CRC/C/15/Add.213
page 18
Street children
74.
The Committee is extremely concerned at:
(a)
The increasing number of street children and inappropriate policies and
programmes implemented by the juvenile affairs services to address this situation;
(b)
The inappropriateness of the preventive measures and at the keeping of a special
database on information on these children being considered as social assistance with a view to
preventing abandonment and criminality;
(c)
The vulnerability of street children to, inter alia, sexual abuse, violence, including
from the police, exploitation, exclusion from education, substance abuse, sexually transmitted
diseases, HIV/AIDS and malnutrition.
75.
The Committee recommends that the State party:
(a)
Ensure that street children are provided with adequate nutrition, clothing,
housing, health care and educational opportunities, including vocational and life-skills
training, in order to support their full development;
(b)
Ensure that street children are provided with services which promote their
physical and psychological recovery and social reintegration;
(c)
Undertake a study to assess the scope and the causes of the phenomenon and
consider establishing a comprehensive strategy, with their participation, to address the
high and increasing number of street children, with the aim of preventing and reducing
this phenomenon in the best interest of these children;
(d)
Consider addressing the situation of street children within the system of
youth social welfare services rather than juvenile affairs services.
8. Dissemination of documents
76.
In light of article 44, paragraph 6, of the Convention, the Committee recommends
that the initial report and written replies submitted by the State party be made widely
available to the public at large and that the publication of the report be considered, along
with the relevant summary records and the concluding observations adopted by the
Committee. Such a document should be widely distributed in order to generate debate and
awareness of the Convention and its implementation and monitoring within all levels of
administration of the State party and the general public, including concerned NGOs.
9. Next report
77.
The Committee underlines the importance of a reporting practice that is in full
compliance with the provisions of article 44 of the Convention. An important aspect of
States’ responsibilities to children under the Convention includes ensuring that the