’WPC[ ą}ĄŁŹ.[N"t:Ō¹<; Æß¢FPõ!6‡g¢³“d¤X ļ%šhæ:B³3µ”h~W.šĒǼM >#eūdõż¢© [cŗ­sń[-Å֘@‘”Tqluó4d?Üē*B·c®–RsrįpWŽ Šadopting€its€"Education€for€All"€action€plan,€its€efforts€in€the€area€of€immunization,€as€well€asŠ ' w Šcombatting€iodine€deficiency,€and€its€project€on€mainstream€education€for€disabled€children.Š !` ŠĢ960.€€The€Committee€also€notes€the€establishment€in€1992€of€the€National€Commission€for€MothersŠ ā"2! Šand€Children€and€welcomes€its€reorganization€in€1996€and€the€widening€of€its€mandate€to€cover€allŠ Ė#" Šaspects€of€the€Convention,€including€protection€and€participation€issues.Š “$ # ŠĢ961.€€The€Committee€notes€with€appreciation€the€recent€efforts€of€the€State€party€to€address€theŠ †&Ö!% Šproblem€of€unexploded€ordnance€such€as€the€establishment€in€1995€of€the€Unexploded€OrdnanceŠ o'æ"& ŠTrust€Fund€and€the€Laos€National€Unexploded€Ordnance€Programme€established€under€the€MinistryŠ X(Ø#' Šof€Labour€and€Social€Welfare,€with€support€from€the€United€Nations€Development€Programme,€theŠ A)‘$( ŠUnited€Nations€Children's€Fund€and€many€donors.Š **z%) ŠĢ962.€€The€Committee€welcomes€the€State€party's€seeking€advice€and€technical€assistance€to€ensureŠ ü+L'+ Šthe€full€integration€of€the€provisions€of€the€Convention€in€its€legislation,€to€establish€a€system€ofŠ å,5(, Šadministration€of€juvenile€justice,€and€to€train€professionals€on€the€rights€of€the€child.Š Ī-)- Ї(c)€€ņņFactors€and€difficulties€impeding€the€implementation€of€the€ConventionóóŠ ° ŠĢ963.€€The€Committee€notes€that€the€Lao€People's€Democratic€Republic€is€among€the€least€developedŠ ‚Ņ Šcountries.€€The€Committee€also€notes€that€the€State€party€is€in€a€phase€of€transition€from€a€centrallyŠ k» Šplanned€to€a€market€economy;€this€produces€or€aggravates€social€problems€that€have€a€negativeŠ T¤ Šimpact€on€the€situation€of€children.Š =  ŠĢ(d)€€ņņPrincipal€subjects€of€concernóóŠ  _ ŠĢ964.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€that€although€a€new€Constitution€was€promulgated€in€1991€andŠ į 1  Šmajor€pieces€of€legislation,€such€as€the€Family€Law,€the€Penal€Law€and€the€Labour€Law,€came€intoŠ Ź   Šeffect€in€1990,€the€national€legislation€does€not€fully€conform€to€the€Convention.Š ³  ŠĢ965.€€The€Committee€is€equally€concerned€that€insufficient€attention€has€been€paid€to€the€provisionsŠ …Õ  Šof€article€4€of€the€Convention€concerning€budgetary€allocations€to€the€maximum€extent€of€availableŠ n¾  Šresources.Š W§  ŠĢ966.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€at€the€insufficient€attention€paid€by€the€State€party€to€systematic,Š )y Šcomprehensive€and€Ō_ŌdisaggregatedŌ_Ō€qualitative€and€quantitative€data€collection€and€to€theŠ b Šidentification€of€appropriate€indicators€and€mechanisms€to€evaluate€the€progress€and€the€impact€ofŠ ūK Špolicies€and€measures€adopted€for€all€areas€covered€by€the€Convention,€especially€the€most€hiddenŠ ä4 Šsuch€as€child€abuse€or€ill-treatment,€but€also€in€relation€to€all€groups€of€children,€including€minorityŠ Ķ Šgroup€children,€girl€children,€children€in€rural€areas€and€children€victims€of€sale,€trafficking€andŠ ¶ Šprostitution.Š Ÿļ ŠĢ967.