CRC/C/GTM/CO/3-4
necessary steps to ensure that any violation of the right to food be considered
justiciable under the new Act on the Food and Nutrition Security System. The
Committee recommends that the State party implement the recommendations of the
Special Rapporteur on the right to food further to his mission to Guatemala in 2010.
7.
Education, leisure and cultural activities (arts. 28, 29 and 31 of the
Convention)
Education, including vocational training and guidance
79.
The Committee welcomes Governmental agreement No. 22-2004, which establishes
the comprehensive application of bilingual education and the compulsory use of national
languages in instruction. Under this agreement, the teaching and practice of
multiculturalism and interculturalism in the classroom in Mayan languages, Garifuna or
Xinca and/or Spanish is compulsory.
80.
The Committee also notes with satisfaction that Article 37 of the PINA Law
provides for free and compulsory education up to the last grade of secondary education, as
well as the free school programme launched in 2009. It is however concerned that the
increased demand for education has not been met with adequate educational infrastructure,
human and technical resources. The Committee is also concerned at the very low rate of
school retention.
81.
The Committee recommends that the State party:
(a)
Provide free-of-charge education in practice as well as a sufficient
number of schools, school materials and adequately trained teachers;
(b)
Take all the necessary measures to ensure that children complete
primary and secondary school by taking specific action to address the reasons behind
non-completion of schooling; and
(c)
Take into account the Committee’s general comment No. 1 (2001) on the
aims of education.
8.
Special protection measures (arts. 22, 30, 32-36, 37 (b)-(d) and 38-40 of
the Convention)
Children in migration situations
82.
The Committee is concerned about the extreme vulnerability of unaccompanied
migrant children, who run the risk of becoming victims of crimes such as sale of and
trafficking in persons.
83. The Committee recommends that the State party enact a migration law that
addresses the situation faced by migrant children and create tools to address the
existing problems, especially with regard to unaccompanied migrant children. The
Committee brings to the State party’s attention its general comment No. 6 (2005) on
the treatment of unaccompanied and separated children outside their country of
origin.
Children in armed conflict
84.
The Committee is concerned that the State party has not implemented the
Committee’s recommendation made in 2007 concerning the prohibition and criminalization
of recruitment of children and their involvement in hostilities.
14