CRC/C/FIN/CO/4
Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children held in Stockholm and Yokohama,
respectively, and the 2008 Third World Congress against Sexual Exploitation of
Children and Adolescents held in Rio de Janeiro. It urges the State party to accelerate
the ratification of the Optional Protocol on sale of children, child prostitution and
child pornography.
Asylum-seeking and refugee children
60.
The Committee notes the 2006 Migration Policy Programme, in which the principle
of the best interests of the child is taken into account in asylum and refugee policy, and the
amendments to the Aliens Act in 2010, which provides for family reunification of
unaccompanied children and which means that the age determination procedure by means
of medical examination is now regulated by law. However, the Committee remains
concerned at the practice of detaining children who seek asylum in the State party.
Furthermore, it is concerned that the asylum-seekers aged 16 and above are accommodated
in adult units of reception centres and that mental health services, therapy and psychiatric
care for unaccompanied minors are insufficient.
61.
The Committee recommends that the State party:
(a)
In light of the general comment No. 6 (2005) on treatment of
unaccompanied and separated children outside their country of origin, when in doubt
as to the age of an asylum-seeker, give him/her the benefit of the doubt, treat him/her
as a child, and introduce the possibility for asylum-seekers to appeal the outcome of
the age determination;
(b)
Avoid accommodating the asylum-seekers aged 16 and above in adult
units of reception centres and provide sufficient mental health services, therapy and
psychiatric care for unaccompanied minors;
(c)
Ensure that detention of asylum-seeking children is carried out as a last
resort, for the shortest time possible, when no alternative measures can be applied.
Helplines
62.
The Committee recommends that the State party ensure permanent and
sufficient funding for phone and Internet helplines for children, and implement the
116 000 European number in accordance with the European Union’s Communication
on the Rights of the Child. The Committee also recommends that the State party
acknowledge the child helpline as a fundamental child protection tool, and a tool
toward the prevention and detection of violence against children.
Children belonging to indigenous and minority groups
63.
The Committee is concerned that children who belong to the Roma minority and
Sami indigenous groups do not receive health services, including mental health services,
therapy or psychiatric care, in Romani and Sami languages. It is also concerned at the
insufficient level of educational services and recreational activities in Romani and Sami
language and that such services and activities in Sami language are limited to their main
areas of domicile.
64.
The Committee recommends that the State party:
(a)
Monitor and evaluate the integration of Roma and Sami children’s
rights in national plans and programmes;
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