€€The€Committee€is€equally€concerned€at€the€insufficient€attention€paid€by€the€authorities€to€theŠ qĮ Šidentification€of€monitoring€mechanisms€for€all€areas€covered€by€the€Convention€and€in€relation€toŠ ZŖ Šall€groups€of€children.Š C“ ŠĢ968.€€While€recognizing€the€efforts€of€the€State€party€to€disseminate€the€Convention,€the€CommitteeŠ e Šis€of€the€view€that€the€measures€adopted€to€promote€widespread€awareness€of€the€principles€andŠ žN Šprovisions€of€the€Convention€for€both€adults€and€children,€in€particular€for€minorities€and€in€ruralŠ ē 7 Šareas,€are€insufficient.€€The€Committee€remains€concerned€at€the€lack€of€adequate€and€systematicŠ Š!   Štraining€for€professional€groups€working€with€and€for€children,€including€judges,€lawyers,€lawŠ ¹" ! Šenforcement€personnel,€policy€makers,€lawmakers,€government€and€military€officials,€communityŠ ¢#ņ" Šleaders,€health€professionals,€teachers,€social€workers,€and€personnel€working€in€child-careŠ ‹$Ū# Šinstitutions.Š t%Ä $ ŠĢ969.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€at€the€lack€of€a€legislative€framework€for€the€creation€of€nationalŠ F'–"& Šindependent€non-governmental€organizations.Š /(#' ŠĢ970.€€Of€particular€concern€is€the€fact€that€the€State€party€does€not€appear€to€have€fully€taken€intoŠ *Q%) Šaccount€the€provisions€of€the€Convention,€especially€its€general€principles€as€contained€in€articlesŠ ź*:&* Š2€(non-discrimination),€3€(best€interests€of€the€child),€6€(right€to€life,€survival€and€development)€andŠ Ó+#'+ Š12€(respect€for€the€views€of€the€child),€in€its€legislation,€its€administrative€and€judicial€decisions€andŠ ¼, (, Šits€policies€and€programmes€relevant€to€children.Š „-õ(- Ї971.€€As€regards€the€implementation€of€article€2,€the€Committee€is€particularly€concerned€at€theŠ ° Šinsufficiency€of€the€measures€adopted€to€ensure€the€full€enjoyment€by€all€children€of€the€rightsŠ ™é Šrecognized€in€the€Convention,€in€particular€in€relation€to€access€to€education€and€health€services,€andŠ ‚Ņ Šprotection€against€exploitation.€€Of€particular€concern€to€the€Committee€are€certain€vulnerableŠ k» Šgroups€of€children,€in€particular€girl€children,€children€belonging€to€minorities,€children€living€inŠ T¤ Šrural€and€remote€areas€and€children€born€out€of€wedlock.Š =  ŠĢ972.€€The€Committee€expresses€concern€regarding€the€implementation€of€article€12€of€theŠ  _ ŠConvention,€as€children's€participation€is€still€low€and€they€are€traditionally€represented€by€adults,Š ų H Šand€as€the€views€of€the€child€are€not€sufficiently€taken€into€account,€especially€within€the€family,€theŠ į 1  Šschool€and€the€care€and€justice€systems.Š Ź   ŠĢ973.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€at€the€lack€of€harmonization€between€the€legal€age€for€the€end€ofŠ œģ  Šcompulsory€education,€which€is€10,€and€the€minimum€legal€age€for€employment,€which€is€15.Š …Õ  ŠĢ974.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€at€the€insufficiency€of€the€measures€adopted€to€discourage€earlyŠ W§  Šmarriage,€which€is€a€harmful€traditional€practice€in€certain€communities.Š @ ŠĢ975.€€In€the€light€of€article€7€of€the€Convention,€the€Committee€is€concerned€that€there€are€childrenŠ b Šwho€are€not€registered€at€birth.Š ūK ŠĢ976.