentofteachers.87.b..bTheCommitteealsodrawsattentiontotheseriousproblemsthreateningthehealth-caresystemwhichhaveinvolvedlarge-scaledismissalsofhealthpersonnel,therebyadverselyaffectingthehealthandsocialprotectionofAlbanian-speakingchildreninKosovo.88.b..bAdditionally,theCommitteeexpressesitsconcernattheinformationithasreceivedconcerningtheabuseofchildrenandteachersbythepoliceaswellasattheprevailingopinionofthevictimsofsuchabusethatthepoliceareabletoactwithimpunity.89.b..bTheCommitteealsowishestoexpressitsconcernoverreportsofthetreatmentofpersons,includingchildrenbelongingtoareligiousminority(Muslims),inSandjakwhereincidentsofharassment,policeabuse,violenthousesearchesandcommissionofhumanrightsviolationswithimpunityareallegedtohaveoccurred.TherehavealsobeenreportsaboutseriousincidentsofdiscriminationagainsttheRoma(Gypsy)population.90.b..bTheCommitteeisconcernedattheinformationbroughttoitsattentionconcerningthehostilesentimentsapparentlybroadcastbycertainmassmedia.TheCommitteeisworriedabouttendenciesinthemediawhichmayleadtotheincitementofhatredagainstcertainethnicandreligiousgroups.91.b..bTheCommitteeisdeeplyconcernedabouttheabsenceofpluralismintheactivitiesofthemajororgansofthemassmedia,limitingthefreedomofthechildtoreceiveinformationandthefreedomofthoughtandconscience,asprovidedforinarticles13and14oftheConvention.̇92.b..bTheCommitteeremainsuncertainastotheextenttowhichtheStatepartyhasundertakenmeasurestoensurethatthetraditionalviewofchildrenasmereobjectsofcarehasbeenreplacedbyanunderstandingandrecognitionofthechildasasubjectofrights.Inthisregard,clarificationisrequestedastotheapplicabilityoftheprovisionsoftheConstitutionguaranteeingrespectforthecivilrightsandfreedomsofchildren,includingtherighttoprivacyprovidedforinarticle16oftheConvention.93.b..bTheCommitteeisconcernedthattheproblemofstatelessnesshasnotbeenresolved,inparticularwithregardtorefugeechildrenandchildrenbornoutsidetheterritoryoftheFederalRepublicofYugoslaviaandsubjecttoitsjurisdiction.94.b..bTheCommitteewishestoexpressitsconcernabouttheseemingoveremphasisontheresorttoanduseofinstitutionalcareforchildreninneedofassistance.TheCommitteeisoftheopinionthatthisformofalternativecaremaynotnecessarilybethemosteffective,asitisreportedthattheassistanceprovidedmaynotbeofconsistentqualityandthatinsufficientattentionisgiventopreparingchildrenfortheireventualreturntotheirfamilyortheirintegrationintothecommunity.95.b..bTheCommitteeisconcernedthatthereappearstobeanincreaseinviolentandaggressivebehaviouramongchildrenandadolescentsintheStateparty.Inthiscontext,theproblemoftheabuseofchildrenisalsoaconcernoftheCommittee.96.b..bTheCommitteewishestoexpressconcernatinformationbroughttoitsattentionwhichindicatesthatdisparitiesexistbetweenregionsandbetweenruralandurbanareaswithregardtotheprovisionofhealthcaretochildren.TheCommitteealsonoteswithconcernthataccordingtootherinformationbroughttoitsattentiontherehasbeenadiscernibleincreaseinthenumberofchildren,includingrefugeechildren,withmildandseriousmentaldisorders.ThesituationofdisabledchildrengenerallyisanissueofconcerntotheCommittee.TheCommitteerequiresmoreconcreteinformationonthemeasurestakenfortheearlyidentificationofdisabilitiesandthepreventionofneglectordiscriminationagainstchildrenwithdisabilities.97.b..bTheCommitteetakesnotethatconcernisexpressedthatthecostsofchildren'seducationmaybegrowingbeyondthereachofcertainfamilies.Itisalsonotedthatadeclineinpreschooleducationhasbeenrecordedinrecentyears.ReportsoftheprogressiveexclusionofteachinginlanguagesotherthanSerbian,suchasBulgarian,arealsodisquietingtotheCommittee.98.b..bTheCommitteewishestodrawtheattentionoftheStatepartytotheconstraintsthatarereportedtobehamperingthereunificationofunaccompaniedrefugeechildrenwiththeirfamiliesandtotheCommittee'sconcernabouttheextenttowhichtherightsofthesechildren,mostofwhomarelivingininstitutions,arebeingguaranteedandprotected.99.b..bTheCommitteeisdeeplyconcernedaboutadministrativemeasureswhichhaveallegedlymadeitimpossibleforapplicantsfromcertainregionstoacquirerefugeestatus.Itisreportedthatoncerefugeestatusisdeniedtheapplicants,includingchildren,nolongerhavealegalbasisforremaininginthecountryandconsequentlybecomevulnerabletopoliceharassmentandtothelossofsocialwelfareentitlements.100.b..bWhiletheCommitteenotesthatmostrefugeesseemtobeplacedwithhostfamilies,itexpressesconcernthattheprevailingeconomicsituationofthesefamiliesisreportedtobegrowingmoreprecarious.101.b..bVariousmattersrelatingtojuvenilejusticeareacauseofconcerntotheCommittee.Forexample,theCommitteeisconcernedthatsocialwelfareagenciesandservicesmightenjoywidediscretionarypowerstothedetrimentoftheapplicationoftheprincipleoftherightsofthechildastheframeworkforthefunctioningoftheadministrationofthejuvenilejusticesystem.Theapparentlackofmechanismsfortheregistrationbychildrenofcomplaintsofill-treatmentandforthefullandimpartialinvestigationofthosecomplaintsisalsoacauseforconcern.Additionally,theCommitteeisconcernedastotheadequacyofmeasurestakenfortheprotectionoftherightsofthechildduringinvestigationproceduresandduringtheperiodofpretrialdetention.@.. C.Suggestionsandrecommendations102.b..bTheCommitteeencouragestheStatepartytoreviewitsreservationtotheConventionwithaviewtoconsideringitswithdrawal.103.b..bWhileacknowledgingthatactivitieshavebeenundertakentomaketheConventionknowntoadultsandchildrenalike,theCommitteeisoftheopinionthatfurthereffortsseemtoberequiredinthisrespect.104.b..bItistheopinionoftheCommitteethattrainingandretrainingprogrammesandopportunitiesneedtobesystematicallydevelopedforprofessionalsworkingwithorforchildren,inparticularthepoliceandlawenforcementandarmypersonnel,toensurethattheyunderstandchildren'srightsandtheirresponsibilityforactionstakenwhichimpactonthepromotionandprotectionoftherightsofthechild.105.b..bTheCommitteesuggeststhattheStatepartyconsiderthepossibilityofundertakinganassessmentoftheeffectivenessofexistingarrangementsforcoordinatingtheactivitiesundertakenwithinandbetweenministriesandcentralandlocalauthoritiesforthepromotionandprotectionofchildren'srights,withaviewtodeterminingwhethermeasuresarerequiredtoimprovethesystemofcoordinationandcooperationfortheimplementationoftheConventioninthecountry.106.b..bWithintheframeworkofnurturingfurtherinternationalcooperation,theCommitteeencouragestheStatepartytocontinuetogiveseriousconsiderationtothequestionoftheestablishmentofanofficeinBelgradewithintheambitoftheworkoftheSpecialRapporteuronthesituationofhumanrightsintheterritoryoftheformerYugoslaviaoftheCommissiononHumanRights.TheCommitteealsoencouragestheStatepartytocooperateintheworkoftheInternationalCriminalTribunalfortheFormerYugoslavia.̀107.b..bTheCommitteestronglyrecommendsthatasolutionbefoundtotheconcernsoftheCommitteeforthesituationofAlbanianspeakingchildreninKosovo,especiallyinthelightoftheprinciplesandprovisionsoftheConvention,includingthoseofitsarticle3relatingtothebestinterestsofthechild.TheCommitteeobservesthattheState-controlledmassmedia,intheinterestsofhealingandbuildingtrustwithinthecountry,havearoleandaresponsibilitytocontributetotheeffortstofostertoleranceandunderstandingbetweendifferentgroupsandthatthebroadcastingofprogrammesthatruncountertothisobjectiveshouldend.TheCommitteerecommendsthatthesecuringanddisseminationofbroaderandmorediversesourcesofinformationdesignedforchildren,includingbybroadcastingthemonthemassmedia,wouldassistinensuringfurtherimplementationoftheprinciplesandprovisionsoftheConvention,includingthoseofitsarticle17.Itisalsosuggestedthatmeasuresshouldbetakentoimprovetheactivitiesofthemassmediainimpartinginformationforchildrenintheirownlanguage,includingAlbanian.108.b..bOnthebasisofinformationpresentedtoit,theCommitteesuggeststhattheStatepartygivefurtherconsiderationtotheneedtoallocategreaterresourcestoeducationandtoreverseanytrendsintheeducationsystemwhichmayperpetuategenderdiscriminationorstereotypingaswellastoaddressingotherproblems,includingthoserelatingtoteachinginnationallanguages.109.b..bNoteistakenoftheprovisionsofarticle2ofthePrimarySchoolActbywhichcertainoftheaimsofeducationlaiddowninarticle29oftheConventionhavebeenincorporatedintoschoolcurricula.ItistheviewoftheCommitteethattheprinciplecontainedinarticle29(1)(d)whichstipulatesthat"thepreparationofthechildforresponsiblelifeinafreesociety,inthespiritofunderstanding,peace,tolerance,equalityofsexes,andfriendshipamongallpeoples,ethnic,nationalandreligiousgroupsandpersonsofindigenousorigin"isanimportantdimensionthatshouldbeintegratedintocurriculaatalllevelsofschooling.Schoolcurriculamaterialsshouldbedeveloped,iftheydonotalreadyexist,whichaimateducatingchildreninthespiritoftoleranceofandregardfordifferentcivilizations.110.b..bTheCommitteetakesnotethattheprincipleofrespectfortheviewsofthechildhasbeenreflectedinsuchsituationsasthechangeofnameoradoptionofthechild.Whileitisalsoacknowledgedthattheexpressionofchildren'sviewsinschoolsexiststhroughtheactivitiesofstudentsandclassgroups,theCommitteeisoftheopinionthattheundertakingoffurtherproactivemeasurestoencouragechildrentoparticipateinfamily,communityandsociallife,ingeneral,meritsgreaterattention.111.b..bLegislativeandothermeasuresshouldbeundertakentoensurethatchildrenareprotectedfromstatelessnessandthatforeachchildunderthejurisdictionoftheState,therightssetforthintheConventionarerespectedandensured.112.b..bTheCommitteeisoftheopinionthatthereappearstobeaneedformorepre-marriagecounsellingandfamily-lifeeducationprogrammes,includingasameanstopreventfamilybreakdown.113.b..bAsregardstheeffortsrequiredtoreducetherecoursetoinstitutionalcareforchildrenindifficultsituations,theCommitteerecommendsthatgreaterattentionbepaidtothedevelopmentanduseofalternativeformsofcaresuchasfostercareandadoption.114.b..bWithreferencetotheimplementationofarticle19oftheConventionandtheeffortsrequiredtopreventandcombattheabuseofchildren,theCommitteerecommendsthatconsiderationbegiventotheelaborationofacomprehensiveandintegratedpublicinformationcampaign,totheundertakingofareviewofthenationallegislativemeasuresinthisfieldandtheircompliancewiththeConvention'sprovisions,aswellastothefurtherdevelopmentoftrainingprogrammesforprofessionalsinvolvedinthisfieldofwork.̀115.b..bWithaviewtocontributingtothemosteffectiveuseofscarceresources,theCommitteerecommendsthattheStatepartyaccordgreaterattentionandconsiderationtothedevelopmentofastrongprimaryhealth-caresystem.Suchasystemwouldhavethebenefitsofaccordingdueattentiontodevelopingacultureofnutrition,hygieneandsanitationeducation,transmittinghealthskillstoparents,andenhancingparticipatoryapproachestothedistributionanduseofresourcesthroughoutthehealth-caresystem.116.b..bInconnectionwiththeimplementationofarticle39oftheConvention,theCommitteesuggeststhattheStatepartyconsiderasamatterofprioritythefurtherdevelopmentofrehabilitativeprogrammes.Inthisregard,theproblemoftheapparentscarcityandinadequacyofprogrammesforthetreatmentofpost-traumaticstressdisorders,identifiedprimarilyinrefugeechildren,needstobeadequatelyaddressed.117.b..bInthecaseofallegedviolationsofhumanrightscommittedbygroupsofindividuals,theCommitteeemphasizestheresponsibilityoftheauthoritiestoundertakemeasurestoprotectchildrenfromsuchacts.ItisalsotheopinionoftheCommitteethatthoseaccusedofabusesshouldbetriedand,iffoundguilty,punished.Inaddition,theoutcomeofinvestigationsandcasesofconvictionsshouldbewidelypublicizedinordertocombatanyperceptionofimpunity.118.b..bWithregardtotheimplementationoftheprovisionsoftheConventionconcerningpreventingandcombatingvariousformsofexploitation,theCommitteewishestoreceivefurtherinformationwithrespecttothefunctioningofthelabourinspectoratesystemandtheimplementationofsanctionsfornon-compliancewiththerequirementsofthelabourlegislation.119.b..bConcerningtheapplicationoftheprovisionsofarticle33oftheConvention,theCommitteesuggeststhatconsiderationbegiven,ifnecessary,tothefurtherdevelopmentofsystemsforthecollectionofreliabledataontheproblemofdrugabuseandtotheincorporationofauniformdrugpreventionprogrammewithintheeducationsystem.120.b..bFurtherinformationandresearchfindingsonthecausesofsexualexploitationandabusewouldbewelcomedbytheCommittee.TheCommitteealsosuggeststhattheStatepartyconsiderthepossibilityofreviewingitslegislationinrelationtotheageofsexualconsentinthelightoftheconcernsraisedonthismatterbytheCommittee.ItisalsotheviewoftheCommitteethatseriousconsiderationshouldbegiventothepossibilityofallocatingfurtherresourcesforprogrammesforthepreventionofsexualabuseandexploitationandtherehabilitationofvictims,includingtrainingofandsupporttotheprofessionalsdealingwiththeseissuesandthedevelopmentofanintegratedandcoordinatedapproachtoassistboththevictimsandtheperpetratorsofsuchabuse.Inconnectionwiththispoint,theCommitteewishestoencouragetheStatepartytoconsidergreateruseofthemediainrelationtoawareness-raisingandeducationonthedangersofsexualexploitationandabuseandtheissuesofHIV/AIDSandothersexuallytransmitteddiseases.121.b..bInthelightofthecommitmentexpressedbytheStateparty,initswritteninformationtotheCommittee,topublishandwidelydisseminateitsreportaswellasthesummaryrecordsandtheCommittee'sconcludingobservations,theCommitteeencouragestheStatepartytotakethenecessarysteps.Additionally,theCommitteesupportstheintentionoftheStatepartytopresenttheaforementionedpublicationintheFederalAssemblyandtoholdadiscussionofitscontents.TheCommitteeisalsoencouragedbythemedia'spledgetogivefullcoveragetothediscussionoftheStateparty'sreportbytheCommittee.122.b..bTheCommitteefurtherproposesthataprogressreportontheimplementationoftheConvention,takingintoaccounttheconcernsraisedandobservationsmadeduringtheCommittee'sdiscussion,besubmittedtotheCommitteebeforetheendof1997.@..Z 4.Concludingobservations:Iceland123.b..bTheCommitteeconsideredtheinitialreportofIceland(CRC/C/11/Add.6andHRI/CORE/1/Add.26)atits272nd,273rdand274thmeetings(CRC/C/SR.272,273and274),heldon16and17January1996,andadopted*thefollowingconcludingobservations.@..tA.Introduction124.b..bTheCommitteeexpressesitsappreciationtotheStatepartyforitscomprehensivereport,establishedinaccordancewiththeCommittee'sguidelines.Itwelcomestheself-criticalapproachtakenbytheGovernmentofIcelandinpreparingitsreport.TheCommitteealsowelcomesthewrittenanswerstotheCommittee'slistofissues(CRC/C.11/WP.8),whichweresubmittedontime.125.b..bThepresenceofahigh-leveldelegationenabledtheCommitteetoengageinaconstructivedialoguewiththosedirectlyinvolvedintheimplementationoftheConvention.@..B.Positiveaspects126.b..bTheCommitteewelcomesthestatementmadebythedelegationthatthedeclarationsmadebyIcelandupontheratificationoftheConventiononitsarticles9,paragraph1,and37(c),maybereviewed,withaviewtotheireventualwithdrawal.̇127.b..bTheCommitteenoteswithappreciationthestrengtheningoftheprotectionofhumanrightsingeneralandofchildren'srightsinparticularintheConstitution;itparticularlywelcomestheinclusionintheConstitutionofaprovisiondirectlybasedonarticle3,paragraph2,oftheConvention.Italsonotesthatimportantinternationalinstruments,suchastheHagueConventionontheCivilAspectsofInternationalChildAbductionandtheEuropeanConventiononRecognitionandEnforcementofDecisionsConcerningCustodyofChildren,haverecentlybeenratifiedbyIceland.ThecommitmentoftheauthoritiestoratifyinthenearfutureILOConvention138ontheMinimumAgeforEmploymentisalsonotedwithsatisfaction.128.b..bTheCommitteewelcomestheestablishmentoftheOfficeofChildren'sOmbudsmananditsroleofdisseminatingamongthepublicinformationontherightsofthechildandofencouragingcompliancewiththeinternationalinstrumentsratifiedbyIcelandconcerningthoserights,amongthemtheConvention.129.b..bTheCommitteealsowelcomestheestablishmentoftheGovernmentAgencyforChildProtectioninMarch1995.Itsfunctions,asacentralizedauthorityprovidingtheChildWelfareCommitteeswithimprovedsupport,preparingtrainingprogrammesformembersoftheChildWelfareCommittees,orinformingfoster-parentsandpreparingthemtoassumetheirtasks,areofgreatimportanceforabetterimplementationoftherightsenshrinedintheConvention.130.b..bTheCommitteeacknowledgestheeffortsundertakenbytheauthoritiestofindcreativewaystoensuretheeffectivedisseminationoftheConvention,suchastheestablishmentofaninterministerialworkinggrouptodecideontheformthepublicitycampaignsontheConventionshouldtake.Italsoacknowledgesthecommitmentoftheauthoritiestostrengtheningtheirrelationshipsandcooperationwithnon-governmentalorganizationsworkinginthefieldoftheprotectionandpromotionofchildren'srights.131.b..bWithregardtothehighnumberofdomesticorotheraccidentswhosevictimsarechildreninIceland,theCommitteewelcomestheestablishmentoftheAccidentPreventionCouncilin1994.132.b..bTheCommitteewelcomestheinitiativeoftheMinistryofEducationtoappointaninterministerialcommitteetoformulateoverallpolicywithregardtoimmigrantsandtocoordinatetheauthorities'activitiesinrelationtoimmigrantissues.Theestablishment,undertheauspicesoftheMinistryofEducation,sinceautumn1993ofaspecialprogramme,forthebenefitofteachersatalllevels(fromnurseryschoolstosecondaryschoolsandadulteducation),oneducationforimmigrantsisalsowelcomedbytheCommittee.133.b..bTherecentdevelopmentsintheareaofrefugeemattersareconsideredbytheCommitteetobepromising;theestablishmentofaRefugeeCounciltoorganizetheacceptanceandarrivalofrefugeesinIceland,withspecialattentionbeinggiventochildrefugees,andtodealwithasylum-seekerswhoserequestsarependingbeforetheauthoritiesisviewedasaverypositivemeasure.Likewise,theCommitteewelcomesthelegalchangeabolishingtherequirementthatapersonseekingIcelandiccitizenshiphastoaddanIcelandicnametohisorheroriginalname.