* Please include country and area code
PART 1 – GENERAL INFORMATION
1. Name of State Party
2. Date of Ratification or Accession or Denunciation
3. Reservations to CROC
4. Has there been ratification of or accession to:
5. Has the State Party submitted an initial report under Article 44, paragraph 1(a) of CROC?
6. Has the State Party submitted a periodic report or periodic reports under Article 44, paragraph 1(b) of CROC?
7. Has a non-government organisation (NGO) provided a report or reports about the State Party’s initial or periodic report or reports?
NAME OF NGO(S) date(s)
Please submit a copy of the NGO report(s) or provide a web address at which it/they can be accessed.
PART 2 – GENERAL MEASURES OF IMPLEMENTATION
8. What action has the Government of the State Party taken in relation to any Reservation to CROC? (please indicate as regards each reservation)
Please provide a brief overview (maximum 100 words) of he background relating to the withdrawal, possible withdrawal or the decision to maintain each reservation.
9. Has the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (the Committee) expressed concerns and made suggestions and/or recommendations to the Government of a State Party in relation to further implementation of CROC?
(go to Q11) (go to next question)
10. Please list the concerns and recommendations of the Committee and comment briefly (maximum 100 words in relation to each concern) in relation to the Government’s response to the Committee.
11. What measures has the Government of the State Party taken to harmonise State law and Policy with CROC? (please answer briefly {maximum 100 words} by way of overview)
12.1 Since ratification has there been any comprehensive review of the domestic legislation of the State Party to ensure compliance with CROC? (please indicate)
12.2 Has a document been produced that evidences such review?
Please submit a copy of this review document or provide a web address at which this can be accessed.
13. Since ratification, have any new laws or codes been adopted, or amendments made into domestic legislation that better ensure the implementation of CROC? (please indicate)
14. Has CROC been enacted into domestic legislation?
(go to Q15)
date of legislation
name of legislation
Please submit a copy of this legislation or provide a web address at which it can be accessed. Proceed to Q16.
15. Is CROC recognised in a Constitution, Bill of Rights or other national legislation that sets forth the rights of individuals?
(go to Q16)
date of legislation
name of legislation
Please submit a copy of this legislation or provide a web address at which it can be accessed. Proceed to Q16.
16. Are the provisions of CROC directly invoked before and applied by the courts and national authorities o the State Party?
17. What is the status of CROC should one of its provisions conflict with legislation of the State Party?
(please explain briefly)
18. Are there any provisions of the national legislation of the State Party that are considered to be more conducive to the realization of the rights of the child than the provisions of CROC?
date of legislation
name of legislation
Please submit a copy of this legislation or provide a web address at which it can be accessed.
19. Please provide information on judicial decisions applying the principles and provisions of CROC, using the template below:-
Name of Case
Citation of Report
Date of Judgement
Brief description
20. To whom may children go, and what remedies are available to them, if their rights under CROC have been violated? Please answer using the template below:-
Name of agency
Role of agency
How is access gained
Nature of remedy
21. Describe briefly any steps taken or envisaged to adopt a comprehensive national strategy for children in the framework of CROC.
22. Describe briefly existing or planned mechanisms at the national, regional and local levels, for ensuring implementation of CROC, and coordinating policies relevant to children and for monitoring progress achieved. In your answer, please identify the governmental and non-governmental bodies who are involved in activities related to CROC. How is data collected in relation to children?
23. What initiatives have been taken in cooperation with the civil society (e.g. professional groups, NGOs etc) in relation to children and the implementation of CROC, and what mechanisms have been developed to evaluate progress achieved?
24. Since ratification of CROC, what steps have been taken to ensure coordination between economic and social policies in so far as they relate to the implementation of children’s rights under CROC? Comment briefly on the effectiveness of these steps.
25. Since ratification of CROC what have been the changes in the proportion of the budget devoted to expenditures for children, including health, welfare and education, at all relevant levels of government?
26. Do arrangements for budgetary analysis enable the amount and proportion spent on children to be clearly identified?
27. Since ratification of CROC, what steps have been taken to ensure that all relevant levels of government are guided by the best interests of the child in policy making including budgetary decisions?
28. Since ratification of CROC, what measures have been taken to ensure that disparities between different regions and groups of children are bridged in relation to the provision of social services?
29. Since ratification of CROC, what measures have been taken to ensure that children, particularly those belonging to disadvantaged groups, re protected against the adverse effects of economic policies including the reduction of budgetary allocations in the social sector?
30. How do the international cooperation initiatives of the State Party foster the implementation of CROC, including economic, social and cultural rights of children?
31. What proportion of international aid at multilateral and bilateral levels is allocated to programmes for children and the promotion of their rights?
32. What measures have been taken to make the principles of CROC widely known, by appropriate means, to both adults and children alike? In particular, to what extent has CROC been translated into the national, local, minority or indigenous languages, and into the languages spoken by the larger refugee and immigrant groups in the country concerned?
33. What measures have been adopted to make widely known to the public at large the reports prepared pursuant to CROC by State Parties and NGOs?
PART 3 – DEFINITION OF THE CHILD
34. Please specify the differences between the definition of the child as between CROC and national legislation.
35. Please specify the minimum legal age defined by the national legislation for the following:
35.1 legal and medical counselling without parental consent
35.2 medical treatment or surgery without parental consent
35.3 end of compulsory education
35.4 admission to employment or work, including hazardous work, part-time and full-time work
35.5 marriage
35.6 sexual consent
35.7 voluntary enlistment in the armed forces
35.8 conscription into the armed forces
35.9 participation in hostilities
35.10 criminal responsibility
35.11 deprivation of liberty, including by arrest, detention and imprisonment, inter alia in the areas o administration of justice, asylum-seeking, and placement of children in welfare and health institutions
35.12 capital punishment and life imprisonment
35.13 giving testimony in court, in civil and criminal cases
35.14 lodging complaints and seeking redress before a court or other relevant authority without parental consent
35.15 participating in administrative and judicial proceedings affecting the client
35.16 giving consent to change of identity, including change of name, modification of family relations, adoption, guardianship
35.17 having access to information concerning the biological family
35.18 legal capacity to inherit, to conduct property transactions
35.19 to create or join associations
35.20 choosing a religion or attending religious school teaching
35.21 consumption of alcohol and other controlled substances
36. How does the minimum age for employment relate to the age of completion of compulsory schooling, how dies it affect the right of the child to education and how are relevant international instruments taken into account?
