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Committee on Rights of Child begins consideration of report of Mali
28 September 1999
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HR/CRC/99/48
28 September 1999
The Committee on the Rights of the Child began consideration this morning of an initial report of Mali, querying a Government delegation, among other things, on efforts to reduce the influence of customs and traditions damaging to children and mothers and on measures to reduce the high level poverty in the country.
Diarra Afoussatou Thiero, Minister of Woman, Child and Family Advancement of Mali and head of the delegation, said the Government and its partners were particularly engaged in combatting unacceptable forms of child labour, trans-border trafficking in children, and traditional practices harmful to mothers and children, such as excision. She said Mali had the privilege of being one of six States charged with preparing the follow-up review of the World Summit for Children for the year 2001.
Discussion over the course of the morning focussed on the general topics of national measures for implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child; legal definitions related to childhood; anti-discrimination efforts; and civil rights and freedoms.
In addition to Ms. Thiero, the Malian delegation consisted of Mohamed Attaher Maiga, National Director of Child and Family Advancement; Mamadou Bassery Ballo, Director of the Planning Unit and Statistics of the Ministry of Health, Elderly Persons and of Solidarity; Bonaventure Maiga, National Director of Specialized and Pre-school Education at the Ministry of Basic Education; Mamadou Baba Traore, National Director of Civil Affairs at the Ministry of Justice; and Idrissa Koita, Assistant National Director of Employment, Labour and Social Security at the Ministry of Employment, Public Function and Labour.
As one of 191 States parties to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Mali must submit periodic reports to the Committee on efforts to implement the provisions of the treaty.
When the Committee reconvenes at 3 p.m., it will continue its consideration of the report of Mali.
Report of Mali
The initial report of Mali (document CRC/C/3/Add.53) enumerates administrative and legislative measures taken by the Government to implement the provisions of the Convention in all fields. It says that activities of various kinds in the social, health, nutrition and education sectors, as well as activities designed to protect freedom, are being carried out with a view to the gradual implementation of the Convention.
The report says the Government of Mali has made serious efforts to implement a policy for the promotion and protection of the rights of children. Mali has always expressed its political will to promote the rights of the child and guarantee children attentive care and protection. In the legal sphere, plans under way to prepare a set of codes, such as codes on the welfare and protection of children, are additional guarantees of the welfare and development of Malian children. In the social sphere, the implementation of a National Plan of Action for the Survival, Development and Protection of Children should lead to the gradual improvement of the situation of children.
Deficiencies persist, however, and need to be corrected, the report notes; steps must be taken to adapt the situation of children to socio-economic development in Mali. Satisfactory results will not be achieved until the State, non-governmental organizations, development partners and society at large cooperate actively in implementing the Convention and pool their resources and energies to conduct harmonious development programmes, says the report.
The report says that in Mali, children are valued highly, both in the traditional family and in a society that is now becoming modernized. Family authority is characterized by the unity of the family, by mutual respect, and by solidarity among the members. Within the family, the child develops under the watchful eye of the parents, who are quick to correct faults, bad language and misbehaviour. Even outside the family, a child's education is seen to by society, in which a feeling of shared interests, shared lives and a shared future is deeply rooted.
Introduction of Report
DIARRA AFOUSSATOU THIERO, Minister of the Advancement of Woman, Child and Family of Mali, recalled that Mali shared the chairmanship of the World Summit for Children held in New York in September 1990, a summit which determined the objectives and the indicators of the plan of action for the survival, development and protection of the child. Also this year, Mali had the privilege to be one of the six States charged with preparing the follow-up review of the World Summit for the year 2001.
Ms. Thiero said that in ratifying the Convention, the National Assembly had made a reservation on article 16, indicating that it could not by applied in Mali because of the provisions of the code of partnership in the country. Today, a process aimed at withdrawing that reservation was under way. National and international bodies would be informed very soon about the decision of the authorities of Mali on the issue.
The World Summit on Social Development of 1995 in Copenhagen had indicated that States should at least allocate 20 per cent of their national budgets to social services, which Mali was unable to do. It had allocated only 13 per cent, the Minister said. Mali being one of the poorest countries and the most indebted in the world, it was far from reaching the 20 per cent target set by the Summit. Nevertheless, Mali hoped to be among the list of poor and indebted countries which would benefit from reduction of their debt by the end of the year.
The Government of Mali and its partners were particularly engaged in combatting unacceptable forms of child labour, trans-border trafficking in children, and traditional practices harmful to mothers and children, such as excision, Ms. Thiero said. In addition, priority had been given and special measures had been taken to improve juvenile justice; to combat the trafficking of children for international adoption; against violence; and against exploitation of child labour.
