’WPC[ q›“>+F{©™PŖ I§IčŖŖIT\ڳ\½j–:¢kq)ŽĒņęœÜD8ŠAeŚr±Ćš‹\ÓO„ź?VśłįłZÉĒ„ńcßÄRåŠĢ{Ūrzfޱóŗ~£@a ÷…\åjaØŗĀƒ!+ūÆ-›³ę[#o€EWĖ=Šfé4'u¤ņLOcTY@„sŅųĄÜe9VqÉ͟Ž# ŁCbŻŪ¾'Ż]4!Xh#K#理3N;Åķ”ä5šxƒ—ås/©^®™hå’„«1°³Ü–ŹZvQH™dū—jWQ`qŒ>¬µ`-ž6JҾT¢£ģ"4§„8w‹3·Ķhѽy̳ĮB+‘Ł}p›łŃ?±­;Uæ*·  Zš©ę–$g“㣔ū ®8DŻ÷§df(”źŁē”™9Ć’IoeÆ‚ĒźĮĻļ¼yŚXĘ­Ź”eåĪæ‰™-ėßUõlÉś³m L£˜)‚ąæĶÕąU1šżUĒ ‡ćÜ%“2¬xūō™/2Ź­–®N8hŚ5ŹĻqA&ChŠ3)ńĀ8ūX#"’“ū—Įca®ē Ėi%ˆČ@ŗū±Nƒ ~[¼Šƒ3ų|eŸ••¼čsÕ¶Æ #Į¶UNw %Å 0:Ė^ w4)8 m:QNY˜HP LaserJet 4P,ü,,,,,ü0&Öd9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(ūœ$””ŌUKUS.,ŌĄ‰e, &bœ+¢Ų+003|x’U‹’ĄĄĄ Ż ƒūœ!ŻŌUKUS.,ŌŻ  ŻŌ_ŌÓ  ÓŌ€¼āœ»XXŌņ ņECUADORŠ ° ŠÓ  ÓĢĢŌ€X¾PX»¼āœŌCRC/C/80€Ō_Ō(1998)Ō_ŌŠ ģ< ŠĢĢó óŌUSUK.,ŌņņConcluding€observations€of€the€Committee€on€the€Rights€of€the€ChildóóŠ °  ŠĢ24.€€The€Committee€considered€the€initial€report€of€Ecuador€(CRC/C/3/Add.44)€at€its€479th€to€481stŠ ˆ Ų Šmeetings€(see€CRC/C/SR.479-481),€held€on€22€and€23€September€1998,€and€adopted€*€the€followingŠ t Ä  Šconcluding€observations.Š `°  ŠĢA.€ņņIntroductionóóŠ 8ˆ  ŠĢ25.€€The€Committee€welcomes€the€submission€of€the€initial€report€of€the€State€party.€Though€theŠ `  Šreport€was€constructive€and€comprehensive,€the€Committee€regrets€that€it€did€not€strictly€follow€theŠ üL Šguidelines.€The€Committee€also€takes€note€of€the€written€replies€to€the€list€of€issuesŠ č8 Š(CRC/C/Q/ECU/1)€and€the€additional€information€provided€to€it€in€the€course€of€the€dialogue,€whichŠ Ō$ Šenabled€it€to€assess€the€situation€of€the€rights€of€the€child€in€the€State€party.€The€CommitteeŠ Ą Šwelcomes€the€€frank,€self-critical€and€cooperative€tone€of€the€dialogue€the€State€party's€delegationŠ ¬ü Šundertook€with€the€Committee.€However,€it€regrets€the€absence€of€a€delegation€from€the€capital,Š ˜č Šdirectly€involved€in€the€implementation€of€the€Convention€in€the€State€party.Š „Ō Šą  ąĢB.€ņņPositive€aspectsóóŠ \¬ Š€Ģ26.€€The€Committee€welcomes€the€recent€adoption€by€the€State€party€of€a€National€Plan€for€HumanŠ 4„ ŠRights€(March€1998)€and€welcomes€the€expanded€provisions€for€the€protection€of€human€rights,Š  p Šincluding€the€promotion€and€protection€of€the€rights€of€the€child.Š  \ ŠĢ27.€€The€Committee€notes€with€appreciation€the€enactment€of€the€new€Constitution€(August€1998),Š ä4 Šwhich€includes€provisions€for€the€promotion€and€protection€of€human€rights,€including€the€rights€ofŠ Š  Šthe€child.Š ¼!  ŠĢ28.€€The€Committee€welcomes€the€measures€taken€by€the€State€party€to€include€the€teaching€of€theŠ ”#ä! ŠConvention€in€the€school€curricula€and€for€the€establishment€of€bilingual€education€programmes€forŠ €$Š" Šindigenous€children.Š l%¼ # ŠĢ29.€€The€Committee€notes€with€appreciation€the€establishment€of€the€"Ō_ŌAlcaldesŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌDefensoresŌ_Ō€de€losŠ D'”"% ŠŌ_ŌNiosŌ_Ō"€programme€(City€Mayors€for€the€Ō_ŌDefenceŌ_Ō€of€Children).Š 0(€#& Šą  ąą ` ąĢĢ_______________Š ō*D&) ŠŌUK.,US.,żŌŌUSUK.,Ōą  ą*€€€At€the€505ņņthóó€meeting,€held€on€9€October€1998Š ą+0'* ŠŠ  Ģ,(+ ŠŌ_Ō30.€€The€Committee€welcomes€the€implementation€of€international€cooperation€programmes€toŠ ° Šfacilitate€the€full€implementation€of€the€Convention€on€the€Rights€of€the€Child,€especially€in€the€fieldŠ œģ Šof€human€rights€training.