CRC/C/HND/CO/3
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Training on and dissemination of the Convention
23. The Committee notes that, despite the chronic lack of resources, training courses have been
held for professional groups and activities organized, especially with UNICEF and civil society
support, on dissemination of the Convention. However, the Committee is concerned that the
level of awareness of the Convention is low, in particular among indigenous groups and in rural
areas.
24. The Committee recommends that the State party strengthen its efforts to provide
adequate and systematic training and/or sensitization on children’s rights for professionals
working with and for children, in particular law-enforcement officials, as well as for
parliamentarians, judges, lawyers, health personnel, teachers, school administrators, social
workers and others as required. The Committee further recommends that the State party
include human rights in general, and the rights of the child in particular, in the curricula at
all levels of education, including at universities, where appropriate.
25. The Committee recommends that the State party strengthen its efforts to disseminate
the Convention throughout the country and to raise public awareness about its principles
and provisions, in particular among children themselves, parents, teachers and local
authorities, as well as among indigenous groups and in rural areas. The State party is
encouraged to continue cooperating with UNICEF in this respect.
Cooperation with NGOs
26. The Committee notes with appreciation the involvement of NGOs in several relevant
activities for the implementation of the Convention.
27. The Committee encourages the State party to continue, and where possible
strengthen, the collaboration with NGOs, including children’s organizations, in the
development and implementation of programmes and activities aimed at improving
children’s rights.
International cooperation
28. The Committee notes that various programmes and projects have been and are being
implemented in the framework of international cooperation, including the technical assistance
and cooperation of United Nations agencies and programmes. The Committee thus
recommends that the State party continue to undertake measures within the framework of
international cooperation, while at the same time seeking to strengthen, through it, its
institutional structure for the implementation of the Convention.
2. Definition of the child
(art. 1 of the Convention)
29. The Committee reiterates its concern expressed in its previous concluding observations
about the use of the biological criterion of puberty to set different ages of maturity between boys
and girls; namely, that childhood ends at the age of 12 for males and 14 for females, while
adolescence starts at these ages and ends at 18.