Distr.

GENERAL

CRC/C/15/Add.130
28 June 2000

Original: ENGLISH

Concluding Observations of the
Committee on the Rights of the Child : Suriname.
28/06/2000.

CRC/C/15/Add.130.
(Concluding
Observations/Comments)

Convention Abbreviation: CRC

COMMITTEE ON THE RIGHTS OF THE
CHILD

Twenty-fourth session

CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS SUBMITTED BY STATES
PARTIES
UNDER ARTICLE 44 OF THE
CONVENTION

Concluding observations of the Committee on
the Rights of the Child

SURINAME

1. The Committee considered the initial report
of Suriname (CRC/C/28/Add.11), submitted on 13 February 1998, at its 635th to
636th meetings (see CRC/C/SR.635-636), held on 29 May 2000, and adopted,
at the 641st meeting, held on 2 June 2000,
the following concluding observations.

A. Introduction

2. The Committee welcomes the submission of the
State party's initial report which followed the established guidelines. The
Committee welcomes the written replies to its list of issues (CRC/C/Q/SUR/1)
which allowed for a clearer understanding of the situation of children in the
State party. The Committee is encouraged by the dialogue it had with the State
party and acknowledges that the presence of a delegation involved in the
implementation of the Convention allowed for a fuller assessment of the
situation of the rights of children in the State party.

B. Positive aspects

3. The Committee notes the State party's efforts
through the enactment of legislation to facilitate the implementation of the
Convention. In particular, the Committee notes the enactment of new legislation
in January 2000 which eliminates discrimination against children born out of
wedlock, including with respect to their inheritance rights.

4. The Committee welcomes the establishment of
the Steering Committee on Youth (1997) which is mandated to advise the
Government on children's issues.

5. The Committee welcomes the National Youth
Council which was installed in November 1999. It welcomes the efforts made to
involve children at the local level through the hosting of youth congresses in
all districts of the country as well as a national youth congress. The Committee
also notes with appreciation the commitment of the State party to allocate
adequate resources for the effective functioning of the National Youth
Institute, the agency through which the National Youth Council operates.

C. Factors and difficulties impeding the implementation of
the Convention

6. The Committee acknowledges that the economic
and social difficulties facing the State party have had a negative impact on the
situation of children and have impeded the full implementation of the
Convention. In particular it notes the impact of the structural adjustment
programme and the increasing level of unemployment and poverty. The Committee
notes the challenges faced by the State party in implementing adequate
programmes and services for children living in communities in the interior which
are in many instances isolated and very difficult to reach. The Committee
further notes that the limited availability of skilled human resources,
compounded by the high rate of emigration and the brain drain, also adversely
affects the full implementation of the Convention.

D. Principal areas of concern and recommendations

1. General measures of
implementation

Legislation

7. The Committee notes that the State party has
undertaken a study to determine the consistency of its legislation with the
Convention. While the Committee notes the recent efforts by the State party to
enact legislation to ensure greater consistency with the Convention, it is
concerned that legislation still does not fully reflect the principles and
provisions of the Convention. Concern is expressed that the additional draft
legislation to facilitate the implementation of the Convention has not yet been
adopted by the National Assembly.

8. The Committee recommends that the State party
take all appropriate measures to ensure that its laws conform to the principles
and provisions of the Convention. The Committee also encourages the State party
to consider the possibility of enacting a comprehensive code for children. The
State party is encouraged to take all appropriate measures to adopt, at the
earliest opportunity, the additional draft legislation. The Committee recommends
that the State party seek technical assistance from OHCHR, among others.

Coordination

9. The Committee notes with concern that the
State party has dissolved the National Commission on the Rights of the Child,
established in 1995 to prepare the State party's report, to coordinate and
monitor the implementation of the Convention, and to draw up a national plan of
action for children. While it is noted that a Steering Committee on Youth has
been appointed to advise the Government on issues concerning children, there are
concerns that it does not have as wide a mandate as the National Commission had
and that it lacks adequate financial and human resources to implement its
mandate. The Committee is also concerned that there continues to be no effective
mechanism to facilitate the coordination and systematic implementation of the
Convention and to monitor the progress achieved in this regard.

10. The Committee recommends that the State
party take all appropriate measures to strengthen coordination, including at the
local level and with NGOs, and to monitor progress of the implementation of the
Convention through the expansion of an existing governmental mechanism or the
establishment of a new one with adequate powers, functions and resources. The
Committee recommends that the State party strengthen the Steering Committee on
Youth by, inter alia, allocating adequate financial and human
resources.

