ÿWPC[ Ó7 <‰a´ÈÍU%Ù§v&Þ+¦ù<)KB$¶1ÃùzBœBþ§Ù¦@} „ø¡~ÜmÍ´¬¨îÞì³ÝôÂ[´—¬¥Êö\ì'\&L¥¢ °ÇtW\“ŸøÜ¯¸CÕo&mœ½:ɹWOŒå c^öéW]Bg2ÿ·¬VJ1œ¦Ov®3-[®­"Âàëýñª§é” dNÊñÌ×øßžÜk×ÁKÅ-:m§í¯¾… ï“3]F\¹½Zì<®´¸D@êœÖLÕØ`xUjõòà»ÑÔݱž˜kl2Ì¿³"ô×òHƒÒký®ýkÑ^Qyú6±"ÝÒò&A£ˆ«ÁLòðT¾Ã#W±¿)Š õцÀÕl]¢û¬‡XYQ™oí1hdÖš[>0I]ŠP°]ubøˆŸbKMxGõ‹%×wBåá Þ'+ÙüóùYªwaFŸÎM‡Û¼i²/íôèc&©Wa÷+^kžÕ#¦8»qÎ×ߪ «¶DÀö¹³kã;ÿ V:/íš®ºØaħ·dÚÓ\Z¿‡ %­]ùï`.B–x¤@™jYuÿê6çäá®°C~æ+Y“â1Ùk06Öx Áy!\`¼Ä b¾=[à_QH äÿwçiYˆŠOû8 #Á¶UNw %Å 0:Ë^ w4)8 m:QNY˜HP LaserJet 4000 Series PSÈÙØÙÙØÈÙ0&Öd9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(üœ$¡¡ÔUSUS.,Ô%a, ½ha+ œk1ž3|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ Ý ƒüœ!ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ôà@ÇÇ'ìàÔ‡¼sлXXÔò òCROATIAó óÔ#†X8X»¼sÐO#ԈР° ÐÌò òÌCRC€€A/51/41€Ô_Ô(1996)ó óÔ_ÔÐ ”ä ÐÌÌòòConcluding€observationsóóÐ P   ÐÌÓ  Ó977.€€The€Committee€considered€the€initial€report€of€Croatia€(CRC/C/8/Add.19)€at€its€279th€to€281stÐ " r Ðmeetings€(CRC/C/SR.279-281),€on€23€and€24€January€1996,€and€adopted,€at€its€287th€meeting,€onÐ  [  Ð26€January€1996,€the€following€concluding€observations.Ð ô D  ÐÌòòIntroductionóóÐ Æ  ÐÌ978.€€The€Committee€notes€with€appreciation€that€the€difficult€circumstances€resulting€from€the€warÐ ˜è  Ðhave€not€undermined€the€State's€commitment€to€the€protection€and€promotion€of€children's€rights,Ð Ñ  Ðas€evidenced€by€the€State's€accession€to€the€Convention€on€the€Rights€of€the€Child€immediatelyÐ jº Ðfollowing€independence,€the€timely€submission€of€the€initial€report€due€under€the€Convention€andÐ S£ Ðthe€frank€and€detailed€answers€provided,€both€in€written€and€oral€form,€for€the€consideration€of€theÐ <Œ Ðreport€by€the€Committee.€€The€Committee€requests€a€progress€report€before€the€end€of€1997.Ð %u ÐÌòòPositive€factorsóóÐ ÷G ÐÌ979.€€The€Committee€welcomes€the€statement€by€the€delegation€that€the€Government€intends€toÐ É Ðwithdraw€its€reservation€to€article€9€of€the€Convention.Ð ² ÐÌ980.€€The€Committee€takes€note€with€satisfaction€of€the€efforts€to€bring€domestic€law€and€practiceÐ „Ô Ðinto€line€with€the€principles€and€provisions€of€the€Convention,€including€the€enactment€of€legislationÐ m½ Ðon€the€family€and€on€the€protection€of€children€against€all€types€of€abuse.Ð V¦ ÐÌ981.€€The€Committee€welcomes€the€provisions€contained€in€the€new€Constitution€which€accord€toÐ ( x Ðinternational€human€rights€instruments€ratified€by€the€State€a€legal€status€superior€to€that€of€domesticÐ !a Ðlegislation.€€It€notes€with€appreciation€the€establishment€of€the€special€parliamentary€Committee€forÐ ú!J  ÐHuman€Rights€and€the€Rights€of€Ethnic€and€National€Communities€or€Minorities,€which€monitorsÐ ã"3! Ðthe€application€of€international€instruments€and€the€relevant€provisions€of€constitutional€law€dealingÐ Ì#" Ðwith€human€rights.Ð µ$ # ÐÌ982.€€The€Committee€welcomes€the€willingness€of€the€Government€in€the€framework€of€article€4€ofÐ ‡&×!