CRC/C/15/Add.113
page 4
11.
The Committee also expresses concern at the absence of an independent mechanism to
register and address complaints from children concerning violations of their rights under the
Convention. The Committee suggests that an independent child-friendly mechanism be
made accessible to children to deal with complaints of violations of their rights and to
provide remedies for such violations. The Committee further suggests that the State party
introduce an awareness raising campaign to facilitate the effective use by children of such a
mechanism.
12.
The Committee is concerned that the current data collection mechanism is insufficient to
ensure the systematic and comprehensive collection of disaggregated quantitative and qualitative
data for all areas covered by the Convention in relation to all groups of children, in order to
monitor and evaluate progress achieved and assess the impact of policies adopted with respect to
children. The Committee recommends that the system of data collection be reviewed with a
view to incorporating all the areas covered by the Convention. Such a system should cover
all children up to the age of 18 years, with specific emphasis on those who are particularly
vulnerable, including: girls; children with disabilities; child labourers, especially domestic
workers; garibou students; children living in remote rural areas; child brides; children
working and/or living on the streets; children living in institutions; and refugee children.
Technical assistance in this area from, inter alia, UNICEF is encouraged.
13.
The Committee notes the impact of economic policies and the structural adjustment
programme, which have had adverse effects on social investment. The Committee remains
concerned that, in the light of article 4 of the Convention, not enough attention has been paid to
allocating budgetary resources in favour of children “to the maximum extent of … available
resources”. In the light of articles 2, 3, and 6 of the Convention, the Committee encourages
the State party to pay particular attention to the full implementation of article 4 of the
Convention by prioritizing budgetary allocations to ensure implementation of the
economic, social and cultural rights of children, to the maximum extent of available
resources and, where needed, within the framework of international cooperation.
14.
While recognizing the efforts of the State party to promote awareness of the principles
and provisions of the Convention, the Committee remains concerned that professional groups,
children, parents and the public at large are generally not sufficiently aware of the Convention
and the rights-based approach enshrined therein. The Committee recommends that greater
effort be made to ensure that the provisions of the Convention are widely known and
understood by adults and children alike, in both rural and urban areas. In this regard, it
encourages the State party to continue its efforts to make the Convention available in local
languages and to promote and disseminate its principles and provisions through the use of,
inter alia, traditional methods of communication. The Committee further recommends
the reinforcement of adequate and systematic training and/or sensitization of traditional
community leaders, as well as professional groups working with and for children, such as
judges, lawyers, law enforcement personnel, health personnel, including psychologists,
social workers, officials of central or local administration and personnel of child-care
institutions. In this regard, the Committee suggests that the State party seek technical
assistance from, inter alia, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights,
UNICEF and UNESCO.