CRC/C/15/Add.269
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particular parliamentarians, judges, lawyers, law enforcement officials, civil servants,
municipal workers, personnel working in institutions and places of detention for children,
teachers, health personnel, including psychologists, social workers and religious leaders, as
well as children and their parents. The Committee further recommends that the State
party translate the Convention into the Amazigh language, Tamazight. In addition, the
Committee recommends that the State party seek technical assistance from, among others,
UNICEF, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
and OHCHR.
2. General principles
Non-discrimination
26.
While noting that the Algerian Constitution and domestic laws are based on the principle
of non-discrimination, the Committee expresses its concern at the lack of concrete
implementation measures, policies and programmes to promote equality and tolerance in society.
The Committee is concerned at the persistent de facto discrimination faced by girls, children
with disabilities, children living in poverty, children born out of wedlock, children in conflict
with the law, street children, children living in rural areas and Western Saharan refugee children.
27.
The Committee recommends that the State party make greater efforts to ensure
that all children within its jurisdiction enjoy all the rights enshrined in the Convention
without discrimination, in accordance with article 2, by effectively implementing the
existing laws that guarantee the principle of non-discrimination. The Committee
recommends that the State party adopt a proactive and comprehensive strategy to
eliminate de facto discrimination on any grounds and against all vulnerable groups of
children, and prioritize social and health services and equal opportunities to education for
children belonging to the most vulnerable groups.
28.
The Committee requests that specific information be included in the next periodic
report on the measures and programmes relevant to the Convention on the Rights of the
Child undertaken by the State party to follow up on the Durban Declaration and
Programme of Action adopted at the 2001 World Conference against Racism, Racial
Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance and taking account of Committee’s
general comment No. 1 (2001) on the aims of education.
Best interests of the child
29.
As regards the general principle of the best interests of the child under article 3 of the
Convention, the Committee is concerned that this principle is not given adequate attention in
national legislation and policies and that this principle is not a primary consideration in
decision-making regarding children, for example custody decisions. The Committee also notes
with concern that awareness of its significance is low among the population.
30.
The Committee recalls its previous recommendation in this regard made upon the
consideration of the State party’s initial report and recommends that the State party take
measures to raise awareness of the meaning and practical application of the principle of the