37. In cases where there is a difference in the legislation between girls and boys, including in relation to marriage and sexual consent, to what extent has article 2 of CROC been given consideration?
38. In cases where the criteria of puberty is used under criminal law, to what extent is this provision differently applied to girls and boys, and to what extent are the principles and provisions of CROC taken into consideration?
PART 4 - GENERAL PRINCIPLES
A. Non-discrimination (art. 2)
39. To what extent is the principle of non-discrimination included as a binding principle in the Constitution or in domestic legislation specifically for children? To what extent are all the possible grounds for discrimination spelled out in article 2 of CROC reflected in such legal provisions? What measures are adopted to ensure the rights set forth in CROC to each child under the jurisdiction of the State without discrimination of any kind, including non-nationals, refugees and asylum-seekers?
40. What steps are taken to ensure that discrimination is prevented and combated, both in law and practice, including discrimination on the basis of race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic or social origin, property, disability, birth or other status of the child, his/her parents or legal guardians?
41. Please indicate the specific measures adopted to reduce economic, social and geographical disparities, including between rural and urban areas, to prevent discrimination against the most disadvantaged groups of children, including children belonging to minorities or indigenous communities, disabled children, children born out of wedlock, children who are non-nationals, migrants, displaced, refugees or asylum-seekers, and children who are living and/or working on the streets.
42. Please provide information on the specific measures taken to eliminate discrimination against girls and when appropriate indicate measures adopted as a follow-up to the Fourth World Conference on Women.
43. Please indicate measures taken to collect disaggregated data for the various groups of children mentioned above.
44. What measures have been taken to prevent and eliminate attitudes to and prejudice against children contributing to social or ethnic tension, racism and xenophobia?
45. Please provide information on the measures pursuant to article 2, paragraph 2 taken to ensure that the child is protected against all forms of discrimination or punishment on the basis of the status, activities, expressed opinions or beliefs of the child's parents, legal guardians or family members.
46. Please indicate major problems encountered in implementing the provisions of article 2 and plans to solve these problems, as well as any evaluation of progress in preventing and combating all forms of discrimination, including those arising from negative traditional practices.
B. Best interests of the child (art. 3)
47. Please indicate to what extent the principle of the best interests of the child and the need for it to be a primary consideration in all actions concerning children is reflected in the Constitution and relevant national legislation and regulations.
48. Please provide information on the consideration given to this principle by courts of law, administrative authorities or legislative bodies, as well as by public or private social welfare agencies.
49. Please provide information on how the best interests of the child have been given primary consideration in family life, school life, social life and in areas such as:
49.1 Budgetary allocations, including at the central, regional and local levels, and where appropriate at the federal and provincial levels, and within governmental departments;
49.2 Planning and development policies, including housing, transport and environmental policies;
49.3 Adoption; Immigration, asylum-seeking and refugee procedures; The administration of juvenile justice; The placement and care of children in institutions; Social security.
50. Information should be included on the measures taken in the light of article 3, paragraph 2, including of a legislative and administrative nature, to ensure children such protection and care as is necessary for their well-being.
51. Information should also be provided on the steps taken pursuant to article 3, paragraph 3, to establish appropriate standards for all public and private institutions, services and facilities responsible for the care and protection of children and to ensure that they conform with such standards, particularly in the areas of safety, health, number and suitability of their staff, as well as competent supervision.
52. In the light of the legislative and administrative measures taken to ensure the consideration of the best interests of the child, please indicate the main problems remaining in this respect.
53. Please indicate in what ways the principle of the best interests of the child is made part of the training of professionals dealing with children's rights.
C. The right to life, survival and development (art. 6)
54. Please describe specific measures taken to guarantee the child's right to life and to create an environment conducive to ensuring to the maximum extent possible the survival and development of the child, including physical, mental, spiritual, moral, psychological and social development, in a manner compatible with human dignity, and to prepare the child for an individual life in a free society.
55. Information should also be provided on the measures taken to ensure the registration of the deaths of children, the causes of death and, where appropriate, investigation and reporting on such deaths, as well as on the measures adopted to prevent children's suicide and monitor its incidence and to ensure the survival of children at all ages, including adolescents, and the prevention of risks to which that group may be particularly exposed (for example, sexually transmitted diseases, street violence). Please provide relevant disaggregated data, including on the number of suicides among children.
D. Respect for the views of the child (art. 12)
56. Please indicate how the right of the child to express views freely on all matters affecting him or her, and provision for those views to be given due weight have been incorporated in legislation.
57. Please provide information on legislative and other measures taken to ensure the right of the child to express views in a manner consistent with his or her evolving capacities, including in:
57.1 Family life
57.2 School life
57.3 The administration of juvenile justice
57.4 Placement and life in institutional and other forms of care
57.5 Asylum-seeking procedures.
58. Please indicate the opportunities provided for the child to be heard in judicial and administrative proceedings affecting him or her, as well as the situations in which the child can intervene directly or through a representative or an appropriate body.
59. Please provide information on any bodies or instances where the child has a right to participate in decision-making, such as schools or local councils.
60. Please indicate what measures have been taken to raise the awareness of families and the public in general of the need to encourage children to exercise their right to express their views, and to train professionals working with children to encourage children to do so, and to give their views due weight. An indication should be given of the number of hours of child development courses provided for the following staff:
60.1 Judges in general;
61. Please indicate the number of courses about CROC included in the curriculum of:
61.1 Law schools;
62. Please indicate how the views of the child obtained through public opinion, consultations and assessment of complaints are taken into consideration in the legal provisions, and in policy or judicial decisions.
PART 5 CIVIL RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS
(arts. 7, 8. 13-17 and 37 (a))
A. Name and nationality (art. 7)63.
63. Please indicate the measures taken or envisaged to ensure that every child is registered immediately after birth. Please also indicate the steps undertaken to prevent the non-registration of children immediately after birth, including in view of possible social or cultural obstacles, inter alia in rural or remote areas, in relation to nomadic groups, displaced persons, as well as asylum-seeking and refugee children.
64. Please provide information on the measures taken to sensitize and mobilize public opinion on the need for birth registration of children, and to provide adequate training to registry personnel.
