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28 September 2000
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CRC
25th session
28 September 2000
Afternoon
Delegation Appeals for International Help to Promote
Democracy and Development
The Committee on the Rights of the Child concluded this afternoon its consideration of an initial report submitted by the Government of the Central African Republic on that country's efforts to implement the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
In preliminary remarks, an expert said the Government of the Central African Republic should give priority within the available resources to improve the health and educational systems. The expert recommended that the Government seek technical assistance from United Nations bodies to reform its juvenile justice system.
Formal, written observations and recommendations on the report of the Central African Republic will be released by the Committee towards the end of its current three-week autumn session which will conclude on 6 October.
In a brief concluding statement, the delegation said the people of the Central African Republic were unhappy with the present situation in the country and the fact that economic and social conditions were not up to standard. Democracy could only be safeguarded when there was sustained development. The children of the Central African Republic were the first victims of the economic difficulties encountered by the nation. The international community was urged to assist the country in its effort to promote democracy and to enhance development.
The discussion over the course of the afternoon focused on the main subjects of family environment and alternative care; basic health and welfare; education, leisure, and cultural activities; and special protection measures.
The Central African Republic is among the 191 States parties to the Convention on the Rights of the Child and as such it must submit periodic reports on its efforts to implement the provisions of the treaty. A six-member Central African Republic delegation was on hand during the day to introduce the report and to answer questions raised by Committee experts.
When the Committee reconvenes at 10 p.m. on Friday, 29 September, it will begin its consideration of the initial report of the Marshall Islands (document CRC/C/28/Add.12).
Discussion
Discussion over the course of the afternoon focused on the main clusters of family environment and alternative care; basic health and welfare; education, leisure, and cultural activities; and special protection measures.
Steps had been taken to register all births declared either by clinics or village chiefs, the delegation said. For births which had not been declared within the statutory time limit, courts could issue birth certificates by means of special rulings. In rural areas, village chiefs were responsible for registering all births. The high fee for registration and the remoteness of registry centres had contributed to the non-registration of some births. Also, there had been a problem of corruption by registry officers, who pocketed the fees. The capital Bangui was the only city which had made birth registration a priority, with assistance from France.
The Central African Republic had abundant resources, but the problem was that it did not have the means to exploit those natural resources, the delegation said. The development partners had been putting exorbitant conditions in the effort to exploit the resources.
"Love, peace and brotherhood" was the motto promoted by children in making known their rights within the society, the delegation said. The awareness-raising campaign was carried out by children themselves. Members of the parliament for children were active in disseminating the provisions of the Convention.
Abortions were prohibited by the law but they could be carried out if a medical practitioner said a pregnancy jeopardized the life of the mother, the delegation said. The Government encouraged sex education and family planning programmes to avoid abortions or unwanted pregnancies. Abortion was among the six leading medical causes of maternal mortality. The abortions were the result of early sexual relations among ignorant teenagers and the fact that young people were inadequately informed about sex. The Government was in the process of introducing a programme on reproductive health, including adolescent health.
Concerning regulations on the viewing of videos, the Government had been stressing that families had the responsibility to protect their children from viewing video shows which were not intended for children, such as x-rated sex films, the delegation said. There had also been an awareness campaign to advise parents to protect children from watching violent scenes on television.
Besides the State, parents were expected to protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation, the delegation said. Although the Government had set a special police unit to protect children from sexual exploitation, still parents shared the responsibility in that matter. Offences of sexual exploitation were punishable by law, including for sexual molestation of a minor under 15.
Children belonging to minority groups, the Pygmies and Peuhls, were responsible for their own marginalization due to the influence of their culture and their nomadic way of life, the delegation said. Following a question on that statement, the delegation further said that since the parents went hunting far away from the schools where their children attended, it was difficult for teachers to keep the young ones in school. In addition, some parents withdrew their children from schools following repeated demands by teachers to be given gifts.
Responding to follow-up questions put by Committee experts, the officials of the Government underlined that despite the numerous legislative and administrative measures in all development fields, the country had not made much head way. The country had been destitute for many years. At present, nothing could be done without money. How could a country respect the human rights of the citizens under such circumstances?
