III. CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS, CONTINUED

CERD

•          Croatia, CERD, A/57/18 (2002) 24 at para. 99.

99. While noting the challenges confronted by the State party in meeting the needs of large numbers of refugees, returnees and displaced persons, the Committee is concerned that return is still hindered by legal and administrative impediments and hostile attitudes adopted by some central and local officials. In this regard, concern is further expressed about allegations of inconsistency and lack of transparency in the National Programme for Return. The Committee is particularly concerned about the insufficient efforts of the State party to prevent discrimination against minorities, especially Croatian Serbs, in addressing issues of restitution of property, tenancy and occupancy rights, reconstruction assistance, as well as the inter-related issues of residency and citizenship rights. The Committee recommends that the State party introduce further measures to ensure fairness, consistency and transparency in the National Programme for Return. Further, the State party is strongly urged to take effective measures to prevent discrimination, especially against Croatian Serbs, particularly as regards the restitution of their property, tenancy and occupancy rights, access to reconstruction assistance and rights to residency and citizenship...The Committee draws the attention of the State party to its general recommendation XXII concerning the rights of refugees and displaced persons.

•          Ecuador, CERD, A/58/18 (2003) 22 at para. 50.

50. The Committee welcomes the adoption of several action plans within the framework of the State party’s National Human Rights Plan, in particular those on the rights of black persons and on the rights of foreigners, migrants, refugees and stateless and displaced persons, as well as the State party’s efforts to promote the adoption of other action plans, in particular on the rights of indigenous peoples.

•          Russian Federation, CERD, A/58/18 (2003) 38 at paras. 177, 185 and 186.

177. The Committee notes with satisfaction the assurances given by the delegation of the State party that displaced persons from Chechnya living in neighbouring regions will be allowed to vote in the referendum in Chechnya on a new constitution.

...

185. The Committee is concerned that Chechens who have sought refuge outside Chechnya in the territory of the State party are denied forced migrant status. The Committee encourages the State party to take effective measures to ensure that no group is discriminated against in the granting of forced migrant status.

186. The Committee is concerned about reports that displaced persons have been pressured into leaving camps while conditions of safety for their return to Chechnya are not ensured. The Committee recommends that the State party take effective measures to ensure that the return of displaced Chechens to Chechnya is voluntary and takes place in conditions of safety and dignity.

•          Azerbaijan, CERD, A/60/18 (2005) 18 at paras. 56 and 60.

56. The Committee welcomes the adoption of the National Poverty Reduction Strategy for 2003-2005, which targets internally displaced persons as a vulnerable group.

...

60. The Committee expresses its concern that asylum-seekers, refugees, stateless persons, displaced persons and long-term residents residing in Azerbaijan experience discrimination in the areas of employment, education, housing and health (art. 5).

The Committee urges the State party to continue taking necessary measures in accordance with article 5 of the Convention to ensure equal opportunities for full enjoyment of their economic, social and cultural rights by asylum-seekers, refugees, stateless persons, displaced persons and long-term residents of Azerbaijan. The Committee...draws the attention of the State party to its general recommendation XXX on discrimination against non-citizens.

•          Lao People’s Democratic Republic, CERD, A/60/18 (2005) 35 at para. 170.

170. The Committee notes that the State party has adopted a policy of resettling members of ethnic groups from the mountains and highland plateaux to the plains (art. 5).

The Committee recommends... to the State party that it study all possible alternatives with a view to avoiding displacement; that it ensure that the persons concerned are made fully aware of the reasons for and modalities of their displacement and of the measures taken for compensation and resettlement; that it endeavour to obtain the free and informed consent of the persons and groups concerned; and that it make remedies available to them. The State party should pay particular attention to the close cultural ties that bind certain indigenous or tribal peoples to their land and take into consideration the Committee’s general recommendation XXIII of 1997 in this regard. The preparation of a legislative framework setting out the rights of the persons and groups concerned, together with information and consultation procedures, would be particularly useful.

•          Nigeria, CERD, A/60/18 (2005) 54 at para. 289.

289. The Committee is seriously concerned that despite attempts to foster national unity, prejudices and feelings of hostility among some ethnic groups persist in Nigeria, including active discrimination by people who consider themselves to be the original inhabitants of their region against settlers from other states. The Committee is particularly concerned at the persistence of inter-ethnic, intercommunal and interreligious violence in the country stemming from these hostile sentiments as well as at disputes over commercial interests and resource control, which have claimed thousands of lives and led to the displacement of a significant proportion of the population (art. 2).

The Committee encourages the State party to continue monitoring all initiatives and tendencies that may give rise to racist and xenophobic behaviour, and to combat the negative consequences of such tendencies. The Committee recommends that the State party carefully monitor the negative impact of its efforts to promote national unity through regional and state action and, in particular, the effects on relations between and among ethno-religious groups. The Committee recommends that the State party endeavour, by encouraging genuine dialogue, to improve relations between different ethnic and religious communities with a view to promoting tolerance and overcoming prejudices and negative stereotypes. It invites the State party to conduct studies with a view to effectively assessing and evaluating occurrences of racial discrimination.

•          Turkmenistan, CERD, A/60/18 (2005) 61 at para. 320.

320. The Committee notes with deep concern information that the State party has internally forcibly displaced populations, targeting in particular ethnic Uzbeks, to inhospitable parts of Turkmenistan. It is further concerned about reported restrictions on freedom of movement imposed through internal travel documents and special permits to travel to internal border regions, which have a particular impact on persons belonging to national and ethnic minorities (arts. 2 and 5).

The Committee requests the State party not to forcibly displace populations and to re-examine its policy in this regard...The Committee further recommends to the State party that it lift restrictions on freedom of movement having a disproportionate impact on members of national minorities.

ICCPR

•          Philippines, ICCPR, A/59/40 vol. I (2003) 15 at para. 63(15).

(15) The Committee is concerned at continuing reports of displacement of persons and evacuation of populations, including indigenous population groups, in areas of counter-insurgency operations.

The State party should take urgent measures to ensure the protection of civilians in areas affected by military operations, in accordance with its human rights obligations.

•          Russian Federation, ICCPR, A/59/40 vol. I (2003) 20 at para. 64(16).

(16) The Committee notes the statement by the delegation that all persons who have returned to Chechnya have done so voluntarily. However, it also observes that there are reports of undue pressure on displaced persons living in camps in Ingushetia to make them return to Chechnya.

The State party should ensure that internally displaced persons in Ingushetia are not coerced into returning to Chechnya, including by ensuring the provision of alternative shelter in case of closure of camps (art. 12).

