CRC/C/15/Add.201 page 6 of legislation to counter discrimination in employment (Act No. 167/1999 Coll.). However, the Committee is concerned that the provisions of article 2 are not yet integrated into all relevant legislation and thus not sufficiently implemented. The Committee reiterates also the concerns expressed by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (E/C.12/1/Add.76, paras. 12 and 23) and the Human Rights Committee (CCPR/CO/72/CZE, paras. 8-11) and remains concerned at the persistence of de facto discrimination against minorities, in particular the Roma and other vulnerable groups. 29. The Committee recommends that the State party continue and strengthen its legislative efforts to fully integrate the right to non-discrimination (article 2 of the Convention) into all relevant legislation concerning children and to ensure that this right is effectively applied in all political, judicial and administrative decisions and in projects, programmes and services which have an impact on all children, including non-citizen children and children belonging to minority groups, such as the Roma. The Committee further recommends that the State party continue to carry out comprehensive public education campaigns and undertake all necessary proactive measures to prevent and combat negative societal attitudes. 30. The Committee requests that specific information be included, in the next periodic report, on the measures and programmes relevant to the Convention undertaken by the State party to follow up on the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action adopted at the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held in 2001, taking account of the Committee’s General Comment No. 1 on article 29, paragraph 1, of the Convention (aims of education). Best interests of the child 31. While noting that the principle of the “interest and welfare” of the child is contained in the Act on the Family and in the Law on Social and Legal Protection of Children, the Committee is concerned that the principle of primary consideration for the best interests of the child is still not adequately defined and reflected in all legislation, court decisions and policies affecting children. Furthermore, the Committee is concerned that there is insufficient research and training for professionals in this respect. 32. The Committee, in line with its previous recommendations (CRC/C/15/Add.81, para. 30) recommends that the principle of the “best interests of the child” in article 3 be appropriately analysed with regard to various situations (such as separation from parents, review of placement) of the child, groups of children (e.g. minorities) and integrated into all revisions made to legislation concerning children and legal procedures in courts, as well as into judicial and administrative decisions and into projects, programmes and services which have an impact on children. The Committee encourages the State party to ensure that research and educational programmes for professionals dealing with children be reinforced and that article 3 of the Convention is fully understood and that this principle is effectively implemented.

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