Data collection

11. The Committees notes the initiatives
undertaken by the State party in 1999 to improve data collection, including the
implementation of a national women and children survey; the establishment of a
Child Indicators Monitoring System coordinated by the Central Bureau for
Statistics, which will periodically generate reliable data regarding children;
and the announcement of a census in 2000 after 20 years. The Committee remains
concerned, however, at the lack of an adequate data collection mechanism within
the State party to permit the systematic and comprehensive collection of
disaggregated quantitative and qualitative data for all areas covered by the
Convention in relation to all groups of children in order to monitor and
evaluate progress achieved and assess the impact of policies adopted with
respect to children.

12. The Committee recommends that the State
party intensify its efforts to establish a central registry for data collection
and introduce a comprehensive system of data collection incorporating all the
areas covered by the Convention. Such a system should cover all children up to
the age of 18 years, with specific emphasis on those who are particularly
vulnerable, including children living in the interior of the country, especially
those belonging to Amerindian and Maroon communities; children with
disabilities; children living in poverty; children in conflict with the law;
children of single-parent families; sexually abused children; and children
living and/or working on the streets. In this context, the Committee recommends
that the State party seek technical assistance from the United Nations
Population Fund (UNFPA) and UNICEF, among others.

Independent monitoring structures

13.
The Committee expresses concern at the
absence of an independent mechanism to register and address complaints from
children concerning violations of their rights under the Convention. In this
regard, the Committee expresses its regret that the National Institution for
Human Rights was terminated and that the proposed Constitutional Court, which
was supposed to replace it, was never established.

14. The Committee recommends that an independent
child-friendly mechanism be made accessible to children to deal with complaints
of violations of their rights and to provide remedies for such violations. The
Committee further suggests that the State party introduce an awarenes-raising
campaign to facilitate the effective use by children of this mechanism.

Allocation of budgetary resources

15.
While it is noted that the State party
supports the 20/20 Initiative which stipulates that 20 per cent of the national
budget and international cooperation should be dedicated to children's
programmes, the Committee is concerned that in light of article 4 of the
Convention, not enough attention has been paid in allocating budgetary
resources, at both the national and district levels, in favour of children "to
the maximum extent of … available resources".

16. In light of articles 2, 3 and 6 of the
Convention, the Committee encourages the State party to pay particular attention
to the full implementation of article 4 of the Convention by prioritizing
budgetary allocations to the implementation of the economic, social and cultural
rights of children, to the maximum extent of available resources including,
where needed, international cooperation. In allocating resources, the State
party should pay particular attention to districts in the interior and seek to
end the inequalities in service provision in these parts of the country.

Dissemination of the Convention

17. While the Committee notes the initiatives by
the State party to promote awareness of the principles and provisions of the
Convention, it is concerned that professional groups, children, parents, and the
public at large are still not sufficiently aware of the Convention and the
rights-based approach enshrined therein.

18. The Committee recommends greater efforts to
make the provisions of the Convention widely known and understood by adults and
children alike. In this regard, the Committee recommends adequate and systematic
training and/or sensitization of professional groups working with and for
children such as judges, lawyers, law enforcement personnel, teachers, school
administrators, health personnel, including psychologists, social workers and
personnel of child-care institutions. The Committee recommends that the State
party seek to ensure that the Convention is fully integrated into the curricula
at all levels of the educational system. The State party is encouraged to
translate the Convention into local languages and to promote its principles
through, inter alia, the use of traditional methods of communication. In
this regard, the Committee further suggests that the State party seek technical
assistance from OHCHR and UNICEF, among others.

2. Definition of the child

Criminal responsibility

19. The Committee expresses concern regarding
the low legal age of criminal responsibility (10 years).

20. The Committee recommends that the State
party raise the legal age of criminal responsibility to a more internationally
acceptable age by amending its legislation in this regard.

Legal minimum age for marriage

21.
The Committee expresses concern at the low
legal minimum age for marriage of girls - 15 years under the Civil Code and 13
years under the Asian Marriage Act. In this regard, the Committee notes with
concern the practice of early and forced marriages which affects mostly girls,
particularly those living in the interior. The Committee is also concerned about
the low legal minimum age for marriage of boys (15 years) under the Asian
Marriage Act. The Committee is further concerned about the disparity between the
ages for boys and girls.

22. The Committee recommends that the State
party review its legislation relating to the legal ages for marriage to bring
them into conformity with the provisions of the Convention and to eliminate
discrimination. It is recommended that the State party take all appropriate
measures to raise awareness about the harmful effects of early and forced
marriages, particularly on girls.

Legal age of compulsory education/legal
minimum age for employment

23. The Committee notes that education is
compulsory for children between the ages of 7 and 12 years and that the legal
minimum age for employment is 14 years. The Committee is concerned that
insufficient legal and other measures have been taken to protect adequately the
rights of children between the ages of 12 and 14 years, who are beyond the age
of compulsory education but too young to be legally employed.