•          Colombia, ICCPR, A/59/40 vol. I (2004) 35 at paras. 67(14) and 67(19).

(14) The Committee reiterates its concern about the high levels of violence to which women are subjected. The Committee is particularly disturbed about the limited number of investigations into cases of domestic violence and sexual violence experienced by women during the internal armed conflict and by internally displaced women...

The State party should strengthen existing measures aimed at protecting women against all types of violence, especially domestic violence. Furthermore, it is recommended that the State party should periodically monitor the number of investigations and convictions for such crimes compared to the number of complaints received...

...

(19) Although the Committee has taken note of the information provided by the State party on the reduction in the number of internally displaced persons in 2002 and 2003, it remains concerned about the continued high number of displaced persons in Colombia and the lack of socio-economic assistance provided by the State party to these people, especially in fields such as the education of children and medical care. The Committee also expresses its concern regarding the difficulties experienced by internally displaced persons in exercising their civic rights, especially the right to vote.

The State party should intensify programmes aimed at providing economic and social assistance to internally displaced persons so that they may, in conformity with article 26 of the Covenant, enjoy as many of the benefits provided by State institutions as possible. It should also take the necessary steps to ensure that displaced persons are able to exercise the rights guaranteed in article 25.

•          Uganda, ICCPR, A/59/40 vol. I (2004) 47 at para. 70(12).

(12) The Committee regrets that the State party has not taken sufficient steps to ensure the right to life and the right to liberty and security of persons affected by the armed conflict in northern Uganda, in particular internally displaced persons currently confined to camps (arts. 6 and 9).

The State party should take immediate and effective measures to protect the right to life and liberty of the civilian population in areas of armed conflict in northern Uganda from violations by members of the security forces. In particular, it should protect internally displaced persons confined in camps, which are constantly exposed to attacks from the Lord’s Resistance Army.

•          Serbia and Montenegro, ICCPR, A/59/40 vol. I (2004) 68 at para. 75(18).

(18) The Committee is concerned about the lack of full protection of the rights of internally displaced persons in Serbia and Montenegro, particularly with regard to access to social services in their places of actual residence, including education facilities for their children, and access to personal documents. It expresses its concern with regard to high levels of unemployment and lack of adequate housing, as well as with regard to the full enjoyment of political rights. While noting the State party’s view that internally displaced persons have equal status with other citizens of Serbia and Montenegro, the Committee is concerned at the lack of enjoyment of their rights in practice. The Committee notes that Roma from Kosovo displaced during the 1999 conflict are a particularly vulnerable group (arts. 12, 26).

The State party should take effective measures to ensure that all policies, strategies, programmes and funding support have as their principal objective the enjoyment by all displaced persons of the full spectrum of Covenant rights. Furthermore, internally displaced persons should be afforded full and effective access to social services, educational facilities, unemployment assistance, adequate housing and personal documents, in accordance with the principle of non-discrimination.

•          Kenya, ICCPR, A/60/40 vol. I (2005) 44 at para. 86(22).

(22) While noting the delegation’s explanations on the issue, the Committee remains concerned about reports of the forcible eviction of thousands of inhabitants from so called informal settlements, both in Nairobi and other parts of the country, without prior consultation with the populations concerned and/or without adequate prior notification. This practice arbitrarily interferes with the Covenant rights of the victims of such evictions, especially their rights under article 17 of the Covenant.

The State party should develop transparent policies and procedures for dealing with evictions and ensure that evictions from settlements do not occur unless those affected have been consulted and appropriate resettlement arrangements have been made.

ICESCR

•          Colombia, ICESCR, E/2002/22 (2001) 110 at paras. 755, 760, 771, 781 and 792.

755. The Committee welcomes the enactment of law 387 of 1997, which entrusted the Government with establishing a series of norms to prevent displacement and to protect those who have been displaced.

...

760. The Committee notes with serious concern the increasing number of internally displaced persons. The Committee is particularly concerned that the internally displaced persons come from the most disadvantaged and marginalized groups, predominantly women and children, peasants and members of the country's indigenous and Afro-Colombian community who have been driven out of their areas by violence and armed conflict. In particular, the Committee notes with concern the negative consequences of the military part of “Plan Colombia”, which has led to further displacements of population groups affected by the spraying of illegal crops.

...

771. The Committee is deeply concerned about the living conditions of internally displaced persons, in particular women, children, peasants and members of the country's indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities.

...

781. The Committee urges the State party to undertake effective measures to avoid the displacement of persons, to implement the decisions of the Constitutional Court in this regard and to establish a comprehensive public policy giving priority to this problem.

...

792. The Committee calls upon the State party to take steps to improve the living conditions of internally displaces persons, in particular women and children, peasants and members of the country's indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities.

•          Croatia, ICESCR, E/2002/22 (2001) 125 at paras. 893 and 904.

893. The Committee notes with concern that many displaced ethnic Serbs continue to face legal and administrative difficulties in attempting to repossess their former homes. The Committee is also concerned that while the process of repatriation and relocation of ethnic Serbs has begun showing signs of improvement, the results and the pace of their return and the settlement of their property and tenancy claims in relation to those of other displaced Croatians reveal that ethnic Serbs continue to face excessive obstacles to their return. The Committee is deeply disturbed that these obstacles have resulted in the violation of the rights of many Serbs under articles 2 and 11 of the Covenant.

...

904. The Committee urges the State party to take effective measures to accelerate the return and reintegration into Croatian society of all Croatian refugees without discrimination, particularly of ethnic Serbs, by expediting the restitution of their housing, arranging for adequate alternative accommodation or providing them with compensation when restitution is not possible, as explained by the Committee in its General Comment No. 7 (1997) on the right to adequate housing (art. 11, para. 1, of the Covenant).

•          Georgia, ICESCR, E/2003/22 (2002) 59 at paras. 411, 422, 430 and 439.

411. The Committee expresses deep concern about the deplorable situation of internally displaced persons in the State party. The State party's efforts to provide basic services to this disadvantaged group and special legislation adopted to that end have succeeded only partially in meeting the most basic needs of internally displaced persons, particularly with regard to employment, social security, adequate housing and access to water, electricity, basic health services and education.

...

422. The Committee expresses concern about the poor living conditions of the majority of the State party's population, including an inadequate supply of water and irregular provision of electricity and heating, which particularly affect the most disadvantaged and marginalized groups of society, such as older persons, persons with disabilities, internally displaced persons, prisoners and persons living in poverty.

...