€Additionally,€it€welcomes€the€willingness€of€the€State€party€to€engage€inŠ ˆŲ Šfurther€technical€cooperation€in€the€field€of€the€right€to€development.Š tÄ ŠĢ31.€€The€Committee€also€welcomes€the€accession€(1995)€of€the€State€party€to€The€Hague€ConventionŠ L œ Šof€1993€on€the€Protection€of€Children€and€cooperation€in€Respect€of€Intercoutnry€Adoption€and€toŠ 8 ˆ ŠILO€Convention€No.€169€concerning€Indigenous€and€Tribal€Peoples.Š $ t ŠĢC.€ņņFactors€and€difficulties€impeding€the€implementation€of€the€ConventionóóŠ ü L  ŠĢ32.€€The€Committee€notes€that€natural€disasters,€in€particular€the€climatological€phenomenon€knownŠ Ō$  Šas€"El€Nio",€have€had€a€negative€impact€on€the€most€vulnerable€sectors€of€the€population,€includingŠ Ą  Šchildren,€especially€owing€to€the€damage€caused€in€the€agriculture€sector€and€to€infrastructure.Š ¬ü  ŠĢ33.€€The€Committee€also€notes€the€negative€impact€on€children€of€economic€factors€such€as€structuralŠ „Ō  Šadjustment€and€external€debt.Š pĄ ŠĢ34.€€The€Committee€notes€that€widespread€poverty,€longstanding€socio-economic€disparities€andŠ H˜ Šuneven€land€distribution€within€the€State€party€affect€the€most€vulnerable€groups,€including€children,Š 4„ Šand€hamper€the€enjoyment€of€the€rights€of€the€child€in€the€State€party.Š  p ŠĢD.€ņņPrincipal€subjects€of€concern€and€Committee€recommendationsóóŠ ųH ŠĢ35.€€While€the€Committee€notes€the€enactment€of€the€Children's€Code€(1992)€and€of€the€recentŠ Š  Šconstitutional€reform,€it€remains€concerned€that€disparities€still€exist€between€the€principles€andŠ ¼  Šprovisions€of€the€Convention€and€domestic€legislation.€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€StateŠ Øų Šparty€take€all€appropriate€measures€to€facilitate€the€process€of€full€harmonization€of€domesticŠ ”ä Šlegislation€with€the€principles€and€provisions€of€the€Convention,€especially€taking€into€account€theŠ €Š Šholistic€nature€of€this€treaty.Š l¼ ŠĢ36.€€The€Committee€expresses€its€concern€at€the€lack€of€adequate€coordination€between€variousŠ D!” Šgovernmental€entities€dealing€with€children's€issues,€both€at€the€national€and€local€levels.€TheŠ 0"€  ŠCommittee€recommends€that€the€State€party€take€further€steps€to€reinforce,€within€the€framework€ofŠ #l! Šthe€National€Plan€for€Human€Rights,€the€existing€coordinating€mechanisms€(for€example,€theŠ $X" ŠNational€Commission€for€Children€(CONAME)),€including€at€the€municipal€level,€in€order€toŠ ō$D # Šstrengthen€coordination€between€the€various€governmental€bodies€involved€in€children's€rights.Š ą%0!$ ŠGreater€efforts€should€be€made€to€ensure€closer€cooperation€with€non-governmental€organizationsŠ Ģ&"% Šworking€in€the€field€of€human€rights,€in€particular€the€rights€of€the€child.Š ø'#& ŠĢ37.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€about€the€absence€of€an€adequate,€systematic,€comprehensive€andŠ )ą$( Šdesegregated€data€collection€mechanism€for€all€areas€covered€by€the€Convention,€especiallyŠ |*Ģ%) Šaddressing€the€most€vulnerable€groups€of€children,€including€children€born€out€of€wedlock,€childrenŠ h+ø&* Šbelonging€to€indigenous€groups,€Afro-Ecuadorean€children,€children€living€in€institutional€care,Š T,¤'+ Šchildren€living€and/or€working€on€the€streets,€girl€children€and€children€living€in€rural€areas.