CRC/C/15/Add.124 page 2 B. Positive aspects 4. The Committee notes the efforts of the State party in the area of legal reform. In particular, it notes the adoption of a new Constitution (1995) which guarantees universally recognized rights and freedoms. The Committee also notes the enactment of the National Ombudsman Act (1995), the Education Act (1997), the Adoption Act (1997), the Criminal Procedures Code (1997), the Civil Procedural Code (1997), the Law on the Protection and Encouragement of the Natural Feeding of Children (1999) and the Criminal Code (1999). In this context, the Committee welcomes the establishment of the Parliamentary Subcommittee on Mother and Child Affairs to participate in the preparation of draft laws relevant to children. It is noted that the Subcommittee has devoted considerable attention to the situation of children in pre-schools, childrens homes and special boarding schools for children. 5. The Committee welcomes the establishment of the Office of the Public Defender (1996) to examine complaints of violations of human rights and notes that it includes a Commissioner for the Rights of Women and Children. 6. The Committee welcomes the ratification by the State party of the six main international human rights instruments as well as its accession to the Council of Europe and its subsequent ratification of the Convention on the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. 7. The Committee expresses satisfaction that the State party, with the support of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and UNICEF, has translated the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other human rights instruments into the Georgian and Abkhaz languages. 8. The Committee welcomes the election of the Youth Parliament of Georgia (April 2000) which is mandated to consider relevant youth issues and prepare recommendations in this regard to the National Parliament of Georgia. The Committee notes that 50 per cent of the Youth Parliament’s 166 members are between the ages of 14 and 18 years. C. Factors and difficulties impeding the implementation of the Convention 9. The Committee acknowledges that the economic and social difficulties facing the State party have had a negative impact on the situation of children and have impeded the full implementation of the Convention. In particular, it notes the impact of the structural adjustment programme and the high levels of unemployment and poverty. The Committee further notes that the civil and political unrest which emerged soon after the State party declared its independence in 1991 has slowed the period of transition and prevented the implementation of adequate programmes and services for children, especially those in conflict zones.