UNITED NATIONS CRC Convention on the Rights of the Child Distr. GENERAL CRC/C/15/Add.180 13 June 2002 Original: ENGLISH COMMITTEE ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD Thirtieth session CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS SUBMITTED BY STATES PARTIES UNDER ARTICLE 44 OF THE CONVENTION Concluding observations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child: Belarus 1. The Committee considered the second periodic report of Belarus (CRC/C/65/Add.15) at its 786th and 787th meetings (see CRC/C/SR.786 and 787), held on 27 May 2002, and adopted* the following concluding observations. A. Introduction 2. The Committee welcomes the submission of the State party’s second periodic report, which follows the guidelines for reporting, and of the written replies, promptly submitted, to its list of issues (CRC/C/Q/BEL/2). The Committee, although regretting that only one member of the State party’s delegation was directly involved in the implementation of the Convention in Belarus, notes the constructive dialogue and the positive reactions to the suggestions made during the dialogue. B. Positive aspects 3. The Committee notes that the State party adopted a number of laws in order to further harmonize domestic legislation with the provisions of the Convention, including the new Civil Code and the new Marriage and Family Code adopted in 1999, and the revision in 2000 of the Rights of the Child Act. * At the 804th meeting, held on 7 June 2002. GE.02-43533 (E) 290702