̇    134.b..bWithregardtoarticle7,paragraph2,oftheConvention,theCommitteetakesnotewithsatisfactionoftheintentionexpressedbythedelegationthatagovernmentproposaldealingexpresslywiththestatusofstatelesschildrenwillbepresentedtotheAlthinginduetime.@.."C.Principalsubjectsofconcern135.b..bTheCommitteewishestoemphasizethattheConventionprovidesfortheprotectionandcareofchildren,andinparticularfortherecognitionofthechildasthesubjectofhisorherownrights.Inthisconnection,theCommitteenotesthatthisessentialaspectoftheConventionisnotyetfullyreflectedinIcelandiclaw.136.b..bWhiletheCommitteenotesthattheConventionisnotanintegralpartofthenationallegislation,itisconcernedthatgapsmightexistinregardtothereflectionoftheConventioninnationallawsandregulations.137.b..bTheCommitteestressestheimportanceofthecoordinationofsectoralpoliciesofthedifferentgovernmentalagenciesanddepartmentsdealingwithchildissues.Inviewofthelargeautonomyofthelocalauthoritiesinthefield,amongothers,ofchildprotectionandwelfare,theCommitteealsonoteswithconcerntheabsenceofamechanismtocoordinatethedecisionstakenandtheactivitiesundertakeninthisfieldbetweenthecentralandlocalauthoritiesandbetweenthelocalauthoritiesthemselves.138.b..bTheCommitteeisparticularlypreoccupiedaboutthedisparitiesofthebudgetallocationsinthefieldofchildprotectionandwelfarebetweendifferentadministrativeregions,whichmayleadtodiscriminationbetweenchildrenlivingindifferentareas,forexampleinthefieldofeducationandafterschooltimecare.139.b..bWhilenotingthestepstakentodisseminatethetextoftheConventionamongstudentsatallschoollevels,theCommitteenotesthattheinclusionofhumanrightsingeneral,andofchildren'srightsinparticular,asasubjectinschoolsanduniversitiesisstillpending.140.b..bThelackofcomprehensiveandsystematictrainingprogrammesforprofessionalsworkingforandwithchildren,suchasteachersorsocialworkers,orwhoareincontactwithchildren,suchaspolicemen,lawyers,magistratesordoctors,onchildren'srightsandontheexerciseoftheirrights,isalsoamatterofconcerntotheCommittee.141.b..bTheCommitteenotesthatthebestinterestofthechildtospendtimeinhis/herfamilyenvironmentmaybeinfringedbythelongworkinghoursofparentsandthatsufficientmeasureshavenotbeentakentopreventchildrenfrombeingaloneathomeduringtheirparents'workinghours.Inthisconnection,theinsufficientavailabilityofplacesinnurseryschoolsisofconcern.@.. D.Suggestionsandrecommendations142.b..bTheCommitteewishestoencouragetheStatepartytoconsiderthepossibilityofwithdrawingitsdeclarationsontheConvention,andwouldliketobekeptinformedofdevelopmentsonthismatter.   } 143.b..bTheCommitteerecommendsthatstepsbetakentohaveallthesubstantiveprovisionsoftheConventionreflectedinnationallawsorregulations,sothatthefullprotectionoftherightsenshrinedintheConventionisensured.144.b..bTheCommitteerecommendsthattheStatepartyestablishamechanismtoenhancethecoordinationofgovernmentalpoliciesaswellasthoseofcentralandlocalauthoritiesinthefieldofchildren'srights,withaviewtoeliminatingpossibledisparitiesordiscriminationintheimplementationoftheConventionandensuringthattheConventionisfullyrespectedinallpartsofIceland.145.b..bTheCommitteeencouragestheStatepartytopursueandfurtherdevelopitspolicyaimedatdisseminatinginformationandatincreasingawarenessoftheConvention.ItalsourgestheauthoritiestointegratetheConventionandchildren'srightsintothetrainingcurriculaofprofessionalgroupsdealingwithchildrenandintheschoolanduniversitycurricula.146.b..bTheCommitteerecommendsthatthebudgetaryallocationsbeensuredtothemaximumextentofavailableresourcesinthelightofarticle4oftheConvention.Inthisconnection,dueattentionshouldalsobepaidtoarticles2and3oftheConvention,withaviewtoavoidingtheriskofdisparitiesinservicesforchildrenindifferentpartsofthecountry.TheCommitteealsorecommendsthattheStatepartyconsiderstrengtheninginternationalcooperationandassistance,withaviewtoenhancingthepromotionandprotectionoftherightsofthechild.147.b..bTheCommitteesuggeststhatappropriatemeasuresbetakentocountertheinequalitiesbetweenmenandwomenwithregardtoremuneration,sinceitmaybedetrimentaltothechild,inparticularinhomesheadedbyasinglewoman.148.b..bTheCommitteerecommendsafurtherreviewoftheprocedureswithregardtocustodyortotheseparationofthechildfromhisorherparents,inordertoensurethatthebestinterestsofthechildarealwaysaprimaryconsideration.149.b..bFinally,inthelightofarticle44,paragraph6,oftheConvention,theCommitteerecommendsthatthereportbemadewidelyavailabletothepublicinIcelandandthatpublicitybegiventoitsconsiderationbytheCommitteethroughthepublicationoftherelevantsummaryrecordsofthediscussionandoftheconcludingobservationsoftheCommittee.@..f 5.Concludingobservations:RepublicofKoreà150.b..bTheCommitteeconsideredtheinitialreportoftheRepublicofKorea(CRC/C/8/Add.21)atits266th,267thand268thmeetings(CRC/C/SR.266268),heldon18and19January1996,andadopted*thefollowingconcludingobservations.@..tA.Introduction151.b..bTheCommitteeexpressesitsappreciationtotheStatepartyforengaging,throughahighlevelandmultidisciplinarydelegation,inanopenandfruitfuldialoguewiththeCommittee.Itwelcomesthewritteninformationsubmittedbythedelegationinreplytothequestionsincludedinthelistofissues,aswellastheadditionalinformationprovidedbytheStatepartyfollowingthedialogueheldwiththeCommittee.̀@..B.Positiveaspects152.b..bTheCommitteenoteswithsatisfactionthattheConventionisdirectlyapplicableinthedomesticlegalorderandcanbeinvokedbeforethecourts.153.b..bTheCommitteewelcomesthedevelopmentofanationalplanofactionforchildrenanditsincorporationintheSeventhFiveYearSocialEconomicDevelopmentPlanfor19921996,aswellastherecentestablishmentoftheNationalCommitteeontheRightsoftheChild.154.b..bTheCommitteenoteswithsatisfactiontheimportanceattachedbytheGovernmenttoeducation,consideredasthe"drivingforceofsocialandeconomicdevelopment".155.b..bTheCommitteealsowelcomestheopenness,reflectedinthewrittenrepliesandreaffirmedbythedelegationduringthedialogue,towardsconsideringthepossibilityofwithdrawingthereservationsenteredbytheStatepartytotheConvention.TheCommitteeisencouragedbytherevisionoftheCivilCodethatisbeingundertakenwiththeaimofincorporatingtherightofthechildwhoisseparatedfromoneorbothparentstomaintainpersonalrelationsanddirectcontactwithbothparentsonaregularbasis.Itisalsoencouragedbythefactthat,asstatedbythedelegation,suchameasurewillenabletheStatepartytowithdrawitsreservationpertainingtoarticle9,paragraph3oftheConvention.@.. C.Factorsanddifficultiesimpedingthe " implementationoftheConvention156.b..bTheCommitteenotesthedifficultiesfacingtheRepublicofKoreainthepresentperiodofpoliticalandeconomictransition.Theeffortstosecurerapideconomicgrowthhavenotalwaysbeenmatchedbyanappropriatelevelofrealizationofeconomic,socialandculturalrights,inparticularinrelationtochildrenbelongingtothemostdisadvantagedgroupsaffectedbygrowingpoverty.Thefactthatthecountryhasonlyrecentlyemergedfromaperiodofmilitaryrulehashadanegativeimpactontheenjoymentofthefundamentalrightsandfreedomsofchildren.@.."D.Principalsubjectsofconcern157.b..bTheCommitteeisoftheviewthatthereservationsmadebytheStatepartytoarticle9,paragraph3,article21,paragraph(a)andarticle40,paragraph2(b)(v)raisequestionsabouttheircompatibilitywiththeprinciplesandprovisionsoftheConvention,includingtheprinciplesofthebestinterestsofthechildandrespectfortheviewsofthechild.158.b..bTheCommitteeisconcernedattheinsufficientmeasuresadoptedtoensureapermanentandeffectivecoordinatingandmonitoringmechanism.TheCommitteealsonotestheinsufficientmeasurestakentogatherreliablequantitativeandqualitativedataonallareascoveredbytheConvention,toevaluateprogressachievedandtoassesstheimpactofpoliciesadoptedonchildren,inparticularinrelationtothemostvulnerablegroupsofchildren.159.b..bTheCommitteeisconcernedabouttheinsufficientmeasurestakentoensurethattheprinciplesandprovisionsoftheConventionarewidelyknowntochildrenandadults.ThelackofadequatetrainingonthecontentsoftheConventionofthevariousprofessionalgroupsworkingwithandforchildren,includingteachers,socialworkers,judges,lawenforcementofficials,psychologistsandhealthpersonnel,isalsonotedwithregret.160.b..bAsregardstheimplementationofarticle4oftheConvention,theCommitteenoteswithconcerntheinadequacyofmeasurestakentoensuretheimplementationofchildren'seconomic,socialandculturalrightstothemaximumextentofavailableresources.Insufficientattentionhasbeenpaidinthisregardtotheareasofthesocialandhumandevelopmentofchildrenandtotheneedsofthemostvulnerablegroupsofchildren.161.b..bTheCommitteeisalsoconcernedthatthebasicprinciplesoftheConvention,inparticulartheprovisionsofitsarticles2,3and12,havenotbeenadequatelyreflectedinlegislation,policiesandprogrammes.InsufficientmeasureshavebeenadoptedtocreateawarenessofthesebasicvaluesoftheConventionwithaviewtochangingtheprevailingconsiderationandtreatmentofthechildsimply"asaminiadultorimmatureadult",asrecognizedinthereport.TheCommitteenoteswithconcernthepersistentdiscriminatoryattitudesaffectinggirlsincludinginrelationtotheminimumageformarriagedisabledchildrenandchildrenbornoutofwedlock.162.b..bTheCommitteenoteswithconcerntheinsufficientassistanceprovidedforfamiliestoassumetheirresponsibilitiesintheprotectionofchildren'srights.163.b..bTheCommitteeexpressesitsconcernattheinsufficientmeasuresadopted,includingofalegalnature,toensureeffectiveimplementationofthecivilrightsandfundamentalfreedomsofchildren,suchasinrelationtotherighttoanationality,freedomofexpression,thought,conscienceandreligion,aswellastofreedomofassociationandpeacefulassembly.ThethreatstonationalsecurityinvokedbytheGovernmenthavehamperedtheenjoymentofsuchfundamentalfreedoms.164.b..bTheCommitteeisoftheviewthattheapproachoftheStatepartyinthefieldofadoptionandtheprevailingsystemofdissolutionofadoption,raisesquestionsastoitscompatibilitywiththeConvention,includinginrelationtotheprincipleofthebestinterestsofthechildastheparamountconsideration,aswellastothelegalsafeguardsestablishedbyarticle21.Inthisregard,theCommitteeisparticularlyconcernedattheinsufficientmeasurestakentoensurethatadoptionisauthorizedbythecompetentauthorities,onthebasisofallpertinentandreliableinformationandoftheinformedconsentofallpersonsconcerned,includingthechild.ThehighrateofintercountryadoptionisalsoofconcerntotheCommittee.Withregardtochildabuseanddomesticviolence,theCommitteeisconcernedatthelackofpreventivepoliciesandofadequatereportingmechanisms.Abandonmentofchildren,thehighrateofchildheadedfamiliesandthepersistenceofcorporalpunishment,widelyenvisagedbyparentsandteachersasaneducationalmeasure,areothersubjectsofconcerntotheCommittee.165.b..bTheCommitteeisconcernedattheinsufficientconsiderationgivenintheeducationsystemtotheaimsofeducationasreflectedinarticle29oftheConvention.Thehighlycompetitivenatureoftheeducationsystemriskshamperingthedevelopmentofthechildtothefullestpotentialofhisorherabilitiesandtalentsandthechild'spreparationforresponsiblelifeinafreesociety.166.b..bConcernisalsoexpressedattheinsufficientmeasuresadopted,includinginthefieldoflegalreform,topreventsituationsofchildlabour.Inthisregard,thediscrepancybetweentheageforcompletionofcompulsoryeducationandtheminimumageforadmissiontoemploymentisnotedwithparticularconcern.167.b..bTheCommitteeisalsoconcernedabouttheexistingjuvenilejusticesystemanditslackofcompatibilitywiththeConvention,includingarticles37,39and40.@.. E.Suggestionsandrecommendations168.b..bTheCommitteeencouragestheGovernmenttocontinuetoconsiderreviewingitsreservationstoarticle9,paragraph3,article21,paragraph(a)andarticle40,paragraph(b)(v),withaviewtowithdrawingthem.169.b..bTheCommitteerecommendsthattheGovernmentstrengthenitseffortsaimedatpromotingadvocacyandcreatingawarenessandunderstandingoftheprinciplesandprovisionsoftheConventioninthelightofitsarticle42.TheCommitteesuggeststhattheGovernmentdeveloppubliccampaignswithaviewtoaddressingeffectivelytheproblemofpersistingdiscriminatoryattitudes,inparticulartowardsgirls,disabledchildrenandchildrenbornoutofwedlock,andthatitadoptsproactivemeasurestoimprovethestatusandprotectionofthesegroupsofchildren.170.b..bTheCommitteealsoencouragestheStatepartytoensuretrainingactivitiesontheConventiontoprofessionalgroupsworkingwithandforchildren,includingteachers,socialworkers,judges,lawenforcementofficers,healthpersonnelandofficialsentrustedwiththetaskofensuringdatacollectionintheareascoveredbytheConvention.InthespiritoftheUnitedNationsDecadeforHumanRightsEducation,theCommitteefurtherencouragestheGovernmenttogiveconsiderationtotheincorporationoftherightsofthechildintheschoolcurricula.171.b..bTheCommitteeencouragestheGovernmenttopursueitseffortsinordertoensurefullcomplianceofitsnationallegislationwiththeprovisionsandprinciplesoftheConvention,includingnondiscrimination(art.2),thebestinterestsofthechild(art.3)andrespectfortheviewsofthechild(art.12).TheCommitteeparticularlyrecommendsthatlegislativemeasuresbeadoptedwithaviewtoensuringanequalminimumageformarriageforgirlsandboys,inthelightofarticle2;ensuringthebasicrightsofalldisabledchildren,inparticulartherighttoeducation,inthelightofarticle23;abolishinganydiscriminationtowardschildrenbornoutofwedlock;preventinganyriskofstatelessnessforachildborntoaKoreanmother;clearlyprohibitinganyformofcorporalpunishment;andraisingtheminimumageforemploymentwithaviewtoadjustingittotheageofcompulsoryeducation.Inthefieldofnationalandintercountryadoption,theCommitteeencouragestheStatepartytoundertakecomprehensivelegalreformtoensurefullcompatibilitywiththeprinciplesandprovisionsoftheConvention,aswellastoconsiderratifyingthe1993HagueConventiononProtectionofChildrenandCooperationinrespectofIntercountryAdoption.172.b..bTheCommitteerecommendsthatapermanentandmultidisciplinarymechanismbedevelopedforcoordinationandmonitoringoftheimplementationoftheConvention,bothatthenationalandlocallevels,inurbanandruralareas.TheCommitteeencouragestheStatepartytogivefurtherconsiderationtotheestablishmentofanombudspersonforchildrenoranyequivalentindependentcomplaintandmonitoringmechanism.TheCommitteefurtherencouragesthepromotionofaclosercooperationwithnongovernmentalorganizations.173.b..bTheCommitteealsorecommendsthatthesystemofdatacollectionbeimprovedandappropriatedisaggregatedindicatorsidentifiedwithaviewtoaddressingallareascoveredbytheConventionandevaluatingprogressachieved,withdueregardbeingpaidtothesituationofchildrenbelongingtothemostdisadvantagedgroups.174.b..bTheCommitteestronglyrecommendsthattheGovernmentoftheRepublicofKoreapayparticularattentiontothefullimplementationofarticle4oftheConventionandundertakeallappropriatemeasurestothemaximumextentofavailableresourcesfortheimplementationoftheeconomic,socialandculturalrightsofchildren.Specialattentionshouldbepaidtothesituationofthemostdisadvantagedgroupsofchildreninthelightoftheprinciplesofnondiscriminationandthebestinterestsofthechild.175.b..bTheCommitteeconsidersthatgreatereffortsshouldbemadetopromotetheparticipationofchildreninfamily,schoolandsociallife,aswellastheeffectiveenjoymentoftheirfundamentalfreedoms,includingthefreedomofopinion,expressionandassociation,whichshouldbesubjectonlytotherestrictionsprovidedbythelawandwhicharenecessaryinademocraticsociety.176.b..bTheCommitteeencouragestheStatepartytoadoptfurthermeasurestoensureassistanceforthefamilytoensureitsresponsibilitiesintheupbringinganddevelopmentofthechild,inparticularinthelightofarticles18and27oftheConvention.Specialattentionshouldbepaidtothepreventionofchildabandonment,aswellastothepreventionof,andappropriateassistanceto,childheadedfamilies.177.b..bIntheareaofchildabuseanddomesticviolence,theCommitteerecommendsthattheStateadoptfurthermeasurestopreventsuchsituationsandtoprotectandensureappropriatephysicalrecoveryandsocialreintegrationofchildrenaffectedthereby.Considerationshouldbegiventotheestablishmentofasystemofearlydetection,surveillanceandreferral.178.b..bTheCommitteeencouragestheStatepartytoreviewitseducationpolicy,withaviewtoreflectingfullytheaimsofeducationsetoutinarticle29oftheConvention.179.b..bIntheareaofchildlabour,theCommitteeencouragestheStatepartytoadoptappropriatemeasureswithaviewtoreflectingfullytheConvention,inparticulararticle32,initslegislationandpractice.ItrecommendsthatconsiderationbegiventotheratificationofILOConventionNo.138onminimumageforadmissiontoemploymentandencouragestheStatepartytoconsiderpursuingsuchactioninconsultationwithILO.180.b..bTheCommitteerecommendsthattheStatepartyenvisageundertakingacomprehensivereformofthesystemofjuvenilejusticeinthespiritoftheConvention,inparticulararticles37,39and40,andofotherUnitedNationsstandardsinthisfield,suchasthe"BeijingRules",the"RiyadhGuidelines"andtheUnitedNationsRulesfortheProtectionofJuvenilesDeprivedoftheirLiberty.Particularattentionshouldbepaidtotheconsiderationofdeprivationoflibertyonlyasameasureoflastresortandfortheshortestperiodoftime,totheprotectionoftherightsofchildrendeprivedofliberty,todueprocessoflawandtothefullindependenceandimpartialityofthejudiciary.Trainingprogrammesontherelevantinternationalstandardsshouldbeorganizedforallthoseprofessionalsinvolvedwiththesystemofjuvenilejustice.TheCommitteewouldliketosuggestthattheGovernmentoftheRepublicofKoreaconsiderseekinginternationalassistanceinthisareaoftheadministrationofjuvenilejustice,fromtheCentreforHumanRightsandtheCrimePreventionandCriminalJusticeBranch.181.b..bTheCommitteerecommendsthatthereportsubmittedbytheStateparty,thesummaryrecordsofitsconsiderationandtheconcludingobservationsoftheCommitteebedisseminatedaswidelyaspossiblewithinthecountry.