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V’Nę ©RǾå¹2Õ}ąŒ°\ÅÆ)’>놰(‘H”E9$„f²eC©35= WI]TėƵ”/‰SĮ•”P¹E!9=ŗ Ź…S}×‰®GŠ„/Żn¦[L4Һ٠İ@öŁ~@5叒]‘«`ÅełŪ¬=yįó–›Ōœķą»eē Žü•š]*8Ź6ēŸ'ž˜FJ‘EøÉó/{­ü±ų?X¹±Ž‘jx®īāāÄMčγ3Ā÷ĒA$ĄžÕń¦ƒŽxė#5wż¬‹a³ÉÜ’‹žģÓČšHŚņāņÉ ”TˆypĮ"’RÖū µ³©Øk––ÅiŲXśn,DNęs¶„ęvŽ ĆŃ^NcŒ{Ī>*0!jĆy¼cp/Uņ%1d1wŚ®Ć0/BœßÉ ź ÉŽPæ”Ėk)®„āt…)Ģ *}~Ō¶]H„ĪFŁ4¤JѦŅÕt"ĀŲK¦¹Ėi®1UśėPHž­’ź9ææńßO§öd«q<8¦*Ź—SPno»ŠŹ™0śRˆ #Į¶UNw %Å 0:Ė^ w4)8 m:QNY˜HP LaserJet 4000 Series PSČŚŲŚŚŲČŚ0&Öd9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(ūœ$””ŌUKUS.,ŌØ~m, ó}z+ź:i¢Ų+003|x’U‹’ĄĄĄ Ż ƒūœ!ŻŌUKUS.,ŌŻ  ŻŌ_ŌÓ  ÓŌ‡¼ź»XXŌņ ņNIGERIAó óŌ#†X”XX»¼źI#ŌŠ ° ŠÓ=ÓÓ  ÓĢņ ņĢCRC€€A/53/41€Ō_Ō(1998)ó óŌ_ŌŠ œģ ŠĢĢ8.€€ņņConcluding€observationsóóŠ ` ° ŠĢ284.€€The€Committee€considered€the€initial€report€of€Nigeria€(CRC/C/8/Add.26)€at€its€321ņņstóó€to€323ņņrdóóŠ 8 ˆ Šmeetings,€on€26€and€27€September€1996€(CRC/C/SR.321-323),€and,€at€its€343ņņrdóó€meeting,€on€11Š $ t  ŠOctober€1996,€adopted€the€following€observations.Š `  ŠĢ(a)€€ņņIntroductionóóŠ č8  ŠĢ285.€€The€Committee€expresses€its€appreciation€to€the€State€party€for€sending€a€high-level€delegationŠ Ą  Što€discuss€the€report.€€The€Committee€notes€that€the€report,€although€following€the€thematic€structureŠ ¬ü  Šfor€reporting€set€out€in€the€general€guidelines,€was€incomplete€in€its€appreciation€of€the€situation€ofŠ ˜č Šchildren€throughout€the€country.€€The€Committee€wishes€to€emphasize€that€the€purpose€of€reportingŠ „Ō Šis€to€indicate€not€only€the€measures€adopted€but€also€the€progress€made€since€the€entry€into€force€ofŠ pĄ Šthe€Convention€and€priorities€identified€for€action,€as€well€as€the€difficulties€encountered€inŠ \¬ Šguaranteeing€the€rights€provided€for€in€the€Convention.€Š H˜ ŠĢ(b)€€ņņPositive€factorsóóŠ  p ŠĢ286.€€The€Committee€welcomes€the€establishment€of€the€National€Human€Rights€Commission.€€TheŠ ųH ŠCommittee€also€takes€note€of€the€establishment€in€1994€of€the€National€Child€Rights€ImplementationŠ ä4 ŠCommittee,€ņņinter€aliaóó,€to€ensure€the€popularization€of€the€Convention€on€the€Rights€of€the€Child€andŠ Š  Šthe€Organization€of€African€Unity€Charter€on€the€Rights€and€Welfare€of€Children;€to€reviewŠ ¼  Šcontinuously€the€state€of€implementation€of€the€Convention;€to€develop€specific€programmes€andŠ Øų Šprojects€that€will€enhance€the€status€of€the€Nigerian€child;€to€collect€and€collate€data€on€theŠ ”ä Šimplementation€of€the€rights€of€the€child;€and€to€prepare€and€submit€reports€on€the€implementationŠ € Š Šof€children's€rights€for€the€United€Nations€and€the€Organization€of€African€Unity.Š l!¼ ŠĢ287.€€The€Committee€notes€that€the€Government€of€Nigeria€has€prepared€a€national€plan€of€actionŠ D#”! Šin€response€to€the€recommendations€and€goals€enunciated€in€the€Declaration€and€Plan€of€ActionŠ 0$€" Šadopted€by€the€World€Summit€for€Children€in€September€1990.Š %l # ŠĢ288.€€The€Committee€appreciates€the€importance€attached€by€the€State€party€to€improving€the€statusŠ ō&D"% Šand€situation€of€women€and€the€positive€role€this€can€play€in€contributing€to€the€measures€requiredŠ ą'0#& Što€address€the€problems€facing€children€in€general€and€the€girl€child€in€particular.Š Ģ($' ŠĢ(c)€€ņņFactors€and€difficulties€impeding€the€implementation€of€the€ConventionóóŠ ¤*ō%) ŠĢ289.