CRC/C/MMR/CO/3-4 Respect for the views of the child 39. The Committee reiterates its concern (CRC/C/15/Add.237, para. 32) that traditional attitudes towards children in society continue to limit respect for their views and that the State party has not taken sufficient measures to ensure that the views of the child are given due consideration, especially in courts, schools, relevant administrative and other processes and within the family, other institutions and society at large. 40. In the light of article 12 of the Convention and the Committee’s general comment No. 12 (2009) on the right of the child to be heard and of its previous recommendation (CRC/C/15/Add.237, para. 33), the Committee encourages the State party to ensure that children’s views are given due consideration in courts, schools, relevant administrative and other processes and in the home, other institutions and society at large in all matters concerning them. This may be achieved through, inter alia, the adoption of appropriate legislation, the training of professionals working with and for children and educational information and communication strategies intended to, inter alia, parents, educators, Government administrative officials, the judiciary and society at large on children’s right to have their views taken into account and to be heard in all matters affecting them. D. Civil rights and freedoms (arts. 7, 8, 13-17, 19 and 37 (a) of the Convention) Nationality 41. The Committee is concerned about: (a) The large number of people without citizenship and the lack of legislation granting nationality to children born in the territory of the State party or to nationals of the State party living abroad, who would otherwise be stateless; (b) The very restricted requirement of having both parents as nationals of the country for citizenship, which will render some people stateless; (c) The three different categories of citizenship established by the Citizenship Law of 1982, possibly resulting in some categories of children and their parents being discriminated against, stigmatized and/or denied certain rights; and (d) 42. The mention of religion and ethnic origin on the identity card. The Committee recommends that the State party: (a) Address gaps in the current citizenship legislation, which lead to statelessness; (b) Accede to the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons and the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness; (c) Abrogate the legal provisions providing for different categories of citizenship; and (d) Remove any indication of ethnic origin on identity cards. Birth registration 43. The Committee notes the establishment of a birth registration system called Modified Vital Registration System; the engagement of the State party to carry out advocacy and awareness for birth registration; the review of the status of a large number of children born of parents who were unable to obtain marriage authorization in the northern 8

Select target paragraph3