24. The Committee recommends that the State
party raise the legal maximum age of compulsory education from 12 to at least 14
years to protect the rights of those children between the ages of 12 and 14
years, who are beyond the age of compulsory education but too young to be
legally employed.

3. General principles

Non-discrimination

25. The Committee notes with concern that the
principle of non-discrimination is not adequately respected with regard to
certain vulnerable groups of children, including children living in the
interior, especially girls; children living in institutions; children with
disabilities; children of single-parent families; children living in poor urban
communities, especially boys; children in conflict with the law; children living
and/or working on the streets; child victims of abuse; and children belonging to
indigenous and minority groups. The Committee is particularly concerned about
their limited access to adequate health, education and other social
services.

26. The Committee recommends that the State
party increase its efforts to ensure the implementation of laws, policies and
programmes guaranteeing the principle of non-discrimination and full compliance
with article 2 of the Convention, particularly as it relates to the vulnerable
groups.

Best interests of the child

27.
The Committee is concerned that the general
principle of the best interests of the child (art. 3) has not been taken fully
into account in the State party's legislative, administrative and judicial
decisions, as well as in policies and programmes relevant to children.

28. The Committee recommends that the State
party take all appropriate measures to ensure that the general principle of the
best interests of the child is appropriately integrated in all legal provisions
as well as in judicial and administrative decisions and in projects, programmes
and services which have an impact on children.

Respect for the views of the child

29.
While the Committee notes that the views of
children over 12 may be heard in cases of adoption and that a bill has been
prepared to apply the same rule in cases of custody and visitation after
divorce, it is concerned about the limited scope of the bill and that the full
implementation of article 12 of the Convention continues to be limited by
traditional practices, culture and attitudes which consider children who express
their views and opinions as "impudent" and "impertinent".

30. The Committee recommends that the State
party review and expand the scope of the bill providing for the opinion of
children to be heard in custody and visitation rights cases; develop a
systematic approach to increasing public awareness of the participatory rights
of children; and encourage respect for the views of the child within the family,
communities, schools, and in the care, administrative and judicial
systems.

4. Civil
rights and freedoms

Birth registration

31.
While the Committee notes that the law
provides for the registration of children at birth, it is concerned that
children, particularly those belonging to communities in the interior of the
country, are still not registered.

32. In light of articles 7 and 8 of the
Convention, the Committee recommends that the State party take appropriate
measures, including awareness-raising among government officers, community and
religious leaders and parents themselves, to ensure that all children are
registered at birth.

Police brutality

33.
The Committee is concerned about the
incidence of police brutality and the inadequate enforcement of existing
legislation to ensure that children are treated with respect for their physical
and mental integrity and their inherent dignity.

34. The Committee recommends that all
appropriate measures be taken to implement fully the provisions of articles 37
(a) and 39 of the Convention. In this regard, the Committee further recommends
that greater efforts be made to prevent police brutality and ensure that child
victims are provided with adequate treatment to facilitate their physical and
psychological recovery and social reintegration and that perpetrators are
sanctioned.

5. Family environment and alternative
care

Protection of children deprived of a family
environment

35.
The Committee notes that the State party has
submitted to the National Assembly a bill regulating all types of child-care
facilities, but it remains concerned that the State party has not yet
established and implemented a code of standards for alternative care
institutions for children. The Committee also expresses concern regarding the
lack of facilities and services for girls deprived of a family environment; the
absence of an independent complaint mechanism for children in alternative care
institutions; the inadequate review of their placement in institutions; and the
lack of available trained personnel in this field.

36. The Committee recommends that the State
party expedite as much as possible the passing of the bill mentioned in
paragraph 30 above and establish a code of standards to ensure adequate care and
protection of children deprived of a family environment. It further recommends
that the State party provide additional training, including in children's
rights, for social and welfare workers; ensure that placements in institutions
are periodically reviewed; and establish an independent complaint mechanism for
children in alternative care institutions.

Foster care

37.
While the Committee notes that the State
party has instituted a foster care programme, it is concerned at the
insufficient monitoring and follow-up of placements in the programme and the
widespread use of the programme as a "first step" in the intercountry adoption
process rather than as a domestic fostering programme. Concern is also expressed
at the unregulated nature of the practice of the "kweekjes system"
which allows parents facing economic difficulties to give up their children to
another family or person who may be in a better financial situation to care for
the child.

38. The Committee recommends that the State
party take measures to ensure the effective monitoring and follow-up of
placements in the foster care programme; introduce programmes to raise awareness
and promote foster care; and take measures to regulate the "kweekjes system"
in order to ensure that the best interests of the children concerned are taken
into account. Additionally, the Committee encourages the State party to consider
the possibility of acceding to the Hague Convention on the Protection of
Children and Cooperation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption of 1993.