@..Z 6.Concludingobservations:Croatia182.b..bTheCommitteeconsideredtheinitialreportofCroatia(CRC/C/8/Add.19)atits279th,280thand281stmeetings(CRC/C/SR.279281),heldon23and24January1996,andadopted*thefollowingconcludingobservations.@..BA.Introduction183.b..bTheCommitteenoteswithappreciationthatthedifficultcircumstancesresultingfromthewarhavenotunderminedtheState'scommitmenttotheprotectionandpromotionofchildren'srights,asevidencedbytheState'saccessiontotheConventionimmediatelyfollowingindependence,thetimelysubmissionoftheinitialreportdueundertheConventionandthefrankanddetailedanswersprovided,bothinwrittenandoralform,fortheconsiderationofthereportbytheCommittee.TheCommitteerequestsaprogressreportbeforetheendof1997.@..B.Positiveaspects184.b..bTheCommitteewelcomesthestatementbythedelegationthattheGovernmentintendstowithdrawitsreservationtoarticle9oftheConvention.185.b..bTheCommitteetakesnotewithsatisfactionoftheeffortstobringdomesticlawandpracticeintolinewiththeprinciplesandprovisionsoftheConvention,includingtheenactmentoflegislationonthefamilyandontheprotectionofchildrenagainstalltypesofabuse.186.b..bTheCommitteewelcomestheprovisionscontainedinthenewConstitutionwhichaccordtointernationalhumanrightsinstrumentsratifiedbytheStatealegalstatussuperiortothatofdomesticlegislation.ItnoteswithappreciationtheestablishmentofthespecialparliamentaryCommitteeforHumanRightsandtheRightsofEthnicandNationalCommunitiesorMinorities,whichmonitorstheapplicationofinternationalinstrumentsandtherelevantprovisionsofconstitutionallawdealingwithhumanrights.187.b..bTheCommitteewelcomesthewillingnessoftheGovernment,intheframeworkofarticle4oftheConvention,toensurecooperationwithUnitedNationsandothercompetentbodies,includingtheSpecialRapporteuronthesituationofhumanrightsintheterritoryoftheformerYugoslavia,theOfficeoftheUnitedNationsHighCommissionerforRefugees,theUnitedNationsChildren'sFund,theUnitedNationsEducational,ScientificandCulturalOrganizationandtheInternationalCommitteeoftheRedCrossinthefieldsofhumanrightsandhumanitarianassistance.188.b..bTheCommitteealsowelcomestheeffortspursuedbytheGovernment,incooperationwithnongovernmentalorganizations,withaviewtoraisingpublicawarenessontherightsofthechild.Inthisconnection,theCommitteewelcomestheEuropeanYouthCampaignbeingundertakenundertheauspicesoftheCouncilofEuropetocombatracism,xenophobia,antiSemitismandintolerance.189.b..bTheCommitteefurtherwelcomestheprogressmadeinmodifyingtheLawonCitizenshipsoastoeliminaterisksofdiscrimination.190.b..bTheCommitteewelcomestheintentionsexpressedbytheGovernmenttoprosecutepeoplewhocommittedcrimesagainstthecivilianpopulation,includingchildren,duringandafter"OperationStorm"inAugust1995intheKrajinaareaandtoprovidesafeconditionsforreturnees.@.. C.Factorsanddifficultiesimpedingthe " implementationoftheConvention191.b..bTheCommitteerecognizestheseriousdifficultiesfacedbytheStatepartyinimplementingtheprovisionsoftheConvention.ItnotesthattheStateparty'stransitiontoamarketorientedeconomyhashadaseriousimpactonthepopulation,inparticularonallvulnerablegroups,includingchildren.192.b..bTheCommitteealsonotesthemajorproblemsexperiencedasaconsequenceofwar,whichhasborneasevereimpactonthepopulation,includingchildren,leadingtoheavycasualties,long-lastingphysical,emotionalandpsychologicaleffects,aswellasthedisruptionofsomebasicservices.Ittakesspecialnoteofanunknownnumberofchildrenwhohavesufferedthemostfundamentalviolationsoftheirrighttolife,andtheexistenceofalargepopulationofrefugeesanddisplacedpersons,exceedingahalfmillion,whoarebeingattendedtobyinternationalaid.̇@.."D.Principalsubjectsofconcern193.b..bTheCommittee,whilewelcomingtheexistenceofgovernmentbodiesandthecreationofnewonescompetenttodealwiththewelfareofchildrenatthenationalandlocallevels,expressesconcernthateffectivecoordinationmustbeestablishedamongtheminordertodevelopacomprehensiveapproachtotheimplementationoftheConvention.194.b..bTheCommitteeisconcernedattheabsenceofanintegratedandsystematicmonitoringmechanismcoveringallareascoveredbytheConvention,andinrelationtoallgroupsofchildren,especiallythoseaffectedbytheconsequencesofthewarandtheeconomictransition.195.b..bTheCommitteeisconcernedabouttheimpactonchildrenofeconomicdifficultiesresultingfromthetransitiontoamarketeconomy.Itisparticularlyworriedabouttheconsequencestheofprivatizationofsomesocialservicesthatmightaffectthemostvulnerablegroupsofchildren.Inthisconnection,itisparticularlyconcernedastowhetherappropriatemeasureshavebeentakentoprotectchildreninthelightofarticle4oftheConvention.196.b..bTheCommitteeexpressesconcernabouttheLawonTemporaryPossession,accordingtowhichpropertymaybeoccupiedbytemporarysettlersintheabsenceofthepropertyowners.TheCommitteeisconcernedthatfamiliesaffectedbythislawwillfaceproblemsiftheyshouldreturnbeforethepresentoccupiershavefoundalternativeshelter.197.b..bTheCommitteeisconcernedthatanumberofunaccompaniedchildrenwhohavelostcontactwiththeirfamiliesareininstitutionsorinfostercare.TheCommitteefurthernoteswithconcernthatsomefosterhomesmightacceptresponsibilityforthecareofchildrensolelyfortheeconomiccompensationprovidedtothem.Itstressesthattheconsequencesforthechildrenlivingundersuchconditionsarenotconducivetotheirsounddevelopment.198.b..bTheCommitteeexpressesconcernthatchildrenmightberemovedfromtheirfamiliesbecauseoftheirhealthstatusorthedifficulteconomicsituationfacedbytheirparents.199.b..bTheCommitteenoteswithdeepconcerntheapparentdisregardforjudicialdecisions.Itnotesthatallegationscontinuetobemadeaboutincidentsinwhichmembersofminoritygroups,particularlyofSerbianandMuslimorigin,areharassedandtheperpetratorsleftunpunished.TheCommitteedrawsattentiontotheadverseconsequencesforsocietyasawholeandforthegenerationofchildrenwhowitnessthisphenomenonofimpunity.@.. E.Suggestionsandrecommendations200.b..bTheCommitteerecommendsthattheGovernmentdevoteitsfulleffortstoactivelyencouragingacultureoftolerancethroughallpossiblechannels,includingtheschools,themediaandthelaw.Theschoolsshouldteachchildrentobetolerantandtoliveinharmonywithpersonsfromdifferentbackgrounds.201.b..bTheCommitteealsorecommends,intheinterestsofhealingandtrust-buildingwithinthecountryandinthespiritofarticle17oftheConvention,thattheStatecontrolledmassmediashouldplayanactiveroleintheeffortstosecuretoleranceandunderstandingbetweendifferentethnicgroups,andthatthebroadcastingofprogrammeswhichwouldruncountertothisobjectivecometoanend.202.b..bTheCommitteerecommendsthattheStatepartyshouldtakefurthersteps,suchastheestablishmentofapermanentstructuretoimprovepolicyformulationandadoptmeasuresforthepromotionandprotectionofchildren'srights.203.b..bTheCommitteerecommendsthatconsiderationbegiventotheestablishmentofaspecialindependentmonitoringstructure,whetherundertheexistingOfficeoftheOmbudsmanorasaseparatebody,andtothatendrecommendsthatastudybeundertakenassoonaspossiblereviewingtheexperiencesofothernationssothatthemostappropriatedecisionmaybereached.204.b..bTheCommitteerecommendsthatpublicinformationactivitiesandotherappropriateactionbeundertakentomakebetterknowntheprinciplesandprovisionsoftheConventionontheRightsoftheChildandotherrelevantinternationalhumanrightsinstruments,includingthroughtheirincorporationinschoolcurricula,withaviewtoenhancingdemocraticinstitutions,achievingnationalreconciliation,encouragingtheprotectionoftherightsofchildrenbelongingtominoritygroupsandeliminatingtheatmosphereofimpunityamongthosethatharassthesegroups.205.b..bInkeepingwitheffortstopromotetheprocessofnationalreconciliationandnationaldialogue,theCommitteerecommendsthattrainingprogrammesbeorganizedformembersofthearmy,policeandjudiciaryontheprovisionsoftheConvention.206.b..bTheCommitteerecommendsthatthesystemoffostercarebecarefullymonitoredinordertoeliminateanypossibleactsofabuseagainstthechildrenplacedinsuchcare.207.b..bTheCommitteerecommendsthatinthelightofthebestinterestsofthechildand,whennecessary,intheframeworkofinternationalcooperation,theGovernmentmakespecialeffortstoresolvetheproblemofpropertyownersreturningtotheirhomesbeforetheiroccupiershavebeenabletofindalternativeshelter.208.b..bTheCommitteerecommendsthataprogressreportbesubmittedbytheendof1997foritsconsideration.ItrequeststhattheStateincludeinthatreportinformationaboutsubsequentdevelopmentsintheareasoflegalandjudicialreform,ofdecisionstoimprovecoordinationofpoliciesrelatingtochildrenandofthemonitoringoftheimplementationoftheConvention.TheprogressshouldalsocovertheconcernsexpressedbytheCommittee.209.b..bTheCommitteerecommendsthatthereportoftheStateparty,therecordsofthedialogueheldbetweenitselfandtheStatedelegationandtheconcludingobservationsadoptedbytheCommitteebewidelydisseminatedthroughoutthenationinallminoritylanguagesaswellasinCroatian.    ItrecommendsthatanationaldebatebeencouragedabouttheStateparty'scompliancewiththeConventionwithinandamongtheGovernment,internationalorganizationsandnationalnongovernmentalorganizationsandalsoamongthepublic.33@..Z 7.Concludingobservations:Finland210.b..bTheCommitteeconsideredtheinitialreportofFinland(CRC/C/8/Add.22)atits282ndto284thmeetings(CRC/C/SR.282284),heldon23and24January1996,andadopted*thefollowingconcludingobservations.@..tA.Introduction211.b..bTheCommitteeexpressesitsappreciationtotheGovernmentofFinlandforthesubmissionofitsinitialreport,whichhasbeenpreparedinconformitywiththeCommittee'sguidelines,andforthesubmissionbytheStatepartyofwrittenrepliestoitslistofissues(CRC/C.11/WP.6).ItnoteswithsatisfactionthatthesupplementaryinformationprovidedbythedelegationanditsinvolvementinmattersrelatedtotheConventionmadeitpossibletoengageinafrankandconstructivedialoguewiththeStateparty.@..B.Positiveaspects212.b..bTheCommitteetakesnotewithsatisfactionthattheGovernmentprovidesacomprehensivesocialsecuritysystemandawiderangeofwelfareservicesforthebenefitofchildrenandtheirparents,particularlyfreehealthcare,freeeducation,extendedpregnancyleaverightsandalargedaycaresystem.213.b..bTheCommitteewelcomestheStateparty'ssubmissiontoitsParliamentofanationalchildpolicyreportwiththeaimofprotectingtherightsofchildrenlivingunderthejurisdictionoftheStatepartyfullyimplementingtheprovisionsoftheConventionandbyreducingtothemaximumextenttheimpactonchildrenofthecurrenteconomicrecession.214.b..bTheCommitteenotestheeffortsbytheGovernmentinthefieldoflawreform.ItwelcomestheamendmentoftheConstitutionofFinlandin1995,whichhassinceincludedhumanrightsandchildren'srightsasfundamentalprinciples.ItwelcomesthecurrentdiscussionsinParliamentconcerningthefutureappointmentofachildren'srightsombudsperson.ItalsotakesnoteofthecurrenteffortstoreformtheFinnishPenalCode.Finally,itwelcomestherecentgovernmentstudyontheimpactofenvironmentalissuesonthelifeofchildrenandtherelatedmeasuresundertaken.215.b..bTheCommitteealsowelcomestheGovernment'ssubmissionforratificationtotheFinnishParliamentoftheHagueConventiononProtectionofChildrenandCooperationinRespectofIntercountryAdoptionof1993.216.b..bTheCommitteenotesthelong-standingeffortsmadebytheStatepartyinthefieldofinternationalcooperation,althoughtheGovernment,owingtotheeconomicrecession,hassince1990temporarilyreduceditsbudgetallocationtodevelopmentaid.217.b..bFinally,theCommitteetakesnoteoftheStateparty'swishtocirculateintheParliamentthesummaryrecordsofthedialoguewiththeCommitteemembersandtheconcludingobservationsoftheCommittee.@.. C.Factorsanddifficultiesimpedingthe " implementationoftheConvention218.b..bTheCommitteenotesthedifficultiesfacingFinlandinthepresentperiodofstructuralchangeandeconomicrecession.Decentralizationandprivatizationpolicies,severeunemploymentandStatebudgetarycutshaveundoubtedlyaffectedFinnishchildren,particularlythemostvulnerablegroups.@.."D.Principalsubjectsofconcern219.b..bTheCommitteeisworriedabouttheimpactonchildrenofthedifficulteconomicsituationprevailinginthecountry,whichhasresultedinbudgetarycuts,andtheexistingtrendstowardsdecentralizationandprivatization.Inthisconnection,itisparticularlyconcernedastowhetherappropriatemeasureshavebeenundertakentoprotectchildren,particularlythosebelongingtothemostvulnerablegroups,inthelightofarticles3and4oftheConvention.220.b..bTheCommitteeisconcernedattheinsufficientattentionpaidtotheneedforanefficientcoordinationmechanism,betweenvariousministries,aswellasbetweencentralauthoritiesandlocalauthorities(municipalities),intheimplementationofcomprehensivepoliciesforthepromotionandprotectionoftherightsofthechild.221.b..bTheCommitteeisconcernedattheabsenceofanintegratedmonitoringmechanismcapable,interalia,ofsupervisingtheeffectivenessofdecentralizedandsometimesprivatizedsocial(health,educationandsocialcare)municipalpoliciesandservicesforthemostvulnerablegroupsofsociety,particularlysingleparentandpoorfamiliesanddisabled,refugeeandminoritychildren.222.b..bTheCommitteeexpressesitsconcernthattheStatepartyhasnotyetfullytakenintoaccountinitslegislationandinitspoliciesthegeneralprinciplesoftheConvention,inparticularnondiscrimination(art.2),thebestinterestsofthechild(art.3)andrespectfortheviewsofthechild(art.12).223.b..bTheCommitteeisconcernedabouttheabsenceofaglobalinformationanddisseminationstrategyfortheConventionontheRightsoftheChildinthecountry.ItisalsoworriedthattheConventiondoesnotyetexistinalllanguagesspokenbyminoritiesresidingintheStateparty.224.b..bInthelightofarticles2and3oftheConvention,theCommitteeisworriedabouttheincreasingnegativeattitudeinthesocietytowardsforeigners.225.b..bTheCommitteeisworriedbytheStateparty'scurrentshortageoffacilitiesforthepsychiatrictreatmentofchildren.Thisshortagemayresultinthenonseparationofchildrenfromadultsinpsychiatricestablishments.Itisalsoconcernedbythehighratesofsuicideandtheincreasingratesofdrugabuseamongyouth.226.b..bTheCommitteeisconcernedabouttheneedtoimprovethetrainingofsocialworkersthroughretrainingprogrammes,inparticularinrelationtothefullimplementationoftheparticipatoryrightsofthechild,inthelightofarticles3and12oftheConvention.Itisalsoworriedbytheinsufficientdetectionandpreventionmeasuresintheareasofsexualabuseanddomesticviolence.227.b..bTheCommitteeisconcernedbytherecentincreaseofschooldropouts.Inthelightofarticle30oftheConvention,itisalsoworriedabouttheinsufficientnumberofteacherscapableofworkingwithminoritychildren.228.b..bTheCommitteeisdeeplyconcernedthatappropriate,inparticularlegislative,measureshavenotyetbeentakentoforbidthepossessionofchildpornographyandthepurchasingofsexualservicesfromchildprostitutes.Itisalsoseriouslyconcernedattheexistenceofsextelephoneservicesaccessiblebychildren.229.b..bTheCommitteeisconcernedthatthelabourlegislationdoesnotappropriatelyprotectchildrenbetweentheagesof15and18years.