CRC/C/15/Add.122
page 4
Coordination
12.
While the Committee notes the establishment of the National Programme of Action
Steering Committee (NPASC) to coordinate the implementation of programmes relevant to the
protection and care of children, it is concerned that insufficient effort has been made to ensure
that adequate programmes are introduced at the community level. In this context, the Committee
further expresses concern at the insufficient efforts made to involve community-based
organizations in the promotion and implementation of the Convention. The Committee is also
concerned about the lack of coordination between those ministries responsible for the
implementation of the Convention. The Committee recommends that the State party take
effective measures to ensure that the programmes and activities of the NPASC are
established in rural areas as well as at the community level. The State party is encouraged
to take all effective measures to promote capacity-building among community-based
organizations and to further facilitate their inclusion in the coordination, promotion and
implementation of the Convention. The Committee recommends that the State party
strengthen its efforts to ensure greater coordination between those ministries and
departments responsible for the implementation of the Convention.
Independent monitoring mechanism
13.
The Committee welcomes with appreciation the State party’s establishment of the
South African Human Rights Commission which is mandated to promote the observance of
fundamental human rights at all levels of society. The Committee notes that the Commission
also has powers to conduct investigations, issue subpoenas and hear testimony under oath. The
Committee is concerned, however, that insufficient resources have been allocated to allow the
Commission to carry out its mandate effectively. Additionally, the Committee notes with
concern that the work of the Commission continues to be hampered by, inter alia, red tape and
the need for additional legislative reform. The Committee is also concerned at the absence of a
clear procedure to register and address complaints from children concerning violations of their
rights under the Convention. The Committee encourages the State party to take effective
measures to ensure that adequate resources (both human and financial) are allocated to
ensure the effective functioning of the South African Human Rights Commission. The
Committee recommends that the State party establish clear child-friendly procedures to
register and address complaints from children regarding violations of their rights and to
guarantee adequate 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 procedure.
Data collection
14.
The Committee is concerned that the current data collection mechanism is insufficient to
afford 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