United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child CRC/C/DNK/CO/4 Distr.: General 7 April 2011 Original: English Committee on the Rights of the Child Fifty-sixth session 17 January – 4 February 2011 Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under article 44 of the Convention Concluding observations: Denmark 1. The Committee considered the fourth periodic report of Denmark (CRC/C/DNK/4) at its 1594th and 1595th meetings (see CRC/C/SR.1594 and 1595), held on 24 January 2011, and adopted, at its 1612th meeting, held on 4 February 2011, the following concluding observations. I. Introduction 2. The Committee welcomes the submission of the fourth periodic report as well as the written replies to its list of issues (CRC/C/DNK/Q/4/Add.1) and appreciates the constructive dialogue with the multi-sectoral delegation of the State party. However, the Committee notes that the fourth periodic report of the State party does not conform to the reporting guidelines on the Convention and urges the State party to submit its subsequent periodic reports in accordance with the current guidelines (CRC/C/58/Rev.2). 3. The Committee reminds the State party that the present concluding observations should be read in conjunction with the concluding observations on the initial report of the State party under the Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography (CRC/C/OPSC/DNK/CO/1), adopted on 29 September 2006, and under the Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict (CRC/C/OPAC/DNK/CO/1), adopted on 30 September 2005. II. Follow-up measures undertaken and progress achieved by the State party 4. The Committee notes with appreciation the adoption of: (a) The Child’s Reform (Barnets Reform) of 2010, which entered into force on 1 January 2011 and entails amendments to the Act on Social Services to better serve the best interests of the child in the handling of cases involving special support for disadvantaged children and young people, as well as strengthens the right of the National Social Appeals Board (Ankestyrelsen) to take up cases at its own initiative, when a child is at risk; GE.11-41962