CRC/C/CYP/CO/3-4
(b)
Bring section 8 of its Refugee Law in line with international protection
standards to ensure that the right to remain is not limited to the administrative
examination stage of a claim and that, while awaiting the determination of a claim,
applicants are ensured continued access to essential services;
(c)
Ensure the full application of its Refugee Law and its Reception
Conditions Regulations to provide refugees with the same level of health care as
nationals, including adequate medical care to persons with special needs, and free
medical care when they do not have the means;
(d)
Ensure that children of internally displaced persons have equal access to
all essential services, including housing schemes.
In considering the above recommendations, the Committee draws the State party’s
attention to the Guidelines on International Protection No. 8: Child Asylum Claims
under Articles 1(A)2 and 1(F) of the 1951 Convention and/or 1967 Protocol relating to
the Status of Refugees issued by UNHCR in December 2009. The Committee also
encourages the State party to consider ratifying the 1954 Convention relating to the
Status of Stateless Persons and the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness.
Sexual exploitation and trafficking
48.
The Committee welcomes the State party’s abolition of so-called “artiste” visas for
the entertainment sector. However, the Committee is concerned that significant problems
persist with trafficking in human beings, including children, in particular trafficking of
women for sexual exploitation mainly in bars, nightclubs and so-called cabarets. It is
further concerned that the State party’s National Action Plan against Trafficking in Human
Beings, which covers the period of 2010–2012 lacks a child-specific focus. Furthermore,
the Committee is concerned at the absence of adequate monitoring and oversight on the
situation of heightened vulnerability to trafficking which the considerable number of
migrant children residing in the State party with persons other than their parents or
guardians face.
49.
The Committee urges the State party to expeditiously ratify the Council of
Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings that it signed in
2007. Furthermore, in the light of its general comment No. 13, the Committee urges
the State party to raise the awareness of the public, strengthen early detection and
prevention mechanisms and ensure full protection for all children victims of sexual
exploitation and abuse, including in the family and outside. The Committee also
recommends that the State party take all measures necessary to fulfil its obligations as
a party to the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air,
supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized
Crime and the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons,
Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention
against Transnational Organized Crime and take into account the outcome documents
adopted at the 1996, 2001 and 2008 World Congresses against Sexual Exploitation of
Children held, respectively, in Stockholm, Yokohama and Rio de Janeiro. It also
recommends that the State party ensure adequate safeguards and checks for migrant
children residing in the State party with persons other than their parents or guardians
to prevent trafficking and adopt, without further delay, a specific National Action
Plan for child victims of trafficking.
Economic exploitation
50.
While noting as positive the amendment of the Law on the Protection of Young
Persons at Work (L. 48(I)/2001), the Committee is concerned that the monitoring and
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