@.. E.Suggestionsandrecommendations230.b..bWithrespecttoarticle4oftheConvention,andinrelationtothecurrentdifficulteconomicsituation,theCommitteeemphasizestheimportanceoftheallocationofresourcestothemaximumextentpossiblefortheimplementationofeconomic,socialandculturalrightsofthechildatbothcentralandlocallevels,inthelightoftheprinciplesoftheConvention,inparticularthoseofitsarticles2and3relatingtonondiscriminationandthebestinterestsofthechild.231.b..bTheCommitteerecommendsthattheStatepartytakefurtherstepstostrengthenthecoordinationbetweenthedifferentgovernmentalmechanismsinvolvedinhumanrightsandchildren'srights,atbothcentralandlocallevels,andtoconsidertheestablishmentofacoordinatingbodyormechanismtoharmonizesectoralactivitiesandpolicies.ItalsorecommendstheStatepartytostrengthenitscooperationwithnongovernmentalorganizations,includinginrelationtotheimplementationoftheCommittee'srecommendations.232.b..bTheCommitteerecommendsthatanintegratedmonitoringsystemormechanismbeestablishedtoensurethatallchildreninallmunicipalitiesbenefittothesameextentfrombasicsocialservices.Theestablishmentofanindependentmonitoringmechanism,suchas,forinstance,anombudspersonforchildren,isalsorecommended.233.b..bTheCommitteeisoftheopinionthatgreatereffortsarerequiredtomaketheprovisionsandprinciplesoftheConventionwidelyknownandunderstoodbyadultsandchildrenalike,inthelightofarticle42oftheConvention.TheCommitteerecommendsthattheConventionbetranslatedintoalllanguagesspokenbyminoritieslivingintheStateparty.TheCommitteewishestoencouragetheStatepartytodevelopfurtherasystematicapproachtowardsincreasingpublicawarenessofparticipatoryrightsofchildren,inthelightofarticle12oftheConvention.234.b..bToreducethecurrentincreaseinnegativefeelingandracismtowardsforeigners,theCommitteerecommendsthattheStatepartytakeallnecessarymeasures,includinginformationcampaignsinschoolsandinsocietyatlarge.UponarrivalinFinland,allunaccompaniedchildrenseekingrefugeestatusshouldbepromptlyinformedintheirlanguageoftheirrights.235.b..bTheCommitteerecommendsthatperiodictrainingandretrainingprogrammesontherightsofthechildbeorganizedforprofessionalgroupsworkingwithorforchildren,especiallysocialworkers,butalsoteachers,lawenforcementofficialsandjudges,andthathumanrightsandchildren'srightsbeincludedintheirtrainingcurricula.Italsorecommendsthatintheareasofsexualabuseanddomesticviolencemoresystematicattentionbegiventodetectionmeasuresandpreventivepolicies.236.b..bTheCommitteerecommendstheStatepartytakeallappropriatemeasurestopreventmentallyillchildrenbeinginstitutionalizedinthesamefacilitiesasadults.Italsosuggeststhatadditionalresearchbeundertakenintheareasofsuicideanddrugabusetoimprovetheunderstandingofthosephenomenaandgenerateappropriatemeasurestodealefficientlywiththem.237.b..bTheCommitteeencouragestheStatepartytotakeallnecessarymeasurestofightschooldropoutandencouragestherelevantauthoritiestoundertakeallappropriatemeasurestoensurethatsufficientteachersforminoritychildrenareavailableinallregionsofthecountry.InthespiritoftheUnitedNationsDecadeforHumanRightsEducation,theCommitteealsoencouragestheGovernmenttogiveconsiderationtotheincorporationoftherightsofthechildintheschoolcurricula.238.b..bIntheprocessofreformingthePenalCode,theCommitteestronglyrecommendsthatthepossessionofchildpornographymaterialsandthepurchaseofsexualservicesfromchildprostitutesbemadeillegal.ItalsorecommendsthattheStatepartytakeallappropriatemeasurestoprotectchildrenfromaccessingsextelephoneservicesandfromtheriskofbeingsexuallyexploitedbypaedophilesthroughthesetelephoneservicesthatcanbeaccessedbyanyone.Finally,theCommitteerecommendsthatmeasuresbetakenfullytoprotectprofessionalswhoreportevidenceofsexualabusetotherelevantauthorities.239.b..bTheCommitteeencouragestheStatepartytoreviseitslabourlegislationforchildrenbetweentheagesof15and18yearsinthelightoftherelevantinternationalstandards,especiallyILOConventionNo.138andILORecommendationNo.146.240.b..bTheCommitteeencouragestheStatepartytodisseminatewidelytheStatepartyreport,thesummaryrecordsofthediscussionofthereportintheCommitteeandtheconcludingobservationsadoptedbytheCommitteefollowingitsconsiderationofthereport.TheCommitteewouldliketosuggestthatthesedocumentsbebroughttotheattentionofParliamentandthatthesuggestionsandrecommendationsforactioncontainedthereinbefollowedupinclosecooperationwiththenongovernmentalsociety.   } @.. IV.OVERVIEWOFTHEOTHERACTIVITIESOFTHECOMMITTEE@.. A.MethodsofworkoftheCommitteeb..b1. .. Guidelinesforperiodicreports241.b..bAtitsprevioussession,theCommitteehadentrustedtwoofitsmembers(Mrs.HodaBadranandMr.YouriKolosov)withthetaskofpreparingaworkingpaperontheconceptualframeworkforguidelinesregardingtheformandcontentsofperiodicreportsfromStatesparties,tobesubmittedinthelightofarticle44oftheConventionontheRightsoftheChild.TheworkingpaperwasthebasisforanexchangeofviewsonthepivotalroleplayedbythereportingandmonitoringsystemoftheConventiontoensuretheeffectiverealizationofrightsofthechildandtherealisticassessmentofthesituationofchildren.Thisprocessclearlycontributedtogivinghighpriorityforchildrenonthepoliticalagenda.242.b..bTheCommitteealsohadbeforeitanotepreparedbythesecretariatcontainingabriefsummaryoftheexistinggeneralguidelinesforthepreparationofinitialandperiodicreportsbyStatespartiestobesubmittedtohumanrightstreatybodies,aswellasapreliminarydocumentpreparedbyMrs.SantosPaisonanewsetofguidelinesforreporting.243.b..bThesubmissionofperiodicreportswasperceivedasadynamicapproachtochildren'srealities,allowingthepasttobelinkedwiththepresentinanticipationofthefuture.TheCommitteeemphasizedthecatalyticroleplayedinthisregardbytheconcludingobservationsadoptedfollowingconsiderationoftheinitialreportssubmittedbyStatesparties.244.b..bTheCommitteealsostressedthecrucialimportanceofdataandinformationcollection,aswellasthedevelopmentofappropriatequantitativeandqualitativeindicatorsinordertoidentifyprogress,difficultiesencounteredandbenchmarksestablishedforfutureactioninthevariousareascoveredbytheConvention.Referencewasalsomadetotheneedtoconsideractionstakenbothatthenationallevelandintheframeworkofinternationalcooperationandassistance.245.b..bTheCommitteerecalledthatitshouldstartreceivingperiodicreportsfromStatespartiesasfromSeptember1997.Itstressed,therefore,theneedtogivepriorityattentiontothepreparationofguidelinesregardingtheformandcontentsofsuchreportsanddecidedtoestablishaworkinggroupcomposedofsixofitsmembers(Mrs.HodaBadran,Mrs.AkilaBelembaogo,Mrs.JudithKarp,Mr.YouriKolosov,Mrs.MartaSantosPaisandMrs.MariliaSardenberg)toprepareadraftdocumentforthatpurposeforitsnextsession.Itwasdecidedthatthedraftwouldtakeasareferencethedocumentontheconceptualframeworkforguidelines.b..b2. .. ComputerizationoftheworkoftheCommittee246.b..bInviewoftheimportancetheCommitteeattachestotheestablishmentofanetworkofinformationanddocumentationinthefieldofchildren'srights,aswellastothecomputerizationofitswork,ameetingwasheldonthisissuewithrepresentativesofUNICEFandoftheCentreforHumanRights.̇   b 247.b..bTheCommitteewasinformedaboutthedevelopmentsthathadtakenplacesincethelastmeetinginrelationtothedatabasesontheactivitiesoftheCommitteeandthepossiblefutureaccessofCommitteememberstotheinformationcontainedtherein.TheCommitteereaffirmedtheimportanceoftakingitssuggestionsanditsperspectiveasauserofthefuturesystemintoconsideration,asexpressedatpreviousmeetings(see,inparticular,A/41/49,paras.394411),whileexpressingitswillingnesstocontinuetocooperationintheactivitiesoftheCentreforHumanRightsandUNICEF.248.b..bTheCommitteewelcomedthedecisionstakenbyUNICEFtoassistitsactivitiesintheimportantareaofcomputerization.SuchassistancewillcontributedecisivelytoreinforcingtheeffectivenessoftheworkoftheCommitteeasatreatybodybyensuringaccesstoimportantdatabasesinthefieldofchildren'srights.@..xB.CooperationwithUnitedNationsandothercompetentbodiesb..b1.0 .. QuestionofadraftoptionalprotocoltotheConventionontheRightsoftheChildoninvolvementofchildreninarmedconflict249.b..bReaffirmingtheimportanceitattachestofollowingcloselyactivitiesinthefieldofchildren'srightsundertakenwithintheUnitedNationssystem,theCommitteehaddecidedtoparticipateinthesecondsessionoftheintersessionalopenendedworkinggroupoftheCommissiononHumanRightsonadraftoptionalprotocoloninvolvementofchildreninarmedconflict(Geneva,1526January1996).TheCommitteewasrepresentedbytwoofitsmembers,Mr.YouriKolosovandMrs.MartaSantosPais.250.b..bTheparticipationofCommitteemembersallowedforanextensiveexchangeofviewswiththeworkinggrouponvariousaspectsofthedraftoptionalprotocolwhichhadbeensubmittedbytheCommitteetotheCommissiononHumanRightin1994.Itwasalsoanoccasiontostresstheurgencyofraisingto18yearstheminimumageofrecruitmentintoarmedforcesandofforbiddingtheparticipationofchildreninhostilitiesbelowthatage.251.b..bTheRapporteuroftheCommittee,Mrs.MartaSantosPais,submittedthefollowingstatementtotheWorkingGrouponbehalfoftheCommittee:0b..b .. "TheCommitteeontheRightsoftheChildexpressedasearlyas1992itsdeepconcernatanincreasingnumberofarmedconflicts,aswellasattheircrucialandnegativeimpactonagrowingnumberofchildren.Initsfirstthematicdebateonthetopicof'childreninarmedconflicts',itrecognizedtheurgencyofcreatingwiderawarenessofthisrealityandadoptingdecisivemeasurestoensuretheeffectiveprotectionofthefundamentalrightsofchildrenintimeofarmedconflict.Inthelightofthatimportantdebate,theCommitteerecognizedthatitwouldbeofessentialimportancetoraiseto18yearstheageofrecruitmentintoarmedforces.0b..b .. "TheCommitteewasencouragedinthisendeavourbythecallmadebytheWorldConferenceonHumanRightsfortheCommitteetostudythisquestion.ItthereforedecidedtosubmitapreliminarydraftoptionalprotocoltotheConventionontheRightsoftheChildontheinvolvementofchildreninarmedconflicttotheCommissiononHumanRights.Thistexthasconstitutedthebasisfortheimportantdeliberationsofyourworkinggroup.TheCommitteehasfurthersubmittedadditionalcommentstothefirstsessionoftheWorkingGroup.0b..b .. "Bylastyear'sresolution1995/79,theCommissiononHumanRightsinvitedtheCommitteetoofferitscommentsandtoberepresentedatfuturesessionsoftheworkinggroup.ItisthereforewithgreatpleasurethatweareheretodayandwewelcomethisopportunitytoexchangeviewswiththemembersoftheWorkingGroup.0b..b .. "Wewouldliketostresstheimportanceweattachtothisstandard-settingactivitydesignedtoensuretheeffectiveprotectionofchildren'srightsworldwideinsituationswheretheybecameparticularlyvulnerable,asitisclearlyinthecaseofarmedconflicts.TheconsiderationofthisdraftoptionalprotocoltakesplaceatatimewhenaspecialmomentumhasbeenbuiltforthestrengtheningoftheprotectionensuredbytheConvention.0b..b .. "Firstofall,theConventionontheRightsoftheChildhasbecomeareferenceforthequasiuniversalityofStatesaroundtheworld.Withoutprecedentinthehistoryofhumanrightsinstruments,theConventionhasinfactbeenratifiedoraccededtoby187Stateswhichhavecommittedthemselvestorespectandensurethefundamentalrightsofchildren,toadoptallnecessarymeasuresfortheirwellbeingandtheharmoniousdevelopmentoftheirpersonality,aswellasalwaystobeguidedbythebestinterestsofthechildinallactionsundertaken.Thereisawidepoliticalconsensusaroundchildrenandconcertedeffortsarebeingmadefortherealizationoftheirrights.Inthelightofarticle41oftheConvention,Statesareevenencouragedalwaystoapplythemostconducivenormforchildren.Infact,severalStatespartieshavemadedeclarationsuponratificationoraccessioncommittingthemselvesnottorecruitortouseanypersonbelowtheageof18inarmedconflicts.0b..b .. "Theimportanceoftheprotectionofchildren'srightsinsituationsofwarhasalsobeenidentifiedasapriorityfortheactionofdifferentorganizationswithintheUnitedNationssystem.ThisisforinstancethecaseofUNICEFwithitsrecent"AntiWarAgenda"andofUNHCRthroughitsfieldactioninsituationsofemergency.Atthesametime,Gra aMachel,theexpertappointedbytheSecretaryGeneraltoundertakethestudyoftheimpactofarmedconflictonchildren,hasrepeatedlyemphasizedtheabsoluteneedtopreventtheinvolvementofchildreninsituationsofarmedconflict,interaliabystoppingtheirrecruitmentandtheirusetoachievemilitaryobjectives.0b..b .. "Fortheirpart,StateshaverecognizedinthePlatformforActionadoptedattheBeijingConferencethatviolationsofhumanrightsinsituationsofarmedconflictsareviolationsoffundamentalprinciplesofinternationalhumanrightsandhumanitarianlawandrecently,attheInternationalConferenceoftheRedCrossandRedCrescentMovementheldinGenevalastDecember,theyhaverecommended,byconsensus,thatpartiestoconflictsrefrainfromarmingchildrenundertheageof18andtakeeveryfeasiblesteptoensurethatchildrenundertheage18donottakepartinhostilities.̇   } 0b..b .. "ThedraftsubmittedbytheCommitteeontheRightsoftheChildwastheresultofitsrecognitionofthenegativeeffectsofarmedconflictsonchildrenandontheenjoymentoftheirfundamentalrights,aswellasoftheneedtoadoptallnecessarymeasurestoimprovetheirsituation.ItisadraftoptionalprotocoltotheConventionontheRightsoftheChild.ItthereforestressesthatonlythoseStatespartieswhichareinapositiontodosowillratifyoradheretoit.Asanoptionalprotocol,thisinstrumentwillnaturallyendorseandtakeintoseriousconsiderationtheprinciplesandprovisionsoftheConvention,andatthesametimeitshouldstrengthenthelevelsofprotectionof,andrespectfortherightsofthechild.Asanoptionalprotocol,itisclearlynotintendedtounderminesuchawidelyratifiedConvention.BeingcomplementarytotheConvention,theprotocolwouldnaturallynotneedtorepeatprovisionsthatarealreadyincorporatedintheConventionitself,suchasthoseaddressingthequestionofphysicalandpsychologicalrecoveryandsocialreintegrationofchildrenvictimsofarmedconflict,alreadycoveredbytheprovisionsofarticle39oftheConvention.0b..b .. "IntheviewoftheCommittee,theinvolvementinhostilitiesofpersonswhohavenotattainedtheageof18isharmfulforthemphysicallyandpsychologically,andaffectsthefullenjoymentoftheirfundamentalrights.Forthisreason,itisthebeliefoftheCommitteethatpersonsbelow18shouldneverbeinvolvedinhostilities.Infact,participationinarmedconflicts,eitherofadirectorindirectnature,raisesseriousrisksforthelifeofchildrenandhamperstheirharmoniousdevelopmentandtherealizationoftherightswhichareinherenttotheirhumandignityincludingtherightstoafamilyenvironment,toeducationandhealth,toanationality,ornottobesubjecttoilltreatmentorexploitation.Itisimportanttorecognizethatinasituationofemergency,itisverydifficulttodrawthelinebetweenwhatistobeconsidereddirectandindirectparticipation.Risksencounteredandfundamentalrightsdeniedaresimilarinbothcases,andanysituationunderminingrespectfortherightsofthechildshouldbeclearlyavoided.Forthisreason,weareconvincedthataclearprohibitionofparticipationinhostilitiesofpersonsbelowtheageof18,eitherdirectlyorindirectly,shouldbereflectedintheoptionalprotocol.0b..b .. "TheCommitteealsobelievesthat,inordertoensurethefullrealizationofchildren'srightsasrecognizedbytheConvention,Statespartiesshouldnotrecruitintotheirarmedforcespersonsbelowtheageof18.Thesameruleshouldapplyasamatterofprincipletovoluntaryenlistment.Realityshowsthatemergencysituationsoftenpavethewayfortheinstrumentalizationofchildren,andleadtogreatrisksforthem.Forthisreason,voluntaryenlistmentinthearmedforcesshouldneverbeusedasanexcusetoallowforthepossibledirectorindirectparticipationinhostilitiesofpersonsbelowtheageof18.EveninthosesituationswherevoluntaryenlistmentwouldbeacceptedbyStates,thetrainingofsuchpersonsshouldincorporateandpaydueregardtoeducationonhumanitarianandhumanrights,inthelightoftheConventionontheRightsoftheChildandinparticularoftheprovisionsofarticles28,29and42.