430. The Committee strongly recommends that the State party take effective measures, in consultation with relevant civil society organizations, to improve the situation of internally displaced persons, including the adoption of a comprehensive programme of action aiming at ensuring more effectively their rights to adequate housing, food and water, health services and sanitation, employment and education, and the regularization of their status in the State party.

...

439. The Committee urges the State party to continue its efforts to improve the living conditions of its population, in particular by ensuring that the infrastructure for water, energy provision and heating is improved, and by paying priority attention to the needs of the most disadvantaged and marginalized groups of society, such as older persons, persons with disabilities, internally displaced persons, prisoners and persons living in poverty.

•          Brazil, ICESCR, E/2004/22 (2003) 28 at paras. 142, 143, 165 and 166.

142. The Committee is deeply concerned that the State party does not provide sufficient protection for indigenous peoples, who continue to be forcibly evicted from their lands and face threats to their lives and even execution. The Committee also notes with concern that the right of indigenous peoples to own land is not respected and that mineral, timber and other commercial interests have been allowed to expropriate, with impunity, large portions of land belonging to indigenous peoples.

143. The Committee is concerned about the forced eviction of the Quilombo communities from their ancestral lands, which are expropriated with impunity by mineral and other commercial interests.

...

165. The Committee calls upon the State party to ensure that indigenous peoples are effectively protected from threats and danger to their lives and from eviction from their lands. The Committee particularly urges the State party to seek the consent of the indigenous peoples concerned prior to the implementation of timber, soil or subsoil mining projects and any public policy affecting them, in accordance with ILO Convention No. 169 concerning Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in Independent Countries (1989).

166. The Committee urges the State party to adopt measures to guarantee the ancestral lands of the Quilombo communities and to ensure that any evictions are carried out in compliance with the guidelines set out in general comment No. 7 of the Committee (1997) on the right to adequate housing (art. 11, para. 1, of the Covenant): forced evictions.

•          Israel, ICESCR, E/2004/22 (2003) 42 at paras. 269, 270, 285 and 286.

269. The Committee reiterates its grave concern about the continuing practices by the State party of home demolitions, land confiscations and restrictions on residency rights, and its adoption of policies resulting in sub-standard housing and living conditions, including extreme overcrowding and lack of services, of Palestinians in East Jerusalem, in particular in the old city.17/ Furthermore, the Committee is gravely concerned about the continuing practice of expropriation of Palestinian properties and resources for the expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied territories.18/

270. The Committee continues to be concerned about the situation of Bedouins residing in Israel, and in particular those living in villages that are still unrecognized.19/ Despite measures by the State party to close the gap between the living conditions of Jews and Bedouins in the Negev, the quality of living and housing conditions of the Bedouins continues to be significantly lower, with limited or no access to water, electricity and sanitation. Moreover, Bedouins continue to be subjected on a regular basis to land confiscations, house demolitions, fines for building “illegally”, destruction of agricultural crops, fields and trees, and systematic harassment and persecution by the Green Patrol, in order to force them to resettle in “townships”. The Committee is also concerned that the present compensation scheme for Bedouins who agree to resettle in “townships” is inadequate.

...

285. Reiterating its earlier recommendation,24/ the Committee urges the State party to cease the practices of facilitating the building of Israeli settlements, expropriating land, water and resources, demolishing houses and carrying out arbitrary evictions. The Committee also urges the State party to take immediate steps to respect and implement the right to an adequate standard of living, including housing, of the Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem and the Palestinian Arabs in cities with mixed populations. The Committee recalls in this connection its general comments No. 4 (1991) on the right to adequate housing (art. 11, para. 1, of the Covenant) and No. 7 (1997) on the right to adequate housing (art. 11, para. 1, of the Covenant): forced evictions)...

286. The Committee...urges the State party to recognize all existing Bedouin villages, their property rights and their right to basic services, in particular water, and to desist from the destruction and damaging of agricultural crops and fields, including in unrecognized villages. The Committee further encourages the State party to adopt an adequate compensation scheme for Bedouins who have agreed to resettle in “townships”.

_________________

Notes

...

17/ [Official Records of the Economic and Social Council], 1999, Supplement No. 2 (E/1999/22-E/C.12/1998/26), chap. IV, para. 248.

18/ Ibid., para. 250.

19 Ibid., para. 254.

...

24/ [Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1999, Supplement No. 2 (E/1999/22-E/C.12/1998/26), chap. IV], para. 267.

_________________

•          Russian Federation, ICESCR, E/2004/22 (2003) 64 at paras. 472 and 500.

472. The Committee is concerned about the precarious situation of more than 100,000 internally displaced persons from Chechnya living in Ingushetia. The Committee emphasizes in this respect its view that the closing down of tent camps without provision of alternative lodging would be in contravention of the Covenant.

...

500. The Committee reminds the State party of its obligation under the Covenant to ensure the provision of adequate temporary housing for those people who fear that Chechnya is too insecure for them to return.

•          Azerbaijan, ICESCR, E/2005/22 (2004) 59 at paras. 482, 487, 491, 493, 494, 508, 513, 517, 519 and 520.

482. While acknowledging the efforts made by the State party to reduce unemployment, including the adoption in 2004 of the Programme for Socio-Economic Development of the Regions of Azerbaijan for 2004-2008, the Committee is concerned about the persistently high unemployment in the State party, in particular among women, youths, refugees and internally displaced persons.

...

487. The Committee is concerned about the State party’s plans to increase the volume of social benefits by decreasing the number of beneficiaries in order to ensure the appropriate level of life.

...

491. In spite of the efforts made by the State party to improve the economic and social conditions of refugees and internally displaced persons, the Committee is concerned at the fact that they still do not enjoy an adequate standard of living.

...

493. The Committee is concerned about the illegal occupation by refugees and internally displaced persons of properties belonging to Armenians and other ethnic minorities. The Committee is also concerned about the lack of adequate social housing units, particularly in Baku...

494. While welcoming the extensive efforts made by the State party in the area of health, including measures to address the significant regional and urban disparities in health-care provision, the Committee remains concerned that the annual per capita spending on public health has been on the decline in recent years despite the rise in GDP. The Committee is concerned about the high incidence of malnutrition, infant mortality, iron deficiency disorders and malaria, especially among refugees and internally displaced persons...

...

508. The Committee recommends that the State party continue strengthening programmes to reduce unemployment, targeting on a priority basis the most affected groups...

...