65. Please also provide information on the elements of the child's identity included in the birth registration and the measures adopted to prevent any kind of stigmatization or discrimination of the child.
66. Please indicate the measures adopted to ensure the child's right to know and be cared for by his or her parents.
67. Please provide information on the measures adopted pursuant to article 7, paragraph 2, to ensure the child's right to acquire a nationality, in particular where the child would otherwise be stateless. Reference should also be made to the implementation of this right in relation to children born out of wedlock, and asylum-seeking and refugee children. Please indicate the criteria applied for the acquisition of nationality and whether the child is allowed to acquire the nationality of both parents.
B. Preservation of identity (art. 8)
68. Please indicate the measures adopted to preserve the child's identity and to prevent any unlawful interference. In the case of the illegal deprivation of some or all of the elements of the child's identity, reports should also indicate the measures adopted to provide appropriate assistance and protection to the child and ensure the speedy re-establishment of his or her identity.
C. Freedom of expression (art. 13)
69. Please provide information on the measures adopted to ensure the child's right to freedom of expression, including to seek, receive and impart information and ideas regardless of frontiers. Please also indicate the restrictions to which the exercise of this right may be subject in conformity with article 13, paragraph 2.
D. Freedom of thought, conscience and religion (art. 14)
70. Please provide information on the exercise of the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion by children, and the extent to which the child's evolving capacities are taken into consideration.
71. Please indicate the measures adopted to ensure the child's freedom to manifest his or her religion or beliefs, including with regard to minorities or indigenous groups. Information should also be provided on measures to ensure respect for the child's rights in relation to any religious teaching in public schools or institutions, as well as on any limitations to which this freedom may be subject in conformity with article 14, paragraph 3.
E. Freedom of association and peaceful assembly (art. 15)
72. Please indicate the measures adopted to ensure the child's right to freedom of association and peaceful assembly, including any specific legislation enacted to establish the conditions under which children are allowed to create or join associations. Please also indicate any restriction that may be placed on the exercise of these rights, in conformity with article 15, paragraph 2. Information should also be provided on existing children's associations and the role they play in the promotion of children's rights.
F. Protection of privacy (art. 16)
73. Please indicate the measures adopted to prevent any arbitrary or unlawful interference with the child's privacy, family, home or correspondence, as well as any attack on his or her honour and reputation. Please provide information on the protection provided by the law against such interference or attacks, and the remedies made available to the child. Information should also be provided on specific measures adopted for children placed in institutions for treatment, care or protection, including in judicial or administrative proceedings.
G. Access to appropriate information (art. 17)
74. Please provide information on the measures adopted to ensure that children have access from a diversity of national and international sources to information and material aimed at the promotion of the child's social, spiritual and moral well-being and physical and mental health. Please also indicate the measures adopted to encourage:
74.1 The production and dissemination of children's books, and the dissemination by the mass media of information and material of social and cultural benefit to the child, with particular regard to the linguistic needs of children belonging to a minority group or who are indigenous;
74.2 International cooperation in the production, exchange and dissemination of such information and material of social and cultural benefit for the child, in accordance with the spirit of article 29 of CROC on the aims of education, including any international agreements concluded for that purpose;
74.3 The development of appropriate guidelines for the protection of the child from information and material injurious to his or her well-being, as well as from harmful exposure in the mass media, bearing in mind the provisions of articles 13 and 18.
H. The right not to be subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (art. 37 (a))
75. Please indicate whether torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment of children is punished by the criminal law, and whether complaint procedures have been established and remedies made available to the child. Please also provide information on:
75.1 Awareness campaigns launched to prevent torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment of children;
75.2 Educative and training activities developed, particularly with personnel in institutions, services and facilities working with and for children, aimed at preventing any form of ill-treatment;
75.3 Any cases where children have been victims of any such acts;
75.4 Measures adopted to prevent the impunity of perpetrators, including by investigating such cases and punishing those found responsible;
75.5 Measures adopted to ensure the physical and psychological recovery and reintegration of children who have been tortured or otherwise ill-treated;
75.6 Any independent monitoring system established.
PART 6 - FAMILY ENVIRONMENT AND ALTERNATIVE CARE
(arts. 5; 18, paras. 1-2; 9-11; 19-21; 25; 27, para. 4; and 39)
A. Parental guidance (art. 5)
76. Please provide information on family structures within the society and indicate the measures adopted to ensure respect for the responsibilities, rights and duties of parents or where applicable the members of the extended family or community as provided for by local custom, legal guardians or other persons legally responsible for the child, to provide appropriate direction and guidance to the child, further indicating how such direction and guidance are consistent with the child’s evolving capacities.
77. Please indicate any family counselling services or parental education programmes available, as well as awareness campaigns for parents and children on the rights of the child within family life, and training activities provided to relevant professional groups (for example, social workers) and indicate if any evaluation has been made of their effectiveness. Please also indicate how knowledge and information about child development and the evolving capacities of the child are conveyed to parents or other persons responsible for the child.
78. Information should also be provided on the measures adopted to ensure respect for the principles of CROC, namely non-discrimination, the best interests of the child, respect for the views of the child, the right to life, and survival and development to the maximum extent possible, as well as on the progress achieved in the implementation of article 5, any difficulties encountered and the indicators used.
B. Parental responsibilities (art. 18 paras. 1-2)
79. Please provide information on the consideration given by law to parental responsibility, including the recognition of the common responsibilities of both parents in the upbringing and development of the child and, that the best interests of the child will be their basic concern. Also indicate how the principles of non-discrimination, respect for the views of the child and the development of the child to the maximum extent, as provided for by CROC, are taken into account.
80. Please provide information on the measures adopted to render appropriate assistance to parents and legal guardians in the performance of their child-rearing responsibilities, as well as on the institutions, facilities and services developed for the care of children. Information should also be provided on specific measures adopted for children from single-parent families and belonging to the most disadvantaged groups, including those living in extreme poverty.
81. Relevant disaggregated information (for example, by gender, age, region, rural/urban areas and social and ethnic origin) should be given on children having benefited from any of these measures and resources allocated to them (at the national, regional and local levels, and where appropriate at the federal and provincial levels). Information should also be provided on progress achieved and difficulties encountered in the implementation of article 18, as well as on the targets set for the future.
