CRC/C/MKD/CO/2
(e)
Allocate adequate funds for the implementation of the 2010 Programme
for Compulsory Health Insurance for All Citizens in order to ensure health insurance
coverage of children among the most vulnerable segments of the population.
Data collection
18.
While noting ongoing development of a child protection data system, the Committee
regrets that there is no systematic approach to data collection for monitoring the situation of
children in the State party and no centralized database on children, in general, and on
children in vulnerable situations, in particular.
19.
The Committee encourages the State party to continue and strengthen its data
collection system with the support of its partners and use this data as a basis for
assessing progress achieved in the realization of child rights and to help design policies
to implement the Convention. Data should cover all children up to the age of 18 years
and be disaggregated by sex, age, urban and rural area with specific emphasis on
children in vulnerable situations, including child victims of abuse, neglect or illtreatment, children with disabilities, refugee and asylum-seeking children, children in
conflict with the law, working children, and children in street situations.
Dissemination and awareness-raising
20.
The Committee acknowledges the translation of the Convention into the languages
of the communities and the production of a child-friendly version of the Convention. The
Committee, however, remains concerned about the low level of awareness on the
provisions of the Convention among the public at large and children in particular.
21.
The Committee recommends that the State party continue and increase efforts
to disseminate and promote the Convention in order to raise awareness of the
Convention and the rights of the child among the public at large and children in
particular.
Training
22.
While noting that the Academy for Judges and Prosecutors, established in 2007,
offers training on international law, including human rights and the Convention, the
Committee is concerned that such training reaches only a very small number of judges and
prosecutors and other professionals working with or for children.
23.
The Committee recommends that the State party increase efforts to provide
training to all professionals working with and for children, in particular by including
training on the provisions of the Convention in pre-service and in-service training.
Cooperation with civil society
24.
The Committee notes the adoption of a strategy for cooperation with the civil sector
and a 2007–2011 action plan for its implementation, as well as plans to increase the number
of and to extend equal voting rights to NGO members of the National Commission on the
Rights of the Child. The Committee is, nevertheless, concerned about the lack of
consultation with civil society in the preparation of the second periodic report and
inadequate cooperation in the design of legislation and policies in areas concerning
children’s rights, and about lack of transparent criteria for NGO participation in the work of
the National Commission on the Rights of the Child. In addition, the Committee is
concerned about the lack of recognition of the significant contribution of NGOs in the
provision of services.
5