€€The€Committee€recognizes€that€the€situation€in€Nigeria€is€characterized€by€particular€economicŠ |,Ģ'+ Šand€sociocultural€complexities.€€It€notes€that€Nigeria€is€the€most€populated€African€country€and€thatŠ h-ø(, Šit€is€multi-ethnic€in€composition,€with€over€250€ethnic€groups€which€have€diverse€cultures€andŠ ° Šlanguages.€€It€is€additionally€noted€that€the€persistence€of€certain€harmful€traditional€practices€andŠ œģ Šcustoms€has€had€a€negative€bearing€on€the€enjoyment€of€the€rights€guaranteed€under€the€Convention.Š ˆŲ ŠĢ(d)€€ņņPrincipal€subjects€of€concernóóŠ `° ŠĢ290.€€The€Committee€expresses€its€deep€concern€that€the€rights€of€the€child€as€provided€for€in€theŠ 8 ˆ ŠConvention€have€yet€to€be€invested€with€effective€legal€status€in€Nigeria€as€the€draft€children's€decreeŠ $ t Šremains€to€be€finalized€and€adopted.€€The€Committee,€while€noting€the€positive€developmentŠ  ` Šrepresented€by€the€drafting€and€revision€of€a€children's€decree,€expresses€its€regret€that€a€copy€of€theŠ ü L  Šdraft€decree€in€its€entirety€was€not€made€available€to€the€Committee.€€The€lack€of€such€enablingŠ č 8  Šlegislation€raises€serious€doubts€as€to€the€priority€previously€given€to€the€rights€of€the€child€inŠ Ō$  ŠNigeria.€€The€Committee€raises€these€points€in€the€light€of€the€conclusion€it€reached€from€examiningŠ Ą  Šthe€State€party's€report€and€its€dialogue€with€the€delegation€that€certain€legislation€currently€in€forceŠ ¬ü  Šin€Nigeria€in€relation€to€the€rights€of€the€child€is€not€in€conformity€with€various€articles€of€theŠ ˜č  ŠConvention,€including€article€1.Š „Ō  ŠĢ291.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€about€the€compatibility€of€customary€law€and€laws€passed€at€theŠ \¬ Šregional€and€local€levels€and€their€application€with€the€principles€and€provisions€of€the€Convention.Š H˜ ŠĢ292.€€The€Committee€notes€with€concern€the€apparent€absence€of€adequate€mechanisms€for€theŠ  p Šdetermination€of€appropriate€indicators,€as€well€as€for€the€collection€of€statistical€data€and€otherŠ  \ Šinformation€on€the€status€of€children€for€use€as€bases€for€designing€programmes€to€implement€theŠ ųH ŠConvention.€Š ä4 ŠĢ293.€€With€respect€to€the€implementation€of€various€principles€and€provisions€of€the€Convention,€inŠ ¼  Šparticular€those€set€out€in€articles€3€and€4,€the€Committee€is€concerned€that€the€impact€of€economicŠ Øų Špolicy,€as€at€present€designed€and€pursued,€may€have€led€the€Government€to€resort,€on€a€more€regularŠ ”ä Šbasis€than€it€would€wish,€to€temporary€ad€hoc€funding€measures€to€cover€significant€shortfalls€inŠ €Š Šincome€for€the€realization€of€particular€programmatic€objectives.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€aboutŠ l¼ Šthe€gap€between€the€country's€gross€national€product€and€the€insufficiency€of€resources€being€madeŠ X Ø Šavailable€for€the€implementation€of€the€rights€of€the€child,€in€particular€in€the€areas€of€primary€healthŠ D!” Šcare,€primary€education€and€other€social€services,€as€well€as€the€protection€of€the€most€disadvantagedŠ 0"€  Šgroups€of€children.€€Equally,€the€Committee€remains€concerned€about€the€effectiveness€of€measuresŠ #l! Šat€present€in€place€to€give€priority€to€projects€for€the€implementation€of€the€rights€of€the€child,€as€wellŠ $X" Šas€to€reduce€any€disparities€between€and€within€regions€as€regards€the€availability€of€resources€forŠ ō$D # Šthe€realization€of€such€projects.