CRC/C/15/Add.154
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8. Special protection measures
Children affected by armed conflict
48.
The Committee notes that the State party launched an action plan for the psychological
rehabilitation of children affected by the armed conflict based on a preventive programme with
community participation, as previously recommended by the Committee (ibid., para. 39).
However, it expresses its concern at the lack of professional staff prepared to work in these
communities and at the insufficient number of services to meet demand. It also notes with
concern that a large number of children were internally displaced or forcibly disappeared during
the armed conflict and that the State party did not investigate these disappearances effectively.
49.
In light of article 39 of the Convention, the Committee recommends that the State
party consider complying with the recommendations of the Truth Commission regarding a
national reparation programme that would also include children affected by the internal
armed conflict, and that it effectively investigate all cases of children who were forcibly
disappeared by allocating human and financial resources to and cooperating with the
National Commission for Searching for Disappeared Children. Further, the Committee
recommends that the State party strengthen its efforts to implement the Programme to
Support Resettlement of Displaced Groups and to ensure adequate protection to internally
displaced children, paying special attention to the problem of lack of identification papers.
The Committee encourages the State party to continue its international cooperation
programmes with, among others, UNDP, UNHCR and UNCHS (Habitat).
Economic exploitation
50.
With regard to its recommendation on child labour (ibid., para. 39), the Committee takes
note of the measures taken by the State party such as the signing in 1996 of a memorandum of
understanding with ILO for the adoption of the International Programme on the Elimination of
Child Labour (IPEC). However, it expresses its deep concern at the large number of children
who are still exploited economically, in particular those under 14 years of age.
51.
In light of article 32 of the Convention and in line with its previous recommendation
(ibid., para. 41), the Committee reiterates that the State party should continue to enforce
and strengthen its legislation protecting working children and to combat and eradicate as
effectively as possible all forms of child labour, in cooperation with ILO/IPEC.
Sexual exploitation
52.
While noting that the National Plan against Sexual and Commercial Exploitation is in the
final stages of elaboration, the Committee expresses its deep concern that, with regard to the
increasing phenomenon of commercial sexual exploitation of children, in particular girls, there
are no data available, legislation is inadequate, cases involving sexually exploited children are
often not investigated and prosecuted, and no rehabilitation programmes are available.
53.
In light of article 34 of the Convention and in line with the recommendations of the
Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography (see
E/CN.4/2000/73/Add.2), the Committee recommends that the State party expedite the