CRC/C/PRY/CO/3
concerned that children themselves are not well informed about their rights and that the
Convention is not sufficiently translated into other languages.
21.
The Committee reiterates its previous recommendation and urges the State
party to:
(a)
Increase efforts to translate informative material into Guarani and the
main indigenous languages and disseminate it;
(b)
Develop more creative methods for promoting the Convention, including
through audio-visual aids such as picture books and posters, in particular at local
level;
(c)
Continue adequate and systematic training and/or sensitization of
professional groups working with and for children, such as judges, lawyers, law
enforcement personnel, teachers, school administrators, health and media personnel;
(d)
Fully integrate the Convention into the curricula at all levels of the
educational system and to ensure its translation into all languages in the country; and
(e)
2.
Seek technical assistance, if necessary from, among others, UNICEF.
Definition of the child (art. 1 of the Convention)
22.
The Committee expresses concern at the low legal minimum age for contracting
marriage, which is 16 years of age, but which can be in certain cases lowered to 14.
23.
The Committee recommends that the State party set the minimum age for
marriage for girls and for boys at 18 years of age.
3.
General principles (arts. 2, 3, 6 and 12 of the Convention)
Non-discrimination
24.
The Committee welcomes the fact that the rights of indigenous persons have been
set as a priority in the platform of the new administration of Government and the existence
of a bill against all forms of discrimination. However, the Committee remains concerned
that discrimination affects children in the State party for reasons of ethnic origin, native
language, gender, nationality, disability and street situations The Committee is particularly
concerned about discrimination faced by the indigenous population which resulted in
various inequalities for the children.
25.
The Committee, in line with article 2 of the Convention, strongly recommends
that the State party:
(a)
Intensify its efforts to prevent and eliminate any de facto discrimination
against indigenous children, children living in poverty, girls, children in street
situations, and children with disabilities;
(b)
Expedite the process to adopt the bill against all forms of discrimination;
(c)
Effectively guarantee the indigenous children’ services for health,
nutrition, education, access to employment and cultural activities.
26.
The Committee also requests that specific information be included in the next
periodic report on the measures and programmes relevant to the Convention
undertaken by the State party to follow up on the Durban Declaration and
Programme of Action adopted at the 2001 World Conference against Racism, Racial
6