General Documents Not Relating To Specific States - Annual and Sessional Reports - CRC

1. Although the Convention on the Rights of the Child does not require the presence of the representatives of the States parties at the meetings during which their respective reports are examined by the Committee, such a presence is highly desirable.

2. Rule 68 of the Provisional Rules of Procedure of the Committee establishes that “representatives of the States parties shall be invited to attend the meetings of the Committee when their reports are examined”. The intention underlying this rule is to enable an effective and constructive dialogue between the Committee and the reporting States, which can be facilitated by the attendance of high-level representatives of the States parties.

3. Notwithstanding the desirability of such a dialogue, the Committee may use its right to examine reports even in the absence of a positive reaction on the part of a State party to the invitation to attend the meetings of the Committee. Such an approach is deemed necessary in order to enable the Committee to meet its mandate and heavy workload expeditiously and efficiently.

Welcoming the progress made by the Preparatory Committee on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court (ICC) in preparing a draft consolidated text of a convention on the establishment of an International Criminal Court,

Welcoming also resolution 52/160 adopted by the General Assembly on 15 December 1997, in which the Assembly decided, inter alia, that the United Nations Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court shall be held in Rome from 15 June to 17 July 1998, with a view to finalizing and adopting a convention on the establishment of such a Court,

Emphasizing the importance of ensuring that, in creating a permanent mechanism for the prevention and punishment of serious crimes of concern to the international community as a whole, the statute of the International Criminal Court duly take into account the need to protect the rights of children, both as victims and possible perpetrators of the said crimes, in accordance with the principles and provisions set forth by the Convention on the Rights of the Child,

Considering that, in this respect, special attention should be devoted to the issues of definition of war crimes, age of criminal responsibility, aggravating and mitigating circumstances of the crimes and the protection of the rights of the child within the Court’s jurisdiction,

Recalling that, under article 43, paragraph 1 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Committee was established “for the purpose of examining the progress made by States parties in achieving the realization of the obligations undertaken” in the Convention,

1. Recommends to all States parties to and signatories of the Convention on the Rights of the Child to operate, in the Preparatory Committee on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court and at the 1998 Rome Diplomatic Conference, with a view to ensuring that the provisions of the ICC statute be in line with the principles and provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child with respect to the various aspects of the protection of children’s rights;

2. Further recommends that special attention be devoted, in this context, to the rights of the child in the areas of definition of war crimes, age of criminal responsibility, aggravating and mitigating circumstances of the crimes and the protection of the rights of the child victim within the Court’s jurisdiction.

1. As at 23 January 1998, the closing date of the seventeenth session of the Committee on the Rights of the Child, there were 191 States parties to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The Convention was adopted by the General Assembly in resolution 44/25 of 20 November 1989 and opened for signature and ratification or accession in New York on 26 January 1990. It entered into force on 2 September 1990, in accordance with the provisions of its article 49. A list of States that have signed, ratified or acceded to the Convention is contained in annex I to the present report.

2. The texts of the declarations, reservations or objections made by States parties with respect to the Convention are reproduced in document CRC/C/2/Rev.7.

3. The Committee on the Rights of the Child held its seventeenth session at the United Nations Office at Geneva from 5 to 23 January 1998. The Committee held 27 meetings (427th to 453rd). An account of the Committee's deliberations at its seventeenth session is contained in the relevant summary records (CRC/C/SR.427428, 432434, 436438, 440441, 443, 445, 448 and 453).

4. All the members of the Committee except Mr. Ghassan Salim Rabah attended the seventeenth session. A list of the members, together with an indication of the duration of their terms of office, is provided in annex II to the present report. Mr. Francesco Paolo Fulci, Mrs. Esther Margaret Queen Mokhuane and Mrs. Marilia Sardenberg were not able to attend the session in its entirety.

5. The following United Nations bodies were represented at the session: United Nations Children's Fund, United Nations Development Programme, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

6. The following specialized agencies were also represented at the session: International Labour Organization, International Monetary Fund, UNAIDS, World Health Organization.

7. Representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross also attended the session.

8. Representatives of the following non-governmental organizations were also in attendance at the session:

International Alliance of Women, International Council of Women, International Movement ATD Fourth World, International Save the Children Alliance, Zonta International.

Coalition against Trafficking in Women, Defence for Children International, International Association of Juvenile and Family Court Magistrates, International Catholic Child Bureau, International Federation of Social Workers, International Federation Terre des Hommes, International Federation of Women in Legal Careers, International Service for Human Rights, Women's World Summit Foundation, World Federation of Methodist and Uniting Church Women, World Union of Catholic Women's Organizations.

Associated Country Women of the World, Association François-Xavier Bagnoud, Children's Forum, Children's Rights Alliance, Children's Rights Office, ECPAT International, Epoch Worldwide, Federation for the Protection of Children's Rights, International Bureau for Children's Rights, International Council of Jewish Women, Irish Society for the

Prevention of Cruelty to Children, National Coalition, NGO Group for the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Rädda Barnen, World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts.

9. At its 427th meeting, on 5 January 1998, the Committee adopted the following provisional agenda.

3. Submission of reports by States parties in accordance with article 44 of the Convention

5. Cooperation with United Nations bodies, specialized agencies and other competent bodies

10. At the 428th meeting, on 6 January 1998, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mrs. Mary Robinson, addressed the Committee.

11. In her statement, the High Commissioner stressed the importance of 1998 as the year of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Five-Year Implementation Review of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, and indicated that the protection of children must be central to such activities. She recalled that violations of the rights of the child were still widespread, and that high priority would continue to be needed to deal with the problems of children in especially difficult circumstances, notably victims of sale, sexual exploitation and child labour, as well as to the special disadvantages affecting the girl child. She also stated that activities undertaken in the framework of the Plan of Action for the Implementation of the Convention strengthened the potential to develop cooperation with partners from within and outside the United Nations. She referred to the impact the Convention has had on the activities and programmes of various agencies and programmes, a number of which had adopted a “rights of the child approach” and stressed the invaluable advice and support of the Committee in this respect.

12. In accordance with a decision of the Committee at its first session, a pre-sessional working group met in Geneva from 13 to 17 October 1997. All members except Mr. Francesco Paolo Fulci, Mrs. Esther Margaret Queen Mokhuane, Mrs. Nafsiah Mboi and Mrs. Marilia Sardenberg participated in the working group. Representatives of the United Nations Children's Fund, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Labour Organization, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the World Health Organization also participated in the meetings of the working group. A representative of the NGO Group for the Convention on the Rights of the Child, as well as representatives from various national and international nongovernmental organizations, attended the session.

13. The purpose of the presessional working group is to facilitate the Committee's work under articles 44 and 45 of the Convention, primarily by reviewing State party reports and identifying in advance the main questions that would need to be discussed with the representatives of the reporting States. It also provides an opportunity to consider questions relating to technical assistance and international cooperation.

14. The presessional working group held 9 meetings, at which it examined lists of issues put before it by members of the Committee relating to the initial reports of six countries: Ireland, Japan, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Maldives, the Federated States of Micronesia and Sierra Leone. The lists of issues were transmitted to the Permanent Missions of the States concerned with a note requesting written answers to the issues raised in the list, if possible before 8 December 1997.

15. The Committee considered the organization of work at its 427th meeting, on 5 January 1998. The Committee had before it the draft programme of work for the sixteenth session, prepared by the SecretaryGeneral in consultation with the Chairperson of the Committee, and the report of the Committee on its sixteenth session (CRC/C/69).

16. The Committee noted that its eighteenth session would take place from 18 May to 5 June 1998 and its pre-sessional working group would meet from 26 to 30 January 1998.

(a) Notes by the SecretaryGeneral on initial reports by States parties due in 1992 (CRC/C/3), 1993 (CRC/C/8/Rev.3), 1994 (CRC/C/11/Rev.3), 1995 (CRC/C/28), 1996 (CRC/C/41), 1997 (CRC/C/51) and 1998 (CRC/C/61); and on periodic reports of States parties due in 1997 (CRC/C/65) and 1998 (CRC/C/70);

(b) Note by the SecretaryGeneral on the States parties to the Convention and the status of submission of reports (CRC/C/72);

(c) Note by the SecretaryGeneral on the follow-up to the consideration of initial reports by States parties to the Convention (CRC/C/27/Rev.9);

(d) Note by the SecretaryGeneral on areas in which the need for technical advice and advisory services has been identified in the light of the observations adopted by the Committee (CRC/C/40/Rev.8).

The Committee was informed that, in addition to the four reports that were scheduled for consideration by the Committee at its present session (see paragraph 24 below) and those which had been received prior to the Committee's sixteenth session (see CRC/C/69, para. 16), the SecretaryGeneral had received the initial reports of South Africa (CRC/C/5/Add.1), Iran, Islamic Republic of (CRC/C/41/Add.5), Cambodia (CRC/C/11/Add.16) and Malta (CRC/C/3/Add.56) and the second periodic reports of Nicaragua (CRC/C/65/Add.4), Russian Federation (CRC/C/65/Add.5), Mexico (CRC/C/65/Add.6) and Costa Rica (CRC/C/65/Add.7). The status of submission of reports by States parties under article 44 of the Convention is given in annex III.

18. A list of initial reports considered by the Committee as of 23 January 1998, as well as a provisional list of initial reports scheduled for consideration at the Committee's eighteenth and nineteenth sessions, are contained in annexes V and VI respectively.

19. As at 23 January 1998, the Committee had received 113 initial and 8 periodic reports. A total of 82 reports have been examined by the Committee.

20. By a note verbale dated 3 October 1997, the Permanent Mission of Yemen to the United Nations Office at Geneva transmitted a progress report in accordance with the recommendation made by the Committee in the concluding observations (CRC/C/15/Add.47) it had adopted at its eleventh session upon consideration of the initial report of Yemen (CRC/C/8/Add.20).

