CRC/C/15/Add.269
page 10
47.
The Committee also recommends that the State party provide detailed
information about the growing practice of kafalah abroad and ensure that it only takes
place when it is in the best interests of the child and with full respect for the rights of the
child.
Illicit transfer and non-return of children abroad
48.
The Committee is deeply concerned at the difficulty in implementing judicial decisions
regarding custody and visitation rights for Algerian children with one parent living outside
Algeria. It further expresses its concern that child abduction is particularly prevalent among
children of mixed marriages.
49.
The Committee recommends that the State party undertake all necessary efforts to
prevent and combat illicit transfer and non-return of children and to ensure proper and
expeditious implementation of judicial decisions made with regard to custody and visiting
rights. It further recommends that the State party strengthen dialogue and consultation
with relevant countries, notably those with which the State party has signed an agreement,
regarding custody or visitation rights, and ratify the Hague Convention on Civil Aspects of
International Child Abduction of 1980.
Violence, abuse, ill-treatment and neglect
50.
While noting with appreciation the formulation of a national strategy against child abuse,
the Committee deeply regrets that insufficient measures are being taken to address the serious
problem of child abuse and ill-treatment in the State party. The Committee is concerned about
the lack of reporting of and coordination between medical and social services and legal
authorities in child abuse cases. In addition, the Committee notes with concern that
professionals working with and for children are inadequately trained to identify, report and
manage child abuse and ill-treatment cases. The Committee also notes with concern that owing
to prevailing cultural practices and traditional norms, so-called intra-familial problems such as
child abuse, ill-treatment and domestic violence are considered as strictly private family matters
and only very rarely reported to authorities.
51.
In light of article 19, other relevant provisions of the Convention and the
recommendations of the Committee adopted on its days of general discussion on children
and violence (CRC/C/100, para. 866 and CRC/C/111, paras. 701-745), the Committee urges
the State party:
(a)
To take effective legislative measures to prohibit all forms of physical, sexual
and mental violence against children, including sexual abuse in the family;
(b)
To conduct a study to assess the nature and extent of ill-treatment and abuse
of children, develop indicators and design policies and programmes to address it;
(c)
To develop and implement an effective system for the identification and
reporting of child abuse and ill-treatment cases;