CRC/C/15/Add.99
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It encourages the State party to support rehabilitation programmes dealing
with child victims of drug and substance abuse. In this regard, the Committee
encourages the State party to consider seeking technical assistance from,
inter alia, UNICEF, WHO and the International Narcotics Control Board of the
United Nations.
30.
While the Committee notes that the State party has in place domestic
legislation relating to juvenile justice, it is still concerned at the general
situation of the administration of juvenile justice and in particular its
compatibility with the Convention, as well as other relevant United Nations
standards. The Committee is also concerned at the absence of specific legal
provisions for children to remain in contact with their families while in the
juvenile justice system. Further concern is expressed at the situation of
overcrowding in detention facilities; the holding of minors in adult detention
facilities; and the lack of reliable statistical data on the number of
children in the juvenile justice system. The Committee also expresses grave
concern at the low minimum legal age of criminal responsibility. The
Committee recommends that the State party take additional steps to reform the
system of juvenile justice in the spirit of the Convention, in particular
articles 37, 40 and 39, and of other United Nations standards in this field,
such as the Beijing Rules, the Riyadh Guidelines and the United Nations Rules
for the Protection of Juveniles Deprived of their Liberty. Particular
attention should be paid to considering deprivation of liberty only as a
measure of last resort and for the shortest possible period of time, to
protecting the rights of children deprived of their liberty and to ensuring
that children remain in contact with their families while in the juvenile
justice system. Training programmes on relevant international standards
should be organized for all those professionals involved with the system
of juvenile justice. The Committee suggests that the State party
consider seeking technical assistance from, inter alia, the Office of the
High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Centre for International Crime
Prevention, the International Network on Juvenile Justice and UNICEF, through
the Coordination Panel on Technical Advice in Juvenile Justice. The Committee
also recommends that the State party increase the legal minimum age of
criminal responsibility and ensure that its legislation is in conformity with
the Convention in this regard.
31.
Lastly, the Committee recommends that, in the light of article 44,
paragraph 6, of the Convention, the initial report and written replies
submitted by the State party be made widely available to the public at large
and that the publication of the report be considered, along with the relevant
summary records and the concluding observations adopted by the Committee.
Such a document should be widely distributed in order to generate debate and
awareness of the Convention and its implementation and monitoring within the
Government and the general public, including NGOs.
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