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26 September 2000
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CRC
25th session
26 September 2000
Morning
Criminality Increasing Due to Economic and Social Problems
in Tajikistan, Delegation Says
The Committee on the Rights of the Child this morning started its consideration of an initial report submitted by the Government of Tajikistan on how that country was implementing the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Introducing her country's report, Nigina Sharapova, Deputy Prime Minister of Tajikistan, said the socio-economic problems faced by the country had resulted in the increase of the number of crimes committed by adolescents in recent years. The economic and social aspect of the problem continued to hit mothers and children hard; the worsening situation of nutrition had also been a source of concern to the Government. Anaemia and deficiencies in iodine had been among the major problems of malnutrition in general.
Mrs. Sharapova noted that additional legal norms had been included in the nation's legislation system to advance the cause of children, especially in implementing the provisions of the Convention; specific protective measures were offered to mothers and children; and the law of education of 1993 had been strengthened by issuing the 1996 guidelines to national education.
This morning's discussion focused on the main topics of the general measures of implementation of the Convention; general principles; and civil rights and freedoms.
The two-member delegation of Tajikistan also included Rajobov Johmmahmad Sharipovich, Deputy Head of the Board of Constitutional Guarantees of Citizens' Rights.
Tajikistan is among the 191 States parties to the Convention and as such it is obligated to present periodic reports to the Committee on how the provisions of the treaty are being implemented.
When the Committee reconvenes at 3 p.m., it will continue to consider the report of Tajikistan.
Report of Tajikistan
The initial report of Tajikistan (document CRC/C/28/Add.14) enumerates the measures taken by the State to implement the provisions of the Convention on an article-by-article basis. It says that the social and economic reforms in the country are taking place under complex conditions of political instability. The actual means available for State bodies to provide children with the opportunity to obtain the necessary education have diminished. However, the Republic's basic educational infrastructure is continuing to function.
The problem of orphanhood in Tajik society has become considerably more acute and widespread in recent years, the report notes. The number had also increased sharply as a result of the civil war. Children suffering from disabilities and from psycho-neurological diseases has also increased. In addition, an increase in juvenile crime has been noted over the past five years in the context of the difficult socio-economic situation. A particular cause of concern is the increase in crime among younger school-age adolescents.
Introduction of Report
NIGINA SHARAPOVA, Deputy Prime Minister of Tajikistan, said her country had ratified most of international human rights instruments and they had been recognized in the country's Constitution. The Constitution also provided for specific rights in the field of fundamental freedoms and the Government was endeavouring to improve their implementation.
When Tajikistan celebrated its ninth year of independence on 9 September, the Government had renewed its commitment to strengthen the fundamental freedoms of the people and to carry out its obligations under international treaties, Mrs. Sharapova noted. Following the restoration of peace and the presidential and parliamentary elections, the implementation of international conventions had been taking momentum.
Mrs. Sharapova noted that additional legal norms had been included in the nation's legislation system to advance the cause of children, most particularly the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Specific protective measures were added to mothers and children; the law of education of 1993 had been strengthened by the issuance of the 1996 guidelines to national education; and a special commission had been set up for minors to prevent that category of the population from its involvement in criminal activities and its exploitation in labour.
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) had been doing a lot of work to improve the conditions of children in Tajikistan, Mrs. Sharapova said. Additional programmes designed to advance the cause of children had been signed between UNICEF and the Government of Tajikistan for the period of 2000 to 2004. However, the socio-economic aspect had continued to hit mothers and children hard. The worsening situation of nutrition had also been the source of concern to the Government. Anaemia and deficiencies in iodine had been among the major problems of malnutrition in general.
Mrs. Sharapova further said that the drop in budgetary allocation for education and health had affected those sectors promoting workers to abandon their respective professions for other jobs which were paid better. The number of delinquencies was rising because of the increase in the number of school-leavers; and because many children had lost their fathers in the conflict, leaving the whole responsibility to mothers.
Discussion
The members of Tajikistan's delegation responded to questions raised by Committee experts and to written questions prepared by the experts in advance. The responses focused on the main subjects of general measures of implementation, general principles, and civil rights and freedoms.
The members of Tajikistan's delegation said there were committees coordinating work on children and implementing the decisions of the Majlis, the country's parliament, on children.
The special newspaper "Children's Review" was published with the help of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). It publicised the views of children and disseminated ideas concerning them, the delegation said.
The legal status of the Convention had been reflected in the Constitution which recognized that all international treaties ratified by the State had legal effects on national legislation, the delegation said. There were constitutional provisions that facilitated the incorporation of international conventions into the national law.