€ItŠ @-(, Šrecommends€that€the€State€party€develop€a€comprehensive€system€for€collecting€disaggregated€data,Š ° Šin€order€to€gather€all€necessary€information€on€the€situation€of€children€in€the€various€areas€coveredŠ œģ Šby€the€Convention,€including€children€belonging€to€vulnerable€groups,€as€a€basis€for€assessingŠ ˆŲ Šprogress€achieved€in€the€realization€of€children's€rights€and€to€help€design€policies€for€betterŠ tÄ Šimplementation€of€the€provisions€of€the€Convention.€The€Committee€encourages€the€State€party€toŠ `° Šconsider€seeking€international€cooperation€to€this€effect€from,€ņņinter€aliaóó,€UNICEF.Š L œ ŠĢ38.€€The€Committee€expresses€its€concern€regarding€recent€budget€cuts€which€have€had€a€negativeŠ $ t Šimpact€on€the€provision€of€social€programmes,€especially€those€relating€to€children.€The€CommitteeŠ  ` Šencourages€the€State€party€to€pay€particular€attention€to€the€full€implementation€of€article€4€of€theŠ ü L  ŠConvention€and€to€ensure€the€appropriate€distribution€of€resources€at€the€local€and€central€levels.Š č 8  ŠBudgetary€allocations€for€the€implementation€of€economic,€social€and€cultural€rights€should€beŠ Ō$  Šensured€to€the€maximum€extent€of€available€resources€and,€where€needed,€within€the€framework€ofŠ Ą  Šinternational€cooperation,€as€well€as€in€the€light€of€the€principles€of€non-discrimination€and€the€bestŠ ¬ü  Šinterests€of€the€child€(arts.€2€and€3€of€the€Convention).€The€Committee€also€recommends€that€theŠ ˜č  ŠState€party€take€all€available€measures€for€the€full€implementation€and€systematic€monitoring€of€theŠ „Ō  ŠNational€Plan€of€Action€for€Children.Š pĄ ŠĢ39.€€While€recognizing€the€efforts€of€the€State€party€to€disseminate€the€Convention€and€to€trainŠ H˜ Šprofessionals€working€for€and€with€children€on€the€provisions€and€principles€of€the€Convention,€asŠ 4„ Šwell€as€to€translate€the€Convention€into€the€Quechua€and€Shuar€languages,€the€Committee€is€of€theŠ  p Šview€that€these€measures€need€to€be€reinforced.€The€Committee€also€remains€concerned€at€the€lackŠ  \ Šof€adequate€and€systematic€training€for€professional€groups€working€with€and€for€children.€ItŠ ųH Šencourages€the€State€party€to€strengthen€its€efforts€to€disseminate€the€principles€and€provisions€ofŠ ä4 Šthe€Convention€as€a€measure€to€sensitize€society€about€children's€rights.€Furthermore,€training€on€theŠ Š  ŠConvention€should€be€conducted€for€professional€groups,€such€as€judges,€lawyers,€law€enforcementŠ ¼  Šand€army€officials,€civil€servants,€teachers,€personnel€working€in€institutions€and€places€of€detentionŠ Øų Šfor€children,€health€personnel,€including€psychologists,€and€social€workers.€€Dissemination€of€theŠ ”ä Šprovisions€and€principles€of€the€Convention€to€non-governmental€organizations,€the€mass€media€andŠ €Š Šthe€public€at€large€including€children€themselves€should€be€enhanced.