’WPC[ ÜR› ”ņ„ ą•„׏K ®/ōó°G\śĄĪeōfžz ‡d{ųóMfmžač—²˜£åÖQw`ĮįÜ!Č\‡¤DĄ6OŌZFĮ(­!M†Fϫʄ¶Õ×€©Šļ©WÄ["ĄU`ŽB* C3—÷åÄĢ;Uś Ś(l Ø+„ėIĒO™p\›ÜB’WĖZѳ&ļ¦(2Z ąHŚoĻ ę8Üv™4ł™ę Ų„d|Só{fZ0|ŹtJgŽ oĆģižJ<¦ÜäQæ.M"8nKČü* h¹„³‚ø–æž0ģüŹaB‘Jļ7¢¶¹_Ž ŠUnion€Council€on€Youth€Participation,€on€the€proposal€of€the€Austrian€presidency.€Š ' w ŠĢ32.€€The€Committee€welcomes€the€establishment€of€the€ombudsman€systems€for€children€andŠ ł!I  Šadolescents€in€each€of€the€nine€Ō_ŌLnderŌ_Ō,€and€at€the€federal€level.€Š ā"2! ŠĢ33.€€The€Committee€notes€with€satisfaction€the€functioning€of€a€comprehensive€pattern€of€studentŠ “$ # Šrepresentation€in€the€school€system.€Š %ķ $ ŠĢ34.€€The€Committee€welcomes€the€adoption€of€legislation€establishing€extraterritorial€jurisdictionŠ o'æ"& Šfor€nationals€of€the€State€party€involved€in€the€sexual€exploitation€of€children.€Š X(Ø#' ŠĢC.€ņņPrincipal€subjects€of€concern€and€the€Committee's€recommendationsóóŠ **z%) ŠĢ______Š ü+L'+ Šą  ą*€At€the€531ņņstóó€meeting,€held€on€29€January€1999.Š å,5(, ŠŠ Ī-)- ŠŌ_Ō‡35.€€The€State€party€maintains€two€reservations€affecting€articles€13€and€15,€and€article€17€of€theŠ ° ŠConvention.€The€Committee€takes€note€of€the€commitment€of€the€State€party€to€review€itsŠ ™é Šreservations,€in€light€of€the€Vienna€Declaration€and€Programme€of€Action€of€1993,€with€a€view€toŠ ‚Ņ Štheir€withdrawal.€Š k» Š€Ģ36.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€that€the€federal€system€in€the€State€party€may€on€occasion€poseŠ =  Šdifficulties€for€the€federal€authorities€in€their€effort€to€implement€the€provisions€of€the€ConventionŠ & v Šwhile€ensuring€the€principle€of€non-discrimination,€in€accordance€with€the€provisions€of€article€2€ofŠ  _ Šthe€Convention.€The€Committee€urges€the€State€party€to€ensure€that€the€existing€mechanisms€ofŠ ų H Šcoordination€and€reliance€on€general€constitutional€principles€are€fully€utilized€so€as€to€protectŠ į 1  Šchildren€fully€from€any€disparity€with€respect€to€areas€within€the€"exclusive€competence"€of€theŠ Ź   ŠLnder.€Š ³  ŠĢ37.€€The€Committee€appreciates€the€diligent€review€of€existing€legislation€to€examine€its€conformityŠ …Õ  Šwith€the€provisions€of€the€Convention,€as€requested€by€a€1992€parliamentary€resolution.€It€notes€withŠ n¾  Šsatisfaction€the€State€party's€commitment€to€submit€to€a€parliamentary€hearing€a€proposal€toŠ W§  Šincorporate€the€principles€and€provisions€of€the€Convention€into€the€Constitution,€and€to€invite€theŠ @ Šparliaments€of€the€Lnder€to€consider€the€same€possibility€in€the€context€of€regional€constitutionalŠ )y Šreforms.€The€Committee€remains€concerned€about€inconsistencies€between€domestic€legislation€andŠ b Šthe€principles€and€provisions€of€the€Convention,€especially€with€regard€to€the€right€to€familyŠ ūK Šreunification€and€some€rights€of€immigrant,€asylum-seeking€and€refugee€children.€The€CommitteeŠ ä4 Šrecommends€that€the€State€party€take€all€necessary€measures€to€ensure€that€all€its€domesticŠ Ķ Šlegislation€is€in€full€conformity€with€the€principles€and€provisions€of€the€Convention,€and€inŠ ¶ Šparticular€with€articles€9,€10,€20€and€22.€Š Ÿļ ŠĢ38.