CRC/C/15/Add.68
page 6
Convention requires that the Convention be recognized as the general framework
for reaching decisions on the allocation of resources for children. Moreover,
in the light of article 4 of the Convention, international assistance provided
to Panama should aim at the promotion of children’s rights.
29.
Further efforts are required to ensure the active participation of
children and their involvement in all decisions affecting them in the family,
at school and in social life, in the light of articles 12, 13 and 15 of the
Convention.
30.
The Committee recommends that effective public awareness campaigns be
developed and that measures be adopted by the State party to provide
appropriate assistance to the family in the performance of its child-rearing
responsibilities, including parental guidance and counselling, with a view,
inter alia, to preventing domestic violence and to prohibiting the use of
corporal punishment as well as to preventing early pregnancies. It also
recommends that the State party reinforce existing measures to protect
children from harmful information.
31.
The Committee recommends that the State party take all necessary
measures to regulate and monitor national and international adoptions in order
to prevent any violations of the principles and provisions of the Convention,
especially its article 21. It is also recommended that adequate training be
provided to concerned professionals. The Committee also suggests that Panama
consider becoming a party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children
and Cooperation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption of 1993.
32.
In the area of education, it is the view of the Committee that a range
of measures should be undertaken by the State party to ensure the
implementation of articles 28 and 29 of the Convention. Taking into account
the strategy being developed, the Committee recommends that the State party
focus greater efforts on eradicating illiteracy and on increasing access to
school education by indigenous children and children living in rural areas.
The Committee recognizes that this requires greater efforts in training
teachers. The Committee also recommends that the State party take all
necessary measures to fight school drop-outs and ensure retention.
33.
As a means of tackling the integrated issues of education and child
labour, the Committee recommends that all sectors of society and the economy
become involved in implementing the Committee's recommendations that the
Government undertake effective public campaigns to prevent and eliminate child
labour, especially in rural areas, while systematically and forcefully
encouraging the enrolment, retention and return of children to school. The
Committee suggests that Panama consider becoming a party to ILO Convention
No.138 concerning the minimum age for admission to employment and review all
relevant standards. Regulations to prevent child labour should be clarified
and enforced, complaints should be investigated and severe penalties imposed
for violations. The Committee also suggests that the State party consider
seeking cooperation with ILO in this area.
34.
The Committee recommends that the Government of Panama ensure adequate
protection of refugee children, including in the field of education.
Procedures should be developed in cooperation with the Office of the