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€at€the€lack€of€awareness€and€information€on€ill-treatment€andŠ Ķ Šabuse€of€children,€including€sexual€abuse,€both€within€and€outside€the€family,€and€the€lack€ofŠ ¶ Šappropriate€measures€and€mechanisms€to€prevent€and€combat€such€abuse.€€The€lack€of€specialŠ Ÿļ Šstructures€for€children€victims€of€abuse€and€their€limited€access€to€justice€are€also€matters€of€concern,Š ˆŲ Šas€is€the€lack€of€rehabilitation€measures€for€such€children.€€The€persistence€of€corporal€punishmentŠ qĮ Šwithin€the€family€and€its€acceptance€by€society€is€also€a€matter€of€concern.Š ZŖ ŠĢ977.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€at€the€lack€of€measures,€including€legal€ones,€to€ensure€thatŠ ,| Šchildren€maintain€contact€with€both€parents€in€case€of€divorce€or€separation,€as€well€as€the€absenceŠ e Šof€a€mechanism€to€ensure€the€recovery€of€maintenance€for€the€child.Š žN ŠĢ978.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€that€the€provisions€of€the€Family€Law€regarding€adoption€do€notŠ Š!   Šconform€fully€to€article€21€of€the€Convention,€or€with€the€principle€of€the€best€interests€of€the€child.Š ¹" ! ŠĢ979.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€at€the€high€maternal€mortality€rate,€the€high€mortality€andŠ ‹$Ū# Šmorbidity€rates€among€children,€the€lack€of€access€to€prenatal€and€maternity€care,€and€the€generallyŠ t%Ä $ Šlimited€access€to€public€health€care€and€to€medicines,€in€particular€in€rural€areas.€€The€high€level€ofŠ ]&­!% Šmalnutrition€is€also€a€matter€of€concern.€€The€Committee€is€also€concerned€at€the€high€incidence€ofŠ F'–"& Štraffic€accidents€involving€children€and€at€the€inadequacy€of€the€efforts€to€raise€awareness€aboutŠ /(#' ŠHIV/AIDS€in€the€communities€and€at€school,€in€particular€in€the€rural€areas.Š )h$( ŠĢ980.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€that€the€legislation€does€not€specifically€mention€that€primaryŠ ź*:&* Šeducation€is€free.€€It€remains€concerned€at€the€low€level€of€school€enrolment€and€the€high€drop-outŠ Ó+#'+ Šand€repetition€rates,€the€disparities€between€urban€and€rural€areas€and€between€ethnic€groups€in€termsŠ ¼, (, Šof€enrolment€and€quality€of€education€provided,€the€shortage€of€physical€infrastructure,€schoolŠ „-õ(- Šmaterials€and€teachers,€and€the€low€qualifications€of€teachers,€in€particular€in€rural€areas.€€TheŠ ° ŠCommittee€is€particularly€concerned€at€the€lack€of€vocational€training€opportunities,€in€particularŠ ™é Šin€rural€and€remote€areas.Š ‚Ņ ŠĢ981.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€at€the€shortage€of€physical€and€psychological€rehabilitationŠ T¤ Šprogrammes€and€services€for€unexploded€ordnance€victims.€€The€problem€of€the€toxic€chemicalŠ =  Šcontamination€of€soil€and€water,€particularly€in€the€six€southern€provinces,€is€also€a€matter€ofŠ & v Šconcern.Š  _ ŠĢ982.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€at€the€economic€exploitation€of€children,€including€in€the€informalŠ į 1  Šsector,€particularly€as€domestic€servants,€in€agriculture€and€in€the€family€context.Š Ź   ŠĢ983.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€at€the€increasing€phenomenon€of€child€prostitution€and€traffickingŠ œģ  Šwhich€affects€boys€as€well€as€girls.