C. Separation from parents (art. 9)
82. Please indicate the measures adopted, including of a legislative and judicial nature, to ensure that the child is not separated from his or her parents except when such separation is necessary for the best interests of the child, as in cases of abuse or neglect of the child or when the parents live separately and a decision must be made as to the child’s place of residence. Please identify the competent authorities intervening in these decisions, the applicable law and procedure and the role of judicial review.
83. Please provide information on the measures taken pursuant to article 9, paragraph 2 to ensure to all interested parties, including the child, an opportunity to participate in any proceedings and to make their views known.
84. Please indicate the measures adopted, including of a legislative, judicial and administrative nature, to ensure that the child who is separated from one or both parents has the right to maintain personal relations and direct contacts with both parents on a regular basis, except if it is contrary to the best interests of the child. Please further indicate the extent to which the views of the child are taken into consideration in this regard.
85. Please indicate the measures adopted pursuant to article 9, paragraph 4 to ensure that in the case of the child’s separation from one or both of his or her parents as a result of any action initiated by the State, essential information on the whereabouts of the absent member(s) of the family is provided, upon request, to the child, to the parents or, if appropriate, to another member of the family, unless the provision of the information would be detrimental to the well-being of the child. Also indicate the measures undertaken to ensure that the submission of such a request entails no adverse consequences for the person(s) concerned.
86. Relevant disaggregated information (for example, by age, gender and national, ethnic and social origin) should be provided inter alia in relation to situations of detention, imprisonment, exile, deportation or death, together with an assessment of progress achieved in the implementation of article 9, difficulties encountered and targets set for the future.
D. Family reunification (art. 10)
87. Please provide information on the measures adopted to ensure that applications by a child or his or her parents to enter or leave a country for the purpose of family reunification are dealt with by the State in a positive, humane and expeditious manner and that the submission of such a request entails no adverse consequences for the applicants and the members of their family.
88. Please also indicate how such applications are considered in the light of CROC and in particular of its general principles of non-discrimination, the best interests of the child, respect for the views of the child, the right to life, and survival and development to the maximum extent possible, including in the case of unaccompanied and asylum seeking children. Disaggregated information should also be provided, including by gender, age, and national and ethnic origin.
89. Please indicate the measures undertaken to ensure the right of a child whose parents reside in different States to maintain on a regular basis personal relations and direct contacts with both parents. Please also indicate any exceptions and their compatibility with the provisions and principles of CROC.
90. Information should be provided on the steps taken to ensure respect for the right of the child and his or her parents to leave any country, including their own, and to enter their own country. They should indicate any restrictions imposed on the right to leave the country, how they are prescribed by law, necessary to protect national security, public order (order public), public health or morals or the rights and freedoms of others and the extent to which they are consistent with the other rights recognized in CROC, including the principles of non-discrimination, the best interests of the child, respect for the views of the child, the right to life, and survival and development to the maximum extent possible.
91. Please provide information on the progress achieved in the implementation of article 10, difficulties encountered and targets set for the future.
E. Illicit transfer and non-return (art. 11)
92. Please provide information on:
92.1 The steps taken to prevent and combat the illicit transfer and non-return of children abroad, including legislative, administrative or judicial measures, as well as mechanisms established to monitor such situations;
92.2 Any bilateral or multilateral agreement on this subject concluded by the State Party or to which it may have acceded and the impact they have had;
92.3 Progress achieved and the difficulties met with in countering such situations, together with relevant data on the children concerned, including by gender, age, national origin, place of residence, family status and relationship with the perpetrator of the illicit transfer.
F. Recovery of maintenance for the child (art. 27, para. 4)
93. Please indicate the measures adopted (including legislative, administrative and judicial measures) and mechanisms or programmes developed to secure the recovery of maintenance for the child from the parents or other persons having financial responsibility for the child, both within the State and from abroad, including in cases of the separation or divorce of the parents. Information should also be provided on:
94. Please also provide information on:
94.1 Measures taken to ensure the maintenance of the child in cases where parents or other persons having financial responsibility for the child evade the payment of such maintenance;
94.2 Measures adopted to ensure respect for the general principles of CROC, namely non-discrimination, the best interests of the child, respect for the views of the child and the right to life, survival and development to the maximum extent;
94.3 The factors and difficulties which may have affected the recovery of maintenance for the child (for example, lack of birth registration) or the enforcement of decisions concerning maintenance obligations;
94.4 The relevant international agreements the State has concluded or to which it has acceded, as well as any other appropriate arrangement it has made;
94.5 Relevant disaggregated data in this area, including by gender, age, national origin and place of residence of the child and his or her parents, or of the persons financially responsible for him or her.
G. Children deprived of their family environment (art. 20)
95. Please indicate the measures adopted to ensure:
95.1 Special protection and assistance to the child who is temporarily or permanently deprived of his or her family environment or in whose own best interests cannot be allowed to remain in that environment;
95.2 Alternative care for such a child, specifying the available forms of such care (inter alia foster placement, kafalah of Islamic law, adoption or if necessary placement in suitable institutions for the care of the child);
95.3 That the placement of such a child in suitable institutions will only be used if really necessary;
95.4 Monitoring of the situation of children placed in alternative care;
95.5 Respect for the general principles of CROC, namely non-discrimination, the best interests of the child, respect for the views of the child and the right to life, survival and development to the maximum extent.
96. Please indicate the extent to which, when such solutions are being considered, due regard is paid to the desirability of continuity in the child’s upbringing and to the child’s ethnic, religious, cultural and linguistic background. Disaggregated information should be provided on the children concerned by all such measures, including by gender, age, national, social or ethnic origin, language, religion, and by the nature of the measure of alternative care applied.
97. Please provide information on the progress achieved in the implementation of this article, any difficulties encountered or on targets set for the future.
H. Adoption (art. 21)
98. Please indicate the measures adopted, including of a legislative, administrative or judicial nature, to ensure that, when the State recognizes and/or permits the system of adoption, the best interests of the child shall be the paramount consideration.