21. By a note verbale dated 24 December 1997, the Permanent Mission of the People's Republic of China to the United Nations Office at Geneva transmitted additional information submitted in accordance with the recommendations made by the Committee in the concluding observations (CRC/C/15/Add.56) it had adopted at its twelfth session upon consideration of the initial report of China (CRC/C/11/Add.7).

22. The Committee took note of the letter dated 10 October 1997 from the Chargé d'affaires a.i. of Cuba to the United Nations addressed to the SecretaryGeneral transmitting the views of the Government of the Republic of Cuba concerning the observations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on Cuba's initial report (A/C.3/52/3).

23. At its seventeenth session, the Committee examined initial reports submitted by three States parties under article 44 of the Convention. It devoted 8 of its 27 meetings to the consideration of reports (see CRC/C/SR.432434, 436438 and 440441).

24. The following reports, listed in the order in which they were received by the SecretaryGeneral, were before the Committee at its seventeenth session: Maldives (CRC/C/8/Add.33 and Add.37), Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (CRC/C/28/Add.6), Ireland (CRC/C/11/Add.12) and the Federated States of Micronesia (CRC/C/28/Add.5).

25. In accordance with rule 68 of the provisional rules of procedure of the Committee, representatives of all the reporting States were invited to attend the meetings of the Committee at which their reports were examined.

26. In view of the fact that no representative of the Government of Maldives attended the session, the consideration of the initial report of the Maldives, which was originally scheduled for the seventeenth session, was postponed until the eighteenth session, during which the Committee would consider the report even in the absence of a delegation from the Maldives (see also Chapter I, recommendation 1 above).

27. The following sections, arranged on a countrybycountry basis according to the sequence followed by the Committee in its consideration of the reports, contain concluding observations reflecting the main points of discussion and indicating, where necessary, issues that require specific followup.

28. More detailed information is contained in the report submitted by the States parties and in the summary records of the relevant meetings of the Committee.

29. The Committee considered the initial report of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (CRC/C/28/Add.6) at its 432nd to 434th meetings (CRC/C/SR.432434) on 8 and 9 January 1998, and adopted* the following concluding observations:

30. The Committee expresses its appreciation to the State party for its report, which has been prepared in conformity with the Committee's guidelines, and for the submission of written replies to its list of issues (CRC/C/Q/LIBYA.1). The Committee notes the constructive dialogue it had with the delegation of the State party, and the replies it received from the delegation during the dialogue. The Committee also notes the supplementary information provided by the delegation during the consideration of the report.

31. The Committee welcomes the fact that the Convention is selfexecuting and that its provisions may be invoked before the courts in the State party.

32. The Committee notes with satisfaction the range of services provided by the State party, especially in the fields of health and education. The Committee particularly notes that education is free of charge and that primary school attendance is nearly universal. The Committee also notes with satisfaction that health services are free for all children, breastfeeding has reached the level of 91 per cent, and that a range of specialized services and facilities exist for persons with disabilities, including children.

33. In light of General Comment No. 8 adopted by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1997), the Committee notes that the imposition by the Security Council of an aerial embargo on the State party has adversely affected the economy and many aspects of the daily life of its citizens, thereby impeding the full enjoyment by the State party's population, including children, of their rights to health and education.

34. The Committee is concerned that domestic legislation is not in full conformity with the principles and provisions of the Convention.

35. The Committee, while noting with appreciation of existence of various government bodies responsible for the welfare of children at the national and local levels, regrets the lack of adequate coordination among these bodies in promoting and protecting the rights of the child and developing a comprehensive approach to the implementation of the Convention.

36. The Committee acknowledges that efforts have been made by the State party to promote awareness of the provisions of the Convention in schools. The Committee remains concerned, however, that insufficient steps have been taken to date to promote awareness and understanding of the principles and provisions of the convention among both children and adults. The Committee is particularly concerned that the training on children's rights provided to professionals working with and for children appears to be insufficient and unsystematic.

37. The Committee is concerned that no adequate measures have been taken for the development of indicators and the systematic collection of disaggregated quantitative and qualitative data on the areas covered by the Convention in relation to all groups of children in order to monitor and evaluate progress achieved and assess the impact of policies adopted with respect to children. The Committee is particularly concerned over the absence of data on adolescent health, including on teenage pregnancy, abortion, suicide, violence and abuse.

38. The Committee wishes to express its general concern that the State party does not appear to have fully taken into account the provisions of the Convention, especially its general principles, as reflected in its article 2 (nondiscrimination), 3 (best interests of the child), 6 (right to life, survival and development) and 12 (respect for the views of the child), in its legislation, its administrative and judicial decisions, as well as in its policies and programmes relevant to children. While noting the existence of mechanisms to register and address complaints, the Committee is concerned at the absence of an independent mechanism to register and address complaints from children concerning violations of their rights under the law.

39. The Committee regrets that the Great Green Document and Human Rights, promulgated by the General People's Congress, does not include an express prohibition of discrimination on the basis of language, national ethnic or social origin, property, disability and birth status. The Committee is especially concerned at discrimination against children of migrant workers and noncitizens, and children born out of wedlock. The Committee is also concerned that although the Great Green Document on human Rights prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, there are still disparities in legislation and practice, in particular with regard to inheritance rights. The Committee is further concerned that in the light of Libyan legislation regarding citizenship, decisions related to the acquisition of nationality are based only on the status of the father.

40. In the light of articles 2 and 3 of the Convention, the Committee is concerned at the continued use of the term “illegitimate children”, to refer to children born out of wedlock, in administrative instructions and regulations by the State party, which could lead to discriminatory practices against these children.

41. The Committee notes with deep concern that the law applicable in the case of rape of a minor excuses the perpetrator of the crime from penal prosecution if he is prepared to marry his victim.

42. The Committee expresses its concern about the lack of prohibition in local legislation of the use of corporal punishment, however light, at home. In the view of the Committee, this contravenes the principles and provisions of the convention.

43. The Committee is concerned by the existence of child abuse and violence within the family.

44. While noting improvements in the overall nutritional status of children in the State party, the Committee notes with concern that diarrhoea and chronic undernutrition or stunting in children under the age of five are still widespread.

45. The Committee is concerned at the situation of the administration of juvenile justice and in particular its compatibility with articles 37 and 40 of the Convention, as well as other relevant United Nations standards such as the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of Juvenile Justice (Beijing Rules), the United Nations Guidelines for the Prevention of Juvenile delinquency (Riyadh Guidelines) and the United Nations Rules for the Protection of Juveniles Deprived of their Liberty.

46. The Committee recommends that the State party review its legislation with the aim of reforming it so that it conforms fully with the Convention. The Committee suggests that the State party consider enacting a children's code. The Committee recommends specifically that the legislation explicitly prohibit discrimination on any grounds, including language, national, ethnic or social origin, property, disability and birth status. The Committee also recommends that domestic legislation be reformed to guarantee the right to a nationality to every child in the light of article 7 of the Convention.

47. The Committee recommends that further steps be taken by the State party to strengthen coordination between the various government bodies involved in children's rights at both national and local levels as well as between the ministries, and that greater efforts be made to ensure closer cooperation with nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) working in the field of human and children's rights.

48. The Committee recommends that the State party consider designing and implementing a special plan of action for children reflecting a comprehensive approach to children's rights and incorporating all aspects and provisions of the Convention.

49. The Committee recommends that greater efforts be made to ensure that the provisions of the Convention are widely known and understood by adults and children alike. The Committee also recommends that systematic training and retraining programmes on the rights of the child be organized for professional groups working with and for children, such as judges, lawyers, law enforcement personnel, teachers, school administrators, health personnel, social workers, officials of central or local administrations, personnel of childcare institutions, the mass media, and the public at large. The Committee suggests that the State party incorporate the Convention in school and university curricula. The Committee also suggests that the State party seek technical assistance from, inter alia, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and UNICEF for organizing such training and curricula reform.

50. The Committee recommends that the system of data collection be reviewed with a view to incorporating all the areas covered by the Convention. Such a system should include all children, with specific emphasis on vulnerable children and children in especially difficult circumstances, including those who are victims of abuse or illtreatment, child workers, children involved with the administration of juvenile justice, the girl child, children of singleparent families and children born out of wedlock, abandoned, institutionalized and with disabilities. Adequate disaggregated data should be gathered and analysed in order to assess progress achieved in the realization of children's rights and to help in defining policies to better implement the provisions of the Convention. With respect to the latter issue, the Committee recommends that further studies and followup surveys on vulnerable groups of children be initiated and that the State party consider seeking technical assistance from, inter alia, UNICEF and ILO.

51. The Committee recommends that the State party consider the introduction of a number of policies and programmes that guarantee implementation of the existing legislation through adequate services, remedies and rehabilitation programmes. The Committee also recommends that the State party consider the establishment of an independent body for monitoring the implementation of the Convention.

52. The Committee recommends that the State party abolish the use of the term “illegitimate children” in its legislation, policies, programmes, regulations and administrative instructions.

53. The Committee further recommends that, in light of article 2 of the Convention, adequate measures be taken to ensure the protection and enjoyment of rights by noncitizens who are under the jurisdiction of the State party.

54. The Committee recommends that further studies be conducted in relation to the widespread chronic malnutrition or stunting and diarrhoea. Such research would help guide policies and programmes to reduce the occurrence of stunting. The Committee suggests that the State party consider seeking technical assistance from, inter alia, UNICEF and WHO in this regard.

55. In the light of article 44 (4) of the Convention, the Committee requests the State party to provide it with further information the legislation that excuses the perpetrator of the crime of rape from penal prosecution if he is prepared to marry the victim. In the Committee's view this could interfere with the victim's free will and could lead to early marriage.

56. The Committee notes with satisfaction the availability of facilities and services for persons with disabilities, including children. The Committee recommends that the State party enhance the approach by which disabled children are included in mainstream facilities and their natural environment, while still receiving specialized programmes and facilities as needed. The Committee draws the attention of the State party to the United Nations Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities (1993).