% Ðthe€Convention,€to€ensure€cooperation€with€United€Nations€and€other€competent€bodies,€includingÐ p'À"& Ðthe€Special€Rapporteur€on€the€situation€of€human€rights€in€the€territory€of€the€former€Yugoslavia,Ð Y(©#' ÐÔ_ÔUNHCRÔ_Ô,€UNICEF,€UNESCO€and€Ô_ÔICRCÔ_Ô€in€the€fields€of€human€rights€and€humanitarian€assistance.Ð B)’$( ÐÌ983.€€The€Committee€also€welcomes€the€efforts€pursued€by€the€Government,€in€cooperation€withÐ +d&* Ðnon-governmental€organizations,€with€a€view€to€raising€public€awareness€on€the€rights€of€the€child.€Ð ý+M'+ ÐIn€this€connection,€the€Committee€welcomes€the€European€Youth€Campaign€being€undertaken€underÐ æ,6(, Ðthe€auspices€of€the€Council€of€Europe€to€combat€racism,€xenophobia,€anti-Semitism€and€intolerance.Ð Ï-)- ÐÔ_Ô‡984.€€The€Committee€further€welcomes€the€progress€made€in€modifying€the€Law€on€Citizenship€soÐ ° Ðas€to€eliminate€risks€of€discrimination.Ð ™é ÐÌ985.€€The€Committee€welcomes€the€intentions€expressed€by€the€Government€to€prosecute€peopleÐ k» Ðwho€committed€crimes€against€the€civilian€population,€including€children,€during€and€afterÐ T¤ Ð"Operation€Storm"€in€August€1995€in€the€Krajina€area€and€to€provide€safe€conditions€for€returnees.Ð =  ÐÌòòFactors€and€difficulties€affecting€the€implementation€of€the€ConventionóóÐ  _ ÐÌ986.€€The€Committee€recognizes€the€serious€difficulties€faced€by€the€State€party€in€implementing€theÐ á 1  Ðprovisions€of€the€Convention.€€It€notes€that€the€State€party's€transition€to€a€market-oriented€economyÐ Ê   Ðhas€had€a€serious€impact€on€the€population,€in€particular€on€all€vulnerable€groups,€including€children.Ð ³  ÐÌ987.€€The€Committee€also€notes€the€major€problems€experienced€as€a€consequence€of€war,€whichÐ …Õ  Ðhas€borne€a€severe€impact€on€the€population,€including€children,€leading€to€heavy€casualties,Ð n¾  Ðlong-lasting€physical,€emotional€and€psychological€effects,€as€well€as€the€disruption€of€some€basicÐ W§  Ðservices.€€It€takes€special€note€of€an€unknown€number€of€children€who€have€suffered€the€mostÐ @ Ðfundamental€violations€of€their€right€to€life,€and€the€existence€of€a€large€population€of€refugees€andÐ )y Ðdisplaced€persons,€exceeding€500,000,€who€are€being€attended€to€by€international€aid.Ð b ÐÌòòPrincipal€subjects€of€concernóóÐ ä4 ÐÌ988.€€The€Committee,€while€welcoming€the€existence€of€government€bodies€and€the€creation€of€newÐ ¶ Ðones€competent€to€deal€with€the€welfare€of€children€at€the€national€and€local€levels,€expressesÐ Ÿï Ðconcern€that€effective€coordination€must€be€established€among€them€in€order€to€develop€aÐ ˆØ Ðcomprehensive€approach€to€the€implementation€of€the€Convention.Ð qÁ ÐÌ989.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€at€the€absence€of€an€integrated€and€systematic€monitoringÐ C“ Ðmechanism€covering€all€areas€covered€by€the€Convention,€and€in€relation€to€all€groups€of€children,Ð ,| Ðespecially€those€affected€by€the€consequences€of€the€war€and€the€economic€transition.Ð e ÐÌ990.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€about€the€impact€on€children€of€economic€difficulties€resultingÐ ç 7 Ðfrom€the€transition€to€a€market€economy.