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COMMITTEE ON RIGHTS OF CHILD CONCLUDES REVIEW OF YEMENI REPORT ON MEASURES TO IMPLEMENT CONVENTION
25 January 1999
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AFTERNOON
The Committee on the Rights on the Child this afternoon concluded its consideration of the second periodic report presented by the Government of Yemen on how that country was implementing the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
In its preliminary observations and recommendations, the Committee encouraged the Government of Yemen to explore all means to improve the country's health and educational conditions. It stressed that other measures also should be taken to set priority for the highest interest of the survival and development of the child.
The Committee will issue its concluding observations and recommendations towards the end of its three-week session which concludes on 29 January.
When the Committee reconvenes at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, 26 January, it will discuss in private its draft concluding observations and recommendations on country reports already considered during this session. The Committee will hold its next public meeting on Friday, 29 January, in the morning.
Discussion
In response to written questions prepared by Committee members in advance, the delegation said that the practice of adoption was influenced by the Islamic law of Shari'a. However, the Personal Status Act regulated the question of the transfer of custody between relatives, if it was requested for a reason acceptable to the judge, in accordance with the conditions of custody.
Concerning street children and beggars, the delegation said that the problem of poverty had increased the rate of street children and those making a living through begging. The Government had taken steps to combat the phenomenon of street children, particularly child beggars. The authorities were also undertaking a study of the situation in order to find alternative means to keep away children from the streets.
The delegation said that the Government had taken measures to promote the physical and psychological recovery and social reintegration of children who were victims of any form of neglect, exploitation or abuse, including domestic violence and sexual abuse. Such measures were not adequate and Yemen welcomed all international efforts aimed at combatting sexual exploitation of children.
Regarding the child mortality rate, the delegation said that although the report did not provide the necessary figures and the progress made in that field, tangible progress had been made in regressing the infant and child mortality rate. Vaccination and immunization programmes had been implemented in the last three years covering many children.
The delegation admitted that malnutrition had been a serious problem in Yemeni society, particularly with the return of Yemeni workers from abroad. The return home of about 1.5 million Yemenis had prompted a situation of unemployment leading to malnutrition of their children.
With regard to adolescent health, the delegation said that a national campaign against adolescent pregnancy had been carried out to sensitize the population on the issue.
On the question concerning harmful traditional practices, the delegation stressed that such practices were not a major problem in Yemeni society. But an expert said that there were still harmful traditional practices carried out in Yemen. The expert encouraged the delegation to refer to the World Bank report on the issue and subsequently to take measures to totally eradicate practices such as genital excision which still existed in Yemen.
In order to rehabilitate disabled persons, the Government had established the National Committee for the Welfare of Disabled Persons, aimed at providing social and educational rehabilitation and training for the various categories of disabled persons, said the delegation. Nevertheless, it had been difficult to make an accurate estimate of the number of disabled persons by age and sex due to the lack of the field surveys and studies needed to determine the magnitude of that phenomenon, added the delegation.
The delegation said that the Government had changed school timetables in order to encourage girls to go to school. In addition, it had made attempts to find nomadic teachers to help nomadic children, particularly girls, in their education.
The minimum age of marriage had been raised in the case of both males and females, according to the Yemeni officials. This measure had reduced the rate of early marriage and child pregnancy, said the delegation.
Regarding child labour, the delegation said that employment for children under 15 years was banned and child labour was strictly prohibited. However, Yemen was not a party to the International Labour Office Convention No. 138 on minimum age for access to work.
Concerning the HIV/AIDS virus, the delegation said that it had been brought into Yemen from neighbouring African countries but its spread was not alarmingly high. The Government had been launching a preventive campaign of awareness-raising among the population regarding the HIV/AIDS virus.
Preliminary Observations and Recommendations
The Committee observed that Yemen was turning from a "primitive" society to a sophisticated one and that accordingly, much was expected in the field of the promotion and protection of the rights of the child.
The Committee encouraged the Government of Yemen to explore all means to improve the country's health and educational conditions. Other measures also should be taken to set priority for the highest interest of the survival and development of the child.
The Committee reiterated its recommendations made after it considered the initial report of Yemen and stressed the need to enact legislation aimed at promoting and protecting the rights of children.
It also said that the definition of the child was not given much attention regarding majority and maturity which were used interchangeably. It said the General Principles of the Convention were not incorporated in the system; the situation of minority children, who remained at the lowest echelon of the society, was not properly articulated; and civil rights and freedom of children should be emphasized.
