In view of the information contained in para. 268 and 273 part (c) of the report please indicate the progress achieved in establishing a mechanism for coordinating the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Please provide more details about the extent to which non-governmental organizations were involved in the process of preparing the report and of any plans for the future involvement of these organizations in the monitoring and implementation of the Convention. (See, inter alia, paras.80, 268, 272, 273 of the report)

Please describe the policy in place in relation to the implementation of article 4 of the Convention with regard to the allocation of "to the maximum extent of (...) available resources" for the rights of the child, and provide information on how children, especially those belonging to the most vulnerable groups are protected against the adverse effects of any reductions in budgetary allocations, in particular in the areas of education and health (see para. 125 (d) of the report).

With reference to the information in para. 78, 124 c (i) and 268 (c) of the report, please indicate whether the measures planned for the development of appropriate indicators for monitoring progress for the implementation of the Convention have been undertaken.

Please provide information on the active and appropriate means used to make the principles and provisions of the Convention widely known and understood by children and adults alike. (See, inter alia, paras. 79 and 248 of the report). Please indicate whether the Government is considering incorporating education about the Convention on the Rights of the Child, in the school curricula?

Please indicate whether any progress has been made to train professional groups such as social workers, doctors, lawyers, teachers, judges and police as well as decision makers about the Convention on the Rights of the Child. (Para. 268 (e) of the report).

What concrete measures have been taken to make the report widely available to the public, in the light of article 44 para. 6 of the Convention?

What progress, if any, has been made since the submission of the report to amend the Labour Relations Act in order to set minimum ages for employment in different activities? (Paras. 45-47 and 258 of the report).

With reference to the information contained in paras. 44, 49-50, 261 and 263 of the report, has the Government amended its legislation to avoid confusion between the different marriage ages permitted under the Marriages Act and customary and common law as well as to ensure respect for the principle of non-discrimination with regard to the setting of the same marriageable age for boys and girls, in light of the provisions of the Convention, particularly those of its articles 2, 3 and 12.

In view of the information contained in paras. 69 and 81 of the report, please provide clarification as to the age at which children may seek redress in the courts if their rights have been infringed.

With reference to the information contained in para. 53 of the report is the Government considering raising the age of criminal responsibility?

Please provide information on the steps taken to prevent and eliminate discriminatory attitudes or prejudices and to ensure an effective protection against discrimination, particularly towards the girl child, disabled children, HIV/AIDS infected children or orphans and children born out of wedlock.(Paras. 56, 105, 106, 131, 136, 156, 157, 221 and 267 of the report).

Please indicate what measures have been taken to deal with situations of discrimination arising from certain traditions and to prevent discrimination against children because of their property. (Para. 72 of the report).

Has there been any evaluation undertaken of the manner in which the principle of the "best interests of the child" are taken into account in legislation and in practice. (Paras. 57-58 of the report). In this connection, please provide further information on the application of the Children's Protection and Adoption Act which provides for the establishment of juvenile courts whose procedures are at the discretion of the magistrate and on the measures in place to ensure that the procedures of these courts fully comply with the provisions and principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child? (Paras. 36 and 248 of the report).

Taking into account traditions persisting in the society, please indicate what measures have been taken to raise the awareness of families and the public in general of the need to encourage children to exercise their right to participate in social and family life. (Paras. 60 and 63 of the report).

In view of the information contained in paras. 61 and 62 of the report please indicate the measures taken to encourage and assist the population in registering births, especially in remote areas, and to mobilise public opinion in this regard.

What further measures are being taken to address the problems affecting refugee and abandoned children with regard to the effective implementation of their rights to a name and nationality? Is a differentiation made on the grounds of gender of the parent in relation to a child's acquisition of nationality, particularly in situations where the child is born out of wedlock and/or one parent is a non-national?

Please provide clarification as to the meaning of "moderate corporal punishment" which may be applied to children, below the age of 18 in accordance with Section 15 (3) (b) of the Constitution, and to its compatibility with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, in particular its articles 19, 28 and 37 (a). (Para. 68 of the report). In addition, please indicate what is the status of the recommendation to remove corporal punishment of children and to amend the Constitution so as to remove whipping as a punishment on children? (Paras. 252-253 of the report). Moreover, what concrete steps are being taken to ensure full implementation of article 28.2, with respect to school disciplinary measures being implemented in a manner consistent with the child's dignity?

What system is there for the regular monitoring of institutions of alternative care? What steps are being taken to ensure that staff working in these institutions are provided with adequate training, including on children's rights? (Para. 102 of the report). In addition, please indicate the further measures being taken to ensure the effective rehabilitation of child victims of abuse. (Para. 246 of the report).

