CRC/C/CYP/CO/3-4
protection of children employed as domestic workers remains inadequate, with no
legislation requiring the compulsory registration of child domestic workers and the current
labour inspectorate not having the mandate to carry out inspections on the working and
living conditions of children in such employment.
51.
The Committee recommends that the State party consider further amendments
to its Law on the Protection of Young Persons at Work (L. 48(I)/2001) to ensure that
adequate safeguards for children employed as domestic workers, including mandatory
registration of such employment and the empowerment of labour inspectorates to
carry out spot checks on the working and living conditions of children in such
employment. Furthermore, the Committee recommends that the State party consider
ratifying International Labour Organization Convention No. 189 (2011) concerning
decent work for domestic workers.
Helplines
52.
While welcoming the State party launching the “116 000” European Helpline for
missing children, the Committee is concerned that the State party currently has no general
national helpline for children requiring help in other matters.
53.
The Committee recommends that the State party establish a child helpline
covering the whole country. In doing so, it recommends that the helpline be accessible
24 hours, have an easy to remember three or four digit numbers and be allocated
adequate financial and technical resources as well as personnel trained to respond to
children and analyse the calls for appropriate action. The Committee further
recommends that the State party seek assistance in this regard from, inter alia, the
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Child Helpline International.
Administration of juvenile justice
54.
The Committee welcomes the State party raising the minimum age of criminal
responsibility to 14 years. It also notes that the State party has a new legislative framework
on juvenile justice under discussion among its competent Ministries and the House of
Representatives. However, the Committee is concerned that children above the age of 14
can still be tried as adults for serious offences. Furthermore, the Committee reiterates its
previous concern (CRC/C/15/Add.205, para. 59) on the State party lacking a juvenile
criminal justice system that ensures appropriate treatment of children at all stages of its
judicial proceedings.
55.
The Committee recommends that the State party bring the juvenile justice
system fully into line with the Convention, in particular articles 37, 39 and 40, and
with other relevant standards, including the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules
for the Administration of Juvenile Justice (Beijing Rules), the United Nations
Guidelines for the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency (Riyadh Guidelines), the
United Nations Rules for the Protection of Juveniles Deprived of their Liberty
(Havana Rules), the Vienna Guidelines for Action on Children in the Criminal Justice
System, and the Committee’s general comment No. 10 (2007) on children’s rights in
juvenile justice.
In particular, the Committee recommends that the State party:
(a)
With reference to its previous recommendation (CRC/C/15/Add.205,
para. 60), establish a juvenile justice system, including juvenile courts that have
adequate human, technical and financial resources;
(b)
Adopt a holistic and preventive approach to addressing the problem of
juvenile offenders and its underlying social factors, with a view to supporting children
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