̇0b..b .. "Inthesamespirit,inrelationtosituationswhererecruitment,enrolmentorenlistmentofchildrenbelow18wouldbemadebyarmedgroups,itmightbepreferabletohaveachildcentredapproachstressingthatnochildshouldbeusedorallowedtoparticipatedirectlyorindirectlyinhostilities.0b..b .. "TheCommitteeontheRightsoftheChildtooknotewithinterestoftheproposalmadeintheworkinggroupontheroleoftheCommitteetoconsidersituationswherechildrenunderthejurisdictionofaStatepartywouldhavebeenrecruitedorusedinhostilities.TheCommitteeconsidersthatsucharolefallswithinitsmonitoringfunctionstoassessprogressmadeintheenjoymentofchildren'srightsandtoencouragemeasuresfortheireffectiverealizationunderanycircumstanceandparticularlyinsituationswherethereisaneedforthespecialprotectionofchildren.0b..b .. "Asitwaspreviouslystated,theintentionofthedraftoptionalprotocolsubmittedbytheCommitteeontheRightsoftheChildistoallowStatespartieswhichareinapositiontodosotoclearlycommitthemselvesnottorecruitorallowfortheparticipationinhostilitiesofanypersonbelowtheageof18.Forthisreason,andinthelightofitsoptionalnature,theCommitteeseesnoreasonforthisinstrumenttoadmitpossiblereservationsonthesinglesubjectaddressedbyit.0b..b .. "Inviewofthecommitmentofthisworkinggroupandtheinternationalcommunityasawholetotherealizationofchildren'srights,itisthehopeoftheCommitteethatyourdeliberationswillsoonbringfruitfulresults,thusdecisivelycontributingtotheimprovementofthesituationofchildreninvolvedinarmedconflicts."b..b2.0 .. GuidelinesforapossibledraftoptionalprotocoltotheConventionontheRightsoftheChildonthesaleofchildren,childprostitutionandchildpornography252.b..bRecallingtheimportanceitattachestotheprotectionofchildrenfromsituationsofeconomicexploitationincludingthosearisingfromthesaleofchildren,childprostitutionandchildpornography,andreaffirmingitswillingnesstofollowcloselydevelopmentswithintheUnitedNationssysteminthefieldofchildren'srights,theCommitteedecidedtoberepresentedbythreeofitsmembers(Mr.YuriKolosov,Mrs.MartaSantosPaisandMrs.MariliaSardenberg)atthesecondsessionoftheopenendedworkinggroupoftheCommissiononHumanRightsonguidelinesonapossibleoptionalprotocolonthesaleofchildren,childprostitutionandchildpornography.253.b..bTheCommitteeconsideredthatthiswouldprovideanopportunitytoemphasizetheessentialimportanceoftheConventionanditsimplementationinpreventingthesaleofchildren,childprostitutionandchildpornography,effectivelyprotectingchildrenaffectedtherebyandensuringtheirphysicalandpsychologicalrecoveryandsocialreintegrationinanenvironmentwhichfosterstheirhealth,selfrespectandhumandignity.Itwouldfurtherprovideameaningfulopportunitytoencouragetheadoptionoflegislative,administrative,social,educationalorothermeasuresbyStates,withaviewtoeliminatingthesaleofchildren,childprostitutionandchildpornography,inthelightoftheprinciplesandprovisionsoftheConventionandoftheobligationsarisingtherefrom.254.b..bTheCommitteedecidedtosubmitthefollowingstatementtotheWorkingGroupexpressingitsviewsontheguidelinesunderconsideration:0b..b .. "TheCommitteeontheRightsoftheChildwelcomestheopportunitytoberepresentedatthesecondsessionoftheworkinggroupandtosubmititscommentsontheimportantareaofsaleofchildren,childprostitutionandchildpornography.0b..b .. "Theconcernexpressedbytheworkinggroupatthealarmingincreaseoftheseseriousviolationsofchildren'srightsisdeeplysharedbytheCommitteeontheRightsoftheChildandhasguideditsactioninitsfirstyearsofactivity,bothintheframeworkoftheconsiderationofStatespartiesreportsontheimplementationoftheConvention,andofitsthematicdiscussions,inparticulartheonedevotedtotheeconomicexploitationofchildren.TheparticipationoftheCommitteeintheworkinggroupisthereforewelcomedasanimportantoccasiontoexchangeviewsonthestepsundertakenandonpossiblefuturemeasuresdesignedtoenhancethepreventionoftheserealitiesandtheeffectiveprotectionofchildrenaffectedthereby.0b..b .. "TheCommitteerecognizes,asreaffirmedbyresolution1995/78oftheCommissiononHumanRights,theessentialvalueoftheConventionontheRightsoftheChildanditseffectiveimplementationsystem,topreventandcombatsituationsofsaleofchildren,childprostitutionandchildpornography.Infact,thewideacceptanceoftheConventionwhichhasbeenratifiedoraccededtoby187States,thequasiuniversalityofcountriesaroundtheworld,hasnoprecedentinthehistoryofhumanrightsinstruments.0b..b .. "TheseStateshavecommittedthemselvestorespectandensurethefundamentalrightsofchildren,toadoptallnecessarymeasuresfortheirwellbeingandfortheharmoniousdevelopmentoftheirpersonality,aswellastoalwaysbeguidedbythebestinterestsofthechildinallactionsundertaken.0b..b .. "Moreover,therealizationoftherightsofthechildhasalsobecomeareferenceandapriorityintheUnitedNationssystemwideactiononhumanrights.Inthelightofarticle45oftheConventionandofthefinaldocumentoftheWorldConferenceonHumanRights,allrelevantUnitedNationssystemorgansandmechanismsandthesupervisorybodiesofthespecializedagenciesareinfacturgedtoreviewandmonitor,inaccordancewiththeirmandates,mattersrelatingtohumanrightsandthesituationofchildren,aswellastoencourageinternationalcooperationinthefieldscoveredbythisinternationalinstrument.Thus,theConventionhaspavedthewayforawidepoliticalconsensusaroundchildren,bothatthenationalandinternationallevels.Ithasfurthermoreestablishedacomprehensivelegalandbindingframeworkforthepromotionandprotectionofchildren'srights.0b..b .. "Thefieldsofsaleofchildren,childprostitutionandchildpornographyarenaturallyalsoaddressedbytheConventionontheRightsoftheChild,specificprovisionsbeingdevotedtothem,inparticulararticles32,34,35and36.Infact,theimportanceoftheseissues,aswellastheneedtodrawurgentattentionandencourageconcertedactiontopreventandcombatthem,areillustratedbytheattentionpaidtotheminthecourseofthedialogueheldwithStatespartiesontheimplementationoftheConvention,aswellasthedecisionoftheCommitteetodevote,in1993,itssecondthematicdebatetothetopic'Economicexploitationofchildren'.ButitisimportanttostressthattheConventionhasnotonlyidentifiedsuchsituationsinanautonomousmanner,ithasfurthersetupaholisticapproachfortheconsiderationofthehumanrightsofchildren.Inthelightofsuchanapproach,allrightsarerecognizedasinherenttothehumandignityofthechild,andtheimplementationofonerightwillonlybeeffectivewhentakingintoconsiderationtheimplementationof,andrespectfor,alltheotherrightsofthechild.Inaword,theConventionreaffirmstheindivisibilityandinterdependenceofhumanrights.0b..b .. "Theprotectionofthechildfromallformsofexploitation,includingfromsale,prostitutionorpornographyshouldthereforenotbeseensimplyinisolationbutinthebroadercontextoftherealizationofchildren'srightsandtakingindueconsiderationtheinternationalobligationsarisingfromtheConvention.Uponratificationoraccession,StatespartiestotheConventionundertaketorespectandensurealltherightsrecognizedthereintoallchildrenundertheirjurisdiction,withoutdiscriminationofanykind(art.2).Furthermore,theyshalltakethebestinterestsofthechildastheirprimaryconsiderationinallactionsconcerningchildren(art.3),ensuretothemaximumextentpossiblethesurvivalanddevelopmentofthechild(art.6)andgivedueweighttotheviewsofthechild(art.12).Statesalsocommitthemselvestoadoptallnecessarymeasures,ofalegislative,administrative,educational,socialandothernature,toensurethefullrealizationofchildren'srights(art.4).Toensuretheimplementationofeconomic,socialandculturalrights,Stateshavecommittedthemselvestoallocatetothemaximumextenttheiravailableresources(art.4).Similarly,theyareboundtocreateawarenessontheConventionandtodisseminateinformationthereonwithaviewtomaketheprinciplesandprovisionsoftheConventionwidelyknown,byappropriateandactivemeans,toadultsandchildrenalike(art.42).ThesereferencesshowthedecisiveimportanceattachedbytheConvention,asahumanrightsinstrument,tothenationalprocessofimplementationofchildren'srights.ItfurtherstressesthespecialresponsibilityofStatesinthisregard.TheserealitieswereinfactalsoemphasizedbythefinaldocumentoftheWorldConferenceonHumanRights,whichcalledonStatestointegratetheConventionontheRightsoftheChildintotheirnationalactionplans.0b..b .. "AsstressedbytheCommitteeduringitsthematicdiscussion,thisgeneralframeworknaturallyappliesinsituationsofexploitationofchildrensuchasthoseconsideredbytheworkinggroup.Hereaselsewhere,theConventioncallsuponStatestotakeactionwithaview0b..btopreventsuchsituationsandtheirdetrimentaleffectonthelifeofchildren,toreinforcethesystemofchildren'srightsprotectionandtoensurethephysicalandpsychologicalrecoveryandsocialreintegrationofchildvictimsofanysuchformofexploitationinanenvironmentwhichfostersthehealth,selfrespectanddignityofthechild.Legalreform,awarenessandinformationcampaigns,educationandtrainingactivitiesonchildren'srights,aswellastheestablishmentofamonitoringmechanismbasedonasystematicdatacollectionandevaluation,aresomeessentialmeasuresinthisregard.Moreover,thereportingsystemestablishedbytheConventionisanessentialtoolforStatespartiestoensureaperiodicassessmentandevaluationofprogressachievedinitsimplementation.Itfurtherallowsfortheimprovementofthesituationofchildrenandthepreventionofviolationsoftheirfundamentalrights.Atthesametime,thedialogueheldbetweenStatesandtheCommitteeontheRightsoftheChildplaysanimportantcatalyticroleinthisregard,allowingfortheformulationofspecificsuggestionsandrecommendationstoStatesparties,identifyingpriorityareasforactionandencouragingprogrammesoftechnicalassistanceoradviceincooperationwithUnitedNationsandothercompetentbodies.ThisapproachshowsthatwhileputtingaclearemphasisonthenationalprocessofimplementationandontheresponsibilityofeachStatepartywithinitsjurisdiction,theConventionstressestheroleofinternationalcooperationandsolidaritytofostertherealizationofchildren'srights.Italsoclearlydemonstratesthatsituationswithatransnationalnature,suchasthoseaddressedbythemandateofthisworkinggroup,callfortheconsiderationofbilateralandmultilateralmeasures.0b..b .. "ThisbriefconsiderationoftheConventionandofitsmonitoringsystemshowsitsclearpoliticalvalue,sowidelysharedaroundtheworld,aswellasitscomprehensivenatureandeffectivecapacitytopreventsituationsofsaleofchildren,childprotectionandchildpornography,toprotectchildrentherefrom,toensuretheirphysicalandpsychologicalrecoveryandsocialreintegrationandtomeaningfullypromotemeasuresofinternationalcooperationandsolidarity.TheessentialroleoftheConventionontheRightsoftheChildfortheconsiderationofpoliciesandtheadoptionofmeasuresbyStatestoaddresssuchrealitiesisthereforeundeniable.Forthisreason,wefirmlybelievethatasaprioritystep,itsimplementationshouldbeseriouslyenvisagedandeffectivelyensured.0b..b .. "ButtheConventioncannotbeseeninisolation.Infact,otherimportantlegalinstrumentshavebeenadoptedintheareasoftheprotectionofthechildagainstexploitation,namelythroughsale,prostitutionandpornography,instrumentswhichareinrealityusedbytheCommitteeontheRightsoftheChildwithintheframeworkofitsmonitoringfunctions.Asanillustration,mentioncouldbemadeoftheConventionontheEliminationofAllFormsofDiscriminationagainstWomen,aswellasoftheConventionontheSuppressionofTrafficinPersonsandtheExploitationoftheProstitutionofOthersoroftheILOConventiononForcedLabour(No.29).Atthesametime,throughtheactivitiesoftheSubCommissiononPreventionofDiscriminationandProtectionofMinoritiesandofitsworkinggrouponContemporaryFormsofSlavery,importantandcomprehensivestrategieshavebeenenvisagedtoensuretheimplementationofthedifferentexistinglegalinstrumentsandtogiveguidanceinrelationtospecificareaswhereactionshouldbeundertaken,suchaslegalreform,information,education,socialassistance,reintegrationandinternationalcooperation.SpecialreferenceshouldbemadeinthisregardtothetwoprogrammesofactionadoptedbytheCommissiononHumanRightsforthePreventionoftheSaleofChildren,ChildProstitutionandChildPornographyandfortheEliminationofChildLabour.PresentlyunderpreparationisanewProgrammeofActiononthePreventionofTrafficinPersonsandtheExploitationoftheProstitutionofOthers.0b..b .. "TheprogressachievedintheimplementationoftheseprogrammesofactionisperiodicallyevaluatedbothbytheSubCommissiononPreventionofDiscriminationandProtectionofMinoritiesandtheCommissiononHumanRights.TheCommissionfurtherconsiderstheimportantactivitiesofthematicrapporteurs,astheSpecialRapporteuronviolenceagainstwomenortheSpecialRapporteuronthesaleofchildren,childprostitutionandchildpornographywhohasadoptedimportantrecommendationsonwaystoaddresstheareascoveredbyhermandate.TheroleoftheCommissiononHumanRightsisthereforeofadecisiveimportance,bothinrelationtoevaluationofprogressandinthelightoftherecommendationsitcanaddressforfutureactiontobeundertakenbyStates.ThisopenendedworkinggroupiscertainlywellplacedtoassisttheCommissioninthisendeavour.0b..b .. "Itisalsointerestingtonotethattheissuesofsaleofandtraffickinginchildren,childprostitutionandchildpornographydeservespecialattentionwithintheUnitedNationssystemwideaction.MentioncouldbemadeinthisregardtoILO,asstressedabove,ortotheactivitiesdevelopedbyUNICEFintheframeworkoftheimplementationoftheDeclarationandPlanofActionadoptedbytheWorldSummitforChildren.0b..b .. "Atthesametime,intheareaofcrimepreventionandcriminaljustice,importantstepshavealsobeentaken.Infact,theNinthUnitedNationsCongressonthePreventionofCrimeandtheTreatmentofOffenders,heldlastyearinCairo,calledonStatestoadoptnecessarymeasuresaimingattheprevention,protectionandrehabilitationofchildrenvictimsofanyformofviolence,includingsexualviolenceandsexualexploitation.ItfurtherinvitedtheCommissiononCrimePreventionandCriminalJusticetoconsiderdraftinganinternationalconventionontheillicittrafficinchildrenwhichmayembodythenecessaryelementstoeffectivelycombatthisformoftransnationalorganizedcrime.TheCommissionsoonensuredafollowuptothisinvitationandatitsfourthsessionrequestedtheSecretaryGeneraltoinitiatetheprocessofrequestingviewsofMemberStatesontheelaborationofsuchaninternationalconventionontheillicittrafficinchildren.AnimportantstandardsettingactivityisthereforealreadyunderwaywithintheUnitedNationssysteminthisarea.ItisinterestingtonotethattheCommissionfurtherdecidedtorequesttheSecretaryGeneraltoorganizeameetingofanexpertgrouponthepreventionofthesexualexploitationofchildrenforcommercialpurposeswithinthecontextofinternationaltravel(sextourism).̇0b..b .. "TheCommissionalsorequestedtheSecretaryGeneraltoenhanceinteragencycooperationwithintheUnitedNationssystemwithaviewtoavoidingduplicationandoverlappingofactivitiesbetweendifferentactorsconcernedaconsiderationweallnaturallyshare.Theimportanceoftheareasofchildprostitutionandchildpornographyisfurtherreflectedinotherinternationalactions.WeshouldrecallinthisregardtheactivitiesdevelopedbyINTERPOL,inparticularthroughitsStandingWorkingPartyonOffencesagainstMinors,guidedbytheconsiderationofthebestinterestsofthechildanddesignedtoencourageaclosecooperationbetweennationalpolicesandaneffectivetrainingoflawenforcementpersonnel.Moreover,mentionshouldbemadeoftheWorldCongressagainsttheCommercialSexualExploitationofChildrenwhichwilltakeplacenextAugustinStockholm.Thisimportantmeeting,wheregovernmentalandnongovernmentalrepresentativeswillconsideraconcertedactiontodecisivelycontributetotheeradicationofsuchphenomena,isbeingpreparedinclosecooperationwithUNICEF,theCommitteeontheRightsoftheChildandnongovernmentalorganizationsactiveinthisfield.ItwillcertainlyprovideforaspecialopportunityforparticipantstodemonstratetheirseriouscommitmenttochildrenandtotheConventionontheRightsoftheChild,whiletakingintoconsiderationthestrategiesenvisagedbythetwoProgrammesofActionadoptedbytheCommissiononHumanRights.0b..b .. "TheCommitteeisforitspartdeeplyencouragedbyalltheseeffortsthat,asrecommendedbytheWorldConferenceonHumanRights,areintendedtoincorporatestandardsascontainedininternationalhumanrightsinstrumentsindomesticlegislationandtostrengthennationalandinternationalmechanismsandprogrammesforthedefenceandprotectionofeconomicallyexploitedchildren,includingthroughchildpornographyandchildprostitution.Italsorecognizes,asstatedbythefinaldocumentoftheWorldConferenceonHumanRights,thatthereisaneedtomaintainconsistencywiththehighqualityofexistingstandardsandtoavoidproliferationofhumanrightsinstruments.Inthisspirit,theCommitteereaffirmsitsbeliefthatpriorityshouldlaywiththestrengtheningoftheimplementationofsuchasetofexistinginternationalstandards.0b..bItfurtherstressesthatincreasingcooperationshouldbeensuredbetweenthedifferentUnitedNationsmechanismscompetentintheareasofsaleofchildren,childprostitutionandchildpornographyincludingtheCommitteeontheRightsoftheChild,theCommissiononHumanRightsanditsmechanismsandsubsidiarybodiesandtheCommissiononCrimePreventionandCriminalJustice.Inthecasewhereitwouldbefoundthat,takingintoaccountexistinginternationalinstrumentsandestablishedmechanismsandstrategies(suchasthetwoprogrammesofactionadoptedbytheCommissiononHumanRights),therewouldbeaneedtobemorepreciseintheguidancetobegiventoStates,UnitedNationsandotherbodies,itistheviewoftheCommitteethatasetofgeneralguidelinescouldbeenvisaged.SuchasolutionwouldallowtoendorseandtakeintoseriousconsiderationtheprinciplesandprovisionsoftheConventionontheRightsoftheChild,aswellasotherrelevantinstruments,withoutrunningtheriskofunderminingtheircontents,norrepeatingtheirprovisionsbutratherensuringacomplementaryrole".b..b3.0 .. SecondUnitedNationsConferenceonHumanSettlement(HabitatII)255.b..bTheCommitteeontheRightsoftheChilddecidedtoparticipateintheexpertgroupmeetingonthehumanrighttoadequatehousing,(Geneva,18-19January1996).TheCommitteewasrepresentedbyMrs.MariliaSardenberg.ThemeetingwasorganizedjointlybytheUnitedNationsCentreforHumanSettlements(Habitat)andtheUnitedNationsCentreforHumanRightstoexaminefurtherthevariousaspectsoftherighttoadequatehousing,pursuanttoCommissiononHumanSettlementsresolution15/2of5May1995.256.b..bTherepresentativeoftheCommitteestressedthatarticle27(3)oftheConventionontheRightsoftheChildprovidesfortherightofchildrentoanadequatestandardofliving.Inthiscontext,itwasemphasizedthatoneoftheareaswheretheindivisibilityandinterdependenceofhumanrightsincludingtherightsofchildren,becomemoreapparentiswithrespecttotheexistenceofwidespreadpovertyleadingtoinadequatehousingandlivingconditions.Inthisspirit,theSubCommissiononPreventionofDiscriminationandProtectionofMinoritieshadrequestedtheCommitteeontheRightsoftheChildtogivespecialattentiontotheissueofthehousingrightsofchildrenandtheirfamilies,whenexaminingStatespartiesreports,aswellastodevoteonedayofgeneraldiscussiontotheimpactofpovertyandinadequatelivingandhousingconditionsontheeconomic,socialandculturalrightsofchildren.257.b..bFurthermore,bearinginmindthemagnitudeoftheglobalhousingproblem,theexpertgroupmeetingrecognizedthatparticularattentionshouldbepaidtotherighttoadequatehousingofspecificgroups,includingwomenandchildrenandvulnerablegroups.TheexpertgroupmeetingalsoagreedontheneedtodevelopcriteriaformeasuringprogresstowardstherealizationofthehumanrighttoadequatehousingandforthestrengtheningofexistingUnitedNationsorganizationsandbodiesinthedevelopmentandpromotionofthisright.ItshouldbenotedthattheCommitteeontheRightsoftheChildwouldbenefitgreatlyinitsworkfromtheimplementationofthisrecommendation.258.b..bThestatementaddressedbytheCommitteetotheHabitatIIconferenceiscontainedinannexVIIIbelow.b..b4.0 .. Administrationofjuvenilejustice259.b..bTheCommitteetooknoteoftheoutcomeofthecoordinatingMeetingofExpertsonHumanRightsinJuvenileJustice,heldinViennainJanuary1996asafollowuptotheUnitedNationsExpertGroupMeetingonChildrenandJuvenilesinDetentionthathadtakenplaceinNovember1994.TheCommitteewelcomedtheopportunityofexchangingviewswithMr.VititMuntarbhornwho,togetherwithMr.GeertCappelaere,hadbeenentrustedwiththetaskofpreparingapreliminarystudyonanintegratedinternationalstrategyinthisfield.260.b..bTheCommitteefurtherwelcomedthefactthatintheframeworkofsuchastrategy,theConventionontheRightsoftheChildandtheworkoftheCommitteehadbeentakenasanessentialreference.ItwasencouragedbytheconsiderationgiventothemainissuesidentifiedduringthethematicdiscussionheldbytheCommitteeontheadministrationofjuvenilejusticeinOctober1995.Itparticularlystressedtheimportantareaoftechnicalcooperationandassistance,recognizingtheneedtoensureanintegratedapproachandbettercoordinationbetweenthevariousactorsconcerned,includinginthelightofthePlanofActionoftheHighCommissionerforHumanRightstostrengthentheimplementationoftheConventionontheRightsoftheChild.Asithademphasizedduringthegeneraldiscussion,theCommitteerecalledtheessentialrolethatitsconcludingobservationscouldplayinthisregard.261.b..bTheCommittee,recognizingtheimportanceofthisprocess,expresseditswillingnesstocontinuetobeinvolvedinit.b..b5.0 .. WorldCongressagainsttheCommercialSexualExploitationofChildren262.b..bTheCommitteewasinvitedtoparticipateintheConsultationontheWorldCongress,organizedinGenevaon25and26January1996.Itwasrepresentedbytwoofitsmembers,Mrs.JudithKarpandMs.SandraMason.263.b..bBenefitingfromthepresenceofMr.VititMuntarbhorn,whohasbeenactivelyinvolvedinthepreparationofthedraftfinaldocumenttobeadoptedbytheCongress,theCommitteehadanexchangeofviewswithhimonthemainthrustsofthisdocument.TheCommitteeemphasizedtheessentialvalueoftheprinciplesandprovisionsoftheConventionintheareastobeaddressedbytheCongressandwelcomedtheopportunityprovidedbythisinternationaleventtostrengthentheimplementationofexistingstandardsandtomobilizeGovernments,internationalorganizationsandthepublicatlargeagainsttheseformsofexploitationofchildren.@.. C.Futuredayofgeneraldiscussion264.b..bTheCommitteehaddecided,atitsprevioussession,toenvisageconsideringasathemeforafuturegeneraldiscussionthesexualexploitationandsexualabuseofchildren.InviewoftheholdingoftheWorldCongressagainsttheCommercialSexualExploitationofChildren,inthepreparationofwhichtheCommitteehasbeeninvolved,theCommitteehasdecidedthatitwouldbemoreappropriatetotakeintoconsiderationtheoutcomeoftheCongressbeforedevotingathematicdiscussiontothistopic.Itthereforedecidedthatitsnextdayofgeneraldiscussion,scheduledtotakeplaceon7October1996duringtheCommittee'sthirteenthsession,wouldaddresstheissueof"Thechildandthemedia".Topreparethisthematicdiscussion,theCommitteeestablishedaworkinggroupamongitsmembers(Mr.ThomasHammarbergandMr.YouriKolosov)whoelaboratedanoutlineidentifyingthemainissuestoberaisedduringthedebate.Forthetextoftheoutline,seeannexIX.@..l V.DRAFTPROVISIONALAGENDAFORTHETWELFTHSESSION265.b..bThefollowingisthedraftprovisionalagendaforthetwelfthsessionoftheCommittee:b..b1.0 .. Adoptionoftheagenda.b..b2.0 .. Organizationalandothermatters.b..b3.0 .. SubmissionofreportsbyStatespartiesinaccordancewitharticle44oftheConvention.b..b4.0 .. ConsiderationofreportsofStatesparties.b..b5.0 .. CooperationwithotherUnitedNationsbodies,specializedagenciesandothercompetentbodies.b..b6.0 .. MethodsofworkoftheCommittee,includingguidelinesforperiodicreports.b..b7.0 .. FuturemeetingsoftheCommittee.b..b8.0 .. Othermatters.@..NVI.ADOPTIONOFTHEREPORT266.b..bAtits287thmeeting,heldon26January1996,theCommitteeconsideredthedraftreportonitseleventhsession.ThereportwasunanimouslyadoptedbytheCommittee.    @..6AnnexI@..@ STATESWHICHHAVERATIFIEDORACCEDEDTOTHECONVENTIONON@.. THERIGHTSOFTHECHILDASAT26JANUARY1996(187)  PF+{+ K!#%S(*-[/1 4c68;k=?BPStates .. Dateofsignature..Dateofreceiptof..Dateofentryinto .. ..instrumentof..force .. ..ratification/ .. ..accessiona/..Afghanistan .. 27September1990..28March1994..27April1994Albania .. 26January1990..27February1992..28March1992Algeria .. 26January1990..16April1993..16May1993Andorra .. 2October1995..2January1996..1February1996Angola .. 14February1990..5December1990..4January1991Antiguaand̀Barbuda .. 12March1991..5October1993..4November1993#..#Argentina .. 29June1990..4December1990..3January1991Armenia .. ..23June1993a/..22July1993Australia .. 22August1990..17December1990..16January1991Austria .. 26January1990..6August1992..5September1992Azerbaijan .. ..13August1992a/..12September1992#..##..#Bahamas .. 30October1990..20February1991..22March1991Bahrain .. ..13February1992a/..14March1992Bangladesh .. 26January1990..3August1990..2September1990#..#Barbados .. 19April1990..9October1990..8November1990Belarus .. 26January1990..1October1990..31October1990Belgium .. 26January1990..16December1991..15January1992Belize .. 2March1990..2May1990..2September1990#..#Benin .. 25April1990..3August1990..2September1990Bhutan .. 4June1990..1August1990..2September1990#..#Bolivia .. 8March1990..26June1990..2September1990#..#Bosniaand̀Herzegovina* .. ....6March1992Botswana .. ..14March1995a/..13April1995#..##..##..#Brazil .. 26January1990..24September1990..24October1990#..##..##..#Brunei .. ..27December1995a/..26January1996̀Darussalam .. ......Bulgaria .. 31May1990..3June1991..3July1991BurkinaFaso .. 26January1990..31August1990..30September1990Burundi .. 8May1990..19October1990..18November1990Cambodia .. 22September1992..15October1992..14November1992Cameroon .. 25September1990..11January1993..10February1993򀀀8.++b >uQ!8b..b*Succession.b..ba/Accession.   }   PF+{+ K!#%S(*-[/1 4c68;k=?BPStates .. Dateofsignature..Dateofreceiptof..Dateofentryinto .. ..instrumentof..force .. ..ratification/ .. ..accessiona/..Canada .. 28May1990..13December1991..12January1992CapeVerde .. ..4June1992a/..4July1992CentralAfricaǹRepublic .. 30July1990..23April1992..23May1992K!..K!#..#Chad .. 30September1990..2October1990..1November1990Chile .. 26January1990..13August1990..12September1990China .. 29August1990..2March1992..1April1992Colombia .. 26January1990..28January1991..27February1991Comoros .. 30September1990..22June1993..21July1993Congo .. ..14October1993a/..13November1993CostaRica .. 26January1990..21August1990..20September1990C=ted'Ivoire .. 26January1990..4February1991..6March1991Croatia* .. ....8October1991Cuba .. 26January1990..21August1991..20September1991#..#Cyprus .. 5October1990..7February1991..9March1991CzechRepublic*....1January1993Democratic̀People's̀Republicof̀Korea .. 23August1990..21September1990..21October1990Denmark .. 26January1990..19July1991..18August1991Djibouti .. 30September1990..6December1990..5January1991#..#Dominica .. 26January1990..13March1991..12April1991DominicaǹRepublic .. 8August1990..11June1991..11July1991Ecuador .. 26January1990..23March1990..2September1990Egypt .. 5February1990..6July1990..2September1990ElSalvador .. 26January1990..10July1990..2September1990Equatorial̀Guinea .. ..15June1992a/..15July1992Eritrea .. 20December1993..3August1994..2September1994Estonia .. ..21October1991a/..20November1991Ethiopia .. ..14May1991a/..13June1991Fiji .. 2July1993..13August1993..12September1993Finland .. 26January1990..20June1991..20July1991#..#France .. 26January1990..7August1990..6September1990Gabon .. 26January1990..9February1994..11March1994Gambia .. 5February1990..8August1990..7September1990Georgia .. ..2June1994a/..2July1994Germany .. 26January1990..6March1992..5April1992Ghana .. 29January1990..5February1990..2September1990States .. Dateofsignature..Dateofreceiptof..Dateofentryinto .. ..instrumentof..force .. ..ratification/ .. ..accessiona/..Greece .. 26January1990..11May1993..10June1993Grenada .. 21February1990..5November1990..5December1990Guatemala .. 26January1990..6June1990..2September1990Guinea .. ..13July1990a/..2September1990Guinea-̀Bissau .. 26January1990..20August1990..19September1990Guyana .. 30September1990..14January1991..13February1991Haiti .. 20January1990..8June1995..8July1995HolySee .. 20April1990..20April1990..2September1990Honduras .. 31May1990..10August1990..9September1990Hungary .. 14March1990..7October1991..6November1991Iceland .. 26January1990..28October1992..27November1992India .. ..11December1992a/..11January1993Indonesia .. 26January1990..5September1990..5October1990Iran(Islamic̀Republicof)5September1991..13July1994..12August1994Iraq .. ..15June1994a/..15July1994Ireland .. 30September1990..28September1992..28October1992Israel .. 3July1990..3October1991..2November1991#..##..##..#Italy .. 26January1990..5September1991..5October1991Jamaica .. 26January1990..14May1991..13June1991Japan .. 21September1990..22April1994..22May1994Jordan .. 29August1990..24May1991..23June1991Kazakhstan .. 16February1994..12August1994..11September1994Kenya .. 26January1990..30July1990..2September1990Kiribati .. ..11December1995a/..10January1996Kuwait .. 7June1990..21October1991..20November1991Kyrgyzstan .. ..7October1994..6November1994LaoPeople's̀Democratic̀Republic .. ..8May1991a/..7June1991Latvia .. ..14April1992a/..14May1992Lebanon .. 26January1990..14May1991..13June1991Lesotho .. 21August1990..10March1992..9April1992Liberia .. 26April1990..4June1993..4July1993LibyanArab̀Jamahiriya .. ..15April1993a/..15May1993Liechtenstein .. 30September1990..22December1995..21January1996Lithuania .. ..31January1992a/..1March1992Luxembourg .. 21March1990..7March1994..6April1994States .. Dateofsignature..Dateofreceiptof..Dateofentryinto .. ..instrumentof..force .. ..ratification/ .. ..accessiona/..Madagascar .. 19April1990..19March1991..18April1991Malawi .. ..2January1991a/..1February1991Malaysia .. ..17February1995a/..19March1995Maldives .. 21August1990..11February1991..13March1991Mali .. 26January1990..20September1990..20October1990Malta .. 26January1990..30September1990..30October1990Marshall̀Islands .. 14April1993..4October1993..3November1993Mauritania .. 26January1990..16May1991..15June1991Mauritius .. ..26July1990a/..2September1990Mexico .. 26January1990..21September1990..21October1990Micronesia .. ......̀(Federated .. ......̀Statesof) .. ..5May1993a/..4June1993Monaco .. ..21June1993a/..21July1993Mongolia .. 26January1990..5July1990..2September1990Morocco .. 26January1990..21June1993..21July1993Mozambique .. 30September1990..26April1994..26May1994Myanmar .. ..15July1991a/..14August1991Namibia .. 26September1990..30September1990..30October1990Nauru .. ..27July1994a/..26August1994Nepal .. 26January1990..14September1990..14October1990Netherlands .. 26January1990..6February1995..7March1995NewZealand .. 1October1990..6April1993..6May1993Nicaragua .. 6February1990..5October1990..4November1990Niger .. 26January1990..30September1990..30October1990Nigeria .. 26January1990..19April1991..19May1991Niue .. ..20December1995a/..19January1996Norway .. 26January1990..8January1991..7February1991Pakistan .. 20September1990..12November1990..12December1990Palau .. ..4August1995a/..3September1995#..##..##..##..#Panama .. 26January1990..12December1990..11January1991PapuàNewGuinea .. 30September1990..1March1993..31March1993Paraguay .. 4April1990..25September1990..25October1990Peru .. 26January1990..4September1990..4October1990Philippines .. 26January1990..21August1990..20September1990Poland .. 26January1990..7June1991..7July1991Portugal .. 26January1990..21September1990..21October1990States .. Dateofsignature..Dateofreceiptof..Dateofentryinto .. ..instrumentof..force .. ..ratification/ .. ..accessiona/..Qatar .. 8December1992..3April1995..3May1995Republicof̀Korea .. 25September1990..20November1991..20December1991Republicof̀Moldova .. ..26January1993a/..25February1993Romania .. 26January1990..28September1990..28October1990RussiaǹFederation .. 26January1990..16August1990..15September1990Rwanda .. 26January1990..24January1991..23February1991SaintKitts .. ......̀andNevis .. 26January1990..24July1990..2September1990SaintLucia .. ..16June1993a/..16July1993SaintVincent̀andthèGrenadines .. 20September1993..26October1993..25November1993Samoa .. 30September1990..29November1994..29December1994SanMarino .. ..25November1991a/..25December1991SaoTome .. ..14May1991a/..13June1991̀andPrincipeSaudiArabia .. ..26January1996a/..25February1996Senegal .. 26January1990..31July1990..2September1990#..#Seychelles .. ..7September1990a/..7October1990SierraLeone .. 13February1990..18June1990..2September1990Singapore .. ..5October1995a/..4November1995Slovakia* .. ....1January1993Slovenia* .. ....25June1991SolomoǹIslands .. ..10April1995a/..10May1995SouthAfrica .. 29January1993..16June1995..16July1995Spain .. 26January1990..6December1990..5January1991SriLanka .. 26January1990..12July1991..11August1991Sudan .. 24July1990..3August1990..2September1990Suriname .. 26January1990..1March1993..31March1993Swaziland .. 22August1990..7September1995..6October1995Sweden .. 26January1990..29June1990..2September1990SyrianArab̀Republic .. 18September1990..15July1993..14August1993#..#Tajikistan .. ..26October1993a/..25November1993Thailand .. ..27March1992a/..26April1992States .. Dateofsignature..Dateofreceiptof..Dateofentryinto .. ..instrumentof..force .. ..ratification/ .. ..accessiona/..Theformer̀Yugoslav̀Republicof̀Macedonia* .. ....17September1991Togo .. 26January1990..1August1990..2September1990Tonga .. ..6November1995a/..6December1995Trinidadand̀Tobago .. 30September1990..5December1991..4January1992Tunisia .. 26February1990..30January1992..29February1992Turkey .. 14September1990..4April1995..4May1995Turkmenistan .. ..20September1993a/..19October1993Tuvalu .. ..22September1995a/..22October1995Uganda .. 17August1990..17August1990..16September1990Ukraine .. 21February1991..28August1991..27September1991UnitedKingdom̀ofGreatBritaiǹandNortherǹIreland .. 19April1990..16December1991..15January1992United̀Republic .. ̀ofTanzania .. 1June1990..10June1991..10July1991Uruguay .. 26January1990..20November1990..20December1990Uzbekistan .. ..29June1994a/..29July1994Vanuatu .. 30September1990..7July1993..6August1993Venezuela .. 26January1990..13September1990..13October1990VietNam .. 26January1990..28February1990..2September1990Yemen .. 13February1990..1May1991..31May1991Yugoslavia .. 26January1990..3January1991..2February1991Zaire .. 20March1990..27September1990..27October1990Zambia .. 30September1990..5December1991..5January1992Zimbabwe .. 8March1990..11September1990..11October19908.++b >uQ!8@..AnnexII@.. MEMBERSHIPOFTHECOMMITTEEONTHERIGHTSOFTHECHILDNameofmember .. ..>..>u..u....CountryofnationalityMrs.HodaBADRAN   L   ׀..>..>u..u....EgyptMrs.AkilaBELEMBAOGO M   ׀>..>u..u....BurkinaFasoMrs.FloraC.EUFEMIO*>..>u..u....PhilippinesMr.ThomasHAMMARBERG**>..>u..u....SwedenMrs.JudithKARP**..>..>u..u....IsraelMr.YouriKOLOSOV**..>..>u..u....RussianFederationMissSandraPrunellaMASON**u..u....BarbadosMr.SwithunTachionaMOMBESHORA*u..u....ZimbabweMrs.MartaSANTOSPAIS*>..