513. The Committee recommends that the State party undertake measures to ensure that social security benefits are adequate. The Committee further recommends that the State party ensure that targeted social assistance depending on family income is guaranteed to all disadvantaged and marginalized persons, including refugees and internally displaced persons, and that such assistance does not fall below the subsistence level. The Committee also encourages the State party to consider ratifying ILO Conventions No. 102 (1952) concerning Minimum Standards of Social Security, No. 117 (1962) concerning Basic Aims and Standards of Social Policy and No. 118 (1962) concerning Equality of Treatment of Nationals and Non-Nationals in Social Security.

...

517. The Committee strongly recommends that the State party continue to take effective measures, including through the allocation of increased resources, to ensure the protection of the fundamental economic, social and cultural rights of refugees and internally displaced persons, in particular with regard to adequate housing, food and water, health services and sanitation.

...

519. The Committee recommends that the State party take corrective measures to ensure that Armenians and other ethnic minorities whose properties are illegally occupied by refugees and internally displaced persons are provided with adequate compensation or offered alternative accommodation, in accordance with the guidelines adopted by the Committee and its General Comment No. 7 (1997) on the right to adequate housing (article 11, paragraph 1, of the Covenant):forced evictions. The Committee also recommends that the State party take the necessary measures to guarantee the right to adequate housing to all persons residing under its jurisdiction and to address the problem of the lack of adequate social housing units in the most expedient manner possible, particularly in Baku. In this connection, the Committee wishes to draw the attention of the State party to its General Comment No. 4 (1991) on the right to adequate housing (article 11, paragraph 1, of the Covenant)...

520. The Committee urges the State party to continue its efforts to improve its health services, inter alia through the allocation of adequate and increased resources...

•          Serbia and Montenegro, ICESCR, E/2006/22 (2005) 41 at paras. 274, 276, 277, 282, 291, 293, 297, 302, 304, 309, 318, 320 and 324.

274. The Committee expresses its deep concern about the uncertain residence status of and the limited access by refugees, returnees from third countries and internally displaced persons, including internally displaced Roma, to personal identification documents, which are a requirement for numerous entitlements such as eligibility to work, to apply for unemployment and other social security benefits, or to register for school.

...

276. The Committee is concerned about the high unemployment rate in Serbia and in Montenegro, especially among women, persons with disabilities, Roma and internally displaced persons.

277. The Committee is equally concerned that many persons, especially Roma, internally displaced persons and refugees, work in the informal economy or in the low-income sector without adequate working conditions and social security coverage.

...

282. The Committee is concerned that a large number of Krajina Serbs and internally displaced persons from Kosovo above the retirement age have reportedly not received their pensions for years.

...

291. The Committee is deeply concerned that many refugees, internally displaced persons and Roma are being evicted from illegal collective centres and informal settlements which are being closed down without sufficient provision of adequate alternative housing.

...

293. The Committee is concerned about the limited access to primary health care in rural areas, especially for refugees and other vulnerable groups, and that 7 per cent of the Serbian population are not covered by compulsory health insurance.

...

297. The Committee is deeply concerned that a high percentage of Roma children and children belonging to other minority groups, as well as refugee and internally displaced children, are not enrolled in school, drop out at an early stage, are being discriminated against at school, or are placed in schools for children with special needs.

...

302. The Committee calls on the State party to assist refugees, returnees and internally displaced persons by facilitating the procedures necessary to obtain personal documents, including birth certificates, identity cards and work booklets, to enable them to enjoy their economic, social and cultural rights.

...

304. The Committee requests the State party to intensify its efforts to reduce the unemployment rate, including through the implementation of its National Employment Strategy 2005-2010, to promote employment of persons belonging to vulnerable groups through special measures, for example, special training, the removal of physical barriers limiting workplace access by persons with disabilities, and wage subsidies or other incentives for employers...

...

309. The Committee requests the State party to pursue its bilateral negotiations with Croatia regarding the payment of pensions to Krajina Serbs residing in Serbia and Montenegro and to alleviate documentation requirements for the payment of pensions to internally displaced persons whose work booklets were destroyed during the hostilities in Kosovo.

...

318. The Committee urges the State party to ensure that adequate alternative housing is provided whenever forced evictions take place, in line with the Committee’s general comment No. 7 (1997) on the right to adequate housing (art. 11, para. 1, of the Covenant): forced evictions...

...

320. The Committee recommends that the State party ensure universal access to affordable primary health care, in particular by increasing the number of family doctors and community health centres, and allow all members of society, including refugees, internally displaced persons and Roma, to join the compulsory health insurance scheme.

...

324. The Committee urges the State party to take effective measures to promote school attendance by Roma children and children belonging to other minority groups, as well as refugee and internally displaced children, by increasing subsidies, scholarships and the number of teachers instructing in minority languages. It also urges the State party to eradicate ethnically discriminatory attitudes by taking effective measures in the fields of teaching, education, culture and information, in order to promote understanding, tolerance and mutual respect among all ethnic groups living on its territory.

CEDAW

•          Sri Lanka, CEDAW, A/57/38 part I (2002) 31 at paras. 298 and 299.

298. The Committee expresses its concern about the continued situation of armed conflict in the north and east of Sri Lanka and the increase of internally displaced persons, the majority of whom are women and children.

299. The Committee urges the State party to allocate more resources to meet the needs of internally displaced women and children and to ensure their privacy, access to health facilities, security and protection from violence. The Committee calls on the State party to ensure full and equal participation of women in the process of conflict resolution and peace-building.

•          Angola, CEDAW, A/59/38 part II (2004) 118 at paras. 148 and 149.

148. While recognizing the efforts undertaken by the State party aimed at the reconstruction of the country and its socio-economic fabric after the long years of armed conflict, including repatriation, rehabilitation and resettlement of refugees and internally displaced persons, the majority of whom are women, the Committee is concerned that the widespread poverty among women and the poor socio-economic conditions are among the causes of the violation of women’s human rights and discrimination against them. The Committee is especially concerned about the situation of women in rural areas, women heads of households, women refugees and internally displaced women returning to their places of origin or migrating to the cities, who often lack access to health, education, services and means and opportunities for economic survival.

149. The Committee urges the State party to make the promotion of gender equality an explicit component of all its national development strategies, policies and programmes, in particular those aimed at repatriation, rehabilitation and resettlement, as well as those aimed at poverty alleviation and sustainable development. It urges the State party to pay special attention to the needs of rural women, women heads of household, refugee women and internally displaced women, ensuring that they participate in decision-making processes and have access to health, education, services and income-generation projects. The Committee also invites the State party to place emphasis on the promotion and protection of women’s human rights in all development cooperation programmes with international organizations and bilateral donors so as to address the socio-economic causes of discrimination against women.

CAT

•          Colombia, CAT, A/59/44 (2003) 33 at para. 68.

68. The Committee...expresses its concern at:

...