99. Please provide:
99.1 The authorities which are competent to authorize the adoption of a child;
99.2 The applicable law and procedures and the pertinent and reliable information on the basis of which adoption is determined;
99.3 The child’s status concerning his or her parents, relatives and legal guardians necessary for adoption to be considered permissible;
99.4 The involvement of the persons concerned, the circumstances under which their informed consent is required and necessary counselling provided, including to allow for the consideration of the alternatives to and consequences of adoption, and the extent to which the participation of the child is ensured and his or her views are given due weight;
99.5 Existing safeguards to protect the child, including any monitoring mechanism put in place;
99.6 The effects of adoption on the rights of the child, particularly his or her civil rights, including the child’s identity and the right of the child to know his or her biological parents.
100. In the case of inter-country adoption, please indicate the measures undertaken to ensure that:
100.1 Such a solution is only considered as an alternative means of care for the child if he or she cannot be placed in a foster or an adoptive family or cannot in any suitable manner be cared for in the child’s country of origin;
100.2 The child involved in inter-country adoption enjoys safeguards and standards equivalent to those existing in the case of national adoption;
100.3 Placement by inter-country adoption does not result in improper financial gain for those involved in it;
100.4 Appropriate mechanisms have been established to monitor the situation of the child, including following his or her placement through inter-country adoption, and to ensure that his or her best interests prevail as a paramount consideration.
101. Please also indicate:
101.1 Any bilateral or multilateral arrangements or agreements concluded by the State to promote the objectives of article 21 (for example, the Hague Convention of May 1993 on Protection of Children and Cooperation in respect of Inter-country Adoption);
101.2 Within this framework, the measures adopted to ensure that the placement of a child in another country is carried out by competent authorities or organs;
101.3 Relevant disaggregated data on the children involved in inter-country adoption, including by age, gender, status of the child, situation of the child’s family of origin and of adoption, as well as country of origin and of adoption;
101.4 Progress achieved in the implementation of article 21, difficulties encountered and targets set for the future.
I. Periodic review of placement (art. 25)
102 .Please indicate the measures undertaken, including of a legislative, administrative and judicial nature, to recognize the right of the child who has been placed by the competent authorities for the purposes of care, protection or treatment of his or her physical and mental health, to a periodic review of the treatment provided to the child in public and private institutions, services and facilities, as well as all other circumstances relevant to his or her placement.
103. Please provide information on:
103.1 The authorities considered competent for such purposes, including any appropriate independent mechanism established;
103.2 The circumstances taken into account in deciding on the placement of the child for his or her care, protection and treatment;
103.3 The frequency of review of the placement and treatment provided;
103.4 The respect ensured to the provisions and principles of CROC, including non-discrimination, the best interests of the child and respect for the views of the child;
103.5 Relevant data on the children concerned, including in situations of abandonment, disability and asylum seeking and refugees, including unaccompanied children, and in situations of conflict with the law, disaggregated inter alia by age, gender, national, ethnic and social origin, family situation and place of residence, as well as by duration of placement and frequency of its review;
103.6 Progress achieved in the implementation of article 25, difficulties encountered and targets set for the future.
J. Abuse and neglect (art. 19), including physical and psychological recovery and social reintegration (art. 39)
104. Please indicate all appropriate legislative, administrative, social and educational measures taken pursuant to article 19 to protect the child from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation, including sexual abuse while in the care of parent(s), legal guardian(s) or any other person who has the care of the child.
105. Please indicate in particular:
105.1 Whether legislation (criminal and/or family law) includes a prohibition of all forms of physical and mental violence, including corporal punishment, deliberate humiliation, injury, abuse, neglect or exploitation, inter alia within the family, in foster and other forms of care, and in public or private institutions, such as penal institutions and schools;
105.2 Other existing legal safeguards relevant to the protection of the child as required by article 19;
105.3 Whether complaint procedures have been foreseen and the child can lodge complaints, either directly or through a representative, as well as remedies available (for example, compensation);
105.4 The procedures developed for intervention by the authorities in cases where the child requires protection from any form of violence, abuse or negligence, as required by article 19;
105.5 The educational and other measures adopted to promote positive and non-violent forms of discipline, care and treatment of the child;
105.6 Any information and awareness-raising campaigns to prevent situations of violence, abuse or negligence and to strengthen the system for the child’s protection;
105.7 Any mechanisms established to monitor the extent of the forms of violence, injury or abuse, neglect, maltreatment or exploitation considered by article 19, including within the family, in institutional or other care, of a welfare, educational or penal nature, and the social and other factors contributing thereto, as well as any evaluation made of the effectiveness of the measures adopted; in this regard disaggregated data should be provided on the children concerned, including by age, gender, family situation, rural/urban, social and ethnic origin.
106. With respect to article 19, paragraph 2 , please provide information inter alia on:
106.1 Effective procedures developed for the establishment of social programmes to provide necessary support for the child and those who have the care of the child, including rehabilitation mechanisms;
106.2 Any other forms of prevention;
106.3 Effective measures adopted for the identification, reporting, referral, investigation, treatment and follow-up of instances of maltreatment covered by article 19, as well as for judicial involvement;
106.4 The existence of any system of mandatory reporting for professional groups working with and for children (for example teachers, medical doctors);
106.5 The existence of confidential help lines, advice or counselling for child victims of violence, abuse or neglect or any other form considered by article 19;
106.6 The special training provided for relevant professionals.
107. Please also indicate the measures adopted pursuant to article 39 to ensure the physical and psychological recovery and social reintegration of the child victim of any form of neglect, exploitation or abuse referred to in article 19, in an environment which fosters the health, self-respect and dignity of the child. Information should also be provided on the progress achieved, any difficulties encountered and on the targets set for the future.
108. Please also provide information on the progress achieved in the implementation of these articles, difficulties encountered and targets set for the future.