Ms. Thiero said that in order to favour participation of children themselves in the promotion of the rights concerning them, the Government of Mali had encouraged the creation of a children's parliament and the construction of a city consisting of spaces for leisure, culture and education and the seat of their parliament. She thanked the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) for the assistance it had extended to Malian children.
Discussion
Responding to questions, the delegation said, among other things, that a "democratic space" had been created through which citizens, including children, could put questions and express their views in the presence of the country's authorities. Each month, the democratic space analyzed the views expressed during the previous forum and provided adequate answers and informed the public if appropriate actions might soon be taken regarding their questions.
A new national code on the rights of the child would reflect the best interests of the child and would reflect traditional values, said the delegation. It also would incorporate the rights enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Malian women's associations and other non-governmental organizations were active in monitoring the implementation of the provisions of the Convention, the delegation said. The Government was also preparing a mechanism to monitor the implementation of various programmes aimed at promoting the rights of the child. In addition, an office of the Ombudsman, which would have the role of considering all complaints of human-rights violations involving children, had been established.
Trans-border trafficking of Malian children had been a problem for Malian authorities, who were putting great effort into repatriating Malian children from where they lived now, particularly in Cote d'Ivoire, the delegation said.
Mali's children's parliament, which had an advocacy role, had been created in 1995 to serve as a forum for children to express their views and discuss their rights according to the Convention, the delegation said. In the parliament, children raised questions concerns in the presence of the Head of State other concerned higher ranking officials working on the promotion of the rights of the child. The parliament consisted of a 300-seat chamber, and the "child deputies" met twice a year.
In Mali, there were 4,000 girl children working in homes in town, having left their parents and their own homes in the rural areas; those girls were employed in urban areas to help their families or to pay their dowries, the delegation said. The delegation said such employment was social phenomenon that had gone on for decades. Nevertheless, the delegation said the Government, as a signatory to the Convention, was duty bound to improve that situation.
There was no difference between the Touareg children and others in Mali, the delegation said, recalling a rebellion in the northern part of the country. It said the conflict, which involved the nomadic people of the Touareg, had damaged some of the infrastructure in the region, including school facilities. Before the rebellion, the Touareg people had lived in harmony with the rest of the population, the delegation said. The rebellion had jeopardized development programmes aimed at improving the living conditions of people in the region, the delegation said.
28 September 1999
Committee on Rights of Child begins consideration of report of Mali
The Committee on the Rights of the Child began consideration this morning of an initial report of Mali, querying a Government delegation, among other things, on efforts to reduce the influence of customs and traditions damaging to children and mothers and on measures to reduce the high level poverty in the country.
Diarra Afoussatou Thiero, Minister of Woman, Child and Family Advancement of Mali and head of the delegation, said the Government and its partners were particularly engaged in combatting unacceptable forms of child labour, trans-border trafficking in children, and traditional practices harmful to mothers and children, such as excision. She said Mali had the privilege of being one of six States charged with preparing the follow-up review of the World Summit for Children for the year 2001.
Discussion over the course of the morning focussed on the general topics of national measures for implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child; legal definitions related to childhood; anti-discrimination efforts; and civil rights and freedoms.
In addition to Ms. Thiero, the Malian delegation consisted of Mohamed Attaher Maiga, National Director of Child and Family Advancement; Mamadou Bassery Ballo, Director of the Planning Unit and Statistics of the Ministry of Health, Elderly Persons and of Solidarity; Bonaventure Maiga, National Director of Specialized and Pre-school Education at the Ministry of Basic Education; Mamadou Baba Traore, National Director of Civil Affairs at the Ministry of Justice; and Idrissa Koita, Assistant National Director of Employment, Labour and Social Security at the Ministry of Employment, Public Function and Labour.
As one of 191 States parties to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Mali must submit periodic reports to the Committee on efforts to implement the provisions of the treaty.
When the Committee reconvenes at 3 p.m., it will continue its consideration of the report of Mali.
Report of Mali
The initial report of Mali (document CRC/C/3/Add.53) enumerates administrative and legislative measures taken by the Government to implement the provisions of the Convention in all fields. It says that activities of various kinds in the social, health, nutrition and education sectors, as well as activities designed to protect freedom, are being carried out with a view to the gradual implementation of the Convention.
The report says the Government of Mali has made serious efforts to implement a policy for the promotion and protection of the rights of children. Mali has always expressed its political will to promote the rights of the child and guarantee children attentive care and protection. In the legal sphere, plans under way to prepare a set of codes, such as codes on the welfare and protection of children, are additional guarantees of the welfare and development of Malian children. In the social sphere, the implementation of a National Plan of Action for the Survival, Development and Protection of Children should lead to the gradual improvement of the situation of children.