The registration fee for newborns had reduced the number of registrations by at least 12 per cent, the delegation said. Although that practice was in violation of the right to register one's child, the Government continued to do so by asking about $ 3 for the issuance of each certificate.
For certain medical services, fees were levied and medicines were sold at full price. This in some cases had negative effects on the promotion of health, the delegation said. The cost of medicine was high and supply was at times short. Hospital facilities had been affected by shortage of beds and medical personnel; and funding for health had been reduced. In some cases, diseases which were eradicated during the Soviet system were coming back.
The basic principles of the State policy of Tajikistan in the field of education were consistent with the provisions of the Convention, the delegation said. They included accessibility to education, protection of the individual against any form of discrimination in education, and independence of State educational institutions from ideological considerations.
The lack of adequate water had been attributed to erosion, drought and destruction of irrigation channels during the war, the delegation said. Although the country had an important potential of water reserves, the funding for the exploration of that reserve had been a problem. The Government had no capacity to find a mechanism which would enable it to exploit its water reserves.
Civil society was not consulted in the preparation of the current initial report, the delegation said, because it was the first time that the Government was submitting a report. However, a counter report had been prepared by some non-governmental organizations.
The delegation admitted that the registration fee for non-governmental organizations was high and that complaints had been lodged by some of them. However, there were many of them operating in the country and some had achieved good results in their respective activities.
Tajikistan had no special judges trained exclusively to deal with children, the delegation said.
Despite the prohibition of early marriage in the country, it continued to take place in rural areas, the delegation said. There were also some incidents of abduction of girls for marriage. In some cases, parents gave away their daughters in early ages for security reasons -- to ensure that the girl had a husband.
Children had the right to express their views and to show their interest either within the family or at school, the delegation said. In families with a high number of children, the situation could be different because of the fact that parents could not give adequate attention to the views of their children.
The minimum wage in vigour did not allow people to subsist, the delegation said. The Government was working on programmes to improve the situation.
The growth in drug abuse by children had been of great concern, the delegation said. The number of addicts from the wealth families had been on the increase; however, the situation was incomparable to that of the Russian Federation.
Asked if torture and inhuman treatment were still used in Tajikistan, the delegation said that the laws protected children from any cruel treatment and the law was basically implemented. Tajik society was respectful of children's rights.
* *** *
25th session
26 September 2000
Morning
Criminality Increasing Due to Economic and Social Problems
in Tajikistan, Delegation Says
The Committee on the Rights of the Child this morning started its consideration of an initial report submitted by the Government of Tajikistan on how that country was implementing the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Introducing her country's report, Nigina Sharapova, Deputy Prime Minister of Tajikistan, said the socio-economic problems faced by the country had resulted in the increase of the number of crimes committed by adolescents in recent years. The economic and social aspect of the problem continued to hit mothers and children hard; the worsening situation of nutrition had also been a source of concern to the Government. Anaemia and deficiencies in iodine had been among the major problems of malnutrition in general.
Mrs. Sharapova noted that additional legal norms had been included in the nation's legislation system to advance the cause of children, especially in implementing the provisions of the Convention; specific protective measures were offered to mothers and children; and the law of education of 1993 had been strengthened by issuing the 1996 guidelines to national education.
This morning's discussion focused on the main topics of the general measures of implementation of the Convention; general principles; and civil rights and freedoms.
The two-member delegation of Tajikistan also included Rajobov Johmmahmad Sharipovich, Deputy Head of the Board of Constitutional Guarantees of Citizens' Rights.
Tajikistan is among the 191 States parties to the Convention and as such it is obligated to present periodic reports to the Committee on how the provisions of the treaty are being implemented.
When the Committee reconvenes at 3 p.m., it will continue to consider the report of Tajikistan.
Report of Tajikistan
The initial report of Tajikistan (document CRC/C/28/Add.14) enumerates the measures taken by the State to implement the provisions of the Convention on an article-by-article basis. It says that the social and economic reforms in the country are taking place under complex conditions of political instability. The actual means available for State bodies to provide children with the opportunity to obtain the necessary education have diminished. However, the Republic's basic educational infrastructure is continuing to function.
The problem of orphanhood in Tajik society has become considerably more acute and widespread in recent years, the report notes. The number had also increased sharply as a result of the civil war. Children suffering from disabilities and from psycho-neurological diseases has also increased. In addition, an increase in juvenile crime has been noted over the past five years in the context of the difficult socio-economic situation. A particular cause of concern is the increase in crime among younger school-age adolescents.