€Š ą%0!$ ŠĢ294.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€that€considerable€progress€is€still€required€towards€ensuring€thatŠ ø'#& Šall€adults€and€children€are€aware€of€the€rights€of€the€child€as€contained€in€the€Convention.€Š ¤(ō#' ŠAdditionally,€the€Committee€is€concerned€at€the€lack€of€training€and€education€about€the€ConventionŠ )ą$( Šfor€individuals€working€with€or€for€children,€such€as€police€officers,€chiefs€of€police,€staff€inŠ |*Ģ%) Šinstitutions€where€children€are€detained,€leaders€at€the€community€and€ward€levels€and€otherŠ h+ø&* Šgovernment€officials,€as€well€as€judges,€lawyers,€teachers,€health€workers€and€social€workers.€Š T,¤'+ ŠŠ @-(, Š295.€€The€Committee€is€also€concerned€that€the€general€principles€of€the€Convention,€as€laid€downŠ ° Šin€its€articles€2,€3,€6€and€12,€are€not€being€applied€and€duly€integrated€into€the€implementation€of€allŠ œģ Šarticles€of€the€Convention.€€Concern€is€expressed€at€the€status€and€situation€of€girl€children€and€theŠ ˆŲ Šinsufficiency€of€measures€to€prevent€and€combat€discrimination€practised€against€them.€€Of€equalŠ tÄ Šconcern€to€the€Committee€is€the€apparent€absence€of€proactive€measures€to€combat€discriminationŠ `° Šagainst€disabled€children,€children€belonging€to€ethnic€minorities€and€children€born€out€of€wedlock.€Š L œ ŠĢ296.€€In€the€light€of€the€provisions€of€article€3€of€the€Convention,€the€Committee€is€of€the€view€thatŠ $ t Šthe€Government€has€not€yet€fully€developed€a€procedure€to€ensure€that€the€"best€interests€of€theŠ  ` Šchild"€guide€the€decision-making€process.€€Consideration€of€the€impact€of€various€policy€options€onŠ ü L  Šthe€enjoyment€of€the€rights€of€the€child€should€form€an€integral€part€of€this€process.Š č 8  ŠĢ297.€€It€is€also€the€view€of€the€Committee€that€traditional€attitudes€concerning€the€role€childrenŠ Ą  Šshould€play€in€the€family,€school,€the€community€and€society€in€general€may€be€frustrating€effortsŠ ¬ü  Što€achieve€the€fuller€participation€of€children,€as€envisaged€in€articles€12€and€13€of€the€Convention.Š ˜č  ŠĢ298.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€about€the€persistence€of€early€marriage,€child€betrothals,Š pĄ Šdiscrimination€in€inheritance,€widowhood€practices€and€other€harmful€traditional€practices.€€TheseŠ \¬ Špractices€are€incompatible€with€the€principles€and€provisions€of€the€Convention.€€More€particularly,Š H˜ Šthe€continuation€of€the€practice€of€female€genital€mutilation€is€of€deep€concern€to€the€Committee;Š 4„ Šalthough€measures€are€being€taken€to€address€this€practice,€the€Committee€is€of€the€view€that€theyŠ  p Šare€insufficient.€€The€problems€of€violence€against€children€and€the€physical€abuse€of€children€in€theŠ  \ Šfamily,€in€schools,€in€the€community€and€in€society€are€also€of€major€concern€to€the€Committee.Š ųH ŠĢ299.€€The€Committee€views€the€trend€of€rising€child€mortality€rates€as€a€matter€of€deep€concern.€Š Š  ŠDespite€the€Government's€stated€policy€of€supporting€primary€health-care€programmes€over€thoseŠ ¼  Šproviding€curative€health€care,€the€Committee€views€the€access€to€quality€health-care€services€asŠ Øų Šunsatisfactory.