PART 7 - BASIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
(arts. 6; 18, para. 3; 23; 24; 26; 27, paras 1-3)
A. Disabled children (art. 23)
109. Please provide information on:
109.1 The situation of the mentally or physically disabled child and the measures taken to ensure:
109.2 The child’s enjoyment of a full and decent life, in conditions which ensure the child’s dignity and self-reliance;
109.3 The child’s enjoyment of his or her rights without discrimination of any kind and the prevention and elimination of discriminatory attitudes against him or her;
109.4 The promotion of the child’s active participation in the community;
109.5 The child’s effective access to education, training, health care and rehabilitation services, preparation for employment and recreation opportunities in a manner conducive to the child’s achieving the fullest possible social integration and individual development, including his or her cultural and spiritual development;
109.6 The consideration given to the inclusion of disabled children together with children without disabilities in institutions, services and facilities, including within the education system;
109.7 The child’s right to special care and the steps taken to ensure the extension, subject to available resources, to the eligible child and those responsible for his or her care, of assistance appropriate to the child’s condition and to the circumstances of the parents or others caring for the child;
109.8 That, whenever possible, assistance is provided free of charge, taking into account the financial resources of the parents or others caring for the child;
109.9 The measures taken to ensure an effective evaluation of the situation of disabled children, including the development of a system of identification and tracking of disabled children, the establishment of any appropriate monitoring mechanism, the assessment of progress and of difficulties encountered, as well as any targets set for the future;
109.10 The measures taken to ensure adequate training, including specialized training, for those responsible for the care of disabled children, including at the family and community levels and within relevant institutions;
109.11 The measures taken to promote, in the spirit of international cooperation, the exchange of appropriate information in the field of preventive health care and of the medical, psychological and functional treatment of disabled children, including dissemination of and access to information concerning methods of rehabilitation, education and vocational services. An indication should be given of the measures taken with the aim of enabling States Parties to CROC to improve their capabilities and skills and to widen their experience in these areas, and the consideration given to the particular needs of developing countries;
109.12 The children concerned, including by type of disability, the coverage of the assistance provided, programmes and services made available, including in the fields of education, training, care, rehabilitation, employment and recreation, the financial and other resources allocated, and other relevant information, disaggregated inter alia by gender, age, rural/urban area, and social and ethnic origin.
B. Health and health services (art. 24)
110. Please indicate the measures adopted pursuant to articles 6 and 24 :
110.1 To recognize and ensure the right of the child to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health and to facilities for treatment and rehabilitation;
110.2 To ensure that no child is deprived of his or her right of access to such health care services;
110.3 To ensure respect for the general principles of CROC, namely non-discrimination, the best interests of the child, respect for the views of the child and the right to life, and survival and development to the maximum extent possible.
111. Please also provide information about the measures adopted to identify changes which have occurred since the submission of the State party’s previous report, their impact on the life of children, as well as the indicators used to assess the progress achieved in the implementation of this right, the difficulties encountered and any targets identified for the future, including in relation to child mortality and child morbidity, service coverage, data collection, policies and legislation, budget allocation (including in relation to the general budget), involvement of non-governmental organizations and international assistance.
112. Please also provide information on the measures undertaken in particular:
112.1 To diminish infant and child mortality, indicating the average rates and providing relevant disaggregated data, including by gender, age, region, rural/urban area, ethnic and social origin.
112.2 To ensure the provision of necessary medical assistance and health care to all children with emphasis on the development of primary health care, including:
(a) The distribution of both general and primary health care services in the rural and urban areas of the country and the balance between preventive and curative health care;
(b) Information on the children having access to and benefiting from medical assistance and health care, as well as persisting gaps, including by gender, age, ethnic and social origin, and measures adopted to reduce existing disparities;
(c) The measures adopted to ensure a universal immunization system.
112.3 To combat disease and malnutrition, including in the framework of primary health care, through inter alia the application of readily available technology and through the provision of adequate nutritious foods and clean drinking water, taking into account the risks and dangers of environmental degradation and pollution; reports should indicate the overall situation, persisting disparities and difficulties, as well as policies to address them, including priorities identified for future action, and information should also be provided, including by gender, age, region, rural/urban area, and social and ethnic origin on:
(a) The proportion of children with low birth weight;
(b) The nature and context of the most common diseases and their impact on children;
(c) The proportion of the child population affected by malnutrition, including of a chronic or severe nature, and lack of clean drinking water;
(d) The children provided with adequate nutritious food;
(e) The risks from environmental pollution and the measures adopted to prevent and combat them.
112.4 To ensure appropriate prenatal and post-natal health care for mothers, indicating the nature of services provided, including appropriate information given, the coverage ensured, the rate of mortality and its main causes (average and disaggregated, inter alia, by age, gender, region, urban/rural area, social and ethnic origin), the proportion of pregnant women who have access to and benefit from pre- and post-natal health care, trained personnel and hospital care and delivery;
112.5 To ensure that all segments of society, in particular parents and children, are informed, have access to education and are supported in the use of basic knowledge of child health and nutrition, the advantages of breast-feeding, hygiene and environmental sanitation and the prevention of accidents; in this regard, information should also be provided on:
(a) Campaigns, programmes, services and strategies and other relevant mechanisms developed to provide basic knowledge, information and support to the general population, in particular to parents and children;
(b) The means used, particularly in relation to the areas of child health and nutrition, the advantages of breast-feeding and the prevention of accidents;
(c) The availability of safe sanitation;
(d) The measures adopted to increase food production to ensure household food security;
(e) The measures adopted to improve the system of education and training of health personnel;
(f) Disaggregated data, including by age, gender, region, rural/urban area, social and ethnic origin.
112.6 To develop preventive health care, guidance for parents and family planning education and services; in this regard, reports should also provide information on:
(a) The policies and programmes developed, as well as services available;
(b) The population covered, including in rural and urban areas, by age, gender, social and ethnic origin;
(c) The measures adopted to prevent early pregnancy and to take into consideration the specific situation of adolescents, including provision of appropriate information and counselling;
(d) The role played by the education system in this regard, including in the school curricula;
(e) Disaggregated data on the incidence of children’s pregnancy, including by age, region, rural/urban area, and social and ethnic origin.
113. Please indicate the prevalence of HIV/AIDS and the measures adopted to promote health information and education on HIV/AIDS among the general population, special groups at high risk and children.
114, Please provide information about:
114.1 The programmes and strategies developed to prevent HIV;
114.2 The measures adopted to assess the occurrence of HIV infection and AIDS, among both the general population and children, and its incidence inter alia by age, gender, rural/urban area;
114.3 The treatment and management provided in case of HIV infection and AIDS among children and parents, and the coverage ensured nationwide, in urban and rural areas;
114.4 The measures adopted to ensure an effective protection and assistance to children who are orphans as a result of AIDS;
114.5 The campaigns, programmes, strategies and other relevant measures adopted to prevent and combat discriminatory attitudes against children infected by HIV or with AIDS, or whose parents or family members have been infected.