€€It€is€particularly€worried€about€the€consequences€of€theÐ Ð!   Ðprivatization€of€some€social€services€that€might€affect€the€most€vulnerable€groups€of€children.€€InÐ ¹" ! Ðthis€connection,€it€is€particularly€concerned€as€to€whether€appropriate€measures€have€been€taken€toÐ ¢#ò" Ðprotect€children€in€the€light€of€article€4€of€the€Convention.Ð ‹$Û# ÐÌ991.€€The€Committee€expresses€concern€about€the€Law€on€Temporary€Possession,€according€toÐ ]&­!% Ðwhich€property€may€be€occupied€by€temporary€settlers€in€the€absence€of€the€property€owners.€€TheÐ F'–"& ÐCommittee€is€concerned€that€families€affected€by€this€law€will€face€problems€if€they€should€returnÐ /(#' Ðbefore€the€present€occupiers€have€found€alternative€shelter.Ð )h$( ÐÌ992.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€that€a€number€of€unaccompanied€children€who€have€lost€contactÐ ê*:&* Ðwith€their€families€are€in€institutions€or€in€foster€care.€€The€Committee€further€notes€with€concernÐ Ó+#'+ Ðthat€some€foster€homes€might€accept€responsibility€for€the€care€of€children€solely€for€the€economicÐ ¼, (, Ðcompensation€provided€to€them.€€It€stresses€that€the€consequences€for€the€children€living€under€suchÐ ¥-õ(- Ðconditions€are€not€conducive€to€their€sound€development.Ð ° ÐÌ993.€€The€Committee€expresses€concern€that€children€might€be€removed€from€their€families€becauseÐ ‚Ò Ðof€their€health€status€or€the€difficult€economic€situation€faced€by€their€parents.Ð k» ÐÌ994.€€The€Committee€notes€with€deep€concern€the€apparent€disregard€for€judicial€decisions.€€It€notesÐ =  Ðthat€allegations€continue€to€be€made€about€incidents€in€which€members€of€minority€groups,Ð & v Ðparticularly€of€Serbian€and€Muslim€origin,€are€harassed€and€the€perpetrators€left€unpunished.€€TheÐ  _ ÐCommittee€draws€attention€to€the€adverse€consequences€for€society€as€a€whole€and€for€the€generationÐ ø H Ðof€children€who€witness€this€phenomenon€of€impunity.Ð á 1  ÐÌòòSuggestions€and€recommendationsóóÐ ³  ÐÌ995.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€Government€devote€its€full€efforts€to€encouragingÐ …Õ  Ðactively€a€culture€of€tolerance€through€all€possible€channels,€including€the€schools,€the€media€andÐ n¾  Ðthe€law.€€The€schools€should€teach€children€to€be€tolerant€and€to€live€in€harmony€with€persons€fromÐ W§  Ðdifferent€backgrounds.Ð @ ÐÌ996.€€The€Committee€also€recommends,€in€the€interests€of€healing€and€trust-building€within€theÐ b Ðcountry€and€in€the€spirit€of€article€17€of€the€Convention,€that€the€State-controlled€mass€media€shouldÐ ûK Ðplay€an€active€role€in€the€efforts€to€secure€tolerance€and€understanding€between€different€ethnicÐ ä4 Ðgroups€and€that€the€broadcasting€of€programmes€that€would€run€counter€to€this€objective€come€toÐ Í Ðan€end.Ð ¶ ÐÌ997.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€party€should€take€further€steps,€such€as€theÐ ˆØ Ðestablishment€of€a€permanent€structure€to€improve€policy€formulation€and€adopt€measures€for€theÐ qÁ Ðpromotion€and€protection€of€children's€rights.