>u..u....PortugalMrs.MariliaSARDENBERG*>..>u..u....Brazil    \R&6\ +      N + n         \R&6\P + @%..cAnnexIII@%..STATUSOFSUBMISSIONOFREPORTSBYSTATESPARTIESUNDERARTICLE44OF@%..THECONVENTIONONTHERIGHTSOFTHECHILDASAT26JANUARY1996*ST d,} dd,Qdd,Qdd,dd,,dd+  &@x@&@%..Initialreportsduein1992 "x@"Stateparty  @Dateofentryintoforce  @Datedue  @Dateofsubmission  @Symbol "@x"Bangladesh  Ѐ2September1990  Ѐ1September1992  15November1995  CRC/C/3/Add.38 "@x"Barbados  Ѐ8November1990  Ѐ7November1992     "@x"Belarus  31October1990  30October1992  12February1993  CRC/C/3/Add.14 "@x"Belize  Ѐ2September1990  Ѐ1September1992     "@x"Benin  Ѐ2September1990  Ѐ1September1992     "@x"Bhutan  Ѐ2September1990  Ѐ1September1992     "@x"Bolivia  Ѐ2September1990  Ѐ1September1992  14September1992  CRC/C/3/Add.2 "@x"Brazil  24October1990  23October1992     "@x"BurkinaFaso  30September1990  29September1992  Ѐ7July1993  CRC/C/3/Add.19 "@x"Burundi  18November1990  17November1992     "@x"Chad  Ѐ1November1990  31October1992     "@x"Chile  12September1990  11September1992  22June1993  CRC/C/3/Add.18 "@x"CostaRica  20September1990  20September1992  28October1992  CRC/C/3/Add.8 "x"DemocraticPeople'sπRepublicofKorea  21October1990  20October1992     "@x"Ecuador  Ѐ2September1990  Ѐ1September1992    &@x&@%..Initialreportsduein1992(continued) "x@"Stateparty  @Dateofentryintoforce  @Datedue  @Dateofsubmission  @Symbol "@x"Egypt  Ѐ2September1990  Ѐ1September1992  23October1992  CRC/C/3/Add.6 "x"ElSalvador  Ѐ2September1990  Ѐ1September1992  Ѐ3November1992  CRC/C/3/Add.9&Add.28 "@x"France  Ѐ6September1990  Ѐ5September1992  Ѐ8April1993  CRC/C/3/Add.15 "@x"Gambia  Ѐ7September1990  Ѐ6September1992     "@x"Ghana  Ѐ2September1990  Ѐ1September1992  20November1995  CRC/C/3/Add.39 "@x"Grenada  Ѐ5December1990  Ѐ4December1992     "@x"Guatemala  Ѐ2September1990  Ѐ1September1992  5January1995  CRC/C/3/Add.33 "@x"Guinea  Ѐ2September1990  Ѐ1September1992     "@x"GuineaBissau  19September1990  18September1992     "@x"HolySee  Ѐ2September1990  Ѐ1September1992  Ѐ2March1994  CRC/C/3/Add.27 "@x"Honduras  Ѐ9September1990  Ѐ8September1992  11May1993  CRC/C/3/Add.17 "x"Indonesia  Ѐ5October1990  Ѐ4October1992  17November1992  CRC/C/3/Add.10&CRC/C/3/Add.26 "@x"Kenya  Ѐ2September1990  Ѐ1September1992     "@x"Mali  20October1990  19October1992     "@x"Malta  30October1990  29October1992     "@x"Mauritius  Ѐ2September1990  Ѐ1September1992  25July1995  CRC/C/3/Add.36 "@x"Mexico  21October1990  20October1992  15December1992  CRC/C/3/Add.11 "@x"Mongolia  Ѐ2September1990  Ѐ1September1992  20October1994  CRC/C/3/Add.32 "@x"Namibia  30October1990  29October1992  21December1992  CRC/C/3/Add.12&@x&@%..Initialreportsduein1992(continued) "x@"Stateparty ..   @Dateofentryintoforce  @Datedue  @Dateofsubmission  @Symbol "@x"Nepal  14October1990  13October1992  10April1995  CRC/C/3/Add.34 "@x"Nicaragua  Ѐ4November1990  Ѐ3November1992  12January1994  CRC/C/3/Add.25 "@x"Niger  30October1990  29October1992  27April1994  CRC/C/3/Add.29 "@x"Pakistan  12December1990  11December1992  25January1993  CRC/C/3/Add.13 "@x"Paraguay  25October1990  24October1992  30August1993  CRC/C/3/Add.22 "x"Peru  Ѐ4October1990  Ѐ3October1992  28October1992  CRC/C/3/Add.7&CRC/C/3/Add.24 "@x"Philippines  20September1990  19September1992  21September1993  CRC/C/3/Add.23 "@x"Portugal  21October1990  20October1992  17August1994  CRC/C/3/Add.30 "@x"Romania  28October1990  27October1992  14April1993  CRC/C/3/Add.16 "@x"RussianFederation  15September1990  14September1992  16October1992  CRC/C/3/Add.5 "@x"SaintKittsandNevis  Ѐ2September1990  Ѐ1September1992     "@x"Senegal  Ѐ2September1990  Ѐ1September1992  12September1994  CRC/C/3/Add.31 "@x"Seychelles  Ѐ7October1990  Ѐ6October1992     "@x"SierraLeone  Ѐ2September1990  Ѐ1September1992     "x"Sudan  Ѐ2September1990  Ѐ1September1992  29September1992  CRC/C/3/Add.3&CRC/C/3/Add.20 "@x"Sweden  Ѐ2September1990  Ѐ1September1992  Ѐ7September1992  CRC/C/3/Add.1 "@x"Togo  Ѐ2September1990  Ѐ1September1992    &@x&@%..Initialreportsduein1992(continued) "x@"Stateparty  @Dateofentryintoforce  @Datedue  @Dateofsubmission  @Symbol "@x"Uganda  16September1990  15September1992     "@x"Uruguay  20December1990  19December1992  Ѐ2August1995  CRC/C/3/Add.37 "@x"Venezuela  13October1990  12October1992     "x"VietNam  Ѐ2September1990  Ѐ1September1992  30September1992  CRC/C/3/Add.4&CRC/C/3/Add.21 "@x"Zaire  27October1990  26October1992     "@x"Zimbabwe  11October1990  10October1992  23May1995  CRC/C/3/Add.35 "@x"         &@x&@%..Initialreportsduein1993 "@x"Angola  Ѐ4January1991  Ѐ3January1991     "x"Argentina  Ѐ3January1991  Ѐ2January1993  17March1993  CRC/C/8/Add.2&Add.17 "@x"Australia  16January1991  15January1993  Ѐ8January1996  CRC/C/8/Add.31 "@x"Bahamas  22March1991  21March1993     "@x"Bulgaria  Ѐ3July1991  Ѐ2July1993  29September1995  CRC/C/8/Add.29 "@x"Colombia  27February1991  26February1993  14April1993  CRC/C/8/Add.3 "@x"C=ted'Ivoire  Ѐ6March1991  Ѐ5March1993     "@x"Croatia  Ѐ7November1991  Ѐ6November1993  Ѐ8November1994  CRC/C/8/Add.19 "@x"Cuba  20September1991  19September1993  27October1995  CRC/C/8/Add.30 "@x"Cyprus  Ѐ9March1991  Ѐ8March1993  22December1994  CRC/C/8/Add.24 "@x"Denmark  18August1991  17August1993  14September1993  CRC/C/8/Add.8&@x&@%..Initialreportsduein1993(continued) "x@"Stateparty  @Dateofentryintoforce  @Datedue  @Dateofsubmission  @Symbol "@x"Djibouti  Ѐ5January1991  Ѐ4January1993     "@x"Dominica  12April1991  11April1993     "@x"DominicanRepublic  11July1991  10July1993     "@x"Estonia  20November1991  19November1993     "@x"Ethiopia  13June1991  12June1993  10August1995  CRC/C/8/Add.27 "@x"Finland  20July1991  19July1993  12December1994  CRC/C/8/Add.22 "@x"Guyana  13February1991  12February1993     "@x"Hungary  Ѐ6November1991  Ѐ5November1993     "@x"Israel  Ѐ2November1991  Ѐ1November1993     "@x"Italy  Ѐ5October1991  Ѐ4October1993  11October1994  CRC/C/8/Add.18 "@x"Jamaica  13June1991  12June1993  25January1994  CRC/C/8/Add.12 "@x"Jordan  23June1991  22June1993  25May1993  CRC/C/8/Add.4 "@x"Kuwait  20November1991  19November1993     "x"LaoPeople's̀DemocraticRepublic  Ѐ7June1991  Ѐ6June1993  18January1996  CRC/C/8/Add.32 "@x"Lebanon  13June1991  12June1993  21December1994  CRC/C/8/Add.23 "@x"Madagascar  18April1991  17May1993  20July1993  CRC/C/8/Add.5 "@x"Malawi  Ѐ1February1991  31January1993     "@x"Maldives  13March1991  12March1993  Ѐ6July1994  CRC/C/8/Add.15 "@x"Mauritania  15June1991  14June1993    &@x&@%..Initialreportsduein1993(continued) "x@"Stateparty  @Dateofentryintoforce  @Datedue  @Dateofsubmission  @Symbol "@x"Myanmar  14August1991  13August1993  14September1995  CRC/C/8/Add.9 "@x"Nigeria  19May1991  18May1993  19July1995  CRC/C/8/Add.26 "@x"Norway  Ѐ7February1991  Ѐ6February1993  30August1993  CRC/C/8/Add.7 "@x"Panama  11January1991  10January1993     "@x"Poland  Ѐ7July1991  Ѐ6July1993  11January1994  CRC/C/8/Add.11 "@x"RepublicofKorea  20December1991  19December1993  17November1994  CRC/C/8/Add.21 "@x"Rwanda  23February1991  22February1993  30September1992  CRC/C/8/Add.1 "@x"SanMarino  25December1991  24December1993     "@x"SaoTomeandPrincipe  13June1991  12June1993     "@x"Slovenia  25June1991  24June1993  29May1995  CRC/C/8/Add.25 "@x"Spain  Ѐ5January1991  Ѐ4January1993  1(!..(!10August1993  CRC/C/8/Add.6 "@x"SriLanka  11August1991  10August1993  23March1994  CRC/C/8/Add.13 "x"TheformerYugoslav̀Republicof̀Macedonia  17September1991  16September1993     "x"Ukraine  27September1991  26September1993  Ѐ8October1993  CRC/C/8/Add.10/Rev.1 "x"UnitedRepublicof̀Tanzania  10July1991  Ѐ9July1993  29April1994  CRC/C/8/Add.14 "@x"Yemen  31May1991  30May1993  14November1994  CRC/C/8/Add.20 "@x"Yugoslavia  Ѐ2February1991  Ѐ1February1993  21September1994  CRC/C/8/Add.16 &@x&&@x&@%..Initialreportsduein1994 "x@"Stateparty  @Dateofentryintoforce  @Datedue  @Dateofsubmission  @Symbol "@x"Albania  28March1992  27March1994     "@x"Austria  Ѐ5September1992  Ѐ4September1994     "@x"Azerbaijan  12September1992  11September1994  Ѐ9November1995  CRC/C/11/Add.8 "@x"Bahrain  14March1992  14March1994     "@x"Belgium  15January1992  14January1994  12July1994  CRC/C/11/Add.4 "@x"BosniaandHerzegovina  Ѐ6March1992  Ѐ5March1994     "@x"Cambodia  14November1992  15November1994     "@x"Canada  12January1992  11January1994  17June1994  CRC/C/11/Add.3 "@x"CapeVerde  Ѐ4July1992  Ѐ3July1994     "x"CentralAfricaǹRepublic  23May1992  23May1994     "@x"China  Ѐ1April1992  31March1994  27March1995  CRC/C/11/Add.7 "@x"CzechRepublic  Ѐ1January1993  31December1994     "@x"EquatorialGuinea  15July1992  14July1994     "@x"Germany  Ѐ5April1992  Ѐ4May1994  30August1994  CRC/C/11/Add.5 "@x"Iceland  27November1992  26November1994  30November1994  CRC/C/11/Add.6 "@x"Ireland  28October1992  27October1994     "@x"Latvia  14May1992  13May1994     "@x"Lesotho  Ѐ9April1992  Ѐ8April1994     "@x"Lithuania  Ѐ1March1992  28February1994    &@x&@%..Initialreportsduein1994(continued) "x@"Stateparty  @Dateofentryintoforce  @Datedue  @Dateofsubmission  @Symbol "@x"Slovakia  Ѐ1January1993  31December1994     "@x"Thailand  26April1992  25April1994     "@x"TrinidadandTobago  Ѐ4January1992  Ѐ3January1994     "@x"Tunisia  29February1992  28February1994  16May1994  CRC/C/11/Add.2 "x"UnitedKingdomof̀GreatBritainand̀NorthernIreland  15January1992  14January1994  15March1994  CRC/C/11/Add.1 "@x"Zambia  Ѐ5January1992  Ѐ4January1994     "@x"         &@x&@%..Initialreportsduein1995 "@x"Algeria  16May1993  15May1995  16November1995  CRC/C/28/Add.4 "@x"AntiguaandBarbuda  Ѐ4November1993  Ѐ3November1995     "@x"Armenia  23July1993  Ѐ5August1995     "@x"Cameroon  10February1993  Ѐ9February1995     "@x"Comoros  22July1993  21July1995     "@x"Congo  13November1993  12November1995     "@x"Fiji  12September1993  11September1995     "@x"Greece  10June1993  Ѐ9June1995     "@x"India  11January1993  10January1995     "@x"Liberia  Ѐ4July1993  Ѐ3July1995     "@x"LibyanArabJamahiriya  15May1993  14May1995    &@x&@%..Initialreportsduein1995(continued) "x@"Stateparty  @Dateofentryintoforce  @Datedue  @Dateofsubmission  @Symbol "@x"MarshallIslands  Ѐ3November1993  Ѐ2November1995     "x"Micronesia(Federated̀Statesof)  Ѐ4June1993  Ѐ3June1995     "@x"Monaco  21July1993  20July1995     "@x"Morocco  21July1993  20July1995  27July1995  CRC/C/28/Add.1 "@x"NewZealand  Ѐ6May1993  Ѐ5May1995  29September1995  CRC/C/28/Add.3 "@x"PapuaNewGuinea  31March1993  31March1995     "@x"RepublicofMoldova  25February1993  24February1995     "@x"SaintLucia  16July1993  15July1995     "x"SaintVincentand̀theGrenadines  25November1993  24November1995     "@x"Suriname  31March1993  31March1995     "@x"SyrianArabRepublic  14August1993  13August1995  22September1995  CRC/C/28/Add.2 "@x"Tajikistan  25November1993  24November1995     "@x"Turkmenistan  20October1993  19October1995     "@x"Vanuatu  Ѐ6August1993  Ѐ5August1995     "@x"         &@x&@%..Initialreportsduein1996 "@x"Afghanistan  27April1994  26April1996     "@x"Gabon  11March1994  10March1996     "@x"Luxembourg  Ѐ6April1994  Ѐ5April1996    &@x&@%..Initialreportsduein1996(continued) "x@"Stateparty  @Dateofentryintoforce  @Datedue  @Dateofsubmission  @Symbol "@x"Japan  22May1994  21May1996     "@x"Mozambique  26May1994  25May1996     "@x"Georgia  Ѐ2July1994  Ѐ1July1996     "@x"Iraq  15July1994  14July1996     "@x"Uzbekistan  29July1994  28July1996     "x"Iran(Islamic̀Republicof)  12August1994  11August1996     "@x"Nauru  26August1994  25August1996     "@x"Eritrea  Ѐ2September1994  Ѐ1September1996     "@x"Kazakhstan  11September1994  10September1996     "@x"Kyrgyzstan  Ѐ6November1994  Ѐ5November1996     "@x"Samoa  29December1994  28December1996     &@x& &@x&Initialreportsduein1997 "@x"Netherlands  Ѐ7March1995  Ѐ6March1997     "@x"Malaysia  19March1995  18March1997     "@x"Botswana  13April1995  12April1997     "@x"Qatar  Ѐ3May1995  Ѐ2May1997     "@x"Turkey  Ѐ4May1995  Ѐ3May1997     "@x"SolomonIslands  10May1995  Ѐ9May1997     "@x"Haiti  Ѐ8July1995  Ѐ7July1997    &@x&Initialreportsduein1997(continued) "x@"Stateparty  @Dateofentryintoforce  @Datedue  @Dateofsubmission  @Symbol "@x"SouthAfrica  16July1995  15July1997     "@x"Palau  Ѐ3September1995  Ѐ3September1997     "@x"Swaziland  Ѐ6October1995  Ѐ5October1997     "@x"Tuvalu  22October1995  21October1997     "@x"Singapore  Ѐ4November1995  Ѐ3November1997     "@x"Tonga  Ѐ6December1995  Ѐ5December1997     "@x"         &@x@&Initialreportsduein1998 "@x"Kiribati  10January1996  Ѐ9January1998     "@x"Niue  19January1996  18January1998     "@x"Liechtenstein  21January1996  20January1998     "@x"BruneiDarussalam  26January1996  25January1998     "@x"Andorra  Ѐ1February1996  31January1998     "@x"SaudiArabia  25February1996  24February1998    п    \R6&\  33 +   ++P+   } UVPF++b >uQ!-$d&(* -@/w13P@..AnnexIV@.. LISTOFINITIALREPORTSCONSIDEREDBYTHECOMMITTEE@..4 ONTHERIGHTSOFTHECHILDASAT26JANUARY1996b..b ..  .. ..>..>Statepartyreports..Q..QObservationsb..b ..  .. ..>..>u..u......Q..Qadoptedb..b ..  .. ..>..>u..u......Q..QbytheCommitteeThirdsession(January1993)++b>Qb..bBolivia>..>CRC/C/3/Add.2Q..QQ..QQ..QCRC/C/15/Add.1b..bSweden>..>CRC/C/3/Add.1Q..QQ..QQ..QCRC/C/15/Add.2b..bVietNam>..>CRC/C/3/Add.4and21Q..QQ..QCRC/C/15/Add.3b..bRussianb..bFederation>..>CRC/C/3/Add.5Q..QQ..QQ..QCRC/C/15/Add.4b..bEgypt>..>CRC/C/3/Add.6Q..QQ..QQ..QCRC/C/15/Add.5b..bSudan>..>CRC/C/3/Add.3Q..QQ..QQ..QCRC/C/15/Add.6-!..-!-!..-!-!..-!-!..-!-!..-!-!..-!-!..-!-!..-!-!..-!-!..-!-!..-!-!..-!b..b>..>Q..Q(preliminary)Fourthsession(SeptemberOctober1993)b..bIndonesia>..>CRC/C/3/Add.10Q..QQ..QQ..QCRC/C/15/Add.7b..b>..>Q..QQ..QQ..QQ..QQ..QQ..QQ..Q(preliminary)b..bPeru>..>CRC/C/3/Add.7Q..QQ..QQ..QCRC/C/15/Add.8b..bElSalvador>..>CRC/C/3/Add.9and28Q..QQ..QCRC/C/15/Add.9b..bSudan>..>CRC/C/3/Add.3and20Q..QQ..QCRC/C/15/Add.10b..bCostaRica>..>CRC/C/3/Add.8Q..QQ..QQ..QCRC/C/15/Add.11b..bRwanda>..>CRC/C/8/Add.1Q..QQ..QQ..QCRC/C/15/Add.12b..b>..>Q..QQ..QQ..QQ..QQ..QQ..QQ..Q(preliminary)Fifthsession(January1994)b..bMexico>..>CRC/C/3/Add.11Q..QQ..QQ..QCRC/C/15/Add.13b..bNamibia>..>CRC/C/3/Add.12Q..QQ..QQ..QCRC/C/15/Add.14b..bColombia>..>CRC/C/8/Add.3Q..QQ..QQ..QCRC/C/15/Add.15b..b>..>Q..QQ..QQ..QQ..QQ..QQ..QQ..Q(preliminary)b..bRomania>..>CRC/C/3/Add.16Q..QQ..QQ..QCRC/C/15/Add.16b..bBelarus>..>CRC/C/3/Add.14Q..QQ..QQ..QQ..QQ..QQ..QQ..QCRC/C/15/Add.17Sixthsession(April1994)b..bPakistan>..>CRC/C/3/Add.13Q..QQ..QQ..QCRC/C/15/Add.18b..bBurkinaFaso>..>CRC/C/3/Add.19Q..QQ..QQ..QCRC/C/15/Add.19b..bFrance>..>CRC/C/3/Add.15Q..QQ..QQ..QCRC/C/15/Add.20b..bJordan>..>CRC/C/8/Add.4Q..QQ..QQ..QCRC/C/15/Add.21b..bChile>..>CRC/C/3/Add.18Q..QQ..QQ..QCRC/C/15/Add.22b..bNorway>..>CRC/C/8/Add.7Q..QQ..QQ..QCRC/C/15/Add.23b..b>..>StatespartyQ..QQ..QQ..QObservationsb..b>..>reportsQ..QQ..QQ..QQ..QQ..Qadoptedb..b>..>Q..QQ..QQ..QQ..QQ..QQ..QQ..QQ..QbytheCommitteeSeventhsession(SeptemberOctober1994)b..bHonduras>..>CRC/C/3/Add.17Q..QQ..QQ..QCRC/C/15/Add.24b..bIndonesia>..>CRC/C/3/Add.10and26Q..QQ..QCRC/C/15/Add.25b..bMadagascar>..>CRC/C/8/Add.5Q..QQ..QQ..QCRC/C/15/Add.26b..bParaguay>..>CRC/C/3/Add.22Q..QQ..QQ..QCRC/C/15/Add.27b..b>..>Q..QQ..QQ..QQ..QQ..QQ..QQ..Q(preliminary)b..bSpain>..>CRC/C/8/Add.6Q..QQ..QQ..QCRC/C/15/Add.28b..bArgentina>..>CRC/C/8/Add.2and17Q..QQ..QCRC/C/15/Add.35b..b>..>Q..QQ..QQ..QQ..QQ..QQ..QQ..Q(adoptedattheb..b>..>Q..QQ..QQ..QQ..QQ..QQ..QQ..Qeighthsession)Eighthsession(January1995)b..bPhilippines>..>CRC/C/3/Add.23Q..QQ..QQ..QCRC/C/15/Add.29b..bColombia>..>CRC/C/8/Add.3Q..QQ..QQ..QCRC/C/15/Add.30b..bPoland>..>CRC/C/8/Add.11Q..QQ..QQ..QCRC/C/15/Add.31b..bJamaica>..>CRC/C/8/Add.12Q..QQ..QQ..QCRC/C/15/Add.32b..bDenmark>..>CRC/C/8/Add.8Q..QQ..QQ..QCRC/C/15/Add.33b..bUnitedKingdom>..>CRC/C/11/Add.1Q..QQ..QQ..QCRC/C/15/Add.34Ninthsession(MayJune1995)b..bNicaragua>..>CRC/C/3/Add.25Q..QQ..QQ..QCRC/C/15/Add.36b..bCanada>..>CRC/C/11/Add.3Q..QQ..QQ..QCRC/C/15/Add.37b..bBelgium>..>CRC/C/11/Add.4Q..QQ..QQ..QCRC/C/15/Add.38b..bTunisia>..>CRC/C/11/Add.2Q..QQ..QQ..QCRC/C/15/Add.39b..bSriLanka>..>CRC/C/8/Add.13Q..QQ..QQ..QCRC/C/15/Add.40Tenthsession(OctoberNovember1995)b..bItaly>..>CRC/C/8/Add.18Q..QQ..QQ..QCRC/C/15/Add.41b..bUkraine>..>CRC/C/8/Add.10/Rev.1Q..QQ..QCRC/C/15/Add.42b..bGermany>..>CRC/C/11/Add.5Q..QQ..QQ..QCRC/C/15/Add.43b..bSenegal>..>CRC/C/3/Add.31Q..QQ..QQ..QCRC/C/15/Add.44b..bPortugal>..>CRC/C/3/Add.30Q..QQ..QQ..QCRC/C/15/Add.45b..bHolySee>..