115. Please provide information on the measures adopted pursuant to article 24, paragraph 3, with a view to abolishing all traditional practices prejudicial to the health of children, particularly girls, or otherwise contrary to the principles and provisions of CROC, (for example, genital mutilation and forced marriage). Please also indicate any assessment made of traditional practices persisting in society that are prejudicial to children’s rights.
116. Information should also be provided on the measures adopted pursuant to article 24, paragraph 4, to promote and encourage international cooperation with a view to achieving progressively the full realization of the right recognized in this article, and the particular consideration given to the needs of developing countries. Please also inter alia indicate the activities and programmes developed in the framework of international cooperation, including at the bilateral and regional levels, the areas addressed, the target groups identified, the financial assistance provided and/or received and the priorities considered, as well as any evaluation made of the progress achieved and of the difficulties encountered. Mention should be made, whenever appropriate, of the involvement of United Nations organs and specialized agencies and non-governmental organizations.
C. Social security and child care services and facilities (arts. 26 and 18, para. 3)
117. With respect to article 26 , please provide information on:
117.1 The measures adopted to recognize for every child the right to benefit from social security, including social insurance;
117.2 The necessary measures taken to achieve the full realization of this right in accordance with the national law;
117.3 The manner in which the benefits granted take into account the resources and the circumstances of the child and of the persons having responsibility for his or her maintenance, as well as any other considerations relevant to an application for benefits made by or on behalf of the child.
118. Please indicate the legal provisions relevant to the implementation of this right, the circumstances under which children themselves are allowed to apply for social security measures, either directly or through a representative, the criteria taken into account to grant the benefits, as well as any relevant disaggregated information concerning the coverage and financial implications of such measures, its incidence by age, gender, number of children per family, civil status of the parents, the situation of single parents, and the relationship of social security to unemployment.
119. Please indicate the measures adopted pursuant to article 18, paragraph 3 , and taking into account the provisions of articles 3, 6 and 12 of CROC, to ensure that children of working parents have the right to benefit from child-care services and facilities for which they are eligible. In this regard, reports should inter alia provide information on the legislation adopted to recognize this right and ensure its realization, as well as on the coverage with regard to services and facilities, by region and by urban and rural areas, as well as on their financial implications and on the children benefiting from such measures, including by age, gender and national, social and ethnic origin.
120 Please also provide information on the progress achieved in the implementation of these rights, the difficulties encountered and any targets identified for the future.
D. Standard of living (art. 27, paras. 1-3)
121. Please provide information on:
121.1 The measures adopted to recognize and ensure the right of every child to a standard of living adequate for the child’s physical, mental, spiritual, moral and social development;
121.2 The relevant indicators used to assess such an adequate standard of living, and its incidence among the child population, including by gender, age, region, rural/urban area, social and ethnic origin, and family situation;
121.3 The criteria established to assess the ability and financial capacity of parents or others responsible for the child to secure the living conditions necessary for the child’s development, as well as to identify those conditions;
121.4 All the measures taken, in accordance with national conditions and within the State party's means, to assist parents and others responsible for the child to implement this right, including the nature of the assistance made available, its budget implications, its relation to the cost of living and its impact on the population; where relevant, the information provided should be disaggregated, inter alia by region, rural/urban area, age, gender and social and ethnic origin;
121.5 The measures adopted to provide, in case of need, material assistance and support programmes, particularly with regard to nutrition, clothing and housing, indicating, inter alia, the nature of such assistance and programmes, the population addressed by them, including by gender, age, rural/urban area, social and ethnic origin, the proportion of budget allocated, the coverage ensured, the priorities and targets identified;
121.6 Relevant measures adopted as a follow-up to the Declaration and Plan of Action adopted by the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II).
122. Please provide information on the progress achieved in the implementation of these rights, difficulties encountered and targets set for the future.
PART 8 - EDUCATION, LEISURE AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES
(arts. 28, 29, 31)
A. Education, including vocational training and guidance (art. 28)
123. Please indicate the measures adopted, including of a legislative, administrative and budgetary nature, to recognize and ensure the right of the child to education, and to achieve this right progressively and on the basis of equal opportunities.
124. In this regard, please indicate, inter alia:
124.1 The measures adopted to ensure respect for the general principles of CROC, namely the best interests of the child, respect for the views of the child, the right to life, survival and development to the maximum extent possible, and non-discrimination, including with a view to reducing existing disparities;
124.2 The proportion of the overall budget (at the central, regional and local, and where appropriate at the federal and provincial levels) devoted to children and allocated to the various levels of education;
124.3 The consideration given to the real cost to the family of the child’s education and the appropriate support provided;
124.4 The measures adopted to ensure that children may be taught in local, indigenous or minority languages;
124.5 Mechanisms developed to ensure the access of all children, including girls, children with special needs and children in especially difficult circumstances, to quality education adapted to the child's age and maturity;
124.6 The steps taken to ensure that there are sufficient teachers in the school system, to enhance their competence, and to ensure and assess the quality of teaching;
124.7 The measures adopted to provide adequate educational facilities, accessible to all children;
124.8 The rate of illiteracy below and over 18 years, and the rate of enrolment in literacy classes, including by age, gender, region, rural/urban area, and social and ethnic origin;
124.9 Any systems of non-formal education;
124.10 Any system or extensive initiatives by the State to provide early development and education services for young children, especially for young children from disadvantaged social groups;
124.11 The changes that have occurred in the education system (including with regard to legislation, policies, facilities, budgetary allocation, quality of education, enrolment, drop-out and literacy);
124.12 Any monitoring mechanism developed, factors and difficulties encountered and targets identified for the future;
124.13 Other relevant disaggregated data on the children concerned, including on education outcomes, inter alia by gender, age, region, rural/urban area, and national, ethnic and social origin.
