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10 January 2001
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CRC
26th session
10 January 2001
Morning
High Commissioner for Human Rights Addresses Committee
The Committee on the Rights of the Child began its review this morning of an initial report of Liechtenstein, asking a Government delegation about the reservations entered by the country on articles 7 and 10 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and on the possible creation of an ombudsman's office to coordinate policies and programmes related to children.
Before taking up the report of Liechtenstein, the Committee heard an address by United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson who expressed her intention to closely involve children and young people in the forthcoming World Conference against Racism. To that end, she said she would seek support at the national level with the aim of engaging young people.
Mrs. Robinson also said that the General Assembly's special session on children which would take place in New York in September would provide a valuable opportunity to take stock of progress made over the past decade and to consider the challenges that remained. The meeting would involve Heads of State and Government, representatives of civil society and, perhaps most important of all, children themselves, she said.
Introducing the report, Norbert Frick, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Liechtenstein to the United Nations Office at Geneva, said his country was one of the smallest States in the world with only 33,141 inhabitants. It had a flourishing economy with a high industrial output and Gross Domestic Product.
Mr. Frick said the financial means of his country had allowed it to pursue a qualitative educational system for young people and to finance programmes for youth. With zero unemployment, the country sustained the high living standards of its inhabitants.
In the course of their consideration, Committee experts questioned the delegation about why the Government still continued to make reservations on articles 7 and 10 of the Convention which concerned acquisition of nationality and family reunification respectively.
In addition to Mr. Frick, the Liechtenstein delegation consisted of Markus Buchel, Head of the Department for Social Affairs.
As one of the 191 States parties to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Liechtenstein must file periodic reports with the Committee on the status of the country's children and on efforts to implement the Convention.
The Committee will reconvene at 3 p.m. to conclude its discussion with the Liechtenstein delegation.
Statement by High Commissioner for Human Rights
MARY ROBINSON, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, told the Committee members that the World Conference against Racism would take place in Durban, South Africa, in September. She noted that the General Assembly's special session on children would also be held during the same month.
The process leading to the World Conference against Racism was now in full gear, the High Commissioner went on to state. Children should be an important focus of attention in that global effort since they were, all too often, vulnerable targets of discrimination and exclusion. At the same time, children had a lot to contribute to a shared vision of an inclusive, non-discriminatory world because they had open minds and lacked prejudice. She said she intended that children and young people should be closely involved in the World Conference. To that end, she said she would write to Ministers of Education to seek support at the national level to engage young people in the Conference.
Mrs. Robinson said the special session on children, which would take place in New York in September, would provide a valuable opportunity to take stock of progress made over the past decade and to consider the challenges that remained. The meeting would involve Heads of State and Government, representatives of civil society and, perhaps most important of all, children themselves.
Among the significant events of last year, Mrs. Robinson singled out the campaign for universal ratification of the international human rights treaties which coincided with the Millennium Assembly. It had resulted in a significant increase in signatures of both Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. As of today, the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the involvement of children in armed conflict had been signed by 75 States, including 7 new signatories since the Committee's last session. The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography had been signed by 69 States, with six new signatories since the last session. On the debit side, no new ratifications were made to either protocols.
Mrs. Robinson further stated that the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women, which would deal with individual complaints and would make provision for inquiries, had been ratified by 13 States parties and had entered into force on 22 December 2000. It would be extremely interesting and important to see over time to what extent women in general, and girls in particular who were victims of human rights violations, would be able to benefit from the individual complaint mechanism under the new instrument.
Since the Committee's last session, four additional States parties had formally confirmed their acceptance of the amendment to article 43.3 of the Convention which would increase membership of the Committee from 10 to 18, Mrs. Robinson continued to say. As of today, a total of 96 States out of the required 120 had formally accepted the amendment. Also, the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention on the Worst Forms of Child Labour had now been ratified by 52 States and had entered into force on 19 November 2000.
In conclusion, Mrs. Robinson drew attention to the report of her visit last November to the Middle East following the special session of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories. She said she had devoted a specific sub-section of her report to the impact on children of the human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Initial Report of Liechtenstein
The initial report of Liechtenstein (document CRC/C/61/Add.1) provides information on the overall situation of the efforts made to implement the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. It says that at the end of 1996, Liechtenstein had a population of 33,141 of which 37.6 per cent were foreigners. Infant mortality has been continually decreasing in the country since the 1950's.
The report says that since Liechtenstein has no educational facilities of its own for youth-related professions, the Convention is utilized in the context of further in-service training. An introduction to the Convention forms part of the compulsory course for teachers. There are no general regulations for the training of judges in Liechtenstein. The relevant training is conducted on an individual basis, tailored to the person concerned.
Further, the sexual self-determination of girls and boys is protected by law; the legal age of sexual consent is in principle 14, and in the case of homosexual acts 18 years; since 1868, Liechtenstein has had no armed forces, and there is no legislation fixing the legal age for serving in the army.
