CRC/C/BGD/CO/4
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cover comprehensively the rights of the child. Finally, the Committee encourages the State
party to carry out an impact assessment of how new laws affect children.
Coordination
14.
The Committee welcomes the strong political will to address children’s issues and notes
the information shared by the delegation on the newly established National Council for Women
and Child Development (NCWCD) as an oversight mechanism. Nevertheless, the Committee
remains concerned that effective coordination and monitoring have not been fully developed, in
particular due to the relatively low empowerment of the coordinating body (Ministry of Women
and Children’s Affairs (MoWCA)) vis-à-vis other ministries, sectors, and levels of
administration involved in the implementation of the rights of the child. Furthermore, the
Committee notes with concern the risk of overlapping and duplication between the NCWCD,
MoWCA and Department for Children, expected to be established under the MoWCA.
15.
The Committee recommends that the State party consider enhancing capacities of
MoWCA through the provision of adequate human and financial resources to strengthen
its coordinating role at the multi-sectoral, national, divisional, and district levels. The
Committee also recommends that the State party further clarify the roles and mandates of
the NCWCD, MoWCA and Department for Children to reduce duplication of efforts and
increase effective use of limited resources.
National Plan of Action
16.
The Committee notes the adoption of the Third National Plan of Action (NPA) for
Children (2005-2010) to further the implementation of the Convention, and in line with the Plan
of action “A World Fit for Children” adopted by General Assembly at its Special Session on
Children and the MDGs. The Committee appreciates the fact that children were invited to
express their views for the formulation of the NPA. However, the Committee is concerned at the
slow implementation of the NPA, at information received indicating that awareness of the NPA
does not reach all levels of the administration and that guidelines for its implementation are
inadequate. The Committee is also concerned that no framework for the assessment and
evaluation of the plan exists.
17.
The Committee recommends that the State party take steps to clarify how best the
NPA can be implemented by all stakeholders and to ensure the allocation of adequate
budgetary resources to accelerate its implementation. Further, the Committee recommends
that it be implemented with the necessary monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to
regularly assess progress achieved and identify possible deficiencies for corrective action.
The Committee urges the State party to take necessary steps to ensure effective
participation of children in the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the NPA.
Independent monitoring
18.
The Committee welcomes the establishment of the National Human Rights Commission
through the Ordinance of 2008. However, the Committee is concerned about its independence
and operational capacity to serve the interests of children in the country. The Committee notes
with concern the absence of independent, child-specific and child sensitive procedures for