Š l¼ ŠĢ40.€€With€regard€to€the€implementation€of€article€1€and€related€articles€of€the€Convention€regardingŠ D!” Šthe€definition€of€the€child,€the€Committee€is€concerned€about€the€disparities€existing€in€domesticŠ 0"€  Šlegislation.€The€Committee€is€also€concerned€at€the€use€of€the€biological€criterion€of€puberty€to€setŠ #l! Šdifferent€ages€of€maturity€for€boys€and€girls.€This€practice€is€contrary€to€the€principles€and€provisionsŠ $X" Šof€the€Convention€and€constitutes€a€form€of€gender-based€discrimination€which€affects€the€enjoymentŠ ō$D # Šof€all€rights.€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€party€review€its€domestic€legislation€toŠ ą%0!$ Šensure€full€conformity€with€the€principles€and€provisions€of€the€Convention.€Š Ģ&"% ŠĢ41.€€While€acknowledging€the€measures€taken€by€the€State€party,€the€Committee€is€still€concernedŠ ¤(ō#' Šat€the€predominance€of€discrimination€on€the€basis€of€ethnic€origin,€gender,€social€status€andŠ )ą$( Šdisabilities.€The€Committee€expresses€its€concern€at€the€increasing€disparities€between€rural€andŠ |*Ģ%) Šurban€areas,€as€well€as€at€the€growing€number€of€the€population€living€in€urban€poor€andŠ h+ø&* Šmarginalized€areas.€In€the€light€of€the€general€principle€of€non-discrimination€(art.€2€of€theŠ T,¤'+ ŠConvention),€the€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€party€continue€taking€all€available€measuresŠ @-(, Što€reduce€economic€and€social€disparities,€including€those€between€rural€and€urban€areas.€MeasuresŠ ° Što€prevent€discrimination€against€the€most€disadvantaged€groups€of€children,€including€childrenŠ œģ Šbelonging€to€indigenous€communities,€Afro-Ecuadorean€children,€girl€children,€children€withŠ ˆŲ Šdisabilities,€children€born€out€of€wedlock,€children€in€institutional€care,€and€children€living€and/orŠ tÄ Šworking€on€the€streets€should€be€reinforced.Š `° ŠĢ42.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€that€the€general€principles€of€the€best€interests€of€the€child€(art.€3)Š 8 ˆ Šand€respect€for€the€views€of€the€child€(art.€12)€are€not€fully€applied€and€duly€integrated€into€theŠ $ t Špolicies€and€programmes€of€the€State€party.€The€Committee€recommends€that€further€efforts€be€madeŠ  ` Što€ensure€that€domestic€laws€take€fully€into€account€the€principles€of€the€best€interests€of€the€childŠ ü L  Šand€respect€for€the€views€of€the€child,€and€his€or€her€right€to€participate€in€the€family,€at€school,€inŠ č 8  Šother€institutions€and€in€society€in€general.€These€principles€should€also€be€reflected€in€all€policies,Š Ō$  Šadministrative€decisions€and€programmes€relating€to€children.Š Ą  ŠĢ43.€€While€the€Committee€takes€note€of€the€measures€taken€by€the€State€party€in€the€area€of€birthŠ ˜č  Šregistration,€it€remains€concerned€at€the€lack€of€awareness€and€understanding€on€registrationŠ „Ō  Šprocedures,€especially€in€rural€areas.€In€the€light€of€article€7€of€the€Convention,€the€CommitteeŠ pĄ Šrecommends€that€the€State€party€continue€with€its€efforts€to€ensure€the€registration€of€all€childrenŠ \¬ Šimmediately€after€birth.