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€that€no€governmental€body,€at€the€federal€or€the€Land€level,€seemsŠ qĮ Što€have€a€clear€mandate€to€coordinate€and€monitor€the€implementation€of€the€Convention.€TheŠ ZŖ ŠCommittee€recommends€that€the€State€party€take€all€appropriate€measures€to€ensure€effectiveŠ C“ Šcoordination€and€monitoring€of€activities€relating€to€the€implementation€of€the€Convention,€at€allŠ ,| Šlevels€of€Government.€Š e ŠĢ39.€€The€Committee€notes€that€recent€budgetary€austerity€measures€have€had€an€impact€on€children,Š ē 7 Šand€may€in€particular€affect€the€more€vulnerable€and€disadvantaged€groups.€While€noting€the€recentŠ Š!   Šdecision€to€undertake€a€comprehensive€reform€of€family€assistance€measures€which€should€lead€toŠ ¹" ! Šimprovements€in€financial€help€to€families€through€increased€allowances€and€tax€deductions,€theŠ ¢#ņ" ŠCommittee€remains€concerned€that€other€budgetary€austerity€measures€introduced€in€recent€yearsŠ ‹$Ū# Šhave€not€been€reversed.€While€the€welfare€system€can€be€considered€generous,€article€4€of€theŠ t%Ä $ ŠConvention€still€imposes€an€obligation€to€seek€further€improvements,€particularly€given€theŠ ]&­!% Šcomparatively€high€level€of€available€resources.€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€partyŠ F'–"& Štake€all€necessary€measures€to€ensure€implementation€of€economic,€social€and€cultural€rights€to€theŠ /(#' Š"maximum€extent€of€available€resources".€Š )h$( ŠĢ40.€€The€Committee€notes€that€the€State€party€contributes€0.33€per€cent€of€its€gross€domestic€productŠ ź*:&* Šfor€development€assistance€(GDP)€and€has€a€specific€budget€line€for€children-related€projects,€forŠ Ó+#'+ Šexample,€support€to€the€ILO's€International€Programme€for€the€Elimination€of€Child€Labour.€TheŠ ¼, (, ŠCommittee€encourages€the€State€party€to€consider€allocating€a€fixed€percentage€of€its€internationalŠ „-õ(- Šdevelopment€cooperation€funds€to€programmes€and€schemes€for€children.€The€Committee€alsoŠ ° Šencourages€the€State€party€to€strive€to€achieve€the€United€Nations€target€of€0.7€per€cent€of€GDP€forŠ ™é Šinternational€development€assistance.€Š ‚Ņ ŠĢ41.€€Cooperation€with€and€involvement€of€NGOs€in€the€implementation€of€the€Convention,€includingŠ T¤ Špreparation€of€the€reports,€remain€limited.€The€Committee€encourages€the€State€party€to€considerŠ =  Šmore€proactive€measures€to€involve€NGOs€in€the€implementation€of€the€Convention.€Š & v ŠĢ42.€€While€noting€initial€efforts€to€disseminate€the€Convention,€the€Committee€considers€thatŠ ų H Šeducation€and€training€activities€for€professional€groups€need€to€be€expanded.€The€CommitteeŠ į 1  Šrecommends€that€the€State€party€renew€its€efforts€to€disseminate€the€Convention,€in€appropriateŠ Ź   Šlanguages,€both€to€children€and€to€a€broader€public.€It€also€recommends€that€the€State€partyŠ ³  Šundertake€systematic€education€and€training€programmes€on€the€provisions€of€the€Convention€forŠ œģ  Šall€professional€groups€working€for€and€with€children,€such€as€judges,€lawyers,€law€enforcementŠ …Õ  Šofficials,€civil€servants,€personnel€working€in€institutions€and€places€of€detention€for€children,Š n¾  Šteachers,€health€personnel,€including€psychologists,€and€social€workers.