€€Equally,€the€effectiveness€of€measures€taken€to€avoid€regional€variations€in€theŠ ”ä Šprovision€of€health-care€services€and€medical€supplies€remains€a€cause€of€concern€to€the€Committee.€Š €Š ŠThe€Committee€is€also€concerned€about€the€problems€encountered€in€providing€access€to€safe€water.€Š l¼ ŠĢ300.€€In€view€of€the€considerable€incidence€of€poverty€in€the€country€and€the€insufficiency€of€theŠ D!” Šminimum€wage€in€meeting€basic€needs,€the€Committee€views€the€absence€of€social€support€toŠ 0"€  Šfamilies,€including€single-parent€families,€especially€female-headed€households,€as€a€matter€ofŠ #l! Šserious€concern.Š $X" ŠĢ301.€€The€State€party's€recognition€of€the€importance€of€promoting€education€for€all€as€a€tool€toŠ ą%0!$ Šimprove€the€situation€of€children,€especially€girl€children,€is€welcomed.€€However,€the€CommitteeŠ Ģ&"% Šremains€concerned€about€the€effectiveness€of€measures€being€taken€to€harmonize€policy€prioritiesŠ ø'#& Šin€this€area€with€adequate€budgetary€allocations.Š ¤(ō#' ŠĢ302.€€The€Committee€expresses€its€regret€that€insufficient€measures€are€being€taken€to€address€theŠ |*Ģ%) Šproblems€of€child€abuse,€including€sexual€abuse,€and€the€sale€and€trafficking€of€children,€childŠ h+ø&* Šprostitution€and€child€pornography.Š T,¤'+ ŠŠ @-(, Š303.€€It€is€the€view€of€the€Committee€that€current€legislation€with€regard€to€the€administration€ofŠ ° Šjuvenile€justice€and€the€institutionalization€of€children€does€not€appear€to€conform€to€the€principlesŠ œģ Šand€provisions€of€the€Convention.€€In€this€regard,€the€provisions€of€national€legislation€which€permitŠ ˆŲ Šsentencing€to€capital€punishment€are€incompatible€with€the€provisions€of€article€37€(a)€of€theŠ tÄ ŠConvention.Š `° ŠĢ304.€€The€Committee€is€also€concerned€that€the€provisions€of€national€legislation€by€which€a€childŠ 8 ˆ Šmay€be€detained€"at€Her€Majesty's€pleasure"€may€permit€the€indiscriminate€sentencing€of€childrenŠ $ t Šfor€indeterminate€periods.€€Furthermore,€the€Committee€is€worried€about€the€provisions€of€nationalŠ  ` Šlegislation€which€provide€for€the€detention€of€children€assessed€to€be€š šbeyond€parental€controlšš.€€TheŠ ü L  Špossibility€that€abandoned€children€or€children€living€and/or€working€on€the€street€would€have€suchŠ č 8  Šmeasures€applied€against€them€is€of€special€concern€to€the€Committee.€€It€is€the€view€of€theŠ Ō$  ŠCommittee€that€these€legislative€measures€do€not€appear€to€be€compatible€with€the€provisions€ofŠ Ą  Šarticle€37€(b)€of€the€Convention,€which€lays€down€that€the€arrest,€detention€or€imprisonment€of€aŠ ¬ü  Šchild€shall€only€be€used€as€a€measure€of€last€resort€and€for€the€shortest€appropriate€period€of€time.€Š ˜č  ŠEqually,€the€Committee€is€concerned€that€the€application€in€practice€of€the€provisions€of€section€3Š „Ō  Šof€the€Children€and€Persons€Law€may€lead€to€the€arbitrary€detention€of€children,€which€isŠ pĄ Šincompatible€with€the€provisions€and€principles€of€the€Convention.Š \¬ ŠĢ305.€€The€Committee€notes€with€serious€concern€the€low€age€of€criminal€responsibility€for€childrenŠ 4„ Šin€Nigeria,€at€present€seven€years€of€age,€and€that€children€even€under€the€age€of€seven€may€beŠ  p Šbrought€before€the€courts.