CRC/C/GEO/CO/3
page 14
(e)
Take measures to increase enrolment in early childhood development
programmes and pre-school institutions, in particular with regard to children growing up
under economic hardship and deprivation.
7.
Special protection measures
(arts. 22; 30; 38; 39; 40; 37 (b)-(d); 32-36 of the Convention)
Refugee children
58.
While welcoming the April 2007 amendments to the Law on Refugees Issues which grant
refugees registered in Georgia temporary residence permits, and that the Law is in the process of
being revised to bring it closer in line with international standards, the Committee is concerned
about the deprived living conditions of refugees living in the State party, including Chechen
refugees. The Committee is particularly concerned about the lack of sufficient protection of the
rights of children in isolated refugee communities that severely hampers development and wellbeing of these children.
59.
The Committee recommends that the State party revise its legislation on refugees
and asylum-seekers in line with the 1951 Convention. The Committee recommends the
State party to meet the specific protection needs of refugee and asylum-seeking children,
including unaccompanied and separated children, in line with the Committee’s general
comment No. 6 (2005) on treatment of unaccompanied and separated children outside their
country of origin, should be taken into account.
Internally displaced children
60.
While welcoming the newly adopted draft action plan for the implementation of the
national strategy on internally displaced persons adopted on 2 February 2007 with an increased
focus on integration, the Committee remains concerned that internally displaced children in the
State party continue to face serious socio-economic deprivation, especially their limited access to
housing, health services and education, as well as the physical and psychological impact of
displacement on children. The Committee is further concerned about the potential negative
impact of segregated schools for internally displaced children.
61.
The Committee recommends that the State party give the highest priority to the
protection of the rights of internally displaced children. In this regard, the Committee
recommends that the State party:
(a) Continue to follow up the recommendations of the Special Representative of
the Secretary-General on Internally Displaced Persons contained in the report on his
mission to Georgia (see E/CN.4/2006/71/Add.7), in particular those relating to the
incorporation of the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement (E/CN.4/1998/53/Add.2)
in the State party’s legislation and policies on internally displaced persons;
(b) Integrate internally displaced children and families into the State social
assistance schemes as a matter of priority and ensure that all public services and
programmes are accessible and available to them;