CRC/C/15/Add.170 page 4 16. The Committee recommends that the State party: (a) Strengthen the Convention’s overall implementation throughout the country, giving particular attention to rural and small island communities and ethnic, national, cultural and other population groups, including through ongoing efforts to strengthen the presence of health and education professionals in such communities; (b) services. Promptly implement the laws on decentralization of health and social Independent monitoring 17. In light of the establishment of the National Observatory on the Rights of Children, and given the existence of the Ombudsman’s Office and the National Human Rights Committee, the Committee is concerned that there is no clear division of labour between these bodies, which may have a negative impact on effective monitoring of the Convention’s implementation. 18. The Committee recommends that the State party: (a) Clearly define the role of each of the above bodies in accordance with the Paris Principles, and ensure that they are easily accessible for children and can deal with individual complaints in a child sensitive manner; (b) Proceed with its efforts to develop the work of the National Observatory on the Rights of Children, including through the timely implementation of the law on the Observatory. Plan of action and children’s rights policy 19. While noting the existence of numerous plans of action and policies focusing on specific issues of concern to children, the Committee remains concerned at the absence of a general plan of action for children’s rights and a comprehensive children’s rights policy. 20. The Committee recommends that the State party urgently develop and implement a comprehensive children’s rights policy and plan of action. Resources for children 21. The Committee is concerned that it is unclear what percentage of the budget is allocated for children’s health and education and that the allocations for public education appear to be low. 22. The Committee recommends that the State party clarify the amount of the budgetary allocations for social services and ensure that allocations, particularly for education, are allocated to the “maximum extent of … available resources”, in accordance with article 4 of the Convention.

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