€Furthermore,€the€Committee€encourages€the€State€party€to€ensure,€inŠ H˜ Šcooperation€with€non-governmental€organizations€and€with€the€support€of€intergovernmentalŠ 4„ Šorganizations,€that€birth€registration€procedures€are€widely€known€and€understood€by€the€populationŠ  p Šat€large.Š  \ ŠĢ44.€€The€Committee€is€deeply€concerned€at€the€information€provided€in€the€State€party's€report€thatŠ ä4 Š"child€abuse€is€a€culturally€accepted€and€justified€practice".€In€this€regard,€it€expresses€its€concernŠ Š  Šat€the€insufficient€awareness€regarding€the€harmful€consequences€of€ill-treatment€and€abuse,Š ¼  Šincluding€sexual€abuse,€both€within€and€outside€the€family.€Concern€is€also€expressed€at€theŠ Øų Šinsufficient€resources,€both€financial€and€human,€as€well€as€at€the€lack€of€adequately€trainedŠ ”ä Špersonnel€to€prevent€and€combat€such€abuse.€The€insufficiency€of€rehabilitation€measures€andŠ €Š Šfacilities€for€such€children€and€their€limited€access€to€justice€are€also€matters€of€concern.€In€the€lightŠ l¼ Šof,€ņņinter€aliaóó,€articles€19€and€39€of€the€Convention,€the€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€partyŠ X Ø Štake€all€appropriate€steps,€including€setting€up€social€programmes€and€introducing€rehabilitationŠ D!” Šmeasures€to€prevent€and€combat€child€abuse€and€ill-treatment€of€children€within€the€family,€at€schoolŠ 0"€  Šand€in€society€at€large.€It€suggests€that€law€enforcement€should€be€strengthened€with€respect€to€suchŠ #l! Šcrimes€and€that€adequate€procedures€and€mechanisms€to€deal€with€complaints€of€child€abuse€shouldŠ $X" Šbe€developed.€Furthermore,€educational€programmes€should€be€established€to€combat€traditionalŠ ō$D # Šattitudes€within€society€regarding€this€issue.€The€Committee€encourages€the€State€party€to€considerŠ ą%0!$ Šseeking€international€cooperation€to€this€effect€from,€ņņinter€aliaóó,€UNICEF€and€internationalŠ Ģ&"% Šnon-governmental€organizations.Š ø'#& ŠĢ45.€€While€the€Committee€notes€the€State€party's€efforts€to€reduce€the€infant€mortality€rate€and€theŠ )ą$( Šunder-five€mortality€rate,€it€is€still€concerned€about€the€prevalence€of€malnutrition,€high€rates€ofŠ |*Ģ%) Šmaternal€mortality€and€the€limited€access€to€health€services€in€remote€rural€areas.€It€suggests€that€theŠ h+ø&* ŠState€party€allocate€appropriate€resources€and€consider€seeking€technical€assistance,€when€needed,Š T,¤'+ Što€reinforce€its€efforts€to€make€basic€health€care€accessible€to€all€children.€In€particular,€concertedŠ @-(, Šefforts€are€required€to€combat€malnutrition€and€ensure€the€adoption€and€implementation€of€a€nationalŠ ° Šnutritional€policy€for€children.€International€cooperation€for€the€establishment€of€programmes€suchŠ œģ Šas€the€WHO/UNICEF€"Integrated€Management€of€Childhood€Illness"€is€recommended.€In€addition,Š ˆŲ Šthe€Committee€recommends€that€breast„feeding€be€promoted€in€all€health€facilities€and€among€theŠ tÄ Špublic€at€large.Š `° ŠĢ46.€€With€regard€to€adolescent€health,€the€Committee€is€particularly€concerned€at€the€high€andŠ 8 ˆ Šincreasing€rate€of€teenage€pregnancy,€the€incidence€of€suicides€by€girls€and€insufficient€access€byŠ $ t Šteenagers€to€reproductive€health€education€and€counselling€services,€including€outside€of€schools.