CRC UNITED NATIONS Convention on the Rights of the Child Distr. GENERAL CRC/C/15/Add.227 26 February 2004 Original: ENGLISH COMMITTEE ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD Thirty-fifth session CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS SUBMITTED BY STATES PARTIES UNDER ARTICLE 44 OF THE CONVENTION Concluding observations: The Kingdom of the Netherlands (Netherlands and Aruba)* 1. The Committee considered the reports of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which included the second periodic report of the Netherlands (CRC/C/117/Add.1) and the initial report of Aruba (CRC/C/117/Add.2) at its 928th and 929th meetings (see CRC/C/SR.928 and 929), held on 19 January 2004, and adopted, at the 946th meeting (CRC/C/SR.946), held on 30 January 2004, the following concluding observations. A. Introduction 2. The Committee welcomes the submission of the State party’s reports, as well as the detailed written replies to its list of issues (CRC/C/Q/NLD/2), which gave a better understanding of the situation of children in the State party. It also appreciates the presence of a high-level and cross-sectoral delegation and the frank and open dialogue with the delegation. 3. At the same time, the Committee reiterates its previous concerns, raised in the concluding observations (CRC/C/15/Add.186, para. 2) on the report of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (Netherlands Antilles), that although the Kingdom of the Netherlands is one State party, it has submitted separate reports for each of the three autonomous entities within the State party. The Committee, therefore, reiterates its request that the State party submit a comprehensive third periodic report which includes information on all three regions in the State party. * For practical purposes only, hereinafter the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands will be referred to solely as the Netherlands. GE.04-40538 (E) 220304