CRC/C/15/Add.69
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children living in remote areas, disabled children, children living and/or
working in the street, children placed in institutions, including institutions
of a penal nature, ill-treated and abused children or children from
economically disadvantaged groups. Such disaggregated data would contribute
to the design of policies and programmes for the effective and full
implementation of the provisions of the Convention.
11.
The Committee is also concerned at the lack of an integrated strategy on
children as well as of a fully effective monitoring mechanism for all areas
covered by the Convention and in relation to all groups of children in urban
and rural areas, especially those affected by the consequences of the economic
problems and by the internal conflict.
12.
As regards the implementation of article 4 of the Convention, the
Committee notes with concern the inadequacy of measures taken to ensure the
implementation of children's economic, social and cultural rights to the
maximum extent of available resources. The Committee expresses particular
concern at the insufficient budget allocation for social expenditures, in
particular in favour of children belonging to the most disadvantaged groups of
the population.
13.
The Committee is also concerned that the general principles of the
Convention, as laid down in its articles 2 (non-discrimination), 3 (best
interests of the child), 6 (right to life, survival and development) and
12 (respect for the views of the child), are not being applied and duly
integrated into the implementation of all articles of the Convention. The
Committee is concerned that these principles are not adequately reflected in
legislation and therefore are not properly integrated in all decisions and
actions concerning children, including on the administrative and judicial
levels. Concern is also expressed at the status and situation of children
belonging to ethnic and religious minority groups, the girl child and children
living in rural and remote areas. The insufficiency of measures taken by the
authorities to prevent and combat discrimination against those groups of
children is also a matter of concern.
14.
With regard to the implementation of articles 2 and 3 of the Convention,
the Committee is seriously concerned by the fact that the national identity
card explicitly mentions the religion and the ethnic origin of each citizen,
including children. It is also seriously concerned by the fact that the
Citizenship Act establishes three different categories of citizenship and
therefore some categories of children and their parents might be stigmatized
and/or denied certain rights.
15.
The Committee is concerned by the insufficient measures taken by the
authorities to raise awareness and to provide education on the Convention to
adults and children alike. The fact that the Convention is not translated
into all national languages and is therefore not accessible to all children
living in the territory of the State party is also a matter of concern, as is
the lack of knowledge on the Convention among professional groups working for
and with children, including judges, lawyers, law enforcement and army
personnel, health professionals, teachers, social workers, and personnel
working in child care institutions.