Š  ` ŠThe€Committee€is€also€concerned€at€the€increasing€rate€of€substance€abuse.€It€suggests€that€aŠ ü L  Šcomprehensive€and€multidisciplinary€study€be€undertaken€on€adolescent€health€problems€as€a€basisŠ č 8  Šfor€promoting€adolescent€health€policies€and€strengthening€reproductive€health€education€andŠ Ō$  Šcounselling€services.€The€Committee€also€recommends€that€further€efforts€be€undertaken€to€developŠ Ą  Šchild-friendly€counselling€services,€as€well€as€care€and€rehabilitation€facilities€for€adolescents.Š ¬ü  ŠMeasures€to€prevent€and€combat€substance€abuse€among€adolescents€should€be€strengthened.€Š ˜č  ŠĢ47.€€The€Committee€expresses€its€concern€at€the€high€incidence€of€environmental€threats,€includingŠ pĄ Što€the€health€of€children,€in€particular€in€oil€exploitation€areas€of€the€Amazonia€region.€In€the€lightŠ \¬ Šof€article€24€(c)€of€the€Convention,€the€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€party€take€allŠ H˜ Šappropriate€measures,€including€seeking€international€cooperation,€to€prevent€and€combat€theŠ 4„ Šdamaging€effects€of€environmental€degradation,€including€pollution,€on€children.Š  p ŠĢ48.€€With€regard€to€the€implementation€of€article€27€of€the€Convention,€the€Committee€is€concernedŠ ųH Šabout€the€widespread€poverty€and€deteriorating€living€conditions€affecting€the€majority€of€theŠ ä4 Špopulation€in€the€State€party.€It€recommends€that€the€State€party€take€comprehensive€measures€toŠ Š  Šestablish€poverty€alleviation€programmes€with€special€emphasis€on€the€access€to€health-care€andŠ ¼  Šeducation€of€children,€in€particular€the€most€vulnerable€groups€of€children.€Š Øų ŠĢ49.€€Although€the€Committee€is€aware€of€the€State€party's€achievements€in€the€field€of€education,€itŠ €Š Šremains€concerned€at€the€high€drop-out€rate€between€primary€and€secondary€school€and€the€highŠ l¼ Šrepetition€rate€at€both€levels,€at€the€gender€disparities€in€secondary€school€enrolment€and€atŠ X Ø Šdisparities€in€access€to€education€between€rural€and€urban€areas.€It€recommends€that€the€State€partyŠ D!” Šstrengthen€its€educational€policies€and€system€in€order€to€reduce€gender€and€geographical€disparitiesŠ 0"€  Šand€to€establish€retention€programmes€and€vocational€training€for€drop-out€students.€Š #l! ŠĢ50.€€Though€the€Committee€is€aware€that€the€reform€of€the€primary€education€curricula€has€includedŠ ō$D # Šmeasures€to€fulfil€the€rights€of€the€child€to€leisure€and€recreational€and€cultural€activities,€it€remainsŠ ą%0!$ Šconcerned€about€the€insufficiency€of€these€measures,€in€particular€for€children€living€in€urban-poorŠ Ģ&"% Šand€rural€areas.€In€the€light€of€article€31€of€the€Convention,€the€Committee€recommends€that€the€StateŠ ø'#& Šparty€strengthen€its€measures€to€improve€children's€access€to€leisure€and€to€recreational€and€culturalŠ ¤(ō#' Šactivities,€especially€for€the€most€vulnerable€groups€of€children.€Š )ą$( ŠĢ51.