€€The€Committee€is€also€seriously€concerned€about€the€adequacy€ofŠ  \ Šsafeguards€for€all€children€brought€before€the€courts,€required€under€article€40€of€the€Convention.Š ųH ŠĢ306.€€Moreover,€the€Committee€is€seriously€concerned€about€the€conditions€in€places€of€detentionŠ Š  Šfor€children,€especially€with€regard€to€children's€access€to€their€parents,€the€medical€services€andŠ ¼  Šeducational€programmes€offered€and€the€services€in€place€to€facilitate€the€recovery€and€rehabilitationŠ Øų Šof€children.€€It€is€equally€concerned€about€the€inappropriateness€and€ineffectiveness€of€measures€forŠ ”ä Šthe€supervision€and€monitoring€of€the€situation€of€children€in€detention,€including€for€dealing€withŠ €Š Šchildren's€complaints€of€abuse€or€ill-treatment,€and€the€lack€of€measures€to€ensure€that€theseŠ l¼ Šcomplaints€are€addressed€in€a€serious€and€expeditious€manner.€Š X Ø ŠĢ307.€€Furthermore,€the€Committee€is€deeply€alarmed€that€the€necessary€safeguards€against€theŠ 0"€  Šexcessive€use€of€force€by€law€enforcement€officials€or€anyone€else€acting€in€this€capacity€areŠ #l! Šundermined€by€the€provisions€of€section€73€of€the€Criminal€Code.€€This€may€give€rise€to€the€violationŠ $X" Šof€children's€rights,€including€their€right€to€life,€and€leads€to€impunity€for€the€perpetrators€of€suchŠ ō$D # Šviolations.€€Therefore,€it€is€the€view€of€the€Committee€that€the€above-mentioned€provisions€of€theŠ ą%0!$ ŠNigerian€Criminal€Code€are€incompatible€with€the€principles€and€provisions€of€the€Convention.€Š Ģ&"% ŠĢ308.€€The€Committee€is€of€the€view€that€insufficient€measures€have€been€taken€for€theŠ ¤(ō#' Šimplementation€of€article€32€of€the€Convention€to€prevent€and€combat€the€economic€exploitation€ofŠ )ą$( Šchildren.Š |*Ģ%) ŠĢĢŠ @-(, Š(e)€€ņņSuggestions€and€recommendationsóóŠ ° ŠĢ309.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€Government€consider,€on€an€urgent€basis,€the€adoptionŠ ˆŲ Šof€the€children's€decree,€drafted€in€conformity€with€the€principles€and€provisions€of€the€Convention.€Š tÄ ŠThe€Committee€welcomes€the€willingness€of€the€delegation€of€the€State€party€to€provide€theŠ `° ŠCommittee€with€information€regarding€progress€in€relation€to€the€draft€children's€decree€and€toŠ L œ Šsubmit€to€the€Committee,€as€soon€as€possible,€a€copy€of€the€full€text€of€the€draft€decree.€Š 8 ˆ ŠĢ310.€€The€Committee€also€recommends€that€the€State€party,€in€undertaking€a€comprehensive€reviewŠ  ` Šof€the€national€legal€framework€and€its€conformity€with€the€principles€and€provisions€of€theŠ ü L  ŠConvention,€also€take€into€account€the€compatibility€of€the€system€of€customary€law€and€regionalŠ č 8  Šand€local€laws€with€the€articles€of€the€Convention.€Š Ō$  ŠĢ311.€€The€Committee€strongly€recommends€that€the€Government€consider€the€possibility€ofŠ ¬ü  Šundertaking€a€review€of€the€effectiveness€of€measures€being€taken€to€implement€the€provisions€ofŠ ˜č  Šarticle€4€of€the€Convention€in€respect€of€the€allocation€of€resources€to€the€maximum€extent€possibleŠ „Ō  Šfor€the€implementation€of€the€economic,€social€and€cultural€rights€of€the€child.€€It€is€further€suggestedŠ pĄ Šthat€such€a€review€be€undertaken€in€the€light€of€the€priorities€for€the€implementation€of€theŠ \¬ ŠConvention€identified€during€the€discussion€of€the€report€of€Nigeria.