The Government had taken measures to detect and to screen HIV/AIDS, but the process was too expensive for a country like the Central African Republic which lacked human and financial resources, the delegation said. AIDS was a major threat to the survival and development of children, although efforts were being made in all health sectors. Some 200,000 people had been infected by HIV/AIDS, including 14,000 children aged 0 to 14 years and 5,000 of those would probably develop AIDS; in addition, 35,000 children between the ages of 15 and 19 were also infected, many of them school children.
Refugee children from the neighbouring countries were taken care of by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and they were treated far better than children of the nation, the delegation said. The Central African Republic had for many years been a country of asylum for refugees and it currently sheltered more than 50,000 refugees of various nationalities, among them Sudanese, Chadians, Congolese from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwandans.
In a brief concluding statement, the delegation said the people of the Central African Republic were unhappy with the present situation in the country and the fact that economic and social conditions were not up to standard. Democracy could only be safeguarded when there was sustained development. The children of the Central African Republic were the first victims of the economic difficulties encountered by the nation. The international community was urged to assist the country in its effort to promote democracy and to enhance development.
Preliminary Remarks
An expert offered preliminary responses to the report of the Central African Republic. Formal, written concluding observations and recommendations will be issued before the Committee concludes its current session on 6 October.
The expert said, among other things, that the dialogue had been fruitful and frank; that the Committee noted the will of the State to implement the Convention despite its economic difficulties; that the national mechanisms for the follow-up of the implementation of the Convention should be strengthened; that an integrated approach should be stressed to enhance the implementation of the provisions of the Convention; that a system of Ombudsman, a sort of "friend of children", should be established to help children; that an attempt should be made to deal with customary leaders in connection with the activities of non-governmental organizations; and that priorities should be designated within the available resources to improve the health and educational systems.
The juvenile justice system was a concern, and measures should be taken in that field, the expert added. The Government should seek technical assistance from United Nations bodies to reform its juvenile justice system.
* *** *
25th session
28 September 2000
Afternoon
Delegation Appeals for International Help to Promote
Democracy and Development
The Committee on the Rights of the Child concluded this afternoon its consideration of an initial report submitted by the Government of the Central African Republic on that country's efforts to implement the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
In preliminary remarks, an expert said the Government of the Central African Republic should give priority within the available resources to improve the health and educational systems. The expert recommended that the Government seek technical assistance from United Nations bodies to reform its juvenile justice system.
Formal, written observations and recommendations on the report of the Central African Republic will be released by the Committee towards the end of its current three-week autumn session which will conclude on 6 October.
In a brief concluding statement, the delegation said the people of the Central African Republic were unhappy with the present situation in the country and the fact that economic and social conditions were not up to standard. Democracy could only be safeguarded when there was sustained development. The children of the Central African Republic were the first victims of the economic difficulties encountered by the nation. The international community was urged to assist the country in its effort to promote democracy and to enhance development.
The discussion over the course of the afternoon focused on the main subjects of family environment and alternative care; basic health and welfare; education, leisure, and cultural activities; and special protection measures.
The Central African Republic is among the 191 States parties to the Convention on the Rights of the Child and as such it must submit periodic reports on its efforts to implement the provisions of the treaty. A six-member Central African Republic delegation was on hand during the day to introduce the report and to answer questions raised by Committee experts.
When the Committee reconvenes at 10 p.m. on Friday, 29 September, it will begin its consideration of the initial report of the Marshall Islands (document CRC/C/28/Add.12).
Discussion
Discussion over the course of the afternoon focused on the main clusters of family environment and alternative care; basic health and welfare; education, leisure, and cultural activities; and special protection measures.
Steps had been taken to register all births declared either by clinics or village chiefs, the delegation said. For births which had not been declared within the statutory time limit, courts could issue birth certificates by means of special rulings. In rural areas, village chiefs were responsible for registering all births. The high fee for registration and the remoteness of registry centres had contributed to the non-registration of some births. Also, there had been a problem of corruption by registry officers, who pocketed the fees. The capital Bangui was the only city which had made birth registration a priority, with assistance from France.