(e) The numerous forced internal displacements of population groups as a result of the armed conflict and insecurity in the areas in which they live, taking into account the continuing absence in those areas of State structures that observe and ensure compliance with the law;

...

•          Uganda, CAT, A/60/44 (2005) 39 at paras. 93, 96 and 97.

93. The Committee is...concerned about:

...

(f) The pervasive problem of sexual violence, including in places of detention and in camps for internally displaced persons;

...

96. Furthermore, the Committee regrets that the State party has not taken sufficient steps to ensure the protection of persons affected by the armed conflict in northern Uganda, in particular internally displaced persons currently confined in camps.

97. The Committee recommends that the State party take all necessary legislative, administrative and judicial measures to prevent acts of torture and ill-treatment in its territory, and in particular that it:

...

(n) Act without delay to protect the civilian population in areas of armed conflict in northern Uganda from violations by the Lord’s Resistance Army and members of the security forces. In particular, the State party should protect internally displaced persons confined in camps, which are constantly exposed to attacks from the Lord’s Resistance Army;

...

CRC

•          Kenya, CRC, CRC/C/111 (2001) 21 at paras. 136 and 137.

136. The Committee recognizes the efforts of the State party, in cooperation with the Office of the UNHCR, to accommodate refugees, including unaccompanied minors. However, the Committee remains concerned about the inadequate standards, procedures and policies to guarantee and protect the rights of refugee, asylum-seeking and unaccompanied children, including their access to adequate education, health and other social services. Concern is also expressed regarding the prevalence of sexual abuse and violence against girls in and around refugee camps. The Committee notes the establishment of the Presidential Commission on Ethnic Clashes (1998) to investigate the causes of ethnic clashes in various regions of the State party in 1992, 1997, and 1998, as well as the actions taken by officials, including the police, during the clashes. However, the Committee is concerned that insufficient efforts have been made to ensure the resettlement of families who were displaced during these clashes and continue to live in camps. Finally, the Committee is concerned at the decrease in the funds provided by UNHCR, which has a negative impact on the rights of child refugees, such as the right to food.

137. The Committee recommends that the State party take effective legal and other measures to ensure adequate protection of refugee, asylum-seeking and unaccompanied children, especially girls, and to implement further policies and programmes to guarantee their adequate access to health, education and social services. The Committee further recommends that the State party review its standards and procedures in the asylum process to ensure consistency with international standards and to introduce special procedures for refugee children, especially those separated from their families. The Committee urges the State party to reinforce its resettlement programme to provide lasting relief for internally displaced families and guarantee their rights to adequate housing, education, health and social services. The Committee encourages the State party to undertake efforts to reinforce its cooperation with UNHCR.

•          Cameroon, CRC, CRC/C/111 (2001) 71 at paras. 394 and 395.

394. The Committee is deeply concerned about the poor situation of Pygmy children and children of similar marginalized groups, and at the lack of respect for almost all of their rights, including the rights to health care, to education, to survival and development, to enjoy their own culture and to be protected from discrimination. The Committee is also concerned at the displacement of Pygmy families, including children, as a result of logging policies.

395. The Committee urges the State party urgently to gather additional information on the Pygmies and other marginalized groups of the population, and to elaborate a plan of action to protect their rights.

•          Uzbekistan, CRC, CRC/C/111 (2001) 117 at paras. 551 and 552.

551. The Committee is concerned that in practice the system of residence registration in Uzbekistan may restrict the rights of children belonging to vulnerable groups (for example, refugees, non-citizens, migrants and persons internally displaced owing to conflict or economic or environmental factors) to access to health care and other social services. In particular, the Committee is concerned that because these rules are issued in various forms (decrees, regulations, instructions, etc.), they may not be sufficiently clear and may be open to abuse by officials reluctant to see migrants settle in their jurisdiction.

552. The Committee recommends that the State party:

(a) Ensure that the registration system is clear and precise and does not pose a barrier to access to services, particularly for the most vulnerable groups;

(b) Consider the experience of States that have replaced the propiska system with systems which comply to international standards in the area of freedom of movement.

•          Mozambique, CRC, CRC/C/114 (2002) 65 at paras. 309 and 310.

309. While noting the State party’s significant efforts in the past to provide assistance to refugees and internally displaced persons, the Committee remains concerned that:

(a) Former refugees and displaced persons, seeking to resettle in their communities, do not always have full access to education and health services;

(b) Children who seek to cross through, or leave, Mozambique and to enter neighbouring countries are sometimes treated violently by border officials of those countries when caught.

310. The Committee recommends that the State party:

(a) Make additional efforts to assist former refugees and internally displaced persons to resettle in their communities, including through assuring full access to education services, and continue and strengthen family reunification efforts;

(b) Improve its collaboration, inter alia through bilateral arrangements and agreements, with relevant neighbouring countries to ensure that children who seek to cross through, or leave, Mozambique for those countries are treated in full respect of the Convention’s provisions.

•          Niger, CRC, CRC/C/118 (2002) 37 at paras. 187 and 188.

187. ...[T]he Committee notes the Peace Agreement concluded in 1995 between the State party and the various rebel groups, and the establishment of the Office of the High Commissioner for the Restoration of Peace, but remains concerned at the difficult situation of displaced persons, particularly children and women.

188. ...[T]he Committee recommends that the State party reinforce its efforts to provide displaced children with adequate social services, including health care, immunization and education, and to socially reintegrate former combatants.

•          Sudan, CRC, CRC/C/121 (2002) 53 at paras. 276 and 277.

276. The Committee is concerned at the large number of Sudanese children who continue to live as refugees in neighbouring countries; that refugee children from neighbouring countries do not enjoy all their rights contained in the Convention; at the situation of internally displaced children; and at reports of forced evictions for the purposes of oil exploration.

277. The Committee recommends that the State party:

(a) Strengthen its efforts to secure the voluntary and safe return of Sudanese refugee children and their families, in accordance with all international standards;

...

(c) Make every effort to provide assistance and support to the resettlement of internally displaced persons;

(d) Continue efforts to support family reunification;

(e) Ensure that oil exploration activities do not lead to the forced displacement of families, including children, and that the rights of all children in regions where these activities are undertaken are respected.

•          Eritrea, CRC, CRC/C/132 (2003) 8 at paras. 77 and 78.

77. While noting with appreciation the State party’s extensive experience in providing care and protection to vulnerable children separated from their families through national and field-level structures, as well as the Eritrean Refugees and Relief Commission, the Committee is concerned that there are still a significant number of children suffering from the effects of armed conflict, in particular returnees, internally displaced children, landmine victims and children who were separated from their parents following expulsions of Eritreans from Ethiopia during the border war (1998-2001).