€€It€is€worried€about€the€insufficiency€of€measures€to€prevent€andŠ …Õ  Šcombat€this€phenomenon,€and€the€lack€of€rehabilitation€measures.Š n¾  ŠĢ984.€€With€regard€to€article€35€of€the€Convention,€the€Committee€is€also€concerned€at€the€inadequacyŠ @ Šof€the€measures€taken€to€address€the€situation€of€children€affected€by€drugs€and/or€other€substanceŠ )y Šabuse.Š b ŠĢ985.€€The€situation€in€relation€to€the€administration€of€juvenile€justice,€in€particular€its€compatibilityŠ ä4 Šwith€articles€37,€39€and€40€of€the€Convention€and€other€relevant€standards€such€as€the€Beijing€Rules,Š Ķ Šthe€Riyadh€Guidelines€and€the€United€Nations€Rules€for€the€Protection€of€Juveniles€Deprived€ofŠ ¶ ŠTheir€Liberty,€is€a€matter€of€concern€to€the€Committee.€€In€particular,€the€Committee€is€concernedŠ Ÿļ Šat€the€lack€of€a€legal€framework€for€the€administration€of€juvenile€justice,€the€grounds€for€arrest€andŠ ˆŲ Šdetention€of€children€that€can€include€prostitution,€the€absence€of€specialized€judges,€and€the€lackŠ qĮ Šof€social€workers€and€qualified€legal€defenders.Š ZŖ ŠĢ(e)€€ņņSuggestions€and€recommendationsóóŠ ,| ŠĢ986.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€party€initiate€a€comprehensive€review€of€existingŠ žN Šlegislation€with€a€view€to€undertaking€adequate€legislative€reform€to€ensure€full€conformity€of€itsŠ ē 7 Šlegislation€with€all€the€provisions€of€the€Convention,€in€particular€its€general€principles€(articles€2,Š Š!   Š3,€6€and€12).€€The€Committee€also€suggests€that€the€State€party€envisage€the€adoption€of€a€specificŠ ¹" ! Šcode€or€legislation€for€children,€with€a€separate€section€on€children€who€need€special€protection.€Š ¢#ņ" ŠInternational€cooperation€with,€among€others,€the€Office€of€the€United€Nations€High€CommissionerŠ ‹$Ū# Šfor€Human€Rights€and€the€United€Nations€Children's€Fund€can€be€sought€in€this€regard.Š t%Ä $ ŠĢ987.€€The€Committee€also€suggests€that€the€State€party€envisage€acceding€to€other€internationalŠ F'–"& Šhuman€rights€instruments,€including€the€two€international€covenants€on€human€rights.Š /(#' ŠĢ988.€€The€Committee€encourages€the€State€party€to€pay€particular€attention€to€the€fullŠ *Q%) Šimplementation€of€article€4€of€the€Convention€and€to€ensure€judicious€distribution€of€resources€atŠ ź*:&* Šthe€local€and€central€levels.€€Budget€allocations€for€the€implementation€of€economic,€social€andŠ Ó+#'+ Šcultural€rights€should€be€ensured€to€the€maximum€extent€of€available€resources€and,€where€needed,Š ¼, (, Šwithin€the€framework€of€international€cooperation,€as€well€as€in€the€light€of€the€principle€of€the€bestŠ „-õ(- Šinterests€of€the€child€(article€3).Š ° ŠĢ989.€€With€a€view€to€improving€the€general€framework€for€the€protection€of€children€from€all€formsŠ ‚Ņ Šof€abuse,€neglect€and€exploitation,€the€Committee€encourages€the€development€of€a€social€worker'sŠ k» Šsystem.Š T¤ ŠĢ990.€€The€Committee€further€recommends€that€the€State€party€develop€a€comprehensive€system€ofŠ & v Šcollecting€Ō_ŌdisaggregatedŌ_Ō€data€in€order€to€gather€all€necessary€information€on€the€situation€of€childrenŠ  _ Šin€the€various€areas€covered€by€the€Convention,€including€on€children€belonging€to€the€mostŠ ų H Švulnerable€groups.