>CRC/C/3/Add.27Q..QQ..QQ..QCRC/C/15/Add.46b..b>..>StatespartyQ..QQ..QQ..QObservationsb..b>..>reportsQ..QQ..QQ..QQ..QQ..Qadoptedb..b>..>Q..QQ..QQ..QQ..QQ..QQ..QQ..QQ..QbytheCommitteeEleventhsession(January1996)b..bYemen>..>CRC/C/8/Add.20Q..QQ..QQ..QCRC/C/15/Add.47b..bMongolia>..>CRC/C/3/Add.32Q..QQ..QQ..QCRC/C/15/Add.48b..bFederalRepublicb..bofYugoslavia>..>CRC/C/8/Add.26Q..QQ..QQ..QCRC/C/15/Add.49b..bIceland>..>CRC/C/11/Add.6Q..QQ..QQ..QCRC/C/15/Add.50b..bRepublicofb..bKorea>..>CRC/C/8/Add.21Q..QQ..QQ..QCRC/C/15/Add.51b..bCroatia>..>CRC/C/8/Add.19Q..QQ..QQ..QCRC/C/15/Add.52b..bFinland>..>CRC/C/8/Add.22Q..QQ..QQ..QCRC/C/15/Add.53@..6AnnexV@..@..FPROVISIONALLISTOFINITIALREPORTSSCHEDULEDFORCONSIDERATION@.. ATTHECOMMITTEE'STWELFTHANDTHIRTEENTHSESSIONSTwelfthsession(20May7June1996)b..b>..>Q..QQ..QQ..QQ..QQ..QQ..QQ..QStatepartyreportb..bLebanon>..>Q..QQ..QQ..QQ..QQ..QCRC/C/8/Add.23b..bCyprus>..>Q..QQ..QQ..QQ..QQ..QCRC/C/8/Add.24b..bGuatemala>..>Q..QQ..QQ..QQ..QQ..QCRC/C/3/Add.33b..bChina>..>Q..QQ..QQ..QQ..QQ..QCRC/C/11/Add.7b..bNepal>..>Q..QQ..QQ..QQ..QQ..QCRC/C/3/Add.34b..bZimbabwe>..>Q..QQ..QQ..QQ..QQ..QCRC/C/3/Add.35b..bThirteenthsession(23September11October1996)b..bSlovenia>..>Q..QQ..QQ..QQ..QQ..QCRC/C/8/Add.25b..bNigeria>..>Q..QQ..QQ..QQ..QQ..QCRC/C/8/Add.26b..bMauritius>..>Q..QQ..QQ..QQ..QQ..QCRC/C/3/Add.36b..bMorocco>..>Q..QQ..QQ..QQ..QQ..QCRC/C/28/Add.1b..bUruguay>..>Q..QQ..QQ..QQ..QQ..QCRC/C/3/Add.37b..bEthiopia>..>Q..QQ..QQ..QQ..QQ..QCRC/C/8/Add.27b..b@..AnnexVI@.. LETTERDATED3JANUARY1996FROMTHEAMBASSADOROFTHE  FEDERALREPUBLICOFYUGOSLAVIATOTHEUNITEDNATIONS  OFFICEATGENEVAADDRESSEDTOTHECHAIRPERSONOFTHE@.. COMMITTEEONTHERIGHTSOFTHECHILDb..bWithreferencetothenoteoftheSecretaryGeneraloftheUnitedNations,G/SO228/2(3)of4December1995,invitingtheGovernmentoftheFederalRepublicofYugoslaviatosendhighlevelrepresentativestoattendthemeetingoftheCommitteeontheRightsoftheChild(Geneva,18-26January1996)scheduledforconsideringtheinitialreportoftheGovernmentoftheFederalRepublicofYugoslaviaontheimplementationoftheConventionontheRightsoftheChild,mayI,upontheGovernment'sinstruction,informyouthatthepositionoftheFederalRepublicofYugoslaviaremainsunchangedinrespecttotheabove-mentionedquestion,explainedinmyletterNo.208/2of24March1995.b..bTherefore,theGovernmentoftheFederalRepublicofYugoslaviaisnotinapositiontotakepartintheforthcomingdeliberationsoftheCommitteeontheRightsoftheChild. ++%..(Signed):Q%..Dr.VladimirPavicevic..Q%..1Ambassador@..AnnexVII8.++b >uQ!8@.. LETTERDATED9JANUARY1996FROMTHECHAIRPERSONOFTHE  COMMITTEEONTHERIGHTSOFTHECHILDADDRESSEDTOTHE  AMBASSADOROFTHEFEDERALREPUBLICOFYUGOSLAVIATO@.. THEUNITEDNATIONSOFFICEATGENEVAb..bIshouldliketorefertoyourletterof3January1996concerningtheinvitationtoparticipateintheconsiderationbytheCommitteeontheRightsoftheChildoftheinitialreportofYugoslaviascheduledtotakeplaceon15and16January1996.b..bNotehasbeentakenofthereasonspresentedbyyourGovernmentasunderlyingitsposition.TheCommittee,however,wouldliketoreiterateitsviewinthisconnectionthatitconsiderstheFederalRepublicofYugoslaviaasdutyboundasaStatepartytotheConventionontheRightsoftheChildandwillcontinuetoproceedonthebasisofthisunderstanding.b..bAsmentionedinyourletterof24March1995,theGovernmentoftheFederalRepublicofYugoslaviahasestablishedafruitfuldialoguewiththeCommittee.TheparticipationofrepresentativesofyourGovernmentintheforthcomingdeliberationsoftheCommitteewouldnodoubtprovideavaluableopportunitytopursuethisdialoguewithdueregardtothebestinterestsofthechildrenoftheFederalRepublicofYugoslavia.b..bItisthereforethehopeoftheCommitteethatyourGovernmentwillreconsideritsdecisionnottoparticipateintheconsiderationofthereportbytheCommitteeatthepresentsession. ++..(Signed):Q..AkilaBelembaogo..Q..Chairperson..Q..CommitteeontheRightsoftheChild8.++b >uQ!8@..AnnexVIII f STATEMENTBYTHECOMMITTEEONTHERIGHTSOFTHE f CHILDTOTHESECONDUNITEDNATIONSCONFERENCE@.."ONHUMANSETTLEMENTS(HABITATII)b..bTheCommitteeontheRightsoftheChildconsidersthattheconveningoftheSecondUnitedNationsConferenceonHumanSettlements(HabitatII)inIstanbulinJune1996isanopportunitytoreaffirmtherighttohousingasafundamentalhumanrightofchildrenandtoexaminesomeoftheaspectsoftheimplementationofthisrightinthelightoftheprovisionsandprinciplesoftheConventionontheRightsoftheChild.b..bAttheoutset,theCommitteeontheRightsoftheChildacknowledgestheinternationalrecognitionofthehumanrighttoadequatehousing,forthefirsttime,intheUniversalDeclarationofHumanRights,article25ofwhichstatesthat"everyonehastherighttoastandardoflivingadequateforthehealthandwell-beingofhimselfandofhisfamily,including...housing".b..bInthissense,theCommitteetakesnoteofandfollowscloselytheactivitiesundertakenbytheUnitedNationssysteminthefieldofhousingrights,inparticularthoseofthehumanrightstreatybodiesandmechanisms,suchastheSpecialRapporteurontherighttoadequatehousingoftheSub-CommissiononPreventionofDiscriminationandProtectionofMinorities.b..bItalsonotesthat,inoneformulationoranother,therighttohousingiscontainedinvariousinternationalhumanrightsinstruments,includingtheInternationalCovenantonEconomic,SocialandCulturalRights(art.11),theInternationalConventionontheEliminationofAllFormsofRacialDiscrimination(art.5)andtheConventionontheEliminationofAllFormsofDiscriminationagainstWomen(art.14).b..bInthisrespect,theCommitteewouldalsoliketorecallGeneralCommentNo.4ontherighttoadequatehousing,adoptedin1991bytheCommitteeonEconomic,SocialandCulturalRights.b..bInthelightofthepervasivenessofthephenomenonofhomelessnessandinadequatehousing,whichoccursinallpartsoftheworldandaffectsdevelopingaswellasdevelopedcountries,theCommitteedeemsitimportanttoemphasizetheuniversalcharacteroftherighttohousing.Itappliestoeverychild,withoutrestrictionordistinctionofanykind,includingonthebasisofsex,religion,race,national,ethnicorsocialoriginorproperty.b..bTheCommitteebelievesthat,asreflectedinGeneralCommentNo.4oftheCommitteeonEconomic,SocialandCulturalRights,therighttohousingshouldnotbeinterpretedinanarroworrestrictivesense,buthastobeinterpretedasarighttolivesomewhereinsecurity,peaceanddignity.b..bAsearlyas1924,therighttoadequate"materialandspirituallivingconditionsfortheachievementofanormalandharmoniousdevelopmentofthechild",wasincorporatedinPrincipleNo.1oftheDeclarationontheRightsoftheChildoftheLeagueofNations,theso-called"DeclarationofGeneva".b..bThirtyyearslater,in1959,theGeneralAssemblyoftheUnitedNations,initsresolution1386(XIV),proclaimedtheDeclarationoftheRightsoftheChild,principle4ofwhichstates:0b..b .. "Thechildshallenjoythebenefitsofsocialsecurity.Heshallbeentitledtogrowanddevelopinhealth;tothisendspecialcareandprotectionshallbeprovidedbothtohimandhismother,includingadequateprenatalandpostnatalcare.Thechildshallhavetherighttoadequatenutrition,housing,recreationandmedicalservices."b..bTheCommitteeconsidersthatitisimportanttoplacespecialemphasisontherighttohousingofchildren,inthelightoftheprovisionsandprinciplesoftheConventionontheRightsoftheChild,adoptedin1989.b..bTheConventionconstitutesthelegalandpoliticalreferenceintheareaofchildren'srightsforalmosteverycountryintheworld,sinceithasbeenratifiedoraccededtoby187States.TheStatespartiestotheConventionhavecommittedthemselvestorespectandensurethefundamentalrightsofchildrenandtoadoptallnecessarymeasuresfortheirwell-beingandtheharmoniousdevelopmentoftheirpersonality,guidedbytheprincipleofthebestinterestsofthechildandtothemaximumextentoftheStatesparties'resources.b..bArticle27oftheConventionstatesinverybroadtermstherightofeverychildtoanadequatestandardoflivingandclearlydefinesparents'andStates'responsibilitiestothateffect:0b..b"1. .. Statespartiesrecognizetherightofeverychildtoastandardoflivingadequateforthechild'sphysical,mental,spiritual,moralandsocialdevelopment.0b..b"2. .. Theparent(s)orothersresponsibleforthechildhavetheprimaryresponsibilitytosecure,withintheirabilitiesandfinancialcapacities,theconditionsoflivingnecessaryforthechild'sdevelopment.0b..b"3. .. Statesparties,inaccordancewithnationalconditionsandwithintheirmeans,shalltakeappropriatemeasurestoassistparentsandothersresponsibleforthechildtoimplementthisrightandshallincaseofneedprovidematerialassistanceandsupportprogrammes,particularlywithregardtonutrition,clothingandhousing."b..bTherighttohousingis,therefore,explicitlyreferredtointheConventionasanessentialcomponentoftherighttoastandardoflivingadequateforthechild'soveralldevelopment,alongthesamelinesasintheUniversalDeclarationofHumanRightsandotherinternationalinstruments.b..bOntheotherhand,theCommitteebelievesthattheimplementationoftherighttohousingofchildrenclearlyillustratestheuniversality,indivisibilityandinterdependenceofhumanrights,asincorporatedintheViennaDeclarationandtheProgrammeofAction,adoptedbytheWorldConferenceonHumanRightsin1993.Infact,thedynamicrelationshipexistingbetweentherightofchildrentoadequatehousingandmanyotherchildren'srights,includingtheireconomic,socialandculturalrights,pointsoutveryclearlyhowessentialtheconceptsofindivisibilityandinterdependencearetothefullenjoymentbyallchildrenoftheirhumanrights.b..bInthiscontext,whenconsideringreportssubmittedbyStatesparties,theCommitteehasdecidedtomonitortheimplementationoftherighttohousingofchildreninthelightoftheimplementationofthegeneralprinciplesoftheConvention,namelytherighttonon-discrimination(art.2),thebestinterestsofthechild(art.3),therighttolife(art.6)andtherighttoparticipation(art.12).Similarly,theCommitteealsotakesintodueconsiderationtheimplementationofotherrelevantrightsofchildrencontainedintheConvention,inthevariousotherareascoveredbytheConvention,especiallywhenassessingthesituationofchildreninparticularlyvulnerablesituations,includingchildrenlivingand/orworkinginthestreetsandabandonedchildren.b..bItisimportanttoemphasizethattherightstohousingofchildrenareinterrelatedtoandinterdependentwithnearlyeveryotherrightcontainedintheConvention.ThisunderlinesthecomprehensiveandholisticthrustoftheConvention,aswellasofitsprocessofimplementationandmonitoring.b..bReaffirmingtheimportanceitattachestomaintainingeffectivecooperationandmeaningfuldialoguewithUnitedNationsbodiesactiveinareasessentialtotherealizationofchildren'srights,theCommitteedecidedtoparticipateintheExpertGroupMeetingontheHumanRighttoAdequateHousing,organizedbytheCentreforHumanRightsandtheUnitedNationsCentreforHumanSettlements(Habitat)inJanuary1996inGeneva,andwelcomedtheattentionpaidbythemeetingtothespecificsituationofchildreninrelationtohousingrightsandinviewofthemagnitudeofglobalhousingproblems.b..bFurthermore,andstressingthenecessityandimportanceofensuringitsinvolvementintheSecondUnitedNationsConferenceonHumanSettlements(HabitatII)anditspreparatoryactivities,theCommitteedecidedtofollowcloselythedraftingprocessoftheHabitatAgenda,withaviewtoensuringthatthesituationandthefundamentalrighttoadequatehousingofchildrenaredulyreflectedandincorporatedinthetextoftheadoptedfinaldocument,andasameansofreinforcingthehumanrightscomponentinthedeliberationsofandfollow-uptotheConference,intheframeworkofinternationalcooperation.@..AnnexIX@..f GENERALDISCUSSIONON"THECHILDANDTHEMEDIA"b..b"Thechildandthemedia"isthethemeforthenextgeneraldiscussionoftheUnitedNationsCommitteeontheRightsoftheChild.Thediscussionwilltakeplaceon7October1996attheUnitedNationsOfficeatGeneva.UnitedNationsbodiesandspecializedagenciesaswellasnon-governmentalorganizationsandrepresentativesofthemedia,includingorganizationsofjournalists,areinvitedtotakepartinthisfull-daydiscussion.b..bThisdecisionwastakenbytheCommitteeontheRightsoftheChildatitseleventhsessioninthelightofrule75oftheitsprovisionalrulesofprocedure.ThepurposeofthegeneraldiscussionsistoenhanceadeeperunderstandingofthecontentandimplicationsoftheConvention.Thediscussionsarepublic.b..bTheConventionontheRightsoftheChildisformallyaddressedtoGovernmentsanddoesnotinterferewiththeindependenceofthemedia;however,itdoeshaveanindirectmessageformediainstitutions:aswithhumanrightsingeneral,thepressandothermediahaveessentialfunctionsinpromotingandprotectingthefundamentalrightsofthechild.b..bTheCommitteeontheRightsoftheChildbelievesthatthemedia-bothwrittenandaudiovisual-arehighlyimportantintheeffortstomakerealitytheprinciplesandstandardsoftheConvention.ThemediainmanycountrieshavealreadycontributedgreatlyincreatinganawarenessoftheConventionanditscontent.Themediacouldalsoplayapivotalroleinmonitoringtheactualimplementationoftherightsofthechild.b..bIntheirreportingthemediagivean"image"ofthechild;theyreflectandinfluenceperceptionsaboutwhochildrenareandhowtheybehave.Thisimagecouldcreateandconveyrespectforyoungpeople;however,itcouldalsospreadprejudicesandstereotypeswhichmayhaveanegativeinfluenceonpublicopinionandpoliticians.Nuancedandwell-informedreportingistothebenefitoftherightsofthechild.b..bItisimportantthatthemediathemselvesdonotabusechildren.Theintegrityofthechildshouldbeprotectedinreportingabout,forinstance,involvementincriminalactivities,sexualabuseandfamilyproblems.Fortunately,themediainsomecountrieshavevoluntarilyagreedtorespectguidelineswhichoffersuchprotectionoftheprivacyofthechild;however,suchethicalstandardsarenotalwaysadheredto.b..bConcernhasalsobeenexpressedabouttheinfluenceonchildrenofnegativeaspectsofthemedia,primarilyprogrammescontainingbrutalviolenceandpornography.Thereisdiscussioninanumberofcountriesabouthowtoprotectchildrenfromviolenceontelevisioninvideofilmsandinothermodernmedia.Again,voluntaryagreementshavebeenattempted,withvariedimpact.Thisparticularproblemisraisedinarticle17oftheConventionwhichrecommendsthatappropriateguidelinesbedeveloped"fortheprotectionofthechildfrominformationandmaterialinjurioustohisorherwell-being".Suchguidelineshaveindeedbeendevelopedinsomecountries,withvariedresults.TheUnitedNationsEducational,ScientificandCulturalOrganizationhasrecentlyreneweddiscussiononthistopic.b..bFinally,themediaisimportantforofferingchildrenthepossibilityofexpressingthemselves.OneoftheprinciplesoftheConventionisthattheviewsofchildrenbeheardandgivenduerespect(art.12).Thisisalsoreflectedinarticlesaboutfreedomofexpression,thought,conscienceandreligion(arts.13-14).Itisinthespiritoftheseprovisionsthatchildrenshouldnotonlybeabletoconsumeinformationmaterialbutalsotoparticipatethemselvesinthemedia.Thisrequiresthatthereexistmediawhichcommunicatewithchildren.TheCommitteeontheRightsoftheChildhasnotedthattherehavebeenexperimentsinseveralcountriestodevelopchild-orientedmedia;somedailynewspapershavespecialpagesforchildrenandradioandtelevisionprogrammesalsodevotespecialsegmentsfortheyoungaudience.Furthereffortsare,however,needed.b..bForthegeneraldiscussion,theCommitteeontheRightsoftheChildinviteswrittencontributionsonallthetopicsmentionedabove.TheCommitteehasdecidedtorecommendspecialemphasisonthefollowingaspects:b..b(a) .. Whatcanbedonetoprotectchildrenfromharmfulmediaviolence?b..b(b) .. Whatcanbedonetoencouragethemediatocontributeincombatingxenophobia?b..b(c) .. Whatcanbedonetodevelopthepossibilitiesforchildrentoparticipateactivelyinthemedia?b..bTheanalysisisintendedtocoverallformsofmedia,includingvideogamesandtheINTERNET.b..bWritteninputiswelcomeandshouldbeaddressedtotheUnitedNationsCommitteeontheRightsoftheChild,c/oCentreforHumanRights,PalaisdesNations,Geneva,Switzerland,by2September1996.@..6AnnexX@..LISTOFDOCUMENTSISSUEDFORTHEELEVENTHSESSIONOFTHECOMMITTEE ++'CRC/C/3/Add.320'..'InitialreportofMongoliaCRC/C/8/Add.160'..'InitialreportoftheFederalRepublicofYugoslaviaCRC/C/8/Add.190'..'InitialreportofCroatiaandannexCRC/C/8/Add.200'..'InitialreportofYemenCRC/C/8/Add.210'..'InitialreportoftheRepublicofKoreaCRC/C/8/Add.220'..'InitialreportofFinlandCRC/C/11/Add.60'..'InitialreportofIcelandCRC/C/15/Add.470'..'Concludingobservations:YemenCRC/C/15/Add.480'..'Concludingobservations:MongoliaCRC/C/15/Add.490'..'Concludingobservations:FederalRepublicofYugoslavia(SerbiaandMontenegro)CRC/C/15/Add.500'..'Concludingobservations:IcelandCRC/C/15/Add.510'..'Concludingobservations:RepublicofKoreaCRC/C/15/Add.520'..'Concludingobservations:CroatiaCRC/C/15/Add.530'..'Concludingobservations:FinlandCRC/C/27/Rev.40'..'NotebytheSecretaryGeneralonthefollowuptotheconsiderationofreportsCRC/C/40/Rev.20'..'NotebytheSecretaryGeneralonareasidentifiedbytheCommitteefortechnicalassistanceCRC/C/470'..'ProvisionalagendaandannotationsCRC/C/480'..'NotebytheSecretaryGeneralontheStatespartiestotheConventionandthestatusofsubmissionofreportsCRC/C/490'..'NotebytheSecretaryGeneraloninitialreportsbyStatespartiesduein1997CRC/C/SR.2602870'..'Summaryrecordsoftheeleventhsession@..