78. The Committee recommends that the State party continue to strengthen programmes to provide assistance and support to children affected by armed conflict, including returnee and displaced children and landmine victims, while paying particular attention to female-headed households. In particular, the Committee recommends that the State party:

...

(b) Strengthen efforts to trace and reunite family members of refugee and displaced children, including those expelled from Ethiopia during the border war;

...

(d) Seek international support and technical assistance, where possible, from United Nations agencies, in particular UNHCR, and NGOs to expedite the process of demining and the social reintegration and, when necessary, rehabilitation of all victims of recent armed conflicts.

•          Cyprus, CRC, CRC/C/132 (2003) 21 at paras. 141 and 142.

141. The Committee welcomes the assumption of full responsibility for asylum matters, including refugee status determination, by the Government of Cyprus as of 1 January 2002... However, the Committee remains concerned about... the fact that children of internally displaced persons may acquire IDP status themselves only if their father is an IDP.

142. The Committee recommends that the State party:

...

(c) Ensure that children either of whose parents is an IDP can acquire that status.

•          Sri Lanka, CRC, CRC/C/132 (2003) 48 at paras. 252, 253, 271 and 272.

252. The Committee notes with concern that societal discrimination persists against vulnerable groups of children, including children with disabilities, adopted children, children displaced by conflict, children infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS, and children of ethnic and religious groups.

253. The Committee recommends that the State party amend its legislation and increase its efforts to ensure the implementation of existing laws guaranteeing the principle of non-discrimination and full compliance with article 2 of the Convention, and to adopt a proactive and comprehensive strategy to eliminate discrimination on any grounds and against all vulnerable groups.

...

271. Almost 20 years of civil conflict has had an extremely negative impact on the implementation of the Convention in the State party. While recognizing that children will greatly benefit from the peace process, the Committee is concerned that during the transition to peace and the reconstruction process, children who have been affected by the conflict remain a particularly vulnerable group.

272. The Committee recommends that the State party implement the plan of action for the respect of the rights of children during the reconstruction process (2003). In particular, the Committee recommends that the State party:

...

(b) Develop, in collaboration with NGOs [non-governmental organizations] and international organizations, a comprehensive system of psychosocial support and assistance for children affected by the conflict, in particular child combatants, unaccompanied internally displaced persons and refugees, returnees and landmine survivors, which also ensures their privacy;

(c) Take effective measures to ensure that children affected by conflict can be reintegrated into the education system, including through the provision of non-formal education programmes and by prioritizing the rehabilitation of school buildings and facilities and the provision of water, sanitation and electricity in conflict-affected areas;

...

•          Solomon Islands, CRC, CRC/C/132 (2003) 58 at paras. 331 and 332.

331. The Committee is concerned that a large number of children have been displaced during the recent armed conflict.

332. The Committee urges the State party to make every effort to protect the civilian population from displacement, giving particular attention to the situation of unaccompanied children and the need for effective family tracing and reunification. The Committee also urges the State party to ensure that all displaced children and their families have access to essential health and education services and to consider the need for continued access to such services during the often slow process of return to communities of origin. The Committee further urges the State party to provide returning children and their families with assistance in re-establishing themselves in their homes. In addition, the Committee urges the State party to continue to work closely with UNHCR towards establishing conditions conducive to the return of refugees in safety and in the context of a durable solution.

•          Georgia, CRC, CRC/C/133 (2003) 111 at paras. 540, 541, 572 and 573.

540. While noting the high level of birth registration, the Committee is concerned at the information that some groups of children, in particular children abandoned at maternity wards, children whose parents cannot afford the registration (related) fee, refugee children and children of internally displaced persons still do have difficulties with proper birth registration.

541. The Committee recommends that the State party take the necessary measures to facilitate birth registration of children in difficult circumstances and make all birth registration free.

...

572. ...[W]hile noting that there has been no progress in the right of internally displaced persons to return to their homes in safety and dignity, the Committee regrets that the report does not include information on efforts made to improve the current conditions of the internally displaced persons, as envisaged by the “New Approach”. The Committee is also concerned at the situation of refugee children and lack of sufficient programmes targeting refugee children, in particular the most vulnerable ones.

573. The Committee...urges the State party to pay particular attention to the situation of internally displaced children and their families, while continuing to support their right to return voluntarily to their homes in safety and dignity. It further recommends that the State party amend the 1998 Law on Refugees and by-laws to fully reflect its commitments under the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees of 1951 and its Protocol of 1967 by offering a clear legal status to prima facie refugees.

•          Indonesia, CRC, CRC/C/137 (2004) 8 at paras. 85, 86 and 90-92.

85. The Committee is very concerned at the situation of refugee and internally displaced children living in refugee camps.

86. The Committee recommends that the State party:

(a) Take immediate steps to ensure that all displaced and refugee children and their families have access to basic health and education services, and that all their rights contained in the Convention are protected, including the right to be registered at birth;

...

90. The Committee is further gravely concerned at the very large number of children displaced as a consequence of armed conflict.

91. The Committee urges the State party:

(a) To take measures to prevent and end the violence affecting children’s lives and rights, especially in areas such as Aceh, Maluku and West Papua;

(b) To ensure that the application of martial law in Aceh under no circumstances contradicts the rights guaranteed in the Convention on the Rights of the Child;

(c) To take immediate measures to facilitate access to children and their families by national and international aid and humanitarian agencies, particularly in Aceh;

(d) To prevent the use of children in armed conflict by regular army, paramilitary and rebel groups;

(e) To abide faithfully by the principles of human rights law and international humanitarian law and the conventions to which Indonesia is party;

(f) To ensure that all persons, including senior officials, who have sponsored, planned, incited, financed or participated in military or paramilitary operations using child soldiers or children as sexual slaves, or violating any rights of the children, will be prosecuted, including those who committed abuses in East Timor in 1999.

92. The Committee recommends that the State party develop a comprehensive policy and programme for implementing the rights of children who have been affected by conflict. In particular, the Committee recommends that the State party:

(a) Develop, in collaboration with NGOs and international organizations, a comprehensive system of psychosocial support and assistance for children affected by conflict, in particular child combatants, unaccompanied IDPs and refugees, returnees and smuggled children, which also ensures their privacy;

(b) Take effective measures to ensure that children affected by conflict can be reintegrated into the education system, including through the provision of non-formal education programmes and by prioritizing the rehabilitation of school buildings and facilities and the provision of water, sanitation and electricity in conflict-affected areas;

(c) Criminalize the recruitment and use of children for military purposes by any armed force or armed group;

(d) Provide alternatives to military recruitment, including by increasing employment and education opportunities, particularly for vulnerable children in refugee diaspora and tribal areas.