The Committee stressed that measures had to be taken in the juvenile justice system where there was delay in the trial of a child delinquent. It noted that children were kept in detention without due process of their cases and young females were also incarcerated together with adults.
The Committee on the Rights on the Child this afternoon concluded its consideration of the second periodic report presented by the Government of Yemen on how that country was implementing the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
In its preliminary observations and recommendations, the Committee encouraged the Government of Yemen to explore all means to improve the country's health and educational conditions. It stressed that other measures also should be taken to set priority for the highest interest of the survival and development of the child.
The Committee will issue its concluding observations and recommendations towards the end of its three-week session which concludes on 29 January.
When the Committee reconvenes at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, 26 January, it will discuss in private its draft concluding observations and recommendations on country reports already considered during this session. The Committee will hold its next public meeting on Friday, 29 January, in the morning.
Discussion
In response to written questions prepared by Committee members in advance, the delegation said that the practice of adoption was influenced by the Islamic law of Shari'a. However, the Personal Status Act regulated the question of the transfer of custody between relatives, if it was requested for a reason acceptable to the judge, in accordance with the conditions of custody.
Concerning street children and beggars, the delegation said that the problem of poverty had increased the rate of street children and those making a living through begging. The Government had taken steps to combat the phenomenon of street children, particularly child beggars. The authorities were also undertaking a study of the situation in order to find alternative means to keep away children from the streets.
The delegation said that the Government had taken measures to promote the physical and psychological recovery and social reintegration of children who were victims of any form of neglect, exploitation or abuse, including domestic violence and sexual abuse. Such measures were not adequate and Yemen welcomed all international efforts aimed at combatting sexual exploitation of children.
Regarding the child mortality rate, the delegation said that although the report did not provide the necessary figures and the progress made in that field, tangible progress had been made in regressing the infant and child mortality rate. Vaccination and immunization programmes had been implemented in the last three years covering many children.
The delegation admitted that malnutrition had been a serious problem in Yemeni society, particularly with the return of Yemeni workers from abroad. The return home of about 1.5 million Yemenis had prompted a situation of unemployment leading to malnutrition of their children.
With regard to adolescent health, the delegation said that a national campaign against adolescent pregnancy had been carried out to sensitize the population on the issue.
On the question concerning harmful traditional practices, the delegation stressed that such practices were not a major problem in Yemeni society. But an expert said that there were still harmful traditional practices carried out in Yemen. The expert encouraged the delegation to refer to the World Bank report on the issue and subsequently to take measures to totally eradicate practices such as genital excision which still existed in Yemen.
In order to rehabilitate disabled persons, the Government had established the National Committee for the Welfare of Disabled Persons, aimed at providing social and educational rehabilitation and training for the various categories of disabled persons, said the delegation. Nevertheless, it had been difficult to make an accurate estimate of the number of disabled persons by age and sex due to the lack of the field surveys and studies needed to determine the magnitude of that phenomenon, added the delegation.
The delegation said that the Government had changed school timetables in order to encourage girls to go to school. In addition, it had made attempts to find nomadic teachers to help nomadic children, particularly girls, in their education.
The minimum age of marriage had been raised in the case of both males and females, according to the Yemeni officials. This measure had reduced the rate of early marriage and child pregnancy, said the delegation.
Regarding child labour, the delegation said that employment for children under 15 years was banned and child labour was strictly prohibited. However, Yemen was not a party to the International Labour Office Convention No. 138 on minimum age for access to work.
Concerning the HIV/AIDS virus, the delegation said that it had been brought into Yemen from neighbouring African countries but its spread was not alarmingly high. The Government had been launching a preventive campaign of awareness-raising among the population regarding the HIV/AIDS virus.
Preliminary Observations and Recommendations
The Committee observed that Yemen was turning from a "primitive" society to a sophisticated one and that accordingly, much was expected in the field of the promotion and protection of the rights of the child.
The Committee encouraged the Government of Yemen to explore all means to improve the country's health and educational conditions. Other measures also should be taken to set priority for the highest interest of the survival and development of the child.
The Committee reiterated its recommendations made after it considered the initial report of Yemen and stressed the need to enact legislation aimed at promoting and protecting the rights of children.
It also said that the definition of the child was not given much attention regarding majority and maturity which were used interchangeably. It said the General Principles of the Convention were not incorporated in the system; the situation of minority children, who remained at the lowest echelon of the society, was not properly articulated; and civil rights and freedom of children should be emphasized.
The Committee stressed that measures had to be taken in the juvenile justice system where there was delay in the trial of a child delinquent. It noted that children were kept in detention without due process of their cases and young females were also incarcerated together with adults.