The Central African Republic had abundant resources, but the problem was that it did not have the means to exploit those natural resources, the delegation said. The development partners had been putting exorbitant conditions in the effort to exploit the resources.
"Love, peace and brotherhood" was the motto promoted by children in making known their rights within the society, the delegation said. The awareness-raising campaign was carried out by children themselves. Members of the parliament for children were active in disseminating the provisions of the Convention.
Abortions were prohibited by the law but they could be carried out if a medical practitioner said a pregnancy jeopardized the life of the mother, the delegation said. The Government encouraged sex education and family planning programmes to avoid abortions or unwanted pregnancies. Abortion was among the six leading medical causes of maternal mortality. The abortions were the result of early sexual relations among ignorant teenagers and the fact that young people were inadequately informed about sex. The Government was in the process of introducing a programme on reproductive health, including adolescent health.
Concerning regulations on the viewing of videos, the Government had been stressing that families had the responsibility to protect their children from viewing video shows which were not intended for children, such as x-rated sex films, the delegation said. There had also been an awareness campaign to advise parents to protect children from watching violent scenes on television.
Besides the State, parents were expected to protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation, the delegation said. Although the Government had set a special police unit to protect children from sexual exploitation, still parents shared the responsibility in that matter. Offences of sexual exploitation were punishable by law, including for sexual molestation of a minor under 15.
Children belonging to minority groups, the Pygmies and Peuhls, were responsible for their own marginalization due to the influence of their culture and their nomadic way of life, the delegation said. Following a question on that statement, the delegation further said that since the parents went hunting far away from the schools where their children attended, it was difficult for teachers to keep the young ones in school. In addition, some parents withdrew their children from schools following repeated demands by teachers to be given gifts.
Responding to follow-up questions put by Committee experts, the officials of the Government underlined that despite the numerous legislative and administrative measures in all development fields, the country had not made much head way. The country had been destitute for many years. At present, nothing could be done without money. How could a country respect the human rights of the citizens under such circumstances?
The Government had taken measures to detect and to screen HIV/AIDS, but the process was too expensive for a country like the Central African Republic which lacked human and financial resources, the delegation said. AIDS was a major threat to the survival and development of children, although efforts were being made in all health sectors. Some 200,000 people had been infected by HIV/AIDS, including 14,000 children aged 0 to 14 years and 5,000 of those would probably develop AIDS; in addition, 35,000 children between the ages of 15 and 19 were also infected, many of them school children.
Refugee children from the neighbouring countries were taken care of by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and they were treated far better than children of the nation, the delegation said. The Central African Republic had for many years been a country of asylum for refugees and it currently sheltered more than 50,000 refugees of various nationalities, among them Sudanese, Chadians, Congolese from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwandans.
In a brief concluding statement, the delegation said the people of the Central African Republic were unhappy with the present situation in the country and the fact that economic and social conditions were not up to standard. Democracy could only be safeguarded when there was sustained development. The children of the Central African Republic were the first victims of the economic difficulties encountered by the nation. The international community was urged to assist the country in its effort to promote democracy and to enhance development.
Preliminary Remarks
An expert offered preliminary responses to the report of the Central African Republic. Formal, written concluding observations and recommendations will be issued before the Committee concludes its current session on 6 October.
The expert said, among other things, that the dialogue had been fruitful and frank; that the Committee noted the will of the State to implement the Convention despite its economic difficulties; that the national mechanisms for the follow-up of the implementation of the Convention should be strengthened; that an integrated approach should be stressed to enhance the implementation of the provisions of the Convention; that a system of Ombudsman, a sort of "friend of children", should be established to help children; that an attempt should be made to deal with customary leaders in connection with the activities of non-governmental organizations; and that priorities should be designated within the available resources to improve the health and educational systems.
The juvenile justice system was a concern, and measures should be taken in that field, the expert added. The Government should seek technical assistance from United Nations bodies to reform its juvenile justice system.
* *** *