Š H˜ ŠĢ312.€€The€Committee€appreciates€the€willingness€of€the€State€party€to€undertake€further€measures€toŠ  p Šensure€that€effective€mechanisms€are€put€in€place€for€the€implementation€and€monitoring€of€theŠ  \ ŠConvention€at€all€levels€of€government€including€the€ward€level,€through€the€mandate€given€to€theŠ ųH ŠMinistry€of€Women€Affairs€and€Social€Development.€€The€Committee€notes€that€the€task€ofŠ ä4 Šcooperating€and€coordinating€with€other€mechanisms€at€different€levels€with€regard€to€the€monitoringŠ Š  Šof€the€implementation€of€the€rights€of€the€child€is€a€challenging€one€and€expresses€the€hope€thatŠ ¼  Šfurther€discussions€within€government€circles€and€throughout€the€various€levels€of€government€onŠ Øų Šhow€best€to€achieve€the€priority€objectives€be€undertaken€on€an€urgent€basis.Š ”ä ŠĢ313.€€The€Committee€shares€the€view€of€the€State€party€that€effective€education€and€awarenessŠ l¼ Šraising€among€all€children€concerning€their€rights€should€be€undertaken€and€that€an€evaluation€of€theŠ X Ø Šextent€of€awareness€of€the€rights€of€the€child€among€children€and€adults€should€be€carried€out.€€TheŠ D!” ŠCommittee€would€like€to€suggest€that€such€an€awareness-raising€programme€should€be€extended€toŠ 0"€  Šall€adults€and€professionals€working€with€or€for€children.Š #l! ŠĢ314.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€priority€be€given€to€the€development€of€mechanisms€forŠ ō$D # Šcollecting€statistical€data€and€indicators€disaggregated€by€gender,€and€rural/urban€and€ethnic€originŠ ą%0!$ Šas€the€bases€for€designing€programmes€for€children.Š Ģ&"% ŠĢ315.€€It€is€the€Committee's€view€that€further€efforts€must€be€undertaken€to€ensure€that€the€generalŠ ¤(ō#' Šprinciples€of€the€Convention,€in€particular€"the€best€interests€of€the€child"€and€the€participation€ofŠ )ą$( Šchildren,€not€only€guide€policy€discussions€and€formulation€and€decision-making,€but€also€areŠ |*Ģ%) Šintegrated€into€the€development€and€implementation€of€all€projects€and€programmes.Š h+ø&* ŠĢ316.€€The€Committee€wishes€to€emphasize€that€the€general€lack€of€financial€resources€cannot€be€usedŠ @-(, Šas€a€justification€for€neglecting€to€establish€social€security€programmes€and€social€safety€nets€toŠ ° Šprotect€the€most€vulnerable€groups€of€children.€€Accordingly,€it€is€the€opinion€of€the€Committee€thatŠ œģ Ša€serious€review€should€be€undertaken€to€determine€the€consistency€of€the€economic€and€socialŠ ˆŲ Špolicies€being€developed€with€the€State€party's€obligations€under€the€Convention,€in€particularŠ tÄ Šarticles€26€and€27,€especially€with€respect€to€the€establishment€or€improvement€of€social€securityŠ `° Šprogrammes€and€other€social€protection.Š L œ ŠĢ317.€€The€Committee€recommends€that,€as€a€high€priority,€further€measures€be€taken€to€prevent€andŠ $ t Šcombat€discrimination,€especially€on€the€grounds€of€gender€and€ethnic€origin,€and€differential€accessŠ  ` Što€services€between€the€rural€and€urban€population.Š ü L  ŠĢ318.€€While€acknowledging€the€State€party's€commitment€to€evaluating€the€effectiveness€of€policyŠ Ō$  Šimplementation€for€disabled€children,€the€Committee€recommends€that€such€policy€be€reviewed€toŠ Ą  Šensure€that€it€reflects€the€general€principles€of€the€Convention,€particularly€as€regards€preventing€andŠ ¬ü  Šcombatting€discrimination€against€disabled€children.