57. The Committee suggests that the State party take all appropriate measures, including of a legislative nature, with the aim of prohibiting corporal punishment at home. The Committee also suggests that awarenessraising campaigns be conducted to ensure that alternative forms of discipline are administered in a manner consistent with the child's human dignity and in conformity with the Convention. The Committee recommends that cases of abuse and illtreatment of children, including rape and sexual abuse within the family, are properly investigated, sanctions applied to perpetrators and publicity given to decisions taken in such cases, with due regard given to protecting the right to privacy of the child. Further measures should be taken with a view to ensuring the provision of support services to children in legal proceedings, the physical and psychological recovery and social reintegration of the victims of rape, abuse, neglect, illtreatment, violence or exploitation, in accordance with article 39 of the Convention, and the prevention of criminalization and stigmatization of victims.

58. The Committee recommends the State party undertake research on the issue of domestic violence and child abuse which identifies the extent of the problem and provides socioeconomic background information and analysis on the families facing these problems.

59. The Committee recommends that the State party envisage taking further steps to reform the system of juvenile justice in the spirit of the Convention, in particular articles 37, 40 and 39, and of other United Nations standards in the field, such as the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of Juvenile Justice (the Beijing Rules), the United Nations Guidelines for the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency (the Riyadh Guidelines) and the United Nations Rules for the Protection of Juveniles Deprived of their Liberty. Particular attention should be paid to considering deprivation of liberty only as a measure of last resort and for the shortest possible period of time, to the protection of the rights of children derived of their liberty, to due process of law and to the full independence and impartiality of the judiciary. Training programmes on relevant international standards should be organized for all those professionals involved with the system of juvenile justice. the Committee suggests that the State party consider seeking technical assistance from, inter alia, the Office of the High Commissioner for human Rights, the United Nations Centre for International Crime Prevention and UNICEF.

60. In order to ensure that all refugee children or children seeking refugee status enjoy their rights under the Convention, the Committee recommends that the State party consider ratifying the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 protocol, as well as the 1954 Convention on the Status of Stateless Persons and the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness.

61. The Committee recommends that research be carried out on the situation of child labour in the State party, including the involvement of children in hazardous work, to identify its causes and the extent of the problem.

62. Finally, the Committee recommends that, in light of article 44, paragraph 6, of the Convention, the initial report and written replies presented by the State party be made widely available to the public at large and that the publication of the report be considered, along with the relevant summary records and the concluding observations adopted thereon by the Committee. Such a document should be widely distributed in order to generate debate and awareness of the Convention and its implementation and monitoring within the government and the general public, including concerned NGOs.

63. The Committee considered the initial report of Ireland (CRC/C/11/Add.12) at its 436th to 438th meetings (CRC/C/SR.436.438), on 12 and 13 January 1998, and adopted* the following concluding observations:

64. The Committee expresses its appreciation to the State party for its comprehensive report, which has been prepared in conformity with the Committee's guidelines and for the submission of written replies to its list of issues, which were communicated to it before the session, as well as the detailed additional information provided during the course of the discussion, which enable the Committee to assess the situation of the rights of the child in Ireland. The Committee further welcomes the constructive, frank and open dialogue with the delegation of the State party.

65. The Committee appreciates the State party's commitment to adopting further measures for the implementation of the rights of the child as recognized in the Convention. The Committee notes with satisfaction the welfare services established for the benefit of the children and their families. the Committee also appreciates the high level of education and advance health system established in the State party.

66. The Committee notes the recent efforts undertaken by the State party in the filed of law reform. The Committee welcomes the planned constitutional revision for the incorporation of the principles and provisions of the Convention. The Committee also welcomes the enactment of the Child Care Act of 1991 and its amended version of 1997, the Family Law Act of 1995, the Domestic Violence Act of 1996, the Family Law (Divorce) Act of 1996 and the drafting of the Education and Adoption Bills.

67. The Committee commends the numerous efforts and concrete measures taken by the State party to protect children from sexual exploitation, including sex tourism. The Committee also especially welcomes the enactment of the Sexual Offences (Jurisdiction) Act of 1996 and the drafting of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Bill of 1997, which, inter alia, awards jurisdiction to domestic courts to prosecute citizens and/or residents who engaged in child sex tourism abroad as well as those who organize and publicize child sex tourism in the State party.

68. The Committee regrets that the State party's approach to the rights of the child appears to be somewhat fragmented, as there is no comprehensive national policy which fully incorporates the principles and provisions of the Convention, encompassing all the areas covered by the Convention.

69. The Committee is also concerned that the welfare policies and practices prevailing in the State party do not adequately reflect the child rightsbased approach enshrined in the Convention. In addition, the Committee is concerned that not enough emphasis is placed on measures of a preventive nature.

70. While noting the establishment of various government bodies responsible for the welfare of children at the national and local levels, the Committee regrets the lack of adequate coordination among these bodies in promoting and protecting the rights of the child.

71. While the Committee welcomes the decision to establish a Social Services Inspectorate as supervising mechanism, it remains concerned about the lack of an independent monitoring mechanism such as an Ombudsperson or a Child Rights Commissioner who would be accessible to children and would deal with complaints of violations of their rights and provide remedies.

72. The Committee draws the attention of the State party to certain lacunae in the statistical and other information collected by the State party, including with respect to the selection and development of indicators to monitor the implementation of the principles and provisions of the Convention. The Committee notes that in certain instances statistics on the situation of children are being collected only for children up to the age of 15.

73. The Committee is of the view that insufficient steps have been taken to promote widespread awareness of the Convention, and remains concerned at the lack of adequate and systematic training on the principles and provisions of the Convention for professional groups working with and for children, such as judges, lawyers, law enforcement personnel, including police officers, health professionals, teachers, social workers, community workers and personnel working in institutions for children.

74. Although the Committee welcomes the willingness of the State party to collaborate with nongovernmental organizations, it is of concern that the potential of the nongovernmental sector in contributing to the development of children rights policy is not fully realized.

75. In relation to the definition of the child (article 1 of the Convention), the Committee is concerned at the various low agelimits set in the domestic legislation of the State party.

76. With respect to the principle of nondiscrimination (article 2 of the Convention) the Committee is concerned by the disparities with regard to access to education and health services. While recognizing the steps already taken, the Committee notes with concern the difficulties still faced by children from vulnerable and disadvantaged groups, including children belonging to the Traveller community, children from poor families and refugee children, as to the enjoyment of their fundamental rights, including access to education, housing and health services.

77. Regarding the implementation of article 12 of the Convention, the Committee is concerned that the views of the child are not generally taken into account, including within the family, at schools and in society. The Committee is also concerned that procedures for hearing children are not fully considered in the legislation.

78. The Committee is concerned about the lack of prohibition in legislation of corporal punishment within the family. In the view of the Committee, this contravenes the principles and provisions of the Convention. The Committee is also concerned about the existence of child abuse and violence within the family and the lack of mandatory reporting mechanisms for cases of child abuse.

79. The Committee is concerned about the disadvantaged situation of children born of unmarried parents due to the lack of appropriate procedures to name the father in the birth registration of the child. This also has an adverse impact on the implementation of other rights in relation to adoption which, under current regulations, can take place without the consent of the father. The Committee is further concerned about the lack of guarantees for the child to maintain contact with both parents after divorce.

80. The Committee is concerned about the low rate of breastfeeding in the State party and the lack of awareness of its positive impact on children's health.

81. The Committee is concerned about the incidence of teenage suicide. The Committee is also concerned at the lack of adequate programmes addressing adolescent healthrelated problems, such as drug and alcohol abuse and early pregnancies.

82. The Committee is concerned about the lack of a national policy to ensure the rights of children with disabilities and the lack of adequate programmes and services addressing the mental health of children and their families.

83. While acknowledging the existence of a National AntiPoverty Strategy, the Committee is particularly concerned about the incidence of child poverty and homeless children in the State party and encourages it to strengthen measures and programmes for the protection of the rights of the most vulnerable children.

84. The Committee is concerned about the situation of children who are excluded from schools because of sanctions imposed by teachers and the adverse effect generated which may sometimes impact on dropout rates and school attendance.

85. The Committee is concerned about the low age of criminal responsibility and the treatment of children deprived of their liberty, particularly in light of the principles and provisions of the Convention and other relevant international standards such as the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of Juvenile Justice (Beijing Rules), the United Nations Guidelines for the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency (Riyadh Guidelines) and the United Nations Rules for the Protection of Juveniles Deprived of their Liberty.

86. The Committee recommends that the State party take all appropriate measures to accelerate the implementation of the recommendations of the Constitutional Review Group for the inclusion of all the principles and provisions of the Convention and the implementation of the Child Care Act of 1997, thereby reinforcing the status of the child as a full subject of rights.

87. In view of the fact that the Convention can only be referred to before the courts as a means of interpretation of national legislation, the Committee recommends that the State party take further steps to ensure that the Convention is fully incorporated as part of the domestic law, taking due account of its general principles as defined in article 2 (nondiscrimination), article 3 (best interests of the child), article 6 (right to life, survival and development) and article 12 (respect for the views of the child).

88. The Committee encourages the State party to consider ratifying the International Convention against All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, as well as the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption of 1993.

89. The Committee encourages the State party to ensure the full implementation of article 4 of the Convention. In the light of the general principles of the Convention, in particular the best interests of the child, the Committee also emphasizes the need to take immediate steps to tackle the problem of child poverty and to make all possible efforts to ensure that all families have adequate resources and facilities. The Committee also encourages the State party to use the principles and provisions of the Convention as a framework for its programmes of international development assistance.

90. The Committee suggests that the State party adopt a comprehensive National Strategy for children, incorporating the principles and provisions of the Convention in a systematic manner in the designing of all its policies and programmes.

