Legislation
11. The Committee notes the promulgation and amendment of several pieces of legislation in the area of child rights, which contribute to the improvement of children's living conditions and development. Nevertheless, it remains concerned that the Act on the Promotion of Development and Support for Children and Young People does not cover the full scope of the Convention or guarantee child rights and, that there is no comprehensive child rights law in place. It also notes that certain aspects of domestic legislation, including in the area of juvenile justice, are still not consistent with the principles and provisions of the Convention.
12. The Committee strongly recommends that the State party consider adopting a comprehensive law on child rights and take steps to fully harmonise its legislation with the principles and provisions of the Convention.
Coordination
13. The Committee notes the existence of a number of national bodies involved in the implementation of policy on children’s rights, such as the Headquarters for Promotion of Development and Support for Children and Young People, the Education Rebuilding Council and various government councils. The Committee is, however, concerned at the lack of a mechanism to ensure effective coordination between these bodies as well as among the national, regional and local levels.
14. The Committee recommends that the State party establish an appropriate national mechanism with a clear mandate and sufficient human and financial resources to effectively coordinate all activities undertaken by the State party for the implementation of children’s rights at the national, regional and local levels and establish a continuous exchange and cooperation with civil society organizations which are involved in the implementation of child rights.
National Plan of Action
15. The Committee welcomes the adoption of a number of specific measures, such as the Act on Promotion of Development and Support for Children and Young People (April 2010) and notes with interest the elaboration of the "Visions for Children and Childcare" and the "Visions for Children and Young People", which aim to centralize government structures in order to support the development of all children and to fully respect them. Nevertheless, the Committee remains concerned at the lack of a comprehensive rights-based national plan of action for children covering all areas of the Convention and which addresses, inter alia, inequalities and disparities among children.
16. The Committee recommends that the State party, in consultation and cooperation with relevant partners, including local authorities, civil society and children, adopt and implement a national plan of action for children with medium and long-term targets, which covers all areas of the Convention, provide adequate human and financial resources as well as a monitoring mechanism which controls outcomes and adjust measures, as necessary. In particular, the Committee recommends that the action plan address inequalities in income and living standards, as well as disparities by gender, disability, ethnic origin and other factors shaping children's opportunities to develop, learn and be prepared for responsible life. The Committee recommends that the State party take into account the outcome document of the special session of the General Assembly on Children, “A world fit for children” (2002) and its mid-term review (2007).
Independent monitoring
17. The Committee expresses concern at the absence of an independent mechanism to monitor the implementation of the Convention at the national level. In this regard, the Committee notes the State party’s information that five municipalities have appointed ombudspersons for children. The Committee, however, regrets the absence of information on their mandate, independence and functions, the financial and other resources available to ensure efficacy and their envisaged relationship with the Human Rights Commission to be established under the Human Rights Protection Bill, which has been pending, regrettably, since 2002.
18. The Committee recommends that the State party:
(a) expedite the passing of the Human Rights Protection Bill and the establishment of a National Human Rights Commission, compliant with the Paris Principles relating to the status of national institutions (General Assembly resolution 48/134), and provide it with the mandate to monitor the implementation of the Convention, receive and follow-up complaints and investigate systematic violations of child rights;
(b) provide information, in its next report, on the mandate, functions and resources allocated to the National Human Rights Commission and to the ombudspersons; and
(c) take account of the Committee’s general comment No. 2 (2002) on the role of independent human rights institutions.
11. The Committee notes the promulgation and amendment of several pieces of legislation in the area of child rights, which contribute to the improvement of children's living conditions and development. Nevertheless, it remains concerned that the Act on the Promotion of Development and Support for Children and Young People does not cover the full scope of the Convention or guarantee child rights and, that there is no comprehensive child rights law in place. It also notes that certain aspects of domestic legislation, including in the area of juvenile justice, are still not consistent with the principles and provisions of the Convention.
12. The Committee strongly recommends that the State party consider adopting a comprehensive law on child rights and take steps to fully harmonise its legislation with the principles and provisions of the Convention.
Coordination
13. The Committee notes the existence of a number of national bodies involved in the implementation of policy on children’s rights, such as the Headquarters for Promotion of Development and Support for Children and Young People, the Education Rebuilding Council and various government councils. The Committee is, however, concerned at the lack of a mechanism to ensure effective coordination between these bodies as well as among the national, regional and local levels.
14. The Committee recommends that the State party establish an appropriate national mechanism with a clear mandate and sufficient human and financial resources to effectively coordinate all activities undertaken by the State party for the implementation of children’s rights at the national, regional and local levels and establish a continuous exchange and cooperation with civil society organizations which are involved in the implementation of child rights.
National Plan of Action
15. The Committee welcomes the adoption of a number of specific measures, such as the Act on Promotion of Development and Support for Children and Young People (April 2010) and notes with interest the elaboration of the "Visions for Children and Childcare" and the "Visions for Children and Young People", which aim to centralize government structures in order to support the development of all children and to fully respect them. Nevertheless, the Committee remains concerned at the lack of a comprehensive rights-based national plan of action for children covering all areas of the Convention and which addresses, inter alia, inequalities and disparities among children.
16. The Committee recommends that the State party, in consultation and cooperation with relevant partners, including local authorities, civil society and children, adopt and implement a national plan of action for children with medium and long-term targets, which covers all areas of the Convention, provide adequate human and financial resources as well as a monitoring mechanism which controls outcomes and adjust measures, as necessary. In particular, the Committee recommends that the action plan address inequalities in income and living standards, as well as disparities by gender, disability, ethnic origin and other factors shaping children's opportunities to develop, learn and be prepared for responsible life. The Committee recommends that the State party take into account the outcome document of the special session of the General Assembly on Children, “A world fit for children” (2002) and its mid-term review (2007).
Independent monitoring
17. The Committee expresses concern at the absence of an independent mechanism to monitor the implementation of the Convention at the national level. In this regard, the Committee notes the State party’s information that five municipalities have appointed ombudspersons for children. The Committee, however, regrets the absence of information on their mandate, independence and functions, the financial and other resources available to ensure efficacy and their envisaged relationship with the Human Rights Commission to be established under the Human Rights Protection Bill, which has been pending, regrettably, since 2002.
18. The Committee recommends that the State party:
(a) expedite the passing of the Human Rights Protection Bill and the establishment of a National Human Rights Commission, compliant with the Paris Principles relating to the status of national institutions (General Assembly resolution 48/134), and provide it with the mandate to monitor the implementation of the Convention, receive and follow-up complaints and investigate systematic violations of child rights;
(b) provide information, in its next report, on the mandate, functions and resources allocated to the National Human Rights Commission and to the ombudspersons; and
(c) take account of the Committee’s general comment No. 2 (2002) on the role of independent human rights institutions.