Š ˜č  ŠĢ319.€€The€Committee€shares€the€view€of€the€State€party€that€major€efforts€are€required€to€addressŠ pĄ Šharmful€practices€such€as€early€marriage,€betrothals€of€children,€female€genital€mutilation€and€abuseŠ \¬ Šof€children€in€the€family.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€all€legislation€be€reviewed€to€ensure€itsŠ H˜ Šcompatibility€with€the€eradication€of€such€violations€of€children's€rights€and€that€campaigns€beŠ 4„ Šdeveloped€and€pursued€with€the€involvement€of€all€sectors€of€society,€with€a€view€to€changingŠ  p Šattitudes€in€the€country€as€to€the€non-acceptance€of€harmful€practices.€€As€far€as€female€genitalŠ  \ Šmutilation€is€concerned,€all€action€necessary€to€eradicate€this€violation€of€children's€rights€must€beŠ ųH Štaken€on€a€priority€basis.€€Public€awareness€and€information€campaigns€must€support€education€andŠ ä4 Šadvice€on€other€family€matters,€including€equal€parental€responsibilities€and€family€planning€in€orderŠ Š  Što€foster€good€family€practices€in€line€with€the€principles€and€provisions€of€the€Convention.€Š ¼  ŠĢ320.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€improvement€of€access€to€and€the€quality€of€primaryŠ ”ä Šhealth-care€services€be€urgently€undertaken.€€Major€efforts€to€ensure€the€equal€distribution€of€healthŠ €Š Šservices€and€medical€supplies€between€and€within€regions€are€required€immediately.Š l¼ ŠĢ321.€€The€Committee€encourages€the€State€party€in€its€efforts€to€harmonize€the€informal€and€formalŠ D!” Šeducation€systems,€particularly€with€respect€to€the€application€of€a€national€curriculum€within€allŠ 0"€  Šschools.€€Further€steps€should€be€taken€to€develop€guidelines€for€the€participation€of€all€children€inŠ #l! Šthe€life€of€the€school€in€conformity€with€the€principles€and€provisions€of€the€Convention.€€TheŠ $X" ŠCommittee€encourages€the€Government€to€implement€measures€to€improve€school€enrolment€andŠ ō$D # Šschool€retention,€especially€for€girls.€€A€system€for€the€regular€evaluation€of€the€effectiveness€of€theseŠ ą%0!$ Šand€other€educational€measures€must€be€ensured.€€Measures€must€also€be€taken€to€ensure€thatŠ Ģ&"% Šdiscipline€in€school€is€administered€in€conformity€with€the€provisions€of€article€28,€paragraph€2,€ofŠ ø'#& Šthe€Convention.€€In€addition,€the€Committee€recommends€that,€in€the€light€of€the€provisions€of€articleŠ ¤(ō#' Š29€of€the€Convention€and€the€United€Nations€Decade€for€Human€Rights€Education,€the€State€partyŠ )ą$( Šincorporate€education€on€the€rights€of€the€child€in€school€curricula,€paying€special€attention€toŠ |*Ģ%) Špromoting€tolerance€among€all€peoples€and€groups.€€The€State€party€may€wish€to€consider€requestingŠ h+ø&* Šfurther€international€cooperation€for€the€implementation€of€the€measures€identified€for€theŠ T,¤'+ Šapplication€of€the€provisions€of€articles€28€and€29€of€the€Convention.Š @-(, Ї322.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€national€legislation€be€brought€into€conformity€with€theŠ ° Šprovisions€of€articles€37,€39€and€40€of€the€Convention.€€National€legislation€must€comply€with€theŠ œģ Šprinciple€that€capital€punishment€cannot€be€applied€to€children€under€the€age€of€18.