Deficiencies persist, however, and need to be corrected, the report notes; steps must be taken to adapt the situation of children to socio-economic development in Mali. Satisfactory results will not be achieved until the State, non-governmental organizations, development partners and society at large cooperate actively in implementing the Convention and pool their resources and energies to conduct harmonious development programmes, says the report.
The report says that in Mali, children are valued highly, both in the traditional family and in a society that is now becoming modernized. Family authority is characterized by the unity of the family, by mutual respect, and by solidarity among the members. Within the family, the child develops under the watchful eye of the parents, who are quick to correct faults, bad language and misbehaviour. Even outside the family, a child's education is seen to by society, in which a feeling of shared interests, shared lives and a shared future is deeply rooted.
Introduction of Report
DIARRA AFOUSSATOU THIERO, Minister of the Advancement of Woman, Child and Family of Mali, recalled that Mali shared the chairmanship of the World Summit for Children held in New York in September 1990, a summit which determined the objectives and the indicators of the plan of action for the survival, development and protection of the child. Also this year, Mali had the privilege to be one of the six States charged with preparing the follow-up review of the World Summit for the year 2001.
Ms. Thiero said that in ratifying the Convention, the National Assembly had made a reservation on article 16, indicating that it could not by applied in Mali because of the provisions of the code of partnership in the country. Today, a process aimed at withdrawing that reservation was under way. National and international bodies would be informed very soon about the decision of the authorities of Mali on the issue.
The World Summit on Social Development of 1995 in Copenhagen had indicated that States should at least allocate 20 per cent of their national budgets to social services, which Mali was unable to do. It had allocated only 13 per cent, the Minister said. Mali being one of the poorest countries and the most indebted in the world, it was far from reaching the 20 per cent target set by the Summit. Nevertheless, Mali hoped to be among the list of poor and indebted countries which would benefit from reduction of their debt by the end of the year.
The Government of Mali and its partners were particularly engaged in combatting unacceptable forms of child labour, trans-border trafficking in children, and traditional practices harmful to mothers and children, such as excision, Ms. Thiero said. In addition, priority had been given and special measures had been taken to improve juvenile justice; to combat the trafficking of children for international adoption; against violence; and against exploitation of child labour.
Ms. Thiero said that in order to favour participation of children themselves in the promotion of the rights concerning them, the Government of Mali had encouraged the creation of a children's parliament and the construction of a city consisting of spaces for leisure, culture and education and the seat of their parliament. She thanked the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) for the assistance it had extended to Malian children.
Discussion
Responding to questions, the delegation said, among other things, that a "democratic space" had been created through which citizens, including children, could put questions and express their views in the presence of the country's authorities. Each month, the democratic space analyzed the views expressed during the previous forum and provided adequate answers and informed the public if appropriate actions might soon be taken regarding their questions.
A new national code on the rights of the child would reflect the best interests of the child and would reflect traditional values, said the delegation. It also would incorporate the rights enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Malian women's associations and other non-governmental organizations were active in monitoring the implementation of the provisions of the Convention, the delegation said. The Government was also preparing a mechanism to monitor the implementation of various programmes aimed at promoting the rights of the child. In addition, an office of the Ombudsman, which would have the role of considering all complaints of human-rights violations involving children, had been established.
Trans-border trafficking of Malian children had been a problem for Malian authorities, who were putting great effort into repatriating Malian children from where they lived now, particularly in Cote d'Ivoire, the delegation said.
Mali's children's parliament, which had an advocacy role, had been created in 1995 to serve as a forum for children to express their views and discuss their rights according to the Convention, the delegation said. In the parliament, children raised questions concerns in the presence of the Head of State other concerned higher ranking officials working on the promotion of the rights of the child. The parliament consisted of a 300-seat chamber, and the "child deputies" met twice a year.
In Mali, there were 4,000 girl children working in homes in town, having left their parents and their own homes in the rural areas; those girls were employed in urban areas to help their families or to pay their dowries, the delegation said. The delegation said such employment was social phenomenon that had gone on for decades. Nevertheless, the delegation said the Government, as a signatory to the Convention, was duty bound to improve that situation.
There was no difference between the Touareg children and others in Mali, the delegation said, recalling a rebellion in the northern part of the country. It said the conflict, which involved the nomadic people of the Touareg, had damaged some of the infrastructure in the region, including school facilities. Before the rebellion, the Touareg people had lived in harmony with the rest of the population, the delegation said. The rebellion had jeopardized development programmes aimed at improving the living conditions of people in the region, the delegation said.