CRC/C/15/Add.196
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(b)
Implement the Programme on Integration in Estonian Society in such a way
that all the children of Estonia will be taught about the culture, history and identity of the
various groups living in Estonia and that exchanges are organized between pupils of
different schools in order to foster contacts, friendships and mutual respect among children
from all groups of society;
(c)
Guarantee the quality of instruction of the Estonian language to children
belonging to minority groups so as to ensure that minority-language-speaking children can
participate on a more equal level with Estonian-speaking children, in particular at higher
education levels.
8. Optional Protocols
54.
The Committee encourages the State party to ratify the Optional Protocols to the
Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child
pornography, and on the involvement of children in armed conflict.
9. Dissemination of Reports
55.
In the light of article 44, paragraph 6, of the Convention, the Committee
recommends that the report and written replies submitted by the State party be made
widely available to the public at large and that efforts be made to translate the report into
the languages of the minorities, along with the relevant summary records and concluding
observations thereon adopted by the Committee. Such a document should be widely
distributed in order to generate debate and awareness of the Convention and its
implementation and monitoring within all levels of administration of the State party and
the general public, including concerned NGOs.
10. Next report
56.
In the light of the recommendation on reporting periodicity adopted by the
Committee and described in the report on its twenty-ninth session (CRC/C/114), the
Committee, aware of the considerable delay in the State party’s reporting, underlines the
importance of a reporting practice that is in full compliance with the provisions of
article 44 of the Convention. An important aspect of States’ responsibilities to
children under the Convention includes ensuring that the Committee has regular
opportunities to examine the progress made in the implementation of the Convention. In
this regard, regular and timely reporting by States parties is crucial. The Committee
recognizes that some States parties experience difficulties in initiating timely and regular
reporting. As an exceptional measure, in order to help the State party catch up with its
reporting obligations in full compliance with the Convention, the Committee invites the
State party to submit its second, third and fourth periodic reports in one consolidated
report by 1 November 2008. The Committee expects the State party to report thereafter
every five years, as foreseen by the Convention.
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