CRC/C/15/Add.24
page 3
10.
The absence of a comprehensive strategy designed to promote awareness and
understanding of the rights of the child among all adults and children in
Honduras is noted.
11.
The Committee is concerned that traditional attitudes prevailing in the
country may not be conducive to the realization of the general principles of
the Convention, including, in particular, article 2 relating to
non-discrimination, including on the grounds of gender and ethnic origin, and
article 12 relating to the respect for the views of the child.
12.
Despite the measures taken by the Government of Honduras to improve and
facilitate the registration of children, the Committee remains worried that
difficulties persist in providing children in Honduras with the necessary
registration certificates and that the absence of such basic documentation
detailing the child’s age and family affiliations may hamper the
implementation of a child’s other rights, including his/her access to public
health services and to the necessary protection that a child should be
accorded under the system of the administration of juvenile justice.
13.
The Committee is concerned about the apparent inadequacy of the measures
taken by the State party to ensure that its adoption procedures are conducted
in accordance with the relevant provisions and principles of the Convention,
in particular articles 3, 12 and 21.
14.
The number of teenage pregnancies in Honduras is relatively high and the
Committee, therefore, has serious doubts regarding the adequacy of family and
sex education, particularly with regard to the general level of
understanding and knowledge about family planning methods and the availability
of family planning services. The Committee is also concerned that certain
attitudes remain in society which hamper efforts to eradicate sexual abuse and
exploitation.
15.
The Committee notes that the lack of provision of and access to health
services and facilities, and clean water and sanitation is an extremely
serious problem in rural areas. The Committee is also concerned at the
prevalence of the malnutrition of children from the poorer and more
disadvantaged sectors of the population, especially as regards the adverse
effects of the insufficiency of nutritious food on the child’s right to
survival and a healthy development.
16.
As recognized by the State party, the Committee is concerned that
measures are lacking to implement the provisions of article 23 of the
Convention relating to disabled children.
17.
Notwithstanding the initiative taken by the State party to provide
bilingual education to children in schools, the Committee is deeply concerned
at the insufficiency of measures taken by the State party to implement the
provisions of article 28 of the Convention concerning the right of the child
to education, especially in view of the low level of enrolment and retention
of children in schools and the lack of vocational training in schools as well
as the inadequacy of teacher training programmes and teaching material.