CRC/C/BTN/CO/2
page 4
representatives in the NCWC. The Committee however expresses concern that the
Civil Society Act of 2007 may result in restrictions on civil society organizations.
16.
The Committee recommends that the State party:
(a)
Promote, without undue restrictions, the establishment of civil society
organizations and involve rights-based non-governmental organizations
working with and for children more systematically throughout all stages
of the implementation of the Convention;
(b)
Seek United Nations Development programme (UNDP) and United
Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) assistance for capacity building of
the civil society NGOs on children's rights.
Data collection
17.
The Committee is pleased to note that the National Statistical Bureau is
currently developing a database to disaggregate statistics. It also acknowledges the
completion of the National Population and Housing Census in 2005 carried out with
the assistance of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). However the
Committee is concerned that there still are not sufficient and reliable data in relation
to children and the implementation of their rights.
18.
The Committee recommends that the State party ensure the development
of a database in order to assess the implementation of the Convention on the
Rights of the Child. It also recommends that the State party establishes a
national central database on children, in order to attain disaggregated data,
including on health and education with emphasis on vulnerable groups, such as
refugee children, children without parental care, children of Nepalese ethnic
origin (Lhotshampas), child victims of violence, sexual exploitation and child
labour. In this regard, the Committee encourages the State party to seek
technical assistance from UNICEF.
Dissemination of the Convention and training activities
19.
The Committee notes with satisfaction that the State party has translated the
Committee’s previous recommendations into Bhutanese and disseminated them
among government officials and the media. The Committee however notes that the
Convention has not been translated into local languages and integrated into the school
curriculum.
20.
The Committee recommends that the State party strengthen its efforts to
ensure that the provisions of the Convention are widely known and understood
by children, parents, community and religious leaders. The Committee
recommends that the Convention and the concluding observations be translated
into relevant local languages. Furthermore, the Committee recommends that
human rights education be included in the official curriculum at all levels of
education and that the State party conduct public awareness campaigns giving
particular attention to people with low literacy skills.