€€The€CommitteeŠ ˆŲ Šalso€recommends€that€article€73€of€the€Criminal€Code€be€abrogated€and€section€3€of€the€Children€andŠ tÄ ŠYoung€Persons€Law€be€reviewed€as€to€its€conformity€with€the€Convention.€€The€CommitteeŠ `° Šwelcomes€the€information€provided€by€the€State€party€that€the€new€draft€children's€decree€will€setŠ L œ Šthe€age€limit€for€criminal€responsibility€at€18.€€However,€in€view€of€the€clarification€providedŠ 8 ˆ Šregarding€the€system€to€be€set€in€place,€the€Committee€wishes€to€emphasize€that€the€legal€safeguardsŠ $ t Šprovided€for€in€the€relevant€principles€and€provisions€of€the€Convention,€including€those€of€articleŠ  ` Š40,€must€be€provided€to€all€children,€whether€the€deprivation€of€their€liberty€results€from€theŠ ü L  Šapplication€of€a€welfare€or€a€criminal€procedure.€Š č 8  ŠĢ323.€€It€is€also€the€view€of€the€Committee€that€the€best€interests€of€the€child€should€prevail€inŠ Ą  Šproceedings€concerning€child€victims€of€parental€abuse,€especially€in€deciding€whether€parents€haveŠ ¬ü  Šthe€right€to€represent€their€child€in€such€cases.€€Finally,€the€Committee€wishes€to€emphasize€that€theŠ ˜č  ŠConvention€requires€that€detention€be€a€measure€of€last€resort€and€for€the€shortest€appropriate€periodŠ „Ō  Šof€time.€€The€institutionalization€and€detention€of€children€must€be€avoided€as€much€as€possible€andŠ pĄ Šalternatives€to€such€practices€must€be€developed€and€implemented.€€The€Committee€recommends€thatŠ \¬ Šmeasures€be€taken€to€establish€an€independent€system€for€monitoring€the€situation€of€children€inŠ H˜ Šdetention,€whether€in€prisons€or€welfare€institutions.Š 4„ ŠĢ324.€€In€view€of€the€various€concerns€raised€by€the€Committee€with€respect€to€the€implementationŠ  \ Šof€article€32€of€the€Convention,€it€wishes€to€highlight€the€importance€of€the€State€party€ensuring€thatŠ ųH Šall€children€have€access€to€health€care,€that€education€be€made€compulsory€as€a€measure€to€preventŠ ä4 Šthe€economic€exploitation€of€children€and€that€further€measures€be€taken€to€combat€exploitation,Š Š  Šsuch€as€that€of€child€domestic€workers,€including€legislative€measures,€to€ensure€the€effectiveŠ ¼  Šprotection€of€the€child€against€the€performance€of€any€work€that€is€likely€to€be€hazardous€or€toŠ Øų Šinterfere€with€the€child's€education,€or€to€be€harmful€to€the€child's€health€or€full€and€harmoniousŠ ”ä Šdevelopment.€Š €Š ŠĢ325.€€In€the€light€of€articles€34€and€35€of€the€Convention,€the€Committee€encourages€the€State€partyŠ X Ø Šin€its€efforts€to€follow€up€at€both€the€national€and€regional€levels€on€the€measures€required€to€preventŠ D!” Šand€combat€the€sexual€exploitation€of€children.Š 0"€  ŠĢ326.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€further€measures€be€taken€with€a€view€to€ensuring€theŠ $X" Šphysical€and€psychological€recovery€and€rehabilitation€of€the€child€victims€of€abuse,€neglect,Š ō$D # Šill-treatment,€violence€or€exploitation,€in€accordance€with€article€39€of€the€Convention.Š ą%0!$ ŠĢ327.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€party€make€widely€available€to€the€public€its€report,Š ø'#& Šthe€records€of€the€discussion€of€that€report€in€the€Committee€and€the€concluding€observationsŠ ¤(ō#' Šadopted€by€the€Committee.Š )ą$( ŠĢÓ½Ó