91. The Committee, while noting the position of the State party, recommends that it reconsider the establishment of an independent monitoring body, such as an Ombudsperson or a Child Rights Commissioner, to address children's rights violations.

92. The Committee recommends that coordination between the different government bodies dealing with child rights be strengthened. In this regard, the Committee recommends that the State party concentrate in a single body the mandate to coordinate and make the appropriate decisions to protect the rights of the child.

93. The Committee recommends that the system of data collection and development of indicators be adjusted to include all children up to the age of 18, with a view to incorporating all the areas covered by the Convention. Such a system should include all children, with specific emphasis on vulnerable children and children in especially difficult circumstances. Adequate disaggregated data should be gathered and analysed in order to monitor and assess progress achieved in the realization of children's rights and to help define policies to be adopted to strengthen the implementation of the provisions of the Convention.

94. The Committee encourages the State party to continue and strengthen its efforts to develop a closer relationship with nongovernmental organizations (NGOs).

95. The Committee recommends that the State party promote human rights education in the country and create a wider awareness and understanding of the principles and provisions of the Convention. The Committee also encourages the State party in its current efforts to develop a systematic information campaign on children's rights for children and adults alike. Furthermore, children's rights should be incorporated in the curricula of all educational and pedagogical institutions and comprehensive training programmes on the Convention should be conducted for professional groups working with and for children such as judges, lawyers, law enforcement personnel, including police officers, immigration officers, health professionals, teachers, social and community workers, and personnel working in childcare institutions.

96. The Committee recommends that the State party strengthen its efforts to ensure that children from vulnerable and disadvantaged groups, including children belonging to the Traveller community, children living in poverty and refugee children, benefit from positive measures aimed at facilitating access to education, housing and health services.

97. The Committee recommends that the State party systematically promote and facilitate children's participation and respect for their views in decisions and policies affecting them, especially through dialogue in the family, at school and in society, in light of articles 12, 13 and 15 of the Convention.

98. The Committee recommends that the State party take appropriate measures to establish, as far as possible, procedures for the inclusion of the name of the father on the birth certificates of children born of unmarried parents.

99. The Committee recommends the State party to implement the World Health Assembly resolution on infant feeding.

100. The Committee recommends that in light of article 23 of the Convention, the State party should develop programmes to facilitate the active participation in the community of children with disabilities. The Committee also encourages the State party to pursue further efforts to ensure the implementation of integrated mental health programmes and approaches and to make available the necessary resources and assistance for these activities.

101. The Committee suggests that the State party take all appropriate measures, including of a legislative nature, to prohibit and eliminate the use of corporal punishment within the family. The Committee also suggests that awarenessraising campaigns be conducted to ensure that alternative forms of discipline are administered in a manner consistent with the child's human dignity and in conformity with the Convention. The Committee also believes that cases of abuse and illtreatment of children, including sexual abuse within the family, should be properly investigated, sanctions applied to perpetrators and publicity given to decisions taken, with due regard to the principle of respect for the child's privacy.

102. The Committee recommends that the State party take all available measures to ensure the prompt enactment of the Children Bill of 1996, especially in relation to the administration of the juvenile justice system, with due regard to the principles and provisions of the Convention and other relevant international standards such as the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of Juvenile Justice (Beijing Rules), the United Nations Guidelines for the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency (Riyadh Guidelines) and the United Nations Rules for the Protection of Juveniles Deprived of their Liberty.

103. Finally, the Committee recommends that, in light of article 44, paragraph 6, of the Convention, the initial report and written replies presented by the State party be made widely available to the public at large and that the publication of the report be considered, along with the relevant summary records and the concluding observations adopted thereon by the Committee. Such a document should be widely distributed in order to generate debate and awareness of the Convention and its implementation and monitoring within the Government, the Parliament and the general public, including concerned NGOs.

104. The Committee considered the initial report of the Federated States of Micronesia (CRC/C/28/Add.5) at its 440th to 441st meetings (see CRC/C/SR.440441), held on 14 January 1998 and adopted* the following concluding observations:

105. The Committee expresses its appreciation to the State party for the submission of its initial report and its written answers to the list of issues. The Committee is encouraged by the frank, selfcritical and cooperative tone of the report and of the dialogue. The Committee, however, notes with regret that the data in the report were not up to date. The Committee also regrets the fact that some questions remained unanswered. The Committee welcomes the commitment by the delegation to answer those questions in writing.

106. The Committee takes note of the establishment in 1995 of the President's National Advisory Council for Children (PNACC), together with the Statelevel Advisory Councils for Children.

107. The Committee notes the draft legislation on sexual abuse and exploitation of children which is presently before Congress.

108. The Committee takes note of the particular nature of the Federation, its geographical configuration comprising 607 islands, the relatively small population composed of a number of different and isolated communities, as well as the changes in the economic structures.

109. The Committee is concerned that domestic legislation does not fully conform to the provisions and principles of the Convention. In particular, the Committee is concerned at the absence of legislation regulating child labour providing for a minimum age for employment, the absence of a clear definition of the minimum age for criminal responsibility, the low minimum age for sexual consent, the lack of harmonization between the different ages of sexual consent among the four States, and the lack of legislation on neglect, abuse and sexual exploitation. The Committee is also concerned at the possible conflicts between customary and statutory law, in particular for marriage and adoption.

110. The Committee is concerned that the National Plan of Action for Children (19952004) is still in draft form.

111. The Committee is concerned that insufficient attention has been paid to the provisions of article 4 of the Convention concerning budgetary allocations “to the maximum extent of available ... resources and, where needed, within the framework of international cooperation”.

112. The Committee is concerned at the lack of an operational budget for the President's National Advisory Council for Children, its lack of human resources, and its unclear role in relation to the monitoring of all areas covered by the Convention and in relation to all groups of children.

113. The Committee is concerned by the disparities between the different States' legislation and practices. The Committee is also concerned by the insufficient coordination between the central level and the four federated States.

114. The Committee is concerned at the insufficient attention paid to systematic, comprehensive and disaggregated qualitative and quantitative data collection at the national, State and local levels, and to the identification of appropriate indicators and mechanisms to evaluate the progress and the impact of policies and measures adopted for all areas covered by the Convention, especially the most hidden such as child abuse or illtreatment, but also in relation to all groups of children including girl children.

115. While recognizing the efforts of the State party to disseminate the Convention, the Committee is of the view that insufficient measures have been adopted to promote widespread awareness of the principles and provisions of the Convention for both adults and children. The Committee remains concerned at the lack of adequate and systematic training for professional groups working with and for children.

116. The Committee is concerned at the lack of conformity of the birth registration system with article 7 of the Convention, as well as the lack of reliability of the death registration system.

117. The Committee is concerned at the fact that the State party does not appear to have fully taken into account the provisions of the Convention, especially its general principles as contained in its articles 2 (nondiscrimination), 3 (best interests of the child), 6 (right to life, survival and development) and 12 (respect for the views of the child), in its legislation, its administrative and judicial decisions, and in its policies and programmes relevant to children.

118. As regards the implementation of article 2, the Committee is particularly concerned at the insufficient measures adopted to ensure the full enjoyment by girl children of the rights recognized in the Convention. The Committee is concerned at the difference between boys and girls with regard to the minimum age of marriage, as well as the possibility for girls to marry at an earlier age than 16. The Committee is also concerned at the existence of a caste system, especially in Yap State, and its incompatibility with the provisions of article 2.

119. In the light of article 17 of the Convention, the Committee is concerned at the lack of appropriate measures to protect children from harmful effects of the print, electronic and audiovisual media, in particular violence and pornography.

120. While taking note of the efforts undertaken by the State party, such as the Child Abuse and Neglect Programme (CAN), the Committee is concerned at the insufficient awareness of and the lack of information on illtreatment and abuse, including sexual abuse, both within and outside the family, at the absence of specific laws in all the States and of appropriate resources, both financial and human, as well as at the lack of adequately trained personnel to prevent and combat such abuse. The lack of rehabilitation measures for such children and their limited access to justice are also matters of concern.

121. The Committee is concerned that both customary and statutory adoption, including intercountry adoption, do not conform fully with the principles and provisions of the Convention, in particular article 21.

122. While taking note of the positive results of the joint Chuuk StateUNICEF Vitamin A Deficiency and Vermox (VADV) Programme, the Committee is concerned at the prevalence of malnutrition and vitamin A deficiency in the State party, as well as the limited access to safe water and adequate sanitation. The Committee is also concerned at problems of adolescent health, in particular the high and increasing rate of early pregnancies, the lack of access by teenagers to reproductive health education and services, the insufficient preventive measures on HIV/AIDS, as well as the insufficient sexual education at school. While note is taken of the efforts of the State party, such as the existence in the four States of a telephone hotline, of particular concern are the high rate of suicides among teenagers and the insufficiency of financial and human resources for its prevention. While taking note of such efforts of the State party as school and communitybased education programmes, the Committee is concerned at the incidence of drug and alcohol abuse among youth, the insufficient legal framework, as well as the insufficient social and medical programmes or services to tackle those issues.

123. In the light of article 29, paragraph 1 of the Convention, the Committee is concerned that the school curriculum does not include education on the rights of the child. The insufficient leisure opportunities are also a matter of concern.

124. The situation in relation to the administration of juvenile justice and in particular its compatibility with articles 37, 39 and 40 of the Convention as well as other relevant standards, such as the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of Juvenile Justice (the Beijing Rules), the United Nations Guidelines for the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency (the Riyadh Guidelines) and the United Nations Rules for the Protection of Juveniles Deprived of their Liberty, is a matter of concern to the Committee. In particular, the Committee is concerned at the absence of a clear definition for minimum age of criminal responsibility, as well as the apparent absence of special legal procedures for juvenile offenders.