•          India, CRC, CRC/C/137 (2004) 75 at paras. 440 and 441.

440. In spite of the growth of the gross domestic product, the Committee is concerned about the widespread poverty in the State party and the still high number of children who do not enjoy the right to an adequate standard of living, including access to clean drinking water, adequate housing and latrines. The Committee is further concerned at the negative consequences of displacement and rehabilitation projects which intend to improve living conditions but which remove children from their habitat to a new environment often not prepared for children’s needs.

441. In accordance with article 27 of the Convention, the Committee recommends that the State reinforce its efforts to provide support and material assistance to economically disadvantaged families and to guarantee the right of children to an adequate standard of living. In light of its previous recommendations (CRC/C/15/Add.115, para. 53), the Committee further recommends that the State party prevent any occurrence of forced relocation, displacement and other types of involuntary population movements.

•          Liberia, CRC, CRC/C/140 (2004)67 at paras. 360-363.

360. ...The Committee is...concerned at the very high number of children who have been internally displaced within the country or who have been forced to leave as refugees including, in particular, those who have been separated from their parents.

361. The Committee urges the State party:

...

(d) To make every effort to assist children who have been displaced from their homes to return as soon as possible, including through assistance in the reconstruction of homes and other essential infrastructure, within the framework of international cooperation.

362. The Committee welcomes the efforts the State party is making to deal with the large number of internally displaced persons and refugees. However, the Committee is concerned that refugee and internally displaced children in Liberia do not receive appropriate protection and assistance in the enjoyment of their rights under the Convention. The Committee appreciates the attention that the authorities and humanitarian community in Liberia are giving to the issue of sexual assault and the exploitation of refugee and internally displaced girls, as well as to the forcible conscription of refugee and internally displaced boys, but it remains concerned that such acts of assault and forceful conscription still occur in Liberia.

363. In the light of articles 7, 22 and relevant provisions of the Convention, the Committee recommends that the State party:

(a) Strengthen its efforts to provide adequate assistance to the internally displaced children, including access to food, education and health services and to support their return and reintegration into their communities;

(b) Prevent sexual assaults and other exploitation of refugee and internally displaced children, with particular attention to girls, and provide for their rehabilitation and reintegration into society;

(c) Prevent forcible conscription of refugee and internally displaced boys and provide for their rehabilitation and reintegration into society;

(d) In carrying out programmes for internally displaced and refugee children, seek assistance and work closely with UNHCR, UNICEF and other competent international, intergovernmental or non-governmental organizations.

•          Myanmar, CRC, CRC/C/140 (2004) 81 at paras. 438 and 439.

438. The Committee notes that a large number of returnees from Bangladesh to northern Rakhine State have gone back to their villages of origin, but is concerned that some 850,000 Muslim residents in northern Rakhine State and large numbers of persons of Chinese or Indian descent throughout the country remain stateless, making it impossible for children of these families to benefit from the provisions and principles of the Convention. The Committee is further concerned at the very high number of children and their families who were internally displaced in Myanmar and that many were forced to seek asylum in neighbouring countries owing to the armed insurgencies taking place in various parts of Myanmar.

439. In light of articles 7, 22 and other relevant provisions of the Convention, the Committee recommends that the State party:

(a) Take the necessary measures to allow children and their families who have returned to Myanmar and who are stateless to acquire Myanmar citizenship by way of naturalization;

(b) Strengthen its efforts to provide adequate assistance to internally displaced children, including their access to food, education and health, and to support the return home of internally displaced populations and their reintegration into their communities;

(c) Prevent situations which force children and their families to leave Myanmar;

(d) Ratify the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol and the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons; and

(e) Work closely in this regard with UNHCR and UNICEF.

•          Croatia, CRC, CRC/C/143 (2004) 36 at paras. 227 and 229.

227. In line with the recommendation of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD/C/60/CO/4, para. 13), and while noting the challenges confronted by the State party in meeting the needs of a large number of refugees, returnees and displaced persons, most of whom are children, the Committee remains concerned that return is still hindered by administrative impediments and hostile attitudes on the part of some national and local officials. The Committee expresses its concern about the difficult access to education and health care for refugee and internally displaced children.

...

229. The Committee...recommends that the State party take effective measures to resolve the problem of property owners, most of whom are Serbs, returning to their homes before their occupiers (refugees and displaced persons) have been able to find alternative shelter, and that further efforts be undertaken to facilitate the return of refugees and displaced persons. It also recommends that effective measures be undertaken to ensure that displaced children have equal access to education and health care.

•          Angola, CRC, CRC/C/143 (2004) 78 at paras. 427, 428, 435, 436, 443 and 444.

427. The Committee expresses its concern at the high and increasing number of children living in poverty and extreme poverty in the State party, especially in rural areas. It notes with particular concern the very poor living conditions of many internally displaced children and children living in so-called informal settlements.

428. The Committee recommends that the State party strengthen its efforts to provide acceptable living conditions for children and their families, in particular in view of the child’s right to protection, health and education. Such efforts should include target measures to improve the living conditions of those children and families most in need.

...

435. The Committee notes with appreciation the many efforts undertaken by the State party to address the various problems resulting from massive internal and cross-border displacements. Despite the good results achieved in returning people to their places of origin, the Committee is concerned about the vulnerable situation of internally displaced and refugee families and children in the State party. It is also concerned that the returnees are facing many problems, particularly due to the lack of basic services, and that many children have still not been reunited with their parents.

436. The Committee urges the State party to give priority attention to the vulnerable situation of displaced families and children and ensure that adequate support is given to the reintegration of families and children who have returned to their places of origin after the end of the armed conflict. The State party should, in this regard, ensure compliance with the Norms on the Resettlement of Displaced Populations (Decree 1/01 of 5 January 2001) which provides, inter alia, for the voluntary nature of resettlement, the security of resettlement sites, the allocation of adequate land and the provision of certain basic amenities and services, such as water, sanitation, schools and health facilities.

...

443. The Committee is concerned about the extent of the problem of sexual exploitation of and trafficking in children in the State party and notes that internally displaced and street children are particularly vulnerable to such abuse.

444. The Committee recommends that the State party further strengthen its efforts to identify, prevent and combat trafficking in children for sexual and other exploitative purposes, including by finalizing the national plan of action in this area and providing the appropriate legal framework and sufficient human and financial resources for its implementation...

