CRC/C/ERI/CO/3
page 18
at the lack of information in the State party report on the extent of the problem and the number of
children affected.
77.
The Committee recommends that the State party:
(a) Undertake a comprehensive study to document the number of children
victims of sexual exploitation and abuse and to identify the root causes of the problem;
(b) Carry out awareness-raising educational measures to prevent and eliminate
sexual exploitation;
(c) Train professionals, in particular those working with the administration of
justice, in order to receive, investigate process complaints in a child-sensitive manner that
respects the privacy of the victim;
(d) Ensure adequate resources in order to investigate cases of sexual abuse and
exploitation and prosecute and impose adequate sentences for such crimes;
(e) Implement a comprehensive policy, with the participation of NGOs, for the
prevention, recovery and social reintegration of child victims, in accordance with the
Declaration and Agenda for Action and the Yokohama Global Commitment adopted at the
1996 and 2001 World Congresses against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children.
Juvenile justice
78. The Committee regrets the absence of a child friendly juvenile justice system in the country
and reiterates its concern that children between 15 and 17 are tried as adults. The Committee is
concerned that deprivation of liberty is not used as a measure of last resort and at the lack of
separation of children from adults in pretrial detention.
79. The Committee urges the State party to ensure that juvenile justice standards are fully
implemented, in particular articles 37 (b), 40 and 39 of the Convention, as well as the
United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of Juvenile Justice (“the
Beijing Rules”) and the United Nations Guidelines for the Prevention of Juvenile
Delinquency (“the Riyadh Guidelines”) the United Nations Rules for the Protection of
Juveniles Deprived of Their Liberty (“the Havana Rules”), and in the light of the
Committee’s day of general discussion on the administration of juvenile justice. In
particular, the Committee recommends that the State party:
(a) Develop a juvenile justice system, with specialized juvenile courts, which
ensures that all children are tried as such. Children under 18 should not be tried as adults;
(b) Improve training programmes on relevant international standards for all
professionals involved with the system of juvenile justice such as judges, police officers,
defence lawyers and prosecutors;