125 Please also indicate the particular measures adopted:
125.1 To make primary education compulsory and available free for all, particularly children, indicating the minimum age for enrolment in primary school, the minimum and maximum ages for compulsory education, the proportion of children enrolled, who complete primary education, as well as any relevant disaggregated data including by age, gender, region, urban/rural area, national, social and ethnic origin, service coverage and budgetary allocation;
125.2 To encourage the development of different forms of secondary education, including general and vocational education, and measures adopted:
(a) To make such forms available and accessible to every child, providing inter alia any relevant disaggregated data including by gender, age, region, rural/urban area, national, social and ethnic origin, coverage and budgetary allocation;
(b) To introduce free secondary education and offer financial assistance in case of need, indicating the children concerned, including by gender, age, region, rural/urban area, and national, social and ethnic origin, and the budget allocated for that purpose;
125.3 To make higher education accessible to all on the basis of capacity, indicating inter alia the rate of access to higher education by age, gender and national, social and ethnic origin;
125.4 To make educational and vocational information and guidance available and accessible to all children, indicating, inter alia, the forms of such information and guidance, the mechanisms used to assess their effectiveness, the budget allocated for that purpose, as well as any relevant disaggregated data, including by age, gender, region, urban/rural area, and social and ethnic origin;
125.5 To encourage regular attendance at school and to reduce drop-out rates, including research, any mechanisms developed to assess the situation, and incentives provided to encourage school entrance, regular school attendance and school retention, any alternatives provided for children who are excluded from school, as well as other relevant data disaggregated by age, gender, region, urban/rural area, and social and ethnic origin.
126. Please provide information on any category or group of children who do not enjoy the right to education and the circumstances in which children may be excluded from school temporarily or permanently (for example disability, deprivation of liberty, pregnancy, HIV/AIDS infection), including any arrangements made to address such situations and to ensure alternative education. Disaggregated data should be provided, including by age, gender, region, rural/urban area, and social and ethnic origin.
127. Please indicate all appropriate measures taken pursuant to article 28, paragraph 2, to ensure that school discipline is administered in a manner consistent with the child’s human dignity and in conformity with CROC, including:
127.1 Legislation applying to public and private schools and other education institutions and prohibiting all forms of violence, including corporal punishment, as well as any other disciplinary measures which are not consistent with the child’s human dignity or in conformity with the provisions of CROC, including articles 19, 29 and 37 (a), and its general principles particularly of non-discrimination, best interests and respect for the views of the child;
127.2 Any monitoring system of the administration of the school discipline, as well as mechanisms of reporting and complaint;
127.3 Any independent mechanism established for that purpose;
127.4 Legislation providing the opportunity for the child to participate in administrative or judicial proceedings relating to education and affecting him or her, including those relating to the choice of school, school exclusion.
128. With regard to article 28, paragraph 3, please provide information on the measures adopted to promote and encourage international cooperation in matters relating to education, in particular with a view to:
128.1 Contributing to the elimination of ignorance and illiteracy throughout the world;
128.2 Facilitating access to scientific and technical knowledge and modern teaching methods;
128.3 Taking particular account of the needs of developing countries.
129. Please also indicate the activities and programmes developed, including at the bilateral and regional levels, the target groups identified, including by age, gender and national, social and ethnic origin, the financial assistance provided and/or received and the priorities established, and the consideration given to the aims of education as identified by article 29 of CROC, as well as any evaluation made of the progress achieved and of the difficulties encountered. Mention should be made, whenever appropriate, of the involvement of United Nations organs and specialized agencies and non-governmental organizations.
B. Aims of education (art. 29)
130 Please indicate the legislative, administrative, educational and other measures adopted to ensure that the aims of education established in the State party are consistent with the provisions of this article, in particular with regard to:
130.1 The development of respect for the child’s personality, talents and mental and physical abilities to their fullest potential;
130.2 The development of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and for the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, indicating whether the subject of human rights in general, and children’s rights in particular, has been incorporated in the school curricula for all children and promoted in school life;
130.3 The development of respect for the child’s parents, his or her own cultural identity, language and values, for the national values of the country in which the child is living, the country from which he or she originates and for civilizations different from his or her own;
130.4 The preparation of the child for responsible life in a free society, in the spirit of understanding, peace, tolerance, equality of the sexes, and friendship among all peoples, ethnic, national and religious groups and persons of indigenous origin;
130.5 The development of respect for the natural environment.
131. Please also indicate:
131.1 The training provided to teachers to prepare them to direct their teaching towards these aims;
131.2 The revision of school policies and school curricula to reflect the aims identified in article 29 at the various levels of education;
131.3 Relevant programmes and material used;
131.4 Any peer education and peer counselling promoted;
131.5 Efforts made to bring school organization in line with CROC’s principles, for example mechanisms created within schools to improve the participation of children in all decisions affecting their education and well-being.
132. Please indicate the measures adopted pursuant to article 29, paragraph 2, to ensure respect for the liberty of individuals and bodies to establish and direct educational institutions, subject always to the observance of the principles set forth in paragraph 1 of this article and to the requirements that the education given in such institutions conforms to such minimum standards as are laid down by the State.
133 Please also provide information on the appropriate mechanisms developed to:
133.1 Ascertain that the aims of education identified by CROC are respected by such institutions;
133.2 Ensure respect for the general principles of CROC, namely non-discrimination, the best interests of the child, respect for the views of the child and the right to life, survival and development to the maximum extent;
133.3 Ensure that all such institutions are conducted in conformity with standards established by competent authorities, particularly in the areas of safety, health, number and suitability of staff, as well as of competent supervision.
134. Please further provide information on the progress achieved in the implementation of this article, difficulties encountered and targets set for the future.
C. Leisure, recreation and cultural activities (art. 31)
135. Please provide information on the measures adopted, including of a legislative nature, to recognize and ensure the right of the child to:
135.1 Rest and leisure;
135.2 Engage in play and recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child;
135.3 Participate freely in cultural life and the arts.
136. In this regard, please also indicate:
136.1 The proportion of the relevant overall budget allocated (at the central, regional, local and where relevant at the federal and provincial levels) for children;
136.2 The cultural, artistic, recreational and leisure activities, programmes or campaigns developed and provided at the national, regional or local, and where appropriate at the federal and provincial levels, to ensure the enjoyment of this right including in the family, in the school and in the community;
136.3 The enjoyment of the rights recognized by article 31 in relation to other rights recognized by CROC, including the right to education;
136.4 The respect ensured to the general principles of CROC, namely non-discrimination, the best interests of the child, respect for the views of the child and the right to life, survival and development to the maximum extent;
136.5 Relevant data on the children concerned, including by age, gender, region, rural/urban area, and national, social and ethnic origin;
136.6 Progress achieved in the implementation of article 31, difficulties encountered and targets s