125. The Committee recommends that the State party initiate a comprehensive review of existing legislation, both at the national and the State level, with a view to undertaking adequate legislative reforms to ensure full conformity of its legislation with the principles and provisions of the Convention. The Committee recommends that all appropriate measures be undertaken by the State party, including awarenessraising campaigns, to harmonize customary practices and law, such as those pertaining to marriage and adoption, with the principles and provisions of the Convention. In case of conflict between customary and statutory law, the principles of nondiscrimination (article 2) and of the best interests of the child (article 3) should be the primary considerations. The Committee also suggests that the State party envisage the adoption of a specific code or legislation for children and adolescents, with a separate section on children who need special protection. International cooperation with, inter alia, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and UNICEF can be sought to this effect.

127. The Committee encourages the State party to accede to other major international human rights treaties, especially those related to children, including the International Covenants on Civil and Political Rights and Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, and the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption of 1993.

128. The Committee encourages the State party to pay particular attention to the full implementation of article 4 of the Convention and to ensure appropriate distribution of resources at all levels. Budget allocations for the implementation of economic, social and cultural rights should be ensured to the maximum extent of available resources and where needed within the framework of international cooperation, as well as in the light of the principles of nondiscrimination and of the best interests of the child (articles 2 and 3).

129. The Committee recommends that the President's National Advisory Council for Children be provided with adequate financial and human resources in order to carry out its mandate and that its composition be broadened. The Committee encourages this body to develop further cooperation with nongovernmental organizations. The Committee also stresses the need to strengthen the capacity of the Council to ensure coordination between all levels and to monitor and assess progress achieved and difficulties encountered in the realization of the rights recognized by the Convention, and in particular to monitor regularly the impact of economic transition on children.

130. The Committee further recommends that the State party begin to develop a comprehensive system of collecting disaggregated data in order to gather all necessary information on the situation of children in the various areas covered by the Convention, including on children belonging to the most vulnerable groups. The Committee strongly encourages the State party to seek to this effect international cooperation with, inter alia, UNICEF.

131. The Committee strongly encourages the State party to strengthen its efforts to make the principles and provisions of the Convention widely known by adults and children alike, in the light of article 42 of the Convention. It encourages the State party to further increase, through the print, electronic and audiovisual media, public awareness of the rights of the child and to try to incorporate the Convention as much as possible in the school curriculum. It also suggests that the State party pursue its efforts to develop appropriate material to further promote the Convention. The Committee suggests that the State party seek assistance from, inter alia, UNICEF and UNESCO, in this regard.

132. The Committee encourages the State party to continue its efforts in providing training to professional groups working with and for children. The Committee suggests that the State party seek assistance from, inter alia, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and UNICEF in this regard.

133. In order to strengthen the partnership with all components of the civil society in implementing the Convention, the Committee strongly encourages the State party to strengthen its cooperation with nongovernmental organizations.

134. The Committee recommends that the State party take all appropriate measures to improve birth registration in the light of article 7, as well as death registration.

135. It is the Committee's view that further efforts must be undertaken to ensure that the general principles of the Convention not only guide policy discussions and decisionmaking, but are also appropriately reflected in any judicial and administrative proceedings and in the development and implementation of all projects, programmes and services which have an impact on children. While noting existing legislation prohibiting discrimination, the Committee also emphasizes that the principle of nondiscrimination, as provided under article 2 of the Convention, must be fully implemented, including with regard to the girl child, disparities between States and social status. In this regard, the Committee encourages the State party to send additional information on the caste system. The Committee wishes to encourage the State party to further develop a systematic approach to increasing public awareness of the participatory rights of children in the light of article 12 of the Convention.

136. The Committee recommends that the State party undertake a study with a view to adopting all measures, including legal ones, to protect children from harmful effects of the print, electronic and audiovisual media, in particular violence and pornography.

137. Taking into account the changes occurring in the institution of the “extended family”, which provided children with an environment in which to discuss their problems, the Committee suggests that complementary initiatives be encouraged, such as youth peer counselling groups in schools, communityawareness programmes on youth problems such as alcohol and suicide, and parental education programmes.

138. In the light of article 19 of the Convention, the Committee further recommends that the State party take all appropriate measures, including revision of legislation, to prevent and combat illtreatment within, inter alia, the family and institutions, and sexual abuse of children. It suggests, inter alia, that the authorities initiate a comprehensive study on abuse, illtreatment and domestic violence, to improve the understanding of the nature and the scope of the problem and strengthen social programmes to prevent all types of child abuses as well as to rehabilitate the child victims. Adequate procedures and mechanisms to deal with complaints of child illtreatment should be developed.

139. The Committee recommends that the legislation on adoption as well as the practice of customary adoption be brought into conformity with the principles and the provisions of the Convention, in particular article 21.

140. The Committee suggests that the State party continue its efforts to combat malnutrition and vitamin A deficiency. The Committee also suggests that the State party promote adolescent health policies by strengthening reproductive health education and services. The Committee further suggests that a comprehensive and multidisciplinary study be undertaken to understand the scope of the phenomenon of adolescent health problems, such as early pregnancies and suicide. The Committee also recommends that further efforts, both financial and human, such as the development of counselling services for both the adolescents and their families, be undertaken for the prevention and care of adolescents' health problems and for the rehabilitation of victims.

141. In the light of article 31 of the Convention, the Committee recommends that the State party develop cultural, artistic, recreational and leisure activities at schools.

142. The Committee recommends that further measures, including the enactment of a law, be taken to implement the provisions of article 32 of the Convention, including in relation to the minimum age for employment. Efforts should be undertaken to prevent and combat economic exploitation or any work that is likely to be hazardous or to interfere with the child's education, or to be harmful to the child's health or physical, mental, spiritual, moral or social development. Particular attention should be paid to the conditions of children working with their families, in order to protect them. The Committee recommends that the State party envisage seeking technical assistance from, inter alia, UNICEF in this area.

143. The Committee recommends that the State party strengthen its efforts to prevent and combat drug and substance abuse among children, and take all appropriate measures, including public information campaigns in the schools and elsewhere. It also encourages the State party to support rehabilitation programmes for child victims of drug and substance abuse. In this regard, the Committee encourages the State party to consider seeking technical assistance from, inter alia, the World Health Organization.

144. In the field of administration of juvenile justice, in particular with respect to the minimum age of criminal responsibility and special procedures for juvenile offenders, the Committee recommends that legal reform take fully into account the Convention on the Rights of the Child, in particular articles 37, 39 and 40, as well as other relevant standards in this field such as the Beijing Rules, the Riyadh Guidelines and the United Nations Rules for the Protection of Juveniles Deprived of their Liberty. The Committee also recommends that the State party consider seeking the technical assistance, of inter alia, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Centre for International Crime Prevention, the International Network on Juvenile Justice and UNICEF through the Coordination Panel on Juvenile Justice.

145. The Committee encourages the State party to disseminate widely the State party's report, the summary records of the discussion of the report within the Committee and the concluding observations adopted by the Committee following its consideration of the report.

146. The Committee decided that it would start its consideration of periodic reports as from its nineteenth session in SeptemberOctober 1998. The periodic reports to be considered at that session would be preliminarily examined by the Committee at the presessional working group for the nineteenth session, scheduled to be held from 8 to 12 June 1998.

147. The Committee stressed that the main objectives for the preparation, submission and consideration of periodic reports could be identified as follows: to assess the positive and negative trends and changes regarding the status of children during the period covered by the report; to assess the consideration given by the State party to the concluding observations adopted by the Committee in relation to the previous report and the followup to the suggestions and recommendations addressed by the Committee to the State party in this connection, including on areas of concern identified by the Committee as well as difficulties which might have affected the realization of such suggestions and recommendations; and to define future action and measures required in order to improve the situation of children and ensure a better enjoyment of their rights. Periodic reports need not reflect basic information already provided in initial reports. It should, however, clearly reference the information previously transmitted, and indicate the changes that have occurred during the reporting period.

148. The Committee also stressed that in order to limit to a maximum of two meetings (6 hours) the time devoted to considering periodic reports, it would have to define a methodology and set priority targets for its dialogue with

149. In view of the experience gathered since 1993 through the examination of reports submitted by States parties, the Committee decided to begin, as from the present session, the preparation of general comments based on the various principles and provisions of the Convention with a view to assisting the States parties in fulfilling their reporting obligations.

150. During the session, the Committee was informed by members about various meetings in which they had participated.

151. The Chairperson, Mrs. Sandra Prunella Mason, informed the Committee about her visit to New York in November 1997 during which she had addressed the Third Committee of the General Assembly and, together with Mr. Francesco Paolo Fulci and Mrs. Awa N'Deye Ouedraogo, held talks with the SecretaryGeneral and the President of the General Assembly, as well as meetings with UNICEF officials. In the course of the discussions, the Committee members had welcomed the fact that the reform process launched by the SecretaryGeneral stressed the need for human rights to cut across all substantive fields of United Nations activities. They had also referred to the need to ensure early acceptance of the amendment raising to 18 the membership of the Committee. In her address to the Third Committee, the Chairperson had stressed the unprecedented achievement illustrated by 191 ratifications of the Convention. She had recalled the essential role of the Committee as a major catalyst for concrete action and practical implementation of the rights of the child, including through encouraging worldwide solidarity and cooperation in favour of children. While mentioning some of the achievements of the Committee  including the emergent system of law reform seeking to harmonize national legislation with the provisions of the Convention; the establishment of monitoring mechanisms; the increased awareness and acceptance of the concept of child rights; the training of personnel working with and for children  she had also stressed remaining challenges, such as the need to establish a system of general comments relating to the Convention's principles and provisions; the necessity to face the reporting backlog and the related need to ensure the entry into force of the amendment to the Convention increasing from 10 to 18 the membership of the

Committee. The Chairperson had also addressed the work of the human rights monitoring bodies in general, and referred to the outcome of the Eighth Meeting of Persons Chairing those Bodies.