Š į 1  ŠĢ991.€€The€Committee€also€suggests€that€a€Ō_ŌmultidisciplinaryŌ_Ō€monitoring€system€be€established€toŠ ³  Šassess€progress€achieved€and€difficulties€encountered€in€the€realization€of€the€rights€recognized€byŠ œģ  Šthe€Convention€at€the€central€and€local€levels,€and€in€particular€to€monitor€regularly€the€impact€ofŠ …Õ  Šeconomic€change€on€children.€€The€Committee€suggests€that€the€mandate€of€the€NationalŠ n¾  ŠCommission€for€Mothers€and€Children€be€strengthened€in€this€regard.€€The€Committee€recommendsŠ W§  Šthat€the€State€party€also€explore€the€possibility€of€an€independent€machinery€for€complaints,€suchŠ @ Šas€an€Ō_ŌombudspersonŌ_Ō.€€The€Committee€further€stresses€the€need€to€strengthen€the€capacity€of€theŠ )y ŠNational€Commission€for€Mothers€and€Children€in€its€role€of€coordinator,€in€particular€between€theŠ b Šcentral,€provincial€and€local€levels.€€The€Committee€encourages€the€State€party€to€seek€assistanceŠ ūK Šfrom,€among€others,€the€United€Nations€Children's€Fund€in€this€regard.Š ä4 ŠĢ992.€€The€Committee€strongly€encourages€the€State€party€to€strengthen€its€efforts€to€make€theŠ ¶ Šprovisions€and€principles€of€the€Convention€widely€known€by€adults€and€children€alike,€in€the€lightŠ Ÿļ Šof€article€42€of€the€Convention.€€It€encourages€the€State€party€to€further€increase,€through€the€printŠ ˆŲ Šand€electronic€media,€public€awareness€of€the€participatory€rights€of€children,€and€to€incorporate€theŠ qĮ ŠConvention€in€school€curricula.€€It€also€suggests€that€the€State€party€develop€appropriate€oral€orŠ ZŖ Švisual€material€to€further€spread€knowledge€of€the€Convention€among€minorities.€€The€CommitteeŠ C“ Šsuggests€that€the€State€party€seek€assistance€from,€among€others,€the€United€Nations€Children's€Fund,Š ,| Šin€this€regard.Š e ŠĢ993.€€The€Committee€recommends€the€development€of€adequate€and€systematic€training€forŠ ē 7 Šprofessional€groups€working€with€and€for€children,€including€judges,€lawyers,€law€enforcementŠ Š!   Špersonnel,€policy€makers€and€lawmakers,€government€and€military€officials,€community€leaders,Š ¹" ! Šhealth€professionals,€teachers,€social€workers,€personnel€working€in€child-care€institutions€and€policeŠ ¢#ņ" Šofficers,€and€that€children's€rights€be€included€in€their€training€curricula.€€The€Committee€suggestsŠ ‹$Ū# Šthat€the€State€party€seek€assistance€from,€among€others,€the€Office€of€the€United€Nations€HighŠ t%Ä $ ŠCommissioner€for€Human€Rights€and€the€United€Nations€Children's€Fund€in€this€regard.Š ]&­!% ŠĢ994.€€The€Committee€also€recommends€that€a€legislative€framework€be€adopted€in€order€toŠ /(#' Šencourage€the€establishment€of€national€non-governmental€organizations.Š )h$( ŠĢ995.€€It€is€the€Committee's€view€that€further€efforts€must€be€undertaken€to€ensure€that€the€generalŠ ź*:&* Šprinciples€of€the€Convention€not€only€guide€policy€discussions€and€decision-making,€but€also€areŠ Ó+#'+ Šappropriately€integrated€into€any€judicial€and€administrative€decisions€and€in€the€development€andŠ ¼, (, Šimplementation€of€all€projects,€programmes€and€services€which€have€an€impact€on€children.Š „-õ(- Ї996.