The Children and Youth Service of the Office for Social Services is responsible for care of youth at the national level, the report says. In addition, private institutions are also active in assistance to juveniles. The Government is advised by the Youth Council on the principle relating to care and youth protection of and assistance to juveniles. In addition, the provisions of the Youth Act relating to protection of juveniles primarily establishes the regulations relating to presence in public places, alcohol and tobacco consumption and media protection.
The report notes that in connection with the celebration in 1998 of the fiftieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the attention of schools in Liechtenstein was drawn to the possibility of school projects on human rights, and particularly children's rights, and they were provided with background material, including information on the Convention.
Introduction of Report
NORBERT FRICK, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Liechtenstein to the United Nations Office at Geneva, said his country was one of the smallest States in the world with only 33,141 inhabitants. It had a flourishing economy with a high industrial output and high Gross Domestic Product.
Mr. Frick said the financial means of his country had allowed it to pursue a qualitative educational system for young people and to finance programmes concerning youth. With zero unemployment, the country sustained the high living standard of the inhabitants.
Discussion
The discussion during the morning meeting centred on implementation measures, definition of the child, general principles, and civil rights and freedoms.
Committee members raised several questions in the course of their consideration of the report. An Expert asked why Liechtenstein continued to make reservations on articles 7 and 10 of the Convention. Concerning article 7, which was on the right to acquire a nationality, Liechtenstein had made a reservation to have the right to apply the country's legislation according to which Liechtenstein nationality was granted under certain conditions.
With regard to article 10 of the Convention, which concerns the right to family reunification, Liechtenstein had made a reservation stating that it had the right to apply its own legislation according to which family reunification for certain categories of foreigners was not guaranteed.
Responding to a number of questions, the delegation of Liechtenstein said that the country followed a general principle according to which international treaties prevailed over domestic laws. Liechtenstein had no Ombudsman's office to monitor the implementation of the rights of children in accordance with provisions of the Convention, the delegation said.
Stateless persons found in Liechtenstein could obtain working permits and continue to live there, the delegation said. In addition, refugees enjoyed their rights and could also acquire nationality after fulfilling the requirements for that purpose.
The Government of Liechtenstein had provided a 24-hour telephone service 'kindertelefon' to be used by children in difficult circumstances, the delegation said. Further, other assistance was provided to children who found themselves in situations where their best interest was affected.
CORRIGENDUM
In press release HR/CRC/01/4 of 9 January 2001, the fourth paragraph on page 2 should read as follows:
The right to the freedom of movement for non-citizens was guaranteed by the Government of Latvia through the issuance of travel documents recognized by many countries, the delegation said. However, while Latvian citizens were granted visa-free travel, those holding non-citizen passports had to obtain visas for entry into other countries.
*****
26th session
10 January 2001
Morning
High Commissioner for Human Rights Addresses Committee
The Committee on the Rights of the Child began its review this morning of an initial report of Liechtenstein, asking a Government delegation about the reservations entered by the country on articles 7 and 10 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and on the possible creation of an ombudsman's office to coordinate policies and programmes related to children.
Before taking up the report of Liechtenstein, the Committee heard an address by United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson who expressed her intention to closely involve children and young people in the forthcoming World Conference against Racism. To that end, she said she would seek support at the national level with the aim of engaging young people.
Mrs. Robinson also said that the General Assembly's special session on children which would take place in New York in September would provide a valuable opportunity to take stock of progress made over the past decade and to consider the challenges that remained. The meeting would involve Heads of State and Government, representatives of civil society and, perhaps most important of all, children themselves, she said.
Introducing the report, Norbert Frick, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Liechtenstein to the United Nations Office at Geneva, said his country was one of the smallest States in the world with only 33,141 inhabitants. It had a flourishing economy with a high industrial output and Gross Domestic Product.
Mr. Frick said the financial means of his country had allowed it to pursue a qualitative educational system for young people and to finance programmes for youth. With zero unemployment, the country sustained the high living standards of its inhabitants.
In the course of their consideration, Committee experts questioned the delegation about why the Government still continued to make reservations on articles 7 and 10 of the Convention which concerned acquisition of nationality and family reunification respectively.
In addition to Mr. Frick, the Liechtenstein delegation consisted of Markus Buchel, Head of the Department for Social Affairs.
As one of the 191 States parties to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Liechtenstein must file periodic reports with the Committee on the status of the country's children and on efforts to implement the Convention.
The Committee will reconvene at 3 p.m. to conclude its discussion with the Liechtenstein delegation.
Statement by High Commissioner for Human Rights
MARY ROBINSON, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, told the Committee members that the World Conference against Racism would take place in Durban, South Africa, in September. She noted that the General Assembly's special session on children would also be held during the same month.
The process leading to the World Conference against Racism was now in full gear, the High Commissioner went on to state. Children should be an important focus of attention in that global effort since they were, all too often, vulnerable targets of discrimination and exclusion. At the same time, children had a lot to contribute to a shared vision of an inclusive, non-discriminatory world because they had open minds and lacked prejudice. She said she intended that children and young people should be closely involved in the World Conference. To that end, she said she would write to Ministers of Education to seek support at the national level to engage young people in the Conference.
