CRC UNITED NATIONS Convention on the Rights of the Child Distr. GENERAL CRC/C/15/Add.216 27 October 2003 Original: ENGLISH COMMITTEE ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD Thirty-fourth session CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS SUBMITTED BY STATES PARTIES UNDER ARTICLE 44 OF THE CONVENTION Concluding observations: New Zealand 1. The Committee considered the second periodic report of New Zealand (CRC/C/93/Add.4) at its 896th and 897th meetings (see CRC/C/SR.896 and 897), held on 18 September 2003, and adopted at the 918th meeting, held on 3 October 2003 (see CRC/C/SR.918), the following concluding observations. A. Introduction 2. The Committee welcomes the submission of the State party’s comprehensive and well-written periodic report which included a detailed description of the follow-up to the previous recommendations and gave a clearer understanding of the situation of children in the State party. It further notes with appreciation the high-level delegation sent by the State party and welcomes the dialogue and the positive reactions to the suggestions and recommendations made during the discussion. B. Follow-up measures undertaken and progress achieved by the State party 3. The Committee welcomes the State party’s ratification of the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) of the ILO in 2001, its ratification of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime in 2002, its accession to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption in 1998 and its ratification of the 1997 Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and On Their Destruction in 1999. GE.03-44655 (E) 211103