€€The€Committee€also€emphasizes€that€the€principle€of€non-discrimination,€as€provided€underŠ ° Šarticle€2€of€the€Convention,€must€be€fully€implemented.€€A€more€active€approach€should€be€takenŠ ™é Što€eliminate€discrimination€against€certain€groups,€in€particular€girl€children,€children€belonging€toŠ ‚Ņ Šminorities€and€children€born€out€of€wedlock.Š k» ŠĢ997.€€The€Committee€wishes€to€encourage€the€State€party€to€further€develop€a€systematic€approachŠ =  Što€increasing€public€awareness€of€the€participatory€rights€of€children€in€the€light€of€article€12€of€theŠ & v ŠConvention.Š  _ ŠĢ998.€€The€Committee€suggests€that€the€State€party€adopt€all€appropriate€measures,€includingŠ į 1  Šawareness-raising€among€parents€and€communities,€on€the€negative€effects€of€early€marriage€onŠ Ź   Šchildren.Š ³  ŠĢ999.€€In€the€light€of€article€7€of€the€Convention,€the€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€partyŠ …Õ  Šstrengthen€its€efforts€to€raise€awareness€among€community€leaders€and€parents€to€ensure€that€allŠ n¾  Šchildren€are€registered€at€birth.Š W§  ŠĢ1000.€€In€the€light€of€article€19€of€the€Convention,€the€Committee€further€recommends€that€the€StateŠ )y Šparty€take€all€appropriate€measures,€including€revision€of€legislation,€to€prevent€and€combatŠ b Šill-treatment€within€the€family€and€sexual€abuse€of€children.€€It€suggests,€ņņinter€aliaóó,€that€theŠ ūK Šauthorities€initiate€a€comprehensive€study€on€abuse,€ill-treatment€and€domestic€violence€to€improveŠ ä4 Šthe€understanding€of€the€nature€and€the€scope€of€the€problem,€and€set€up€social€programmes€toŠ Ķ Šprevent€all€types€of€child€abuse,€as€well€as€to€rehabilitate€the€child€victims.€€Law€enforcement€shouldŠ ¶ Šbe€strengthened€with€respect€to€such€crimes;€adequate€procedures€and€mechanisms€to€deal€withŠ Ÿļ Šcomplaints€of€child€abuse€should€be€developed,€such€as€multi€disciplinary€teams€to€handle€cases,Š ˆŲ Šspecial€rules€of€evidence€and€special€investigators€or€community€focal€points.Š qĮ ŠĢ1001.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€party€take€all€appropriate€measures,€includingŠ C“ Šlegal€ones,€to€ensure€that€children€maintain€contact€with€both€parents€in€case€of€divorce€orŠ ,| Šseparation,€as€well€as€to€ensure€the€recovery€of€maintenance€for€the€child.Š e ŠĢ1002.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€legislation€on€adoption€be€brought€into€conformity€withŠ ē 7 Šthe€provisions€of€article€21€and€other€related€articles€of€the€Convention.€€It€further€suggests€that€theŠ Š!   ŠState€party€ratify€the€Hague€Convention€on€Protection€of€Children€and€Cooperation€in€Respect€ofŠ ¹" ! ŠŌ_ŌIntercountryŌ_Ō€Adoption.Š ¢#ņ" ŠĢ1003.€€The€Committee€suggests€that€the€State€party€consider€seeking€further€technical€assistance€toŠ t%Ä $ Šcontinue€to€strengthen€efforts€to€make€primary€health€care€accessible€to€all€children,€in€particular€atŠ ]&­!% Šthe€district€level.€€Concerted€efforts€are€needed€to€combat€malnutrition.€€The€Committee€furtherŠ F'–"& Šsuggests€that€the€State€party€promote€adolescent€health€by€strengthening€reproductive€healthŠ /(#' Šeducation€and€services€to€prevent€and€combat€HIV/AIDS.