CRC/C/HND/CO/3
page 4
14. The Committee recommends that the State party implement effectively the National
Opportunities Plan for Children and Adolescents, with the aim of giving effect to the
principles and provisions of the Convention, and for this purpose allocate adequate
resources both at national and local level. The Committee further recommends that all
other specific programmes and plans that may have an impact on children take this
National Plan into account and be properly coordinated with it.
Coordination
15. The Committee notes the State party’s efforts towards institutional reform of IHNFA
aimed at reinforcing it. However, it is concerned that IHNFA still lacks adequate institutional
structure to efficiently perform its coordination mandate throughout the country. It notes that its
previous concerns over the lack of adequate human and financial resources of the Institute,
expressed upon consideration of the State party’s second periodic report, still remain valid. It is
further concerned that most of the budget allocated to the Institute is spent on recurrent expenses
and that a large number of its staff have not yet been adequately trained.
16.
The Committee recommends that the State party:
(a)
Complete the institutional reform aimed at strengthening IHNFA;
(b) Provide IHNFA with adequate human and financial resources, including the
necessary continuity of an adequately trained staff, to be able to properly carry out its
mandate, i.e. to develop and coordinate the State policy on children and all the activities
aimed at the implementation of the Convention.
Independent monitoring
17. The Committee welcomes the work of the National Commissioner for Human Rights
(CONADEH). This Commissioner has the mandate, inter alia, to receive and consider
complaints about violations of children’s rights. The Committee also welcomes the activities of
the municipal human rights commissioners, which should incorporate the functions of
“defensores de la niñez”. However, it is concerned that an independent human rights institution
focused on children is still lacking and that the municipal commissioners only exist in a limited
number of municipalities.
18. The Committee recommends that the State party take the necessary measures to
expand the presence of the municipal commissioners to all municipalities. It further
recommends that, taking into account the Committee’s general comment No. 2 on national
human rights institutions (2002) and the Paris Principles (General Assembly
resolution 48/134, annex), the State party establish a national Ombudsman for Children,
and provide that person with adequate human and financial resources. The Ombudsman
should coordinate his/her activities with those of the municipal commissioners and be
explicitly mandated to deal with complaints from children in a child-sensitive and
expeditious manner.