Ð Zª ÐÌ998.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€consideration€be€given€to€the€establishment€of€a€specialÐ ,| Ðindependent€monitoring€structure,€whether€under€the€existing€office€of€the€ombudsman€or€as€aÐ e Ðseparate€body,€and€to€that€end€recommends€that€a€study€be€undertaken€as€soon€as€possible€reviewingÐ þN Ðthe€experiences€of€other€nations€so€that€the€most€appropriate€decision€may€be€reached.Ð ç 7 ÐÌ999.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€public€information€activities€and€other€appropriate€action€beÐ ¹" ! Ðtaken€to€make€better€known€the€principles€and€provisions€of€the€Convention€and€other€relevantÐ ¢#ò" Ðinternational€human€rights€instruments,€including€through€their€incorporation€in€school€curriculaÐ ‹$Û# Ðwith€a€view€to€enhancing€democratic€institutions,€achieving€national€reconciliation,€encouraging€theÐ t%Ä $ Ðprotection€of€the€rights€of€children€belonging€to€minority€groups€and€eliminating€the€atmosphere€ofÐ ]&­!% Ðimpunity€among€those€who€harass€these€groups.Ð F'–"& ÐÌ1000.€€In€keeping€with€efforts€to€promote€the€process€of€national€reconciliation€and€nationalÐ )h$( Ðdialogue,€the€Committee€recommends€that€training€programmes€be€organized€for€members€of€theÐ *Q%) Ðarmy,€police€and€judiciary€on€the€provisions€of€the€Convention.Ð ê*:&* ÐÌ1001.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€system€of€foster€care€be€carefully€monitored€in€orderÐ ¼, (, Ðto€eliminate€any€possible€acts€of€abuse€against€the€children€placed€in€such€care.Ð ¥-õ(- Ї1002.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€in€the€light€of€the€best€interests€of€the€child€and,€whenÐ ° Ðnecessary,€in€the€framework€of€international€cooperation,€the€Government€make€special€efforts€toÐ ™é Ðresolve€the€problem€of€property€owners€returning€to€their€homes€before€their€occupiers€have€beenÐ ‚Ò Ðable€to€find€alternative€shelter.Ð k» ÐÌ1003.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€a€progress€report€be€submitted€by€the€end€of€1997€for€itsÐ =  Ðconsideration.€€It€requests€that€the€State€include€in€that€report€information€about€subsequentÐ & v Ðdevelopments€in€the€areas€of€legal€and€judicial€reform,€of€decisions€to€improve€coordination€ofÐ  _ Ðpolicies€relating€to€children€and€of€the€monitoring€of€the€implementation€of€the€Convention.€€TheÐ ø H Ðprogress€should€also€cover€the€concerns€expressed€by€the€Committee.Ð á 1  ÐÌ1004.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€report€of€the€State€party,€the€records€of€the€dialogue€heldÐ ³  Ðbetween€itself€and€the€State€delegation€and€the€concluding€observations€adopted€by€the€CommitteeÐ œì  Ðbe€widely€disseminated€throughout€the€nation€in€all€minority€languages€as€well€as€in€Croatian.€€ItÐ …Õ  Ðrecommends€that€a€national€debate€be€encouraged€about€the€State€party's€compliance€with€theÐ n¾  ÐConvention€within€and€among€the€Government,€international€organizations€and€national€andÐ W§  Ðnon-governmental€organizations€and€also€among€the€public.Ð @ ÐÓ9Ó