€Š W§  ŠĢ43.€€Austrian€law€and€regulations€do€not€provide€a€legal€minimum€age€for€medical€counselling€andŠ )y Štreatment€without€parental€consent.€The€Committee€is€concerned€that€the€requirement€of€a€referralŠ b Što€the€courts€will€dissuade€children€from€seeking€medical€attention€and€be€prejudicial€to€the€bestŠ ūK Šinterests€of€the€child.€The€Committee€recommends€that,€in€accordance€with€the€provisions€of€articlesŠ ä4 Š3€and€12€of€the€Convention,€an€appropriate€age€and€structures€for€medical€counselling€and€treatmentŠ Ķ Šwithout€parental€consent€be€set€by€law.€Š ¶ ŠĢ44.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€about€remaining€instances€of€gender€discrimination.€TheŠ ˆŲ ŠCommittee€recommends€that€the€State€party€consider€undertaking€an€in-depth€study€of€the€ages€ofŠ qĮ Šsexual€consent€and€sexual€relations,€taking€into€account€present€legislation,€its€implications€and€itsŠ ZŖ Šimpact€on€children€in€the€light€of€the€principles€and€provisions€of€the€Convention,€with€a€view€toŠ C“ Šensuring€that€the€legislation€is€as€conducive€to€the€realization€of€the€rights€of€girls€as€of€boys€andŠ ,| Šhaving€regard€for€the€best€interests€of€the€child.€Š e ŠĢ45.€€The€Committee€regrets€that€forced€sterilization€of€mentally€disabled€children€is€legal€withŠ ē 7 Šparental€consent.€The€Committee€recommends€that€existing€legislation€be€reviewed€so€as€to€makeŠ Š!   Šsterilization€of€mentally€disabled€children€require€the€intervention€of€the€courts,€and€that€care€andŠ ¹" ! Šcounselling€services€be€provided€to€ensure€that€this€intervention€is€in€accordance€with€the€provisionsŠ ¢#ņ" Šof€the€Convention,€especially€article€3€on€the€best€interests€of€the€child€and€article€12.€Š ‹$Ū# ŠĢ46.€€While€noting€that€studies€are€under€way€concerning€possible€reforms€to€the€criminal€law,€theŠ ]&­!% ŠCommittee€is€concerned€that€existing€legislation€protects€children€from€sexual€exploitation€throughŠ F'–"& Špornography€or€prostitution€only€up€to€the€age€of€14.€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€StateŠ /(#' Šparty€take€all€appropriate€measures€to€ensure€that€the€age€of€sexual€consent€does€not€conflict€withŠ )h$( Šthe€right€of€all€children€to€be€fully€protected€from€exploitation.€In€this€regard,€the€Committee€alsoŠ *Q%) Šencourages€continued€consideration€of€the€recommendations€formulated€in€the€Agenda€for€ActionŠ ź*:&* Šadopted€at€the€World€Congress€against€Commercial€Sexual€Exploitation€of€Children€held€inŠ Ó+#'+ ŠStockholm€in€1996.€Š ¼, (, ŠŠ „-õ(- Š47.€€Regarding€article€11,€the€Committee€notes€with€satisfaction€that€Austria€is€a€party€to€the€1980Š ° ŠEuropean€Convention€on€Recognition€and€Enforcement€of€Decisions€concerning€Custody€ofŠ ™é ŠChildren€and€on€Restoration€of€Custody€of€Children€and€to€the€1980€Hague€Convention€on€the€CivilŠ ‚Ņ ŠAspects€of€International€Child€Abduction.€The€Committee€encourages€the€State€party€to€promote€theŠ k» Šconclusion€of€bilateral€agreements€to€the€same€effect€with€States€that€are€not€parties€to€the€twoŠ T¤ Šabove-mentioned€conventions.