152. Mrs. Judith Karp briefed the Committee about a seminar organized by Epoch Worldwide in Barcelona on 19 October 1997 on the topic “Ending All Physical Punishment of Children in Europe”. In her address on “The Convention on the Rights of the Child  Protecting Children's Human Dignity”, Mrs. Karp had reflected the views of the Committee on this subject, as manifested in the Committee's debates, concerns and concluding observations. The participants had expressed their conviction that the unequivocal view of the Committee in denouncing corporal punishment was of great importance for the process of combating the said phenomenon.

153. From 7 to 9 November 1997, Mrs. Karp had chaired an ad hoc meeting of experts that was held in Vienna, Austria, on the formulation of a strategy for the Coordination Panel on Juvenile Justice. The meeting was held in accordance to ECOSOC resolution 1997/30 on the strengthening of the systemwide coordination of activities in the field of juvenile justice and the establishment of the coordination panel on technical advice and assistance in juvenile justice, as recommended in the Guidelines for Action on Children in the Criminal Justice System. The strategy agreed on, as far as it is directly linked to the CRC was the following:

(1) A document should be prepared by the partners of the coordination panel which will brief the delegations on the assistance available and each partner's area of expertise.

(2) This document will be sent by the Secretariat of the CRC to the various Governments, together with the “list of issues”. The “list of issues” will include, where applicable, a query as to that Government's needs, and willingness to accept, technical assistance.

(3) The document will be distributed by the NGO Group for the CRC to NGO participants in the presessional meetings of the working group.

Upon request, via the NGO Group for the CRC, the Network on Juvenile Justice will provide nongovernmental organizations with additional information about technical assistance available on juvenile justice.

(4) The Secretariat of the CRC will present the delegations with the option of investigating the technical assistance available, while they are in Geneva. The Secretariat will make arrangements for those delegations expressing interest, to meet with one or more of the partners.

Should the Committee recommend or where it intends to recommend that the Government should seek assistance from the United Nations in the area of juvenile justice, the Secretariat, or the Chairperson of the Committee, will, as above, present the delegation with the option of investigating such possibilities while in Geneva. Again, should the delegation be interested, the Secretariat will facilitate a meeting with one or more of the partners.

(5) A recommendation of the Committee for assistance in the field of juvenile justice shall include a referral to the appropriate partners, i.e., the Office of the High Coimmissioner for Human Rights, the Center for International Crime Prevention, the International Network on Juvenile Justice and UNICEF.

154. Mrs. Awa N'Deye Ouedraogo informed the Committee about her participation in a conference hosted in Indiana University, Indianapolis, from 20 to 22 November 1997 by the National Committee for the Rights of the Child on the topic “Advancing Children's Future”. The purpose of the conference was to consider the process relating to the ratification of the Convention by the United States of America and discuss possible ways of encouraging this process. Mrs. Ouedraogo had intervened as a panellist on the role of the Committee and the contribution of nongovernmental organizations to the reporting and monitoring process established by the Committee.

155. Mrs. Ouedraogo also referred to her participation in the work of the fiftysecond session of the General Assembly, particularly at the Third Committee.

156. Mrs. Nafsiah Mboi reported on activities related to the rights of the child that she had undertaken which fell roughly in four categories: (1) popularization of the Convention on the Rights of the Child within Indonesia through numerous radio, TV and newspapermagazine interviews; (2) team leadership of a country study on child labour in Indonesia including emphasis on the many issues related to the rights of children; (3) participation in events spread over several weeks of November and December connected with celebration of World AIDS Day 1997 (theme, “Children living in a world with AIDS”); and (4) acting as resource person/adviser in various policy and planning meetings discussing national policy on children for the next five years and preparation of Indonesia's second report to the Committee. Aside from lectures, work with the media, and research in the national capital she had made several trips to provincial areas, including a lecture tour on AIDS and child rights.

157. Mrs. Esther Margaret Queen Mokhuane mentioned her participation in a conference held in Pretoria, South Africa, from 23 to 24 July 1997 on the implementation of the Convention. The conference, organized by the National Plan of Action Committee under the auspices of the Ministry of Health, aimed at clarifying the reporting process under the Convention. The conference stressed the need for establishing necessary structures, planning workshops at the provincial level and strengthening the coordination between the various entities involved in implementing the rights of the child. Highlevel government officials, representatives from UNICEF as well as relevant South African nongovernmental organizations had participated in the workshop.

158. Mrs. Lisbeth Palme mentioned her participation in the following events: 3031 October 1997: Generation 2000 Conference organized in Belfast by the Youth Council of Northern Ireland on the theme of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, where she had delivered a statement on the Convention on the Rights of the Child, where she had delivered a statement on the Convention and held a meeting with a member of Government; 1014 November 1997: World Congress of the Public Services International organized in Yokohama, Japan. As keynote speaker, Mrs. Palme had addressed the issue of “Child Labour in the Perspective of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child”. She had also participated in meetings with government officials. 1213 November 1997: Workshop on Juvenile Justice in Bangladesh: Law, Policy and Programme for the Next Millenium, organized in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Mrs. Palme had delivered a speech on “Global Perspective on Planning for Juvenile Justice” and had participated in meetings with members of Government.

159. The Committee was also informed about various contributions, articles and participation in seminars and congresses in Lebanon by Mr. Ghassan Salim Rabah during the months of November and December 1997 on issues related to child rights, including on the topics of Child Rights and AIDS, Child Labour, Child Rights and Juvenile Delinquency, the General Principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the implementation process of the Convention.

160. Mrs. Marilia Sardenberg mentioned her participation in a training course on “Strengthening National Capacity on Human Rights Reporting Obligations” organized in Quito, Ecuador, from 8 to 18 December 1997, by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in the context of its programme of technical cooperation with the Government of Ecuador. Mrs. Sardenberg had participated in her capacity as expert of the Committee on the Rights of the Child in connection with the reporting obligations under the six major international human rights instruments. The course had been organized in cooperation with the Government of Ecuador and was intended for public officials selected among different governmental institutions with substantive responsibility in handling information relevant to the preparation of national reports to the treaty monitoring bodies in general, and the Committee in particular, as well as representatives of the civil society. In this context, Mrs. Sardenberg was received by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ecuador and held meetings with members of the Parliament and of the Government. She also met with representatives from UNICEF and from several nongovernmental organizations active in the field of child rights.

161. During the session, the Committee held meetings with United Nations bodies and specialized agencies as well as other competent bodies in the framework of its ongoing dialogue and interaction with these bodies in the light of article 45 of the Convention.

162. During a meeting with a representative of the International Monetary Fund, the broad purposes of the Fund and the increasing attention it is paying to social sector spending were discussed. It was agreed that there was a need to further sensitize the financial institutions of the United Nations to the need to place children at the centre of macroeconomic imperatives and to consider the costs of exclusion and the adverse effect economic constraints can bear upon children and the full enjoyment of their human rights. The usefulness of strengthening cooperation between the Committee and the Fund, including through information exchange and participation of representatives of the Fund in the meetings of the Committee and its presessional working group was also stressed.

163. The Committee held a meeting with Mrs. Marta Santos Pais, Director, UNICEF's Division of Evaluation, Policy and Planning, who recalled that the Convention was being used as a framework for all the programmes and activities of UNICEF. In this regard, she referred to current efforts by UNICEF to promote the inclusion of children's rights on the political agenda of main international gatherings; to denounce violations of the rights of the child; to ensure that those children who have remained invisible and neglected can be reached and guaranteed the enjoyment of the basic rights; to identify child rights indicators and make assessments of the situation of all children with respect to all categories of rights. As an illustration of the support provided to the implementation of the Convention at the national level, she referred to various training and awarenessraising activities on the rights of the child organized by UNICEF in different parts of the world with the participation of members of the Committee, as well as to the increasing participation of UNICEF representatives in the meetings of the Committee, including its presessional working groups. She also mentioned the recent launch of the Implementation Handbook for the Convention on the Rights of the Child (see paragraph 164 below) and the current development of analytical studies based on the reporting process monitored by the Committee. During the discussion, the need for further efforts to reach the goal of universal ratification of the Convention, which only one State  Somalia  had neither signed nor ratified and another  the United States of America  had only signed, was stressed. Reference was also made to the necessity to ensure the conformity of the provisions of the statute of the International Criminal Court which was currently being drafted, with the principles and provisions of the Convention (see Chapter I, recommendation 2 above). Finally, it was stressed that the forthcoming commemorations of the tenth anniversaries of the adoption and entry into force of the Convention, as well as the followup and review process of the main international conferences held since 1990 under the auspices of the United Nations provided a welcome opportunity for evaluating progress made and promoting further achievements in the field of the Rights of the Child.

164. On 13 January 1998, the Committee participated in the launch of the Implementation Handbook for the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The handbook, prepared for UNICEF by Rachel Hodgkin and Peter Newell, aims at facilitating the implementation of the Convention at national level by providing practical information and guidance to both governmental and nongovernmental users. The handbook discusses and illustrates the Convention's provisions on an articlebyarticle basis, in the light of the dialogue between the Committee and various States parties, as well as the Committee's thematic discussions and concluding observations on State reports. It reflects concrete examples of good practice as well as of problems encountered, and provides checklists for monitoring progress in implementing the Convention in State parties.

165. At the 448th meeting, five representatives of the world Health Organization (WHO) met with members of the Committee on the Rights of the Child. Who has been a longstanding partner of the Committee and the representatives discussed ways to strengthen ongoing cooperation in the light of recent developments, taking into account in particular the objective of WHO to fully integrate the human rights dimension in its work. WHO representatives also informed the Committee about the recent consultation (45 December 1997) they had organized regarding health and human rights. Finally, WHO representatives indicated that they would take all measures to ensure their full participation in the monitoring process of the Committee, especially by providing analytical information and data regarding health issues. Particular focus would be given by WHO to maternal health, reduction of child morbidity and mortality and adolescent health issues, such as early pregnancies, mental health, including suicide, and substance abuse. Both partners also agreed to give priority to harmful traditional practices, such as female genital mutilation.