Mrs. Robinson said the special session on children, which would take place in New York in September, would provide a valuable opportunity to take stock of progress made over the past decade and to consider the challenges that remained. The meeting would involve Heads of State and Government, representatives of civil society and, perhaps most important of all, children themselves.
Among the significant events of last year, Mrs. Robinson singled out the campaign for universal ratification of the international human rights treaties which coincided with the Millennium Assembly. It had resulted in a significant increase in signatures of both Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. As of today, the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the involvement of children in armed conflict had been signed by 75 States, including 7 new signatories since the Committee's last session. The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography had been signed by 69 States, with six new signatories since the last session. On the debit side, no new ratifications were made to either protocols.
Mrs. Robinson further stated that the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women, which would deal with individual complaints and would make provision for inquiries, had been ratified by 13 States parties and had entered into force on 22 December 2000. It would be extremely interesting and important to see over time to what extent women in general, and girls in particular who were victims of human rights violations, would be able to benefit from the individual complaint mechanism under the new instrument.
Since the Committee's last session, four additional States parties had formally confirmed their acceptance of the amendment to article 43.3 of the Convention which would increase membership of the Committee from 10 to 18, Mrs. Robinson continued to say. As of today, a total of 96 States out of the required 120 had formally accepted the amendment. Also, the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention on the Worst Forms of Child Labour had now been ratified by 52 States and had entered into force on 19 November 2000.
In conclusion, Mrs. Robinson drew attention to the report of her visit last November to the Middle East following the special session of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories. She said she had devoted a specific sub-section of her report to the impact on children of the human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Initial Report of Liechtenstein
The initial report of Liechtenstein (document CRC/C/61/Add.1) provides information on the overall situation of the efforts made to implement the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. It says that at the end of 1996, Liechtenstein had a population of 33,141 of which 37.6 per cent were foreigners. Infant mortality has been continually decreasing in the country since the 1950's.
The report says that since Liechtenstein has no educational facilities of its own for youth-related professions, the Convention is utilized in the context of further in-service training. An introduction to the Convention forms part of the compulsory course for teachers. There are no general regulations for the training of judges in Liechtenstein. The relevant training is conducted on an individual basis, tailored to the person concerned.
Further, the sexual self-determination of girls and boys is protected by law; the legal age of sexual consent is in principle 14, and in the case of homosexual acts 18 years; since 1868, Liechtenstein has had no armed forces, and there is no legislation fixing the legal age for serving in the army.
The Children and Youth Service of the Office for Social Services is responsible for care of youth at the national level, the report says. In addition, private institutions are also active in assistance to juveniles. The Government is advised by the Youth Council on the principle relating to care and youth protection of and assistance to juveniles. In addition, the provisions of the Youth Act relating to protection of juveniles primarily establishes the regulations relating to presence in public places, alcohol and tobacco consumption and media protection.
The report notes that in connection with the celebration in 1998 of the fiftieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the attention of schools in Liechtenstein was drawn to the possibility of school projects on human rights, and particularly children's rights, and they were provided with background material, including information on the Convention.
Introduction of Report
NORBERT FRICK, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Liechtenstein to the United Nations Office at Geneva, said his country was one of the smallest States in the world with only 33,141 inhabitants. It had a flourishing economy with a high industrial output and high Gross Domestic Product.
Mr. Frick said the financial means of his country had allowed it to pursue a qualitative educational system for young people and to finance programmes concerning youth. With zero unemployment, the country sustained the high living standard of the inhabitants.
Discussion
The discussion during the morning meeting centred on implementation measures, definition of the child, general principles, and civil rights and freedoms.
Committee members raised several questions in the course of their consideration of the report. An Expert asked why Liechtenstein continued to make reservations on articles 7 and 10 of the Convention. Concerning article 7, which was on the right to acquire a nationality, Liechtenstein had made a reservation to have the right to apply the country's legislation according to which Liechtenstein nationality was granted under certain conditions.
With regard to article 10 of the Convention, which concerns the right to family reunification, Liechtenstein had made a reservation stating that it had the right to apply its own legislation according to which family reunification for certain categories of foreigners was not guaranteed.
Responding to a number of questions, the delegation of Liechtenstein said that the country followed a general principle according to which international treaties prevailed over domestic laws. Liechtenstein had no Ombudsman's office to monitor the implementation of the rights of children in accordance with provisions of the Convention, the delegation said.
Stateless persons found in Liechtenstein could obtain working permits and continue to live there, the delegation said. In addition, refugees enjoyed their rights and could also acquire nationality after fulfilling the requirements for that purpose.
The Government of Liechtenstein had provided a 24-hour telephone service 'kindertelefon' to be used by children in difficult circumstances, the delegation said. Further, other assistance was provided to children who found themselves in situations where their best interest was affected.
CORRIGENDUM
In press release HR/CRC/01/4 of 9 January 2001, the fourth paragraph on page 2 should read as follows:
The right to the freedom of movement for non-citizens was guaranteed by the Government of Latvia through the issuance of travel documents recognized by many countries, the delegation said. However, while Latvian citizens were granted visa-free travel, those holding non-citizen passports had to obtain visas for entry into other countries.
*****