€€The€Committee€also€recommends€thatŠ )h$( Šall€appropriate€measures€be€taken€to€prevent€traffic€accidents,€such€as€teaching€traffic€rules€at€school.Š *Q%) ŠĢ1004.€€In€accordance€with€article€28€of€the€Convention,€the€Committee€encourages€the€State€partyŠ Ó+#'+ Šin€its€efforts€to€make€free€primary€education€available€for€all€and€to€train€teachers.€€It€also€encouragesŠ ¼, (, Šthe€State€party€to€implement€measures€to€improve€school€enrolment€and€pupil€retention,€especiallyŠ „-õ(- Šof€girls,€children€belonging€to€minorities€and€children€living€in€rural€areas.€€A€system€for€the€regularŠ ° Ševaluation€of€the€effectiveness€of€all€educational€measures€taken,€including€those€related€to€theŠ ™é Šquality€of€teaching,€must€be€ensured.€€The€State€party€may€wish€to€consider€requesting€furtherŠ ‚Ņ Šinternational€assistance€for€the€implementation€of€the€measures€identified€for€the€full€implementationŠ k» Šof€article€28.Š T¤ ŠĢ1005.€€The€Committee€strongly€encourages€the€State€party€to€seek€long-term€external€financialŠ & v Šassistance€in€order€to€build€national€capacity€with€regard€to€unexploded€ordnance,€to€establish€aŠ  _ Šsustainable€clearing€process€in€each€area,€to€provide€continual€community€awareness€programmes,Š ų H Šthrough€schools,€pagodas€and€local€organizations,€and€to€develop€rehabilitation€programmes.€€TheŠ į 1  ŠCommittee€also€suggests€that€a€study€be€undertaken€on€the€effects€on€children€of€toxic€chemicalŠ Ź   Šcontamination€of€soils€and€water€as€a€result€of€the€armed€conflict,€and€that€studies€on€this€matterŠ ³  Šundertaken€in€neighbouring€countries€be€consulted.Š œģ  ŠĢ1006.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€further€measures€be€taken€to€implement€the€provisions€ofŠ n¾  Šarticle€32,€and€that€efforts€be€made€to€prevent€and€combat€economic€exploitation€of€the€child€or€theŠ W§  Šperforming€of€any€work€that€is€likely€to€be€hazardous€or€to€interfere€with€the€child's€education,€orŠ @ Što€be€harmful€to€the€child's€health€or€physical,€mental,€spiritual,€moral€or€social€development.€Š )y ŠParticular€attention€should€be€paid€to€children€working€in€the€informal€sector€and€with€their€families.€Š b ŠThe€Committee€further€recommends€that€the€State€party€harmonize€the€age€of€the€end€of€compulsoryŠ ūK Šeducation€with€the€minimum€age€for€work€by€raising€the€former€to€15.€€The€Committee€suggests€thatŠ ä4 Šthe€State€party€consider€ratifying€International€Labour€Organization€Convention€No.€138€concerningŠ Ķ Šthe€minimum€age€for€employment.€€The€Committee€also€suggests€that€the€State€party€seek€technicalŠ ¶ Šassistance€from€the€International€Labour€Organization€in€this€area.Š Ÿļ ŠĢ1007.€€With€regard€to€the€increase€in€child€prostitution€and€trafficking,€the€Committee€recommendsŠ qĮ Šthat€measures€be€taken€on€an€urgent€basis,€such€as€a€comprehensive€programme€of€prevention,Š ZŖ Šincluding€an€awareness-raising€and€education€campaign,€in€particular€in€the€rural€areas,€and€ofŠ C“ Šrehabilitation€of€the€victims.€€The€State€party€is€also€invited€to€strengthen€its€efforts€to€control€childŠ ,| Špornography.€€Concerning€the€trafficking€of€boys€and€girls€into€neighbouring€countries€for€work€orŠ e Šprostitution,€the€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€party€strengthen€its€efforts€to€raise€awarenessŠ žN Šin€communities€and€establish€vocational€training€for€young€people,€in€particular€in€rural€areas.