CRC/C/VNM/CO/3-4
particularly through the revision of Decree No. 21 on the marketing of nutrition
products and breast milk substitutes, and ensure that action is taken against those
who violate the Decree, particularly those who advertise formula and provide free
samples to mothers;
(d)
Take measures, including awareness-raising campaigns and the
expansion of service delivery, to increase immunization rates among infant and
preschool children, paying special attention to ethnicity and geographic location.
Adolescent health
59.
The Committee expresses its concern at the lack of information on adolescent health
as well as at the reportedly high prevalence of abortions among teenagers. The Committee
is further concerned at the limited access adolescents have to contraceptives and to
reproductive health services, assistance and counselling.
60.
The Committee urges the State party to collect data on adolescent health and to
report thereon to the Committee in its next periodic report. Referring to its general
comment No. 4 (2003) on adolescent health and development in the context of the
Convention, the Committee recommends that the State party raise awareness and
provide access to services for adolescents in relation to sexual and reproductive
health, respond to the increasing number of teenage pregnancies and abortions, and
facilitate access to contraceptives, as well as to quality reproductive health services,
assistance and counselling.
HIV/AIDS
61.
The Committee notes with appreciation the progress made with regard to HIV/AIDS
prevention, however, it remains concerned about the weak enforcement of HIV/AIDSrelated laws, and that children infected with HIV/AIDS are stigmatized, more vulnerable to
institutionalization and tend to drop out of school to a greater extent. The Committee is
moreover concerned at the unreliable information concerning the magnitude of HIV in the
State party, resulting in fragmented policies and prevention mechanisms.
62.
In the light of its general comment no. 3 (2003) on HIV/AIDS and the rights of
the child, the Committee recommends that the State party take into account the
International Guidelines on HIV/AIDS and Human Rights, and:
(a)
Take all measures to ensure effective enforcement of HIV/AIDS-related
laws, including by conducting training for law enforcement officials, teachers, and
professionals working with and for children, also with a view to ensuring that children
affected by HIV/AIDS do not drop out of school and can enjoy inclusive education;
(b)
Launch awareness-raising programmes, including campaigns to combat
the stigmatization of children with HIV/AIDS, and foster an environment that enables
families with children affected by HIV/AIDS to keep them in their family environment
rather than send them to institutions, inter alia, by establishing community-based
child care and assistance services;
(c)
Integrate respect for the rights of the child into the development and
implementation of its HIV/AIDS policies and strategies, with a particular emphasis on
the Convention’s four general principles, namely, non-discrimination (art. 2), best
interests of the child (art. 3), right to life (art. 6) and respect for the views of the child
(art. 12), and effectively implement the National Action Plan for Children Affected by
HIV/AIDS to 2010 with a Vision to 2020;
(d)
Improve the quality and extent of health-related disaggregated data, as
regards both compilation and use, with a view to generating reliable data.
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