With reference to para. 104 please report on the research undertaken into the problem of child abuse and neglect of children, including into the social factors which influence such violations and indicate whether information and awareness-raising campaigns have been developed to prevent situations of ill-treatment in the family. (Paras. 26, 89 and 103 of the report).

With reference to para. 109 of the report and in the light of article 25 of the Convention, please indicate the measures being taken to ensure the right of the child to a periodic review of his/her placement.

In the light of article 23 of the Convention, please provide information on the measures being taken with regard to the integration of children with disabilities into schools, training them for employment and their active participation in the community? (Paras. 126-136 of the report).

Please describe the measures taken to promote health information and education on the HIV virus and AIDS among the general population and special groups with high risk behaviour. What progress has been made in addressing the constraints encountered in the implementation of the National Aids Control Programme? (Paras. 121, 125 (a), 140, 149 and 154-157 of the report).

Has the policy document on poverty alleviation been finalized (see para. 31 of the report) and what measures has the Government taken since the submission of the report to enhance the economic capacity of the family? (Para. 85 of the report).

In view of the apparent constraints faced in ensuring the delivery of services as well as the lack of widespread awareness which exists as to the assistance provided by the Government through the Social Development Fund, the Drought Relief Programme and the Social Welfare Assistance Act how is the government ensuring that the most disadvantaged children are benefitting from these services? (Paras. 95 and 227-33 of the report).

With reference to para. 191 (f) of the report, please provide clarification as to the present coverage of early childhood care services in the rural areas? (See also paras. 84, 184-192 and 236 of the report).

the strategies and goals in place to facilitate school attendance for children in the rural parts of the country, particularly in farm worker communities;(Para. 207 of the report).

the real cost for the family of having a child in different levels of schooling in both urban and rural areas; and

the strategies and goals set to encourage regular school attendance and to reduce the incidence of school drop-out as well as to improve secondary-school enrolment, particularly for girls (para. 208 of the report) and children from poor families (para. 229 of the report).

What measures are being taken for the implementation of the provisions of article 28 para. 1 (b) of the Convention ?

Please provide information on the measures taken to inform refugee and asylum seeking children of their rights as laid down in the Convention on the Rights of the Child? What measures have been taken or are envisaged to ensure that the administrative and other procedures in place for dealing with children seeking asylum or refugee status are in conformity with the principles and provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child? How is the Government ensuring that conditions in refugee camps or rehabilitation centres are consistent with the principles and provisions of the Convention? (Para. 241 of the report).

What concrete measures is the Government taking to prevent and protect the rights of children living or working on the street? (Paras. 38, 241 and 256)

In view of the information contained in paras. 36, 54 and 251 please indicate whether life imprisonment and indeterminate sentences can be applied to children.

Please provide more information on the supervision of places of detention, including in remand homes and training centres. (Paras. 96 and 249 of the report). How have staff in such institutions been familiarised with the provisions of the Convention and other international legal instruments adopted by the United Nations concerning the administration of juvenile justice?

What mechanisms are available to children to challenge the legality of their deprivation of liberty and what complaints procedures are available in cases of the ill-treatment of children in detention?

What progress if any has been achieved in ensuring the separation of children from adults in places of detention. (Para. 254 of the report).

What progress, if any, has been achieved in the availability and use of alternatives to institutional care for children and for the encouragement of community-based rehabilitation of children? (Para. 249 of the report).

Please provide information on the follow-up ensured to recommendations of the seminar held on child labour which was organized by the ILO in conjunction with the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare. Does the Government have any plans to become a party to ILO Convention No. 138 concerning the minimum age for employment?

What practical measures are being taken to prevent the involvement of children in hazardous work, in agricultural work and in the non-formal sector?

Please provide further information on how the right to education is ensured for children who are working in conformity with the Convention on the Rights of the Child? (Para. 257 of the report).

What measures are being taken for the prevention and combating of the sexual exploitation of children? What channels are available to children requesting help in such situations? Are adequate rehabilitation programmes available or trauma centres established, with qualified staff, to assist children who have been victims of sexual abuse or exploitation? Are there also programmes to rehabilitate the perpetrators of such violations?

Has the Government been able to make any progress as regards the provision of mother tongue education for children belonging to minorities? (Para. 267 of the report).

What measures is the Government undertaking, including through the possible development of information and education campaigns to teach children about the harmful effects of alcohol, in order to address the problem of children having easy access to alcohol and drugs? (Paras. 55 and 259 of the report).