Introduction of Report
NIGINA SHARAPOVA, Deputy Prime Minister of Tajikistan, said her country had ratified most of international human rights instruments and they had been recognized in the country's Constitution. The Constitution also provided for specific rights in the field of fundamental freedoms and the Government was endeavouring to improve their implementation.
When Tajikistan celebrated its ninth year of independence on 9 September, the Government had renewed its commitment to strengthen the fundamental freedoms of the people and to carry out its obligations under international treaties, Mrs. Sharapova noted. Following the restoration of peace and the presidential and parliamentary elections, the implementation of international conventions had been taking momentum.
Mrs. Sharapova noted that additional legal norms had been included in the nation's legislation system to advance the cause of children, most particularly the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Specific protective measures were added to mothers and children; the law of education of 1993 had been strengthened by the issuance of the 1996 guidelines to national education; and a special commission had been set up for minors to prevent that category of the population from its involvement in criminal activities and its exploitation in labour.
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) had been doing a lot of work to improve the conditions of children in Tajikistan, Mrs. Sharapova said. Additional programmes designed to advance the cause of children had been signed between UNICEF and the Government of Tajikistan for the period of 2000 to 2004. However, the socio-economic aspect had continued to hit mothers and children hard. The worsening situation of nutrition had also been the source of concern to the Government. Anaemia and deficiencies in iodine had been among the major problems of malnutrition in general.
Mrs. Sharapova further said that the drop in budgetary allocation for education and health had affected those sectors promoting workers to abandon their respective professions for other jobs which were paid better. The number of delinquencies was rising because of the increase in the number of school-leavers; and because many children had lost their fathers in the conflict, leaving the whole responsibility to mothers.
Discussion
The members of Tajikistan's delegation responded to questions raised by Committee experts and to written questions prepared by the experts in advance. The responses focused on the main subjects of general measures of implementation, general principles, and civil rights and freedoms.
The members of Tajikistan's delegation said there were committees coordinating work on children and implementing the decisions of the Majlis, the country's parliament, on children.
The special newspaper "Children's Review" was published with the help of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). It publicised the views of children and disseminated ideas concerning them, the delegation said.
The legal status of the Convention had been reflected in the Constitution which recognized that all international treaties ratified by the State had legal effects on national legislation, the delegation said. There were constitutional provisions that facilitated the incorporation of international conventions into the national law.
The registration fee for newborns had reduced the number of registrations by at least 12 per cent, the delegation said. Although that practice was in violation of the right to register one's child, the Government continued to do so by asking about $ 3 for the issuance of each certificate.
For certain medical services, fees were levied and medicines were sold at full price. This in some cases had negative effects on the promotion of health, the delegation said. The cost of medicine was high and supply was at times short. Hospital facilities had been affected by shortage of beds and medical personnel; and funding for health had been reduced. In some cases, diseases which were eradicated during the Soviet system were coming back.
The basic principles of the State policy of Tajikistan in the field of education were consistent with the provisions of the Convention, the delegation said. They included accessibility to education, protection of the individual against any form of discrimination in education, and independence of State educational institutions from ideological considerations.
The lack of adequate water had been attributed to erosion, drought and destruction of irrigation channels during the war, the delegation said. Although the country had an important potential of water reserves, the funding for the exploration of that reserve had been a problem. The Government had no capacity to find a mechanism which would enable it to exploit its water reserves.
Civil society was not consulted in the preparation of the current initial report, the delegation said, because it was the first time that the Government was submitting a report. However, a counter report had been prepared by some non-governmental organizations.
The delegation admitted that the registration fee for non-governmental organizations was high and that complaints had been lodged by some of them. However, there were many of them operating in the country and some had achieved good results in their respective activities.
Tajikistan had no special judges trained exclusively to deal with children, the delegation said.
Despite the prohibition of early marriage in the country, it continued to take place in rural areas, the delegation said. There were also some incidents of abduction of girls for marriage. In some cases, parents gave away their daughters in early ages for security reasons -- to ensure that the girl had a husband.
Children had the right to express their views and to show their interest either within the family or at school, the delegation said. In families with a high number of children, the situation could be different because of the fact that parents could not give adequate attention to the views of their children.
The minimum wage in vigour did not allow people to subsist, the delegation said. The Government was working on programmes to improve the situation.
The growth in drug abuse by children had been of great concern, the delegation said. The number of addicts from the wealth families had been on the increase; however, the situation was incomparable to that of the Russian Federation.
Asked if torture and inhuman treatment were still used in Tajikistan, the delegation said that the laws protected children from any cruel treatment and the law was basically implemented. Tajik society was respectful of children's rights.
* *** *