166. During the session, the committee also held an informal meeting with members of the NGO Group for the Convention on the Rights of the Child, with a view to further discuss the cooperation between the Committee and members of the NGO community. Specific issues raised during the meeting included the Committee's methodology for the consideration of periodic reports; the general comments to be elaborated by the Committee, as well as the input of nongovernmental organizations into the Committee's general discussions.

167. With regard to the issue of sexual exploitation of children, the Committee held a meeting with representatives of the Support Group established to ensure a better coordination of activities following the World Congress against the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children and its Focal Point within the NGO Group for the Convention on the Rights of the Child. During the discussion, the need to further develop interaction between academic institutions and professionals involved in concrete field activities in order to develop reliable data and research on the complex and multidimensional phenomenon of sexual exploitation was stressed. Members of the Committee also participated in a consultation of the Support Group, held in UNICEFGeneva on 16 January 1998. The consultation aimed at assessing progress achieved since the Stockholm Congress in the areas of prevention, recovery, training and legislation; focusing on new action identified by members of the Support Group, and providing a framework for collaborative activities among members of the Support Group.

168. Mr. Vitit Muntarbhorn presented to the Committee the main findings of two studies on the practice of States in their implementation of extraterritorial legislation in relation to sexual exploitation of children and on the potential implications on children of commercial sanctions on Governments as well as the consequences on children of the eventual introduction of a social clause at bilateral and multilateral levels. These studies have been commissioned by UNICEF and will soon be made available to the members of the Committee and other partners.

169. The Committee held a meeting with representatives of the International Federation of Social Workers, who referred to previous contacts with the Committee and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on the issue of publishing a training manual on Child Rights and Social Work. In this connection, it was recalled that the Training Manual on Human Rights and Social Work drafted by the International Federation of Social Workers and the International Association of Schools of Social Work and published by the Centre for Human Rights had proven to be an extremely useful tool for schools of social work and the social work profession. The Committee welcomed the elaboration of a new caseoriented training manual devoted to Social Work and the Rights of the Child using the reporting guidelines of the Committee as a framework, and decided to request the publication of such a manual by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

170. During the session, the Committee also held a meeting with representatives of the Canadian Coalition for the Rights of Children (CCRC), constituted of over 50 national nongovernmental organizations in Canada concerned with the rights of the child, who briefed the Committee about the Internship Project of the CCRC on monitoring Canada's implementation of the Convention. This project aimed at researching and monitoring the status of specific rights outlined in the Convention, on the basis of recommendations made by the Committee upon consideration of Canada's initial report. During the discussion, the hope was expressed that the application of the CCRC innovative monitoring framework, which had been developed through youth participation in the spirit of article 12 of the Convention, could be expanded and shared internationally, as a useful contribution to improve the monitoring and implementation of children's rights.

171. At its sixteenth session, the Committee devoted a day of general discussion, on 6 October 1997, to the topic “The rights of the child with disabilities”. On the basis of the discussions, 14 main recommendations were formulated. (For the report of the general discussion, see CRC/C/69 paragraphs 310339). In view of the various contributions made and the importance of the issues considered, the participants felt that there was a need to ensure followup to the general discussion and that a working group should be established for that purpose.

172. At the present session (345th meeting) the Committee expressed its firm support for the establishment of a small independent informal working group with the participation of representatives from relevant United Nations agencies and bodies and main disability organizations; the primary aim of the working group should be to bring together existing expertise and resources with a view to ensure a better protection of the rights of children with disabilities. The Committee decided to be represented in the working group, which would regularly report to it. It also requested that progress on the mandate, membership and plan of action of the working group be presented to the Committee at its next (eighteenth) session.

173. The Committee decided to devote its next thematic discussion to the consideration of “Children Living in a World with HIV/AIDS”.

174. The debate is scheduled to take place on 5 October 1998. A working group was established, composed of Mrs. Mboi and Mrs. Mokhuane, to prepare an outline for the discussion.

175. The following is the draft provisional agenda for the eighteenth session of the Committee:

3. Submission of reports by States parties in accordance with article 44 of the Convention

6. Cooperation with other United Nations bodies, specialized agencies and other competent bodies

176. At its 453rd meeting, held on 23 January 1998 the Committee considered the draft report on its seventeenth session as well as the draft biennial report to the General Assembly. The reports were unanimously adopted by the Committee.

Ghana 29 January 1990 5 February 1990 2 September 1990 Greece 26 January 1990 11 May 1993 10 June 1993

Portugal 26 January 1990 21 September 1990 21 October 1990 Qatar 8 December 1992 3 April 1995 3 May 1995

Initial reports due in 1992 (continued)

State party

Date of entry into force

Date due

Date of submission

Symbol

Ghana

Grenada

Guatemala

Guinea

Guinea-Bissau

2 September 1990

5 December 1990

2 September 1990

19 September 1990

1 September 1992

4 December 1992

1 September 1992

18 September 1992

20 November 1995

24 September 1997

5 January 1995

20 November 1996

CRC/C/3/Add.39

CRC/C/3/Add.55

CRC/C/3/Add.33

CRC/C/3/Add.48

Holy See

Honduras

Indonesia

Kenya

Mali

2 September 1990

9 September 1990

5 October 1990

2 September 1990

20 October 1990

1 September 1992

8 September 1992

4 October 1992

1 September 1992

19 October 1992

2 March 1994

11 May 1993

17 November 1992

2 April 1997

CRC/C/3/Add.27

CRC/C/3/Add.17

CRC/C/3/Add.10 and

Add.26

CRC/C/3/Add.53

Malta

Mauritius

Mexico

Mongolia

Namibia

30 October 1990

2 September 1990

21 October 1990

2 September 1990

30 October 1990

29 October 1992

1 September 1992

20 October 1992

1 September 1992

29 October 1992

26 December 1997

25 July 1995

15 December 1992

20 October 1994

21 December 1992

CRC/C/3/Add.56

CRC/C/3/Add.36

CRC/C/3/Add.11

CRC/C/3/Add.32

CRC/C/3/Add.12

Nepal

Nicaragua

Niger

Pakistan

Paraguay

14 October 1990

4 November 1990

30 October 1990

12 December 1990

25 October 1990

13 October 1992

3 November 1992

29 October 1992

11 December 1992

24 October 1992

10 April 1995

12 January 1994

27 April 1994

25 January 1993

30 August 1993 and 13 November 1996

CRC/C/3/Add.34

CRC/C/3/Add.25

CRC/C/3/Add.29

CRC/C/3/Add.13

CRC/C/3/Add.22 and Add.47

Peru

Philippines

Portugal

Romania

Russian Federation

4 October 1990

20 September 1990

21 October 1990

28 October 1990

15 September 1990

3 October 1992

19 September 1992

20 October 1992

27 October 1992

14 September 1992

28 October 1992

21 September 1993

17 August 1994

14 April 1993

16 October 1992

CRC/C/3/Add.7 and

Add.24

CRC/C/3/Add.23

CRC/C/3/Add.30

CRC/C/3/Add.16

CRC/C/3/Add.5

Initial reports due in 1992 (continued)

State party

Date of entry into

force

Date due

Date of submission

Symbol

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Senegal

Seychelles

Sierra Leone

Sudan

2 September 1990

7 October 1990

2 September 1990

1 September 1992

6 October 1992

1 September 1992

21 January 1997

12 September 1994

10 April 1996

29 September 1992

CRC/C/3/Add.51

CRC/C/3/Add.31

CRC/C/3/Add.43

CRC/C/3/Add.3 and Add.20

Sweden

Togo

Uganda

Uruguay

Venezuela

2 September 1990

16 September 1990

20 December 1990

13 October 1990

1 September 1992

15 September 1992

19 December 1992

12 October 1992

7 September 1992

27 February 1996

1 February 1996

2 August 1995

9 July 1997

CRC/C/3/Add.1

CRC/C/3/Add.42

CRC/C/3/Add.40

CRC/C/3/Add.37

CRC/C/3/Add.54

Viet Nam

Zimbabwe

2 September 1990

11 October 1990

1 September 1992

10 October 1992

30 September 1992

23 May 1995

CRC/C/3/Add.4 and Add.21

CRC/C/3/Add.35

Initial reports due in 1993

Angola

Argentina

Australia

Bahamas

Bulgaria

4 January 1991

3 January 1991

16 January 1991

22 March 1991

3 July 1991

3 January 1993

2 January 1993

15 January 1993

21 March 1993

2 July 1993

17 March 1993

8 January 1996

29 September 1995

CRC/C/8/Add.2 and Add.17

CRC/C/8/Add.31

CRC/C/8/Add.29

Colombia

Côte d'Ivoire

Croatia

Cuba

Cyprus

27 February 1991

6 March 1991

7 November 1991

20 September 1991

9 March 1991

26 February 1993

5 March 1993

6 November 1993

19 September 1993

8 March 1993

14 April 1993

8 November 1994

27 October 1995

22 December 1994

CRC/C/8/Add.3

CRC/C/8/Add.19

CRC/C/8/Add.30

CRC/C/8/Add.24

Initial reports due in 1993 (continued)