€€While€the€Committee€acknowledges€the€State€party's€policies€for€the€protection€of€refugees,€itŠ h+ø&* Šremains€concerned€at€the€lack€of€specific€provisions€in€its€domestic€legislation€concerning€the€rightsŠ T,¤'+ Šof€asylum€seeking€and€refugee€children€and€the€right€to€family€reunification.€In€the€light€of€articleŠ @-(, Š22€of€the€Convention,€the€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€party€undertake€appropriateŠ ° Šmeasures€to€adopt€legislation€to€protect€all€the€rights€of€asylum€seeking€and€refugee€children.Š œģ ŠTechnical€assistance€from€the€Office€of€the€United€Nations€High€Commissioner€for€RefugeesŠ ˆŲ Š(UNHCR)€could€be€requested€in€this€regard.€Š tÄ ŠĢ52.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€at€the€insufficient€measures€addressing€the€issues€of€child€labourŠ L œ Šand€economic€exploitation,€including€domestic€labour€and€sexual€exploitation€of€children.€In€thisŠ 8 ˆ Šregard,€the€lack€of€data€and€research€is€also€a€matter€of€concern€to€the€Committee.€The€CommitteeŠ $ t Šis€further€concerned€at€the€increasing€number€of€children€living€and/or€working€on€the€streets,€whoŠ  ` Šrequire€special€attention€because€of€the€risks€they€are€exposed€to.€The€Committee€recommends€thatŠ ü L  Šthe€State€party€give€specific€attention€to€undertaking€research€on€and€monitoring€the€situation€ofŠ č 8  Šchildren€living€and/or€working€on€the€streets€and€those€involved€in€hazardous€labour,€includingŠ Ō$  Šdomestic€service€and€prostitution.€The€Committee€also€recommends€that€the€State€party€developŠ Ą  Šnational€policies€on€the€prevention€and€the€elimination€of€the€most€hazardous€forms€of€child€labour.Š ¬ü  ŠThe€Committee€suggests€that€the€State€party€consider€seeking€technical€assistance€from€ILO€in€thisŠ ˜č  Šarea.€In€addition,€the€Committee€encourages€the€State€party€to€consider€ratifying€ILO€Convention€No.Š „Ō  Š138€concerning€minimum€age€for€admission€to€employment.Š pĄ ŠĢ53.€€While€the€Committee€takes€note€of€the€State€party's€efforts€to€combat€the€trafficking€and€sale€ofŠ H˜ Šchildren,€it€remains€concerned€about€the€lack€of€preventive€measures€in€this€area.€Concerning€theŠ 4„ Štrafficking€of€boys€and€girls€into€neighbouring€countries€for€work,€including€prostitution,€theŠ  p ŠCommittee€recommends€that€measures€be€taken€on€an€urgent€basis,€such€as€a€comprehensiveŠ  \ Šprogramme€of€prevention,€including€an€awareness-raising€campaign€and€educational€programmes,Š ųH Šin€particular€in€the€rural€areas€and€for€concerned€governmental€officials,€and€of€rehabilitation€of€theŠ ä4 Švictims.€Cooperation€with€neighbouring€countries€is€strongly€encouraged.Š Š  ŠĢ54.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€at€the€absence€of€data€and€of€a€comprehensive€study€on€the€issueŠ Øų Šof€sexual€commercial€exploitation€of€children.€In€the€light€of€article€34€and€related€articles€of€theŠ ”ä ŠConvention,€the€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€party€reinforce€its€legislative€framework€toŠ €Š Šprotect€children€fully€from€all€forms€of€sexual€abuse€or€exploitation,€including€within€the€family.€ItŠ l¼ Šalso€recommends€that€the€State€party€engage€in€studies€with€a€view€to€designing€and€implementingŠ X Ø Šappropriate€policies€and€measures,€including€care€and€rehabilitation,€to€prevent€and€combat€thisŠ D!” Šphenomenon.