CRC/C/DNK/CO/4
30.
The Committee recommends that the State party provide a framework for
reporting on child rights by Danish corporations, including multinational
corporations headquartered in Denmark, and for the National Contact Point to
address cases of non-compliance, including extraterritorially, by Danish multinational
enterprises. In so doing, the Committee recommends that the State party apply the
relevant provisions of the Convention. The Committee further encourages the State
party to give due consideration to experiences from around the world in the
application of, inter alia, the United Nations “Protect, Respect and Remedy”
Framework to the operations of private and public corporations, particularly in
respect to child rights.
B.
General principles (arts. 2, 3, 6 and 12 of the Convention)
Non-discrimination
31.
The Committee expresses concern at the State party’s new immigration laws, which
came into force on 1 August 2010, due to the negative effect of, inter alia, the increase in
the level of difficulty of the criteria for non-nationals to receive residency rights, and the
foregoing of public benefits in exchange for points under the new points-based criteria. The
Committee is concerned that this may have the de facto effect of exacerbating
discrimination against immigrants, especially Roma children with respect to their access to
education and other essential social services. In this context, the Committee is also
concerned at the disparity in State assistance provided to disadvantaged families newly
arrived in the State party, the majority of whom belong to ethnic minorities, compared to
the assistance provided to other residents in similar circumstances.
32.
The Committee recommends that the State party ensure access to social
services and to State assistance for families in disadvantaged situations, on an
equitable basis. In doing so, the Committee urges the State party to collect and analyse
disaggregated data to comprehensively monitor and address de facto discrimination,
including multiple discrimination that may particularly affect boys and girls who
belong to ethnic minorities and/or who have special needs or are in situations of
vulnerability.
33.
The Committee calls upon the State party to ensure the effective enforcement of
protective laws, to undertake studies and launch comprehensive public information
campaigns to prevent and combat all forms of discrimination, and to sensitize society
to the situation and needs of children within the society and particularly within the
family. In this regard, the Committee requests that specific information be included in
the next periodic report on the measures and programmes undertaken to follow up on
the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action adopted at the World Conference
against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, taking
into account the Committee’s general comment No. 1 (2001) on the aims of education,
and in doing so strengthen its efforts to promote values and behaviour free of
discrimination on any ground, including gender, ethnic origin, immigration status,
disabilities, sexual orientation and any other.
Best interests of the child
34.
While welcoming the new focus on the best interests of the child encompassed by
the Child Reform Act, the Committee remains concerned that it is not yet given sufficient
consideration in, particularly, the determination by municipalities of the placement of a
child outside his or her home as well as in the applications from unaccompanied asylumseeking children.
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