State party

Date of entry into

force

Date due

Date of submission

Symbol

Denmark

Djibouti

Dominica

Dominican Republic

Estonia

18 August 1991

5 January 1991

12 April 1991

11 July 1991

20 November 1991

17 August 1993

4 January 1993

11 April 1993

10 July 1993

19 November 1993

14 September 1993

CRC/C/8/Add.8

Ethiopia

Finland

Guyana

Hungary

Israel

13 June 1991

20 July 1991

13 February 1991

6 November 1991

2 November 1991

12 June 1993

19 July 1993

12 February 1993

5 November 1993

1 November 1993

10 August 1995

12 December 1994

28 June 1996

CRC/C/8/Add.27

CRC/C/8/Add.22

CRC/C/8/Add.34

Italy

Jamaica

Jordan

Kuwait

Lao People's

Democratic Republic

5 October 1991

13 June 1991

23 June 1991

20 November 1991

7 June 1991

4 October 1993

12 June 1993

22 June 1993

19 November 1993

6 June 1993

11 October 1994

25 January 1994

25 May 1993

23 August 1996

18 January 1996

CRC/C/8/Add.18

CRC/C/8/Add.12

CRC/C/8/Add.4

CRC/C/8/Add.35

CRC/C/8/Add.32

Lebanon

Madagascar

Malawi

Maldives

Mauritania

13 June 1991

18 April 1991

1 February 1991

13 March 1991

15 June 1991

12 June 1993

17 May 1993

31 January 1993

12 March 1993

14 June 1993

21 December 1994

20 July 1993

6 July 1994

CRC/C/8/Add.23

CRC/C/8/Add.5

CRC/C/8/Add.33 and

Add.37

Myanmar

Nigeria

Norway

Panama

Poland

14 August 1991

19 May 1991

7 February 1991

11 January 1991

7 July 1991

13 August 1993

18 May 1993

6 February 1993

10 January 1993

6 July 1993

14 September 1995

19 July 1995

30 August 1993

19 September 1995

11 January 1994

CRC/C/8/Add.9

CRC/C/8/Add.26

CRC/C/8/Add.7

CRC/C/8/Add.28

CRC/C/8/Add.11

Initial reports due in 1993 (continued)

State party

Date of entry into

force

Date due

Date of submission

Symbol

Republic of Korea

Rwanda

San Marino

Sao Tome and Principe

Slovenia

20 December 1991

23 February 1991

25 December 1991

13 June 1991

25 June 1991

19 December 1993

22 February 1993

24 December 1993

12 June 1993

24 June 1993

17 November 1994

30 September 1992

29 May 1995

CRC/C/8/Add.21

CRC/C/8/Add.1

CRC/C/8/Add.25

Spain

Sri Lanka

The former Yugoslav

Republic of

Macedonia

Ukraine

United Republic of

Tanzania

5 January 1991

11 August 1991

17 September 1991

27 September 1991

10 July 1991

4 January 1993

10 August 1993

16 September 1993

26 September 1993

9 July 1993

110 August 1993

23 March 1994

4 March 1997

8 October 1993

29 April 1994

CRC/C/8/Add.6

CRC/C/8/Add.13

CRC/C/8/Add.36

CRC/C/8/Add.10/

Rev.1

CRC/C/8/Add.14

Yemen

Yugoslavia

31 May 1991

2 February 1991

30 May 1993

1 February 1993

14 November 1994

21 September 1994

CRC/C/8/Add.20 and

Add.38

CRC/C/8/Add.16

Initial reports due in 1994

Albania

Austria

Azerbaijan

Bahrain

Belgium

28 March 1992

5 September 1992

12 September 1992

14 March 1992

15 January 1992

27 March 1994

4 September 1994

11 September 1994

14 March 1994

14 January 1994

8 October 1996

9 November 1995

26 May 1997

12 July 1994

CRC/C/11/Add.14

CRC/C/11/Add.8

CRC/C/11/Add.15

CRC/C/11/Add.4

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Cambodia

Canada

Cape Verde

Central African

Republic

6 March 1992

14 November 1992

12 January 1992

4 July 1992

23 May 1992

5 March 1994

15 November 1994

11 January 1994

3 July 1994

23 May 1994

18 December 1997

17 June 1994

CRC/C/11/Add.16

CRC/C/11/Add.3

Initial reports due in 1994 (continued)

State party

Date of entry into force

Date due

Date of submission

Symbol

China

Czech Republic

Equatorial Guinea

Germany

Iceland

1 April 1992

1 January 1993

15 July 1992

5 April 1992

27 November 1992

31 March 1994

31 December 1994

14 July 1994

4 May 1994

26 November 1994

27 March 1995

4 March 1996

30 August 1994

30 November 1994

CRC/C/11/Add.7

CRC/C/11/Add.11

CRC/C/11/Add.5

CRC/C/11/Add.6

Ireland

Latvia

Lesotho

Lithuania

Slovakia

28 October 1992

14 May 1992

9 April 1992

1 March 1992

1 January 1993

27 October 1994

13 May 1994

8 April 1994

28 February 1994

31 December 1994

4 April 1996

CRC/C/11/Add.12

Thailand

Trinidad and Tobago

Tunisia

United Kingdom of

Great Britain and

Northern Ireland

Zambia

26 April 1992

4 January 1992

29 February 1992

15 January 1992

5 January 1992

25 April 1994

3 January 1994

28 February 1994

14 January 1994

4 January 1994

23 August 1996

16 February 1996

16 May 1994

15 March 1994

CRC/C/11/Add.13

CRC/C/11/Add.10

CRC/C/11/Add.2

CRC/C/11/Add.1,

Add.9, Add.15 and

Add.15/Corr.1

Initial reports due in 1995

Algeria

Antigua and Barbuda

Armenia

Cameroon

Comoros

16 May 1993

4 November 1993

23 July 1993

10 February 1993

22 July 1993

15 May 1995

3 November 1995

5 August 1995

9 February 1995

21 July 1995

16 November 1995

19 February 1997

CRC/C/28/Add.4

CRC/C/28/Add.9

Congo

Fiji

Greece

India

Liberia

13 November 1993

12 September 1993

10 June 1993

11 January 1993

4 July 1993

12 November 1995

11 September 1995

9 June 1995

10 January 1995

3 July 1995

12 June 1996

19 March 1997

CRC/C/28/Add.7

CRC/C/28/Add.10

Initial reports due in 1995 (continued)

State party

Date of entry into force

Date due

Date of submission

Symbol

Libyan Arab Jamahiriya

Marshall Islands

Micronesia (Federated

States of)

Monaco

Morocco

15 May 1993

3 November 1993

4 June 1993

21 July 1993

14 May 1995

2 November 1995

3 June 1995

20 July 1995

23 May 1996

16 April 1996

27 July 1995

CRC/C/28/Add.6

CRC/C/28/Add.5

CRC/C/28/Add.1

New Zealand

Papua New Guinea

Republic of Moldova

Saint Lucia

Saint Vincent and

the Grenadines

6 May 1993

31 March 1993

25 February 1993

16 July 1993

25 November 1993

5 May 1995

31 March 1995

24 February 1995

15 July 1995

24 November 1995

29 September 1995

CRC/C/28/Add.3

Suriname

Syrian Arab Republic

Tajikistan

Turkmenistan

Vanuatu

31 March 1993

14 August 1993

25 November 1993

20 October 1993

6 August 1993

31 March 1995

13 August 1995

24 November 1995

19 October 1995

5 August 1995

22 September 1995

27 January 1997

CRC/C/28/Add.2

CRC/C/28/Add.8

Initial reports due in 1996

Afghanistan

Gabon

Luxembourg

Japan

Mozambique

27 April 1994

11 March 1994

6 April 1994

22 May 1994

26 May 1994

26 April 1996

10 March 1996

5 April 1996

21 May 1996

25 May 1996

26 July 1996

30 May 1996

CRC/C/41/Add.2

CRC/C/41/Add.1

Initial reports due in 1996 (continued)

State party

Date of entry into force

Date due

Date of submission

Symbol

Georgia

Iraq

Uzbekistan

Iran (Islamic

Republic of)

Nauru

2 July 1994

15 July 1994

29 July 1994

12 August 1994

26 August 1994

1 July 1996

14 July 1996

28 July 1996

11 August 1996

25 August 1996

7 April 1997

6 August 1996

9 December 1997

CRC/C/41/Add.4

CRC/C/41/Add.3

CRC/C/41/Add.5

Eritrea

Kazakstan

Kyrgyzstan

Samoa

2 September 1994

11 September 1994

6 November 1994

29 December 1994

1 September 1996

10 September 1996

5 November 1996

28 December 1996

Initial reports due in 1997

Netherlands

Malaysia

Botswana

Qatar

Turkey

7 March 1995

19 March 1995

13 April 1995

3 May 1995

4 May 1995

6 March 1997

18 March 1997

12 April 1997

2 May 1997

3 May 1997

15 May 1997

CRC/C/51/Add.1

Solomon Islands

Haiti

South Africa

Pilau

Swaziland

10 May 1995

8 July 1995

16 July 1995

3 September 1995

6 October 1995

9 May 1997

7 July 1997

15 July 1997

3 September 1997

5 October 1997

4 December 1997

CRC/C/51/Add.2

Tuvalu

Singapore

Tonga

22 October 1995

4 November 1995

6 December 1995

21 October 1997

3 November 1997

5 December 1997

Initial reports due in 1998

State party

Date of entry into force

Date due

Date of submission

Symbol

Kiribati

Niue

Liechtenstein

Brunei Darussalam

Andorra

10 January 1996

19 January 1996

21 January 1996

26 January 1996

1 February 1996

9 January 1998

18 January 1998

20 January 1998

25 January 1998

31 January 1998

Saudi Arabia

25 February 1996

24 February 1998

Initial reports due in 1999

United Arab Emirates

Switzerland

Cook Islands

2 February 1997

26 March 1997

6 July 1997

1 February 1999

25 March 1999

5 July 1999

CRC/C/19/Rev.7 Compilation of the conclusions and recommendations adopted by the Committee on the Rights of the Child

CRC/C/40/Rev.8 Note by the SecretaryGeneral on areas identified by the Committee for technical assistance

CRC/C/70 Note by the SecretaryGeneral on periodic reports of States parties due in 1998

CRC/C/72 Note by the SecretaryGeneral on the States parties to the Convention and the status of submission of reports