€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€party€continue€implementing€theŠ 0"€  Šrecommendations€formulated€in€the€Agenda€for€Action€adopted€at€the€1996€Stockholm€WorldŠ #l! ŠCongress€against€Commercial€Sexual€Exploitation€of€Children.Š $X" ŠĢ55.€€With€regard€to€the€juvenile€justice€system€in€the€State€party,€the€Committee€is€concerned€aboutŠ ą%0!$ Šits€full€compatibility€with€articles€37,€40€and€39€of€the€Convention€and€with€other€relevant€standardsŠ Ģ&"% Šsuch€as€the€Beijing€Rules,€the€Riyadh€Guidelines€and€the€United€Nations€Rules€for€the€ProtectionŠ ø'#& Šof€Juveniles€Deprived€of€their€Liberty.€In€particular,€the€Committee€is€concerned€that€deprivation€ofŠ ¤(ō#' Šliberty€is€not€systematically€used€as€a€measure€of€last€resort€only,€at€the€slow€pace€at€which€cases€areŠ )ą$( Šprocessed,€at€the€insufficient€provision€of€legal€aid€for€children€and€at€the€situation€of€children€underŠ |*Ģ%) Šseven€years€of€age€living€in€prisons€with€their€parents.€It€recommends€that€the€State€party€envisageŠ h+ø&* Šundertaking€further€measures€to€ensure€the€full€compatibility€of€the€juvenile€justice€system€with€theŠ T,¤'+ ŠConvention,€especially€articles€37,€40€and€39€and€other€relevant€United€Nations€standards.€ParticularŠ @-(, Šattention€should€be€paid€to€ensuring€that€the€deprivation€of€liberty€is€only€used€as€a€measure€of€lastŠ ° Šresort,€that€children€have€access€to€legal€aid€and€that€alternative€care€(for€example,€in€foster€families)Š œģ Šshould€be€provided€for€children€living€in€prisons€with€one€of€their€parents.€Training€programmes€onŠ ˆŲ Šthe€relevant€international€standards€should€be€conducted€for€all€professionals€involved€with€theŠ tÄ Šjuvenile€justice€system.€€In€this€regard,€the€Committee€further€suggests€that€the€State€party€considerŠ `° Šseeking€technical€assistance€from,€ņņinter€aliaóó,€the€Office€of€the€United€Nations€High€CommissionerŠ L œ Šfor€Human€Rights,€the€Centre€for€International€Crime€Prevention,€the€International€Network€onŠ 8 ˆ ŠJuvenile€Justice€and€UNICEF€through€the€Coordination€Panel€on€Juvenile€Justice.Š $ t ŠĢ56.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€additional€information,€taking€into€account€the€concernsŠ ü L  Šexpressed€during€the€dialogue€held€with€the€State€party,€be€prepared€and€submitted€to€the€CommitteeŠ č 8  Šby€April€1999.€Š Ō$  ŠĢ57.€€Lastly,€in€the€light€of€article€44,€paragraph€6,€of€the€Convention,€the€Committee€recommendsŠ ¬ü  Šthat€the€initial€report€and€written€replies€submitted€by€the€State€party€be€made€widely€available€to€theŠ ˜č  Špublic€at€large€and€that€consideration€be€given€to€publishing€the€report,€along€with€the€relevantŠ „Ō  Šsummary€records€and€the€concluding€observations€adopted€by€the€Committee.€Such€a€documentŠ pĄ Šshould€be€widely€distributed€in€order€to€generate€debate€on€and€awareness€of€the€Convention,€itsŠ \¬ Šimplementation€and€monitoring€within€the€Government€and€the€Parliament€and€among€the€generalŠ H˜ Špublic,€including€concerned€non-governmental€organizations.Š 4„ ŠĢŌUK.,US.,{ Ō