€The€Committee€also€recommends€that€maximum€assistance€beŠ =  Šprovided€through€diplomatic€and€consular€channels,€in€order€to€solve€cases€of€illicit€transfer€andŠ & v Šnon-return€of€children€arising€in€such€States,€in€the€best€interest€of€the€children€involved.€Š  _ ŠĢ48.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€about€the€extended€time-frame€for€the€review€of€placement€orderedŠ į 1  Šby€the€courts€for€mentally€ill€children.€The€Committee€encourages€the€State€party,€in€determiningŠ Ź   Šthe€periodicity€for€the€review€of€placement,€to€consider€the€principles€and€provisions€of€theŠ ³  ŠConvention,€in€particular€the€best€interests€of€the€child.€Š œģ  ŠĢ49.€€Regional€disparities,€including€differences€between€rural€and€urban€areas,€exist€in€the€provisionŠ n¾  Šof€rehabilitation€services€for€abused€children.€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€party€takeŠ W§  Šall€appropriate€measures€to€fully€implement€the€right€of€the€child€to€physical€and€psychologicalŠ @ Šrecovery€and€social€reintegration€in€accordance€with€article€39€of€the€Convention.€Š )y ŠĢ50.€€The€Committee€takes€note€of€the€efforts€of€the€State€party€to€integrate€children€with€disabilitiesŠ ūK Šby€providing€a€wide€range€of€services.€The€Committee€encourages€the€State€party€to€continue€itsŠ ä4 Šefforts€to€promote€the€social€inclusion€of€children€with€disabilities€in€accordance€with€article€23€ofŠ Ķ Šthe€Convention.€Š ¶ ŠĢ51.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€that,€in€spite€of€the€provision€of€additional€financial€resources,€theŠ ˆŲ Šnumber€of€places€available€in€services€such€as€kindergarten€and€pre-school€facilities€appears€to€beŠ qĮ Šinadequate.€In€light€of€article€18.3,€the€Committee€recommends€to€the€State€party€to€take€allŠ ZŖ Šappropriate€measures€to€increase€the€number€of€places€in€kindergarten€and€pre-school€facilities,€suchŠ C“ Šas€day€care.€Š ,| ŠĢ52.€€The€Committee€shares€the€State€party's€concern€that€"a€large€number€of€children€in€Austria€areŠ žN Šliving€on€the€edge€of€poverty"€(CRC/C/11/Add.14,€para.€373),€and€the€increase€in€family€allowancesŠ ē 7 Šand€tax€deductions€planned€for€1999€and€2000€may€not€be€sufficient€to€prevent€poverty.€TheŠ Š!   ŠCommittee€recommends€that€all€appropriate€measures€be€taken€to€prevent€poverty€in€light€of€theŠ ¹" ! Šprinciples€and€provisions€of€the€Convention,€especially€its€articles€2,€3,€6,€26€and€27.€Š ¢#ņ" ŠĢ53.€€Noting€that€in€the€school€curriculum€"civic€education"€incorporates,ņņ€inter€aliaóó,€human€rights€andŠ t%Ä $ Šchildren's€rights,€but€does€not€appear€to€refer€specifically€to€the€Convention,€the€CommitteeŠ ]&­!% Šencourages€the€State€party€to€include€specific€information€on€the€provisions€of€the€Convention€inŠ F'–"& Šits€school€curriculum.€Š /(#' ŠĢ54.€€The€Committee€notes€that€budgetary€austerity€measures€have€affected€the€working€of€the€schoolŠ *Q%) Šsystem,€for€example€by€introducing€some€family€contributions€for€school€books€and€enrichmentŠ ź*:&* Šactivities,€or€by€reducing€the€choice€of€optional€subjects.€The€Committee€recommends€that€theseŠ Ó+#'+ Šmeasures€be€examined€carefully€with€regard€to€their€impact€on€the€progressive€implementation€ofŠ ¼, (, Šthe€child's€right€to€education€and€leisure€activities€in€accordance€with€articles€28,€29€and€31€of€Ō_ŌtheŠ „-õ(- ŠConvention,€and€in€particular€so€as€to€limit€their€impact€on€the€most€vulnerable€and€disadvantagedŠ ° Šgroups.