€Š ē 7 ŠCooperation€with€neighbouring€countries€is€strongly€encouraged.Š Š!   ŠĢ1008.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€party€take€all€appropriate€measures€to€prevent€andŠ ¢#ņ" Šcombat€drug€and€substance€abuse€among€children,€such€as€public€information€campaigns,€includingŠ ‹$Ū# Šin€schools.€€It€also€encourages€the€State€party€to€support€rehabilitation€programmes€dealing€withŠ t%Ä $ Šchildren€victims€of€drug€and€substance€abuse.€€In€this€regard,€the€Committee€encourages€the€StateŠ ]&­!% Šparty€to€consider€seeking€technical€assistance€from€competent€international€organizations,€such€asŠ F'–"& Šthe€World€Health€Organization.Š /(#' ŠĢ1009.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€legal€reform€in€the€field€of€administration€of€juvenile€justiceŠ *Q%) Šbe€pursued€and€take€fully€into€account€the€Convention€on€the€Rights€of€the€Child,€in€particularŠ ź*:&* Šarticles€37,€39€and€40,€as€well€as€other€relevant€standards€in€this€field€such€as€the€Beijing€Rules,€theŠ Ó+#'+ ŠRiyadh€Guidelines€and€the€United€Nations€Rules€for€the€Protection€of€Juveniles€Deprived€of€TheirŠ ¼, (, ŠLiberty.€€Particular€attention€should€be€paid€to€the€prevention€of€juvenile€delinquency,€the€protectionŠ „-õ(- Šof€the€rights€of€children€deprived€of€their€liberty,€respect€for€fundamental€rights€and€legal€safeguardsŠ ° Šin€all€aspects€of€the€juvenile€justice€system€and€full€independence€and€impartiality€of€the€judiciaryŠ ™é Šdealing€with€juveniles.€€The€Committee€also€encourages€the€State€party€to€explore€alternatives€toŠ ‚Ņ Šinstitutional€care€as€well€as€traditional€mechanisms€of€conciliation,€as€long€as€the€principles€andŠ k» Šguarantees€of€the€Convention€are€respected.€€The€Committee€also€recommends€that€the€State€partyŠ T¤ Šavail€itself€of€the€technical€assistance€programmes€of€the€Office€of€the€United€Nations€HighŠ =  ŠCommissioner€for€Human€Rights€and€the€Crime€Prevention€and€Criminal€Justice€Division€of€theŠ & v ŠUnited€Nations€Secretariat.Š  _ ŠĢ1010.€€In€the€light€of€the€areas€of€concern€identified€by€the€Committee€and€the€recommendationŠ į 1  Šmade,€in€particular€in€education,€health€and€protection,€the€Committee€suggests€that€the€State€partyŠ Ź   Šconsider€seeking€further€technical€assistance€from€relevant€international€organizations.Š ³  ŠĢ1011.€€Finally,€in€the€light€of€article€44,€paragraph€6,€of€the€Convention,€the€Committee€recommendsŠ …Õ  Šthat€the€initial€report€and€written€replies€presented€by€the€State€party€be€made€widely€available€toŠ n¾  Šthe€public€at€large€and€that€the€publication€of€these€documents€be€undertaken,€along€with€the€relevantŠ W§  Šsummary€records€and€the€concluding€observations€adopted€thereon€by€the€Committee€following€itsŠ @ Šconsideration€of€the€report.€€Such€a€document€should€be€widely€distributed€in€order€to€generateŠ )y Šdebate€and€awareness€of€the€Convention€and€its€implementation€and€monitoring€within€theŠ b ŠGovernment,€the€National€Assembly€and€the€general€public,€including€concerned€non-governmentalŠ ūK Šorganizations.