UNITED NATIONS CRC Convention on the Rights of the Child Distr. GENERAL CRC/C/15/Add.68 24 January 1997 Original: ENGLISH COMMITTEE ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD Fourteenth session CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS SUBMITTED BY STATES PARTIES UNDER ARTICLE 44 OF THE CONVENTION Concluding observations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child: Panama 1. The Committee considered the initial report of Panama (CRC/C/8/Add.28) at its 353rd, 354th, 355th and 356th meetings (CRC/C/SR.353-356), held on 13 and 14 January 1997, and adopted* the following concluding observations: A. Introduction 2. The Committee welcomes the initial report submitted by the State party. The Committee expresses its satisfaction at the constructive dialogue held and for the State party’s self-critical approach in identifying a number of areas of concern. The Committee regrets, however, that neither the report nor the written answers to the list of issues (CRC/C/Q/PAN.1) contained information on specific measures taken by the State party to implement the Convention, including at the legislative level. B. Positive aspects 3. The Committee notes that the Convention is directly applicable at the national level and can be invoked before the law courts or administrative authorities. _________ * At the 371st meeting, held on 24 January 1997. GE.97-15548 (E)