€Š ™é ŠĢ55.€€Notwithstanding€the€1997€Alien's€Act€requirement€to€use€"more€lenient€means€when€minors€areŠ k» Šinvolved",€the€Committee€is€seriously€concerned€about€legislation€which€permits€the€detention€ofŠ T¤ Šasylum-seeking€children€pending€deportation.€The€Committee€urges€the€State€party€to€reconsiderŠ =  Šthe€practice€of€detaining€asylum-seeking€children,€and€that€such€children€be€treated€in€accordanceŠ & v Šwith€the€best€interests€of€the€child€and€in€view€of€the€provisions€of€articles€20€and€22€of€theŠ  _ ŠConvention.€Š ų H ŠĢ56.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€that€domestic€legislation€permits€children€from€the€age€of€12€toŠ Ź   Šbe€involved€in€light€work,€and€recommends€that€the€State€party€consider€ratifying€ILO€ConventionŠ ³  Š(No.€138)€concerning€Minimum€Age€for€Admission€to€Employment€and€changing€its€domesticŠ œģ  Šlegislation€accordingly.€Š …Õ  ŠĢ57.€€With€regard€to€juvenile€justice,€the€Committee€remains€concerned€about€the€lack€ofŠ W§  ŠŌ_ŌdisaggregatedŌ_Ō€statistics€on€types€of€offence,€length€of€sentences,€length€of€pre-trial€detention,€etc.Š @ ŠThe€Committee€requests€that€further€information€on€the€situation€of€children€in€prison€be€providedŠ )y Šand€urges€the€State€party€to€ensure€the€full€compatibility€of€the€juvenile€justice€system€with€theŠ b ŠConvention,€especially€articles€37,€40€and€39,€as€well€as€with€other€relevant€international€standardsŠ ūK Šin€this€area,€such€as€the€Beijing€Rules,€the€Riyadh€Guidelines€and€the€United€Nations€Rules€for€theŠ ä4 ŠProtection€of€Juveniles€Deprived€of€their€Liberty.€Š Ķ ŠĢ58.€€While€acknowledging€the€steps€taken€to€ensure€the€rights€of€children€belonging€to€minorities,Š Ÿļ Šand€in€particular€the€projects€providing€school€assistance€and€linguistic€and€cultural€support€toŠ ˆŲ Šchildren€belonging€to€the€Roma€group,€the€Committee€remains€concerned€about€social€and€otherŠ qĮ Šdiscrimination€faced€by€children€belonging€to€the€Roma€and€other€minorities,€and€in€particular€byŠ ZŖ Šthose€belonging€to€groups€that€do€not€enjoy€the€constitutional€status€of€"ethnic€groups"€(seeŠ C“ ŠCRC/C/11/Add.14,€para.€517).€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€party€take€all€appropriateŠ ,| Šmeasures€to€protect€and€ensure€the€rights€of€Roma,€Ō_ŌSintiŌ_Ō€and€other€minority€children,€includingŠ e Šprotection€from€all€types€of€discrimination,€in€accordance€with€articles€2€and€30€of€the€Convention.€Š žN ŠĢ59.€€Finally,€in€the€light€of€article€44,€paragraph€6,€of€the€Convention,€the€Committee€recommendsŠ Š!   Šthat€the€initial€report€and€written€replies€submitted€by€the€State€party€be€made€widely€available€toŠ ¹" ! Šthe€public,€along€with€the€summary€records€of€the€relevant€meetings€and€concluding€observationsŠ ¢#ņ" Šadopted€by€the€Committee.€Such€wide€distribution€should€generate€debate€and€awareness€of€theŠ ‹$Ū# ŠConvention€and€the€state€of€its€implementation,€particularly€within€the€Government,€the€relevantŠ t%Ä $ Šministries,€the€parliament€and€non-governmental€organizations.€