CRC/C/ISR/CO/2-4
52.
Recalling its general comment No. 9 (2006) on the rights of children with
disabilities, the Committee recommends that the State party:
(a)
Reconsider the model of parental choice and establish a formal process,
with strict procedural safeguards, designed to assess and determine the best interests
of the child with disabilities and ensure that the right of children with disabilities to be
heard and have their views taken into account is fully respected in this process;
(b)
Develop a comprehensive national strategy on children with disabilities
with the view to expanding inclusive education to all children who could benefit from
it. Particular attention should be paid to children in the most disadvantaged
situations, among them children with autism;
(c)
Ensure the provision of adequate human, financial and technical
resources for schools to effectively provide inclusive education for children with
disabilities by implementing the so called “funding according to needs” system
recommended by the Dorner Committee.
Health and health services
53.
The Committee welcomes the development of a system of high quality health
services for children in the State party. The Committee regrets however the unequal access
to these services which mainly affects Bedouin and Arab children as well as children
belonging to the Ethiopian Israeli community. Notwithstanding the information provided by
the State party during the dialogue, the Committee expresses deep concern that the
deteriorated situation of health and health services for children in the OPT noted by the
Committee in 2002 considerably worsened over the reporting period due to attacks on
hospitals and clinics of Gaza (more than half of them were severely damaged during the
operation Cast Lead) and the denial of, and delays in, delivering permits to transfer children
or pregnant women to medical facilities outside the OPT which have caused the death of
many children and pregnant women over the reporting period. The Committee is also
highly concerned about:
(a)
The high level of mortality of Bedouin children living in so-called
“unrecognized” villages in the Negev who are deprived of basic health services;
(b)
Children in the Gaza Strip suffering from blood disorders and sanitation
related diseases such as watery diarrhoea and typhoid due to daily exposure to highly
contaminated water (12 per cent of child death in Gaza being attributed to the poor quality
of water).
54.
In light of its general comment No. 15 (2013) on the right of the child to the
enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health, the Committee urges the State
party to take all necessary measures to ensure that all children enjoy this right
without discrimination. The Committee also reiterates its recommendation
(CRC/C/15/Add.195, para. 45) that the State party guarantee safe and unconditional
access by all children and pregnant women living in the OPT to health services,
including emergency medical care, and ensure the availability of adequate medical
supplies and trained personnel. This recommendation also applies to Bedouin children
in the Negev. The Committee urges the State party to cease its attacks against
hospitals and medical facilities and to urgently allow entry into Gaza of all the
necessary material for the reconstruction of medical infrastructure and to ensure
timely transfer without delay of all children and pregnant mothers in need of medical
care outside the OPT. The Committee also urges the State party to adopt immediate
measures for the restoration of safe drinking water and adequate sanitation services
and ensure unimpeded access of humanitarian agencies which provide those services
until the restoration is completed.
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