CRC/C/15/Add.58
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19.
Deficiencies in the system of birth registration are of deep concern to
the Committee since the failure to register children prevents them from being
recognized as persons, from having access to education and health services and
from being protected against trafficking in and illegal adoption of children.
20.
The Committee is deeply alarmed at the persistence of violence against
children, including at the reported information on the 84 children killed.
The high number of child victims of violence raises serious concern,
particularly in view of the ineffectiveness of investigations into crimes
committed against children which paves the way for widespread impunity.
21.
The Committee notes with concern the information provided by the State
party that an illegal adoption network has been uncovered and that the
mechanisms to prevent and combat such violations of children’s rights are
insufficient and ineffective.
22.
Despite the considerable progress achieved in recent years in improving
infant and maternal care, the Committee remains concerned about the relatively
high maternal, infant and under-five mortality rates. The Committee observes
that some factors contributing to high maternal deaths may be related to the
inadequacies of the training given to birth attendants and of home deliveries.
It is also the view of the Committee that many problems remain with respect to
the reproductive health of women, the low birth weight of children being a
possible manifestation of this fact.
23.
The Committee is seriously concerned that the majority of children of
school age are not attending school, but are involved both in the informal
and formal work sectors. Moreover, the Committee is disturbed about the
inadequacy and ineffectiveness of the measures designed to ensure the
establishment of appropriate standards and to monitor the working conditions
of children when such activities are compatible with article 32 of the
Convention. The Committee is seriously concerned at the persistence of child
labour and about the lack of accurate assessment by the Government of the
dimensions of the phenomenon in the country.
24.
The juvenile justice system in the State party raises serious concern
in the Committee, in particular the system of irregular behaviour
(conducta irregular). The Committee is further concerned about the lack of
specialized training of professionals working in the field of juvenile
justice, which hampers efforts to ensure the independence of the judiciary and
the capacity of the system to effectively investigate crimes committed against
children and undermines measures to eradicate impunity.
E.
Suggestions and recommendations
25.
The Committee recommends that children’s issues be accorded a higher
priority in the State party. It is the Committee’s view that the development
of a global and national policy on children must be attended to urgently.
The Committee also recommends that the State party adopt all the necessary
measures to ensure that its national legislation fully conforms to
the Convention. In this regard, and in recognition of the importance of