•          Nigeria, CRC, CRC/C/146 (2005) 135 at paras. 725-728.

725. ...[I]n the light of the Committee’s general comment No. 1 on article 29 (1) of the Convention (aims of education), the Committee remains concerned about the various number of problems in the State party’s education system, including:

...

(g) Segregation of refugees and displaced children in separate schools from other children.

726. The Committee recommends that the State party:

...

(i) Ensure that refugee and asylum-seeking children are placed in schools in the local community, to facilitate their integration;

...

727. The Committee notes that communal clashes linked to political, religious and ethnic differences have led to a large population of internally displaced persons in the State party, and that Nigeria is a host to a large group of refugees from neighbouring countries such as Chad, Sierra Leone and Liberia. The Committee is concerned about the situation of refugee and internally displaced children living in refugee camps, and regrets the paucity of information with regard to these children in the State party report and the State party’s position that the issue of asylum-seeking children do not arise in Nigeria. The Committee is particularly concerned about reports of sexual exploitation of refugee girls and women within and outside of the camps, including female teenagers who are forced into prostitution. The Committee is also concerned that the incidence of teenage pregnancy is high in the camp.

728. The Committee recommends that the State party:

(a) Seek to ensure, as a matter of priority, that all displaced and refugee children and their families have access to health and education services, and that all their rights contained in the Convention are protected, including the right to be registered at birth;

(b) Take measures to ensure that appropriate reproductive health education and child-sensitive counselling services are provided to adolescents living in camps;

(c) Take immediate measures to ensure that all displaced and refugee women and children are protected from all forms of sexual abuse and exploitation and that perpetrators are duly prosecuted;

(d) Ratify the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons and the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness;

...

(f) Continue its collaboration with, among others, UNHCR.

•          Philippines, CRC, CRC/C/150 (2005) 24 at paras. 179 and 181.

179. The Committee is concerned that the State party is able to provide only the arrested child soldiers with physical and psychological recovery and social reintegration services, but the majority of children involved in and affected by armed conflict is never reached. Furthermore, the Committee is concerned about the continuing displacement of children and their limited access to social and health services, education and, above all, to development due to the adverse effects of internal armed conflict...

...

181. The Committee...recommends that the State party pay particular attention to the implementation of guidelines for Philippine Armed Forces on the treatment of children in armed conflict and ensure that children who are arrested are released from military custody within the prescribed time limits and that children are provided with adequate medical treatment and informed about their rights. As regards displaced children and children living in conflict areas, the Committee urges the State party to take effective measures to secure their access to basic services, including adequate social and health services and education and development...

•          Bosnia and Herzegovina, CRC, CRC/C/150 (2005) 49 at paras. 227, 228 and 262-264.

227. The Committee is concerned that discrimination on grounds of ethnicity, political affiliation, national origin, social status, status as internally displaced persons or returnees, residence in rural areas and gender or disability continues to be widespread...

228. In accordance with article 2 of the Convention, the Committee recommends that the State party carefully and regularly evaluate existing disparities in the enjoyment by children of their rights and undertake on the basis of that evaluation the necessary steps to prevent and combat all discriminatory disparities...

262. While the Committee welcomes the fact that, as of September 2004, more than 1 million former refugees and displaced persons, including children, have returned home in the State party, it notes that a significant number of refugees from Bosnia and Herzegovina remain in the region (around 100,000 living in Serbia and Montenegro and Croatia and 50,000 living elsewhere) and that a further 314,000 are still displaced within the country. The Committee is also concerned at the information that violent incidents against returnees and displaced persons and their property, memorials or religious objects are frequent in the country.

263. While the Committee welcomes the 1998 Law on Displaced Persons, Refugees and Returnees in the Republika Srpska - regulating the status, rights and duties of displaced persons, refugees and returnees as well as their reintegration in the society - it is concerned that no comprehensive programme has been initiated at the national level in this respect. The Committee is also concerned that refugee and displaced children are accommodated together with adults in “collective centres” and that collective centres often accommodate not only children but also chronically ill persons.

264. The Committee recommends that the State party:

(a) Continue its efforts aimed at the safe return of displaced and refugee children and their parents and prevent, as much as possible, violent attacks against returnees and displaced persons and/or their property;

(b) Address the special needs and rights of displaced and refugee children, and in particular to ensure proper accommodation arrangements for these children as well as social and professional reintegration of their parents;

...

•          Nepal, CRC, CRC/C/150 (2005) 66 at paras. 360-363.

360. The Committee notes with regret the lack of information provided by the State party on the situation of internally displaced persons, including children, who have been forcibly displaced from their homes due to the ongoing armed conflict.

361. The Committee recommends that the State party:

(a) Ratify, as a matter of priority, the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, the Convention on the Status of Stateless Persons and the Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness;

(b) Seek to ensure, as a matter of priority, that all internally displaced, refugee and asylum-seeking children and their families have access to health and education services, and that all their rights contained in the Convention are protected, including the right to be registered at birth;

(c) Take immediate measures to ensure that all internally displaced, refugee women and children under its jurisdiction are protected from all forms of sexual exploitation and that perpetrators are duly prosecuted;

...

(e) Continue to strengthen its collaboration with UNHCR among other organizations.

362. The Committee is highly alarmed by the number of children who were killed in armed conflicts in the State party... The Committee also expresses concern about children who were separated due to the conflict, including children who have fled to India, and that little efforts have been taken by the State party to reunite these families. The Committee is also concerned about the negative impact of the armed conflict on food supplies, education and health care.

363. The Committee recommends that the State party develop a comprehensive policy and programme for implementing the rights of children who have been affected by conflict, and allocate human and financial resources accordingly. In particular, the Committee recommends that the State party:

...

(d) Develop, in collaboration with NGOs and international organizations, a comprehensive system of psychosocial support and assistance for children affected by conflict, in particular child combatants, unaccompanied internally displaced persons and refugees, returnees;

(e) Take effective measures to ensure that children affected by conflict can be reintegrated into the education system, including through the provision of informal education programmes and by prioritizing the rehabilitation of school buildings and facilities and provision of water, sanitation and electricity in conflict-affected areas;

...

•          Ecuador, CRC, CRC/C/150 (2005) 91 at paras. 451 and 452.

451. The Committee expresses its concern at the high number of people, among which a significant number of children, who are victims of violence and displacement, which are to a significant degree a consequence of Plan Colombia.

452. The Committee recommends that the State party undertake all necessary measures to reduce the negative impacts of Plan Colombia on the population, to ensure the respect of the rights of the children and to provide all victims with assistance for recovery.