CRC/C/CYP/CO/3-4
16.
Emphasizing articles 2, 3, 4 and 6 of the Convention, the Committee reiterates
its previous recommendation (CRC/C/15/Add.205, para. 16) to the State party that the
State party pay particular attention to the full implementation of article 4 of the
Convention by prioritizing budgetary allocations for the implementation of the
economic, social and cultural rights of children, in particular those belonging to
economically disadvantaged groups, “to the maximum extent of … available
resources”. Furthermore, it recommends that the State party specify the amount and
proportion of the State budget spent through public and private institutions or
organizations for the implementation of children’s rights, in order to allow
evaluations on the impact and effect of such expenditures in relation to the
accessibility, quality and effectiveness of such services for children in the different
sectors.
Data collection
17.
The Committee remains deeply concerned that the State party has no centralized
national registry for the collection of data, with individual ministries and services
implementing separate data collection systems which are not interlinked or coordinated. In
this context, the Committee is also concerned at the severe lack of disaggregated data with
regard to, inter alia, urban/rural residence, membership of minority group, ethnicity,
religion and disability.
18.
The Committee urges the State party to expeditiously take measures to
establish a comprehensive system for data collection, analysis and monitoring, with
data that is disaggregated by age, gender, ethnicity, geographic region and socioeconomic background. In doing so, it particularly recommends that the State party
undertake a review of its existing data collection systems with a view to using the
findings thereof for the establishment of a centralized comprehensive system for the
collection of disaggregated statistics and other information on a regular basis, as well
as develop child-specific rights indicators.
Dissemination and awareness-raising
19.
The Committee notes as positive awareness-raising activities undertaken by the
State party to disseminate the Convention through engaging with youth organizations and
children in schools, including with regard to the publication of the Citizen’s Charter for
Children in 2007, the annual Children’s Week in November and the mandate of the recently
established Commissioner for the Protection of Children’s Rights. However, the Committee
remains concerned that general awareness of the existence and importance of the
Convention remains low. It also notes with concern that, notwithstanding the mandate for
disseminating information on and raising awareness of child rights, the Commissioner has
inadequate funds and resources for effectively conducting that work.
20.
The Committee recommends that the State party takes prompt measures to
include mandatory modules on human rights and the Convention in its school
curriculum and training programmes for all professionals working with or for
children, particularly in rural areas and in situations concerning asylum seekers,
refugees and internally displaced persons. The Committee further recommends that
the State party increase the resources allocated for disseminating information on and
raising awareness of the Convention, including by strengthening media engagement in
a child-friendly manner, in particular through greater use of the press, radio,
television, the Internet and other media, and the active involvement of children in
public outreach activities.
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