Abuse/neglect/maltreatment/violence

39.
While the Committee notes that the State
party has appointed a committee to review legislation on sexual offences and
make recommendations for improvements in this regard, it is concerned about the
high and increasing incidence of sexual abuse of children, including within the
family. The Committee also expresses concern at the lack of awareness and
information on domestic violence, ill-treatment and abuse (sexual, physical and
psychological) of children and the insufficient financial and human resources
allocated, as well as the lack of adequate programmes to prevent and combat all
forms of abuse against children.

40. In light of article 19, the Committee
recommends that the State party undertake studies on domestic violence,
ill-treatment and abuse (including sexual abuse within the family) with a view
to adopting adequate policy measures and changing traditional attitudes. The
Committee recommends that all appropriate measures be taken to introduce
mandatory reporting of abuse, including sexual abuse of children. It also
recommends that cases of domestic violence, ill-treatment and abuse of children
be properly investigated within a child-friendly judicial procedure and
sanctions imposed on perpetrators, including treatment, with due regard given to
protecting the right to privacy of the child. Measures should also be taken for
the physical and psychological recovery and social reintegration of victims in
accordance with article 39 of the Convention, and to prevent the criminalization
and stigmatization of victims. The Committee recommends that the State party
seek technical assistance from UNICEF, among others.

Corporal punishment

41.
While the Committee notes that corporal
punishment is prohibited in schools, it is concerned that it continues to be
used in schools, families and care institutions.

42. The Committee recommends that the State
party take legislative measures to prohibit all forms of physical and mental
violence, including corporal punishment, within the family, schools and care
institutions. The Committee encourages the State party to intensify its
public-awareness campaigns to promote positive, non-violent forms of discipline
as an alternative to corporal punishment at all levels of society.

6. Basic health and welfare

Right to health and access to health
services

43.
The Committee notes with concern the health
situation of children, especially those living in the interior. In particular,
it notes their limited access to basic health care; the insufficient number of
trained medical personnel; the high incidence of malaria; high maternal, child
and infant mortality rates, including suicides and accidents; inadequate
breastfeeding and weaning practices; high rates of malnutrition; and poor
sanitation and limited access to safe drinking water, especially in rural
areas.

44. The Committee recommends that the State
party allocate appropriate resources and develop comprehensive policies and
programmes to improve the health situation of children, especially those living
in the interior; facilitate greater access to primary health services; increase
the number of trained medical and other health personnel; take steps to reduce
the incidence of maternal, child and infant mortality; promote healthier
breastfeeding and weaning practices; prevent and combat malnutrition, especially
among vulnerable and disadvantaged groups of children; increase access to safe
drinking water and sanitation; and reduce the incidence of malaria. It is
recommended that the State party undertake a study on suicides and accidents
involving children with the view to understanding their nature and scope and
implementing appropriate preventative policies and measures. Additionally, the
Committee encourages the State party to consider technical assistance for the
Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses and other measures for child health
improvement from UNICEF and WHO, among others.

Adolescent health

45.
The Committee expresses its concern with
respect to the limited availability of programmes and services and the lack of
adequate data in the area of adolescent health, including on accidents,
violence, suicides, mental health, teenage pregnancy, abortion, HIV/AIDS and
STDs.

46. The Committee recommends that the State
party increase its efforts in promoting adolescent health policies and
counselling services and in strengthening reproductive health education,
including the promotion of contraceptive use by men. The Committee further
suggests that a comprehensive multidisciplinary study be undertaken to improve
understanding of the scope of adolescent health problems, including the special
situation of children infected with, affected by or vulnerable to HIV/AIDS and
STDs. Additionally, it is recommended that the State party take further
measures, including the allocation of adequate human and financial resources, to
increase the number of social workers and psychologists and to develop
youth-friendly care, counselling and rehabilitation facilities for adolescents.
The State party is encouraged to reinforce its efforts in implementing the
Caribbean Regional Health and Family Life Education Programme for adolescents
by, inter alia, allocating adequate financial and human resources. It
is further recommended that the State party seek technical assistance from
UNICEF and WHO, among others.

Children with disabilities

47.
The Committee expresses its concern at the
absence of legal protection and the lack of adequate facilities and services for
children with disabilities. While the Committee notes the efforts of the
National Advisory Board for the Policy on Persons with Disabilities, in
collaboration with the Government, to elaborate relevant policy and legislation
to guarantee and facilitate the social integration of persons with disabilities,
it is concerned that insufficient efforts have been made to facilitate the
inclusion of children with disabilities into the educational system and
generally within society.

48. In light of the Standard Rules on the
Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities (General Assembly
resolution 48/96) and the Committee's recommendations adopted at its day of
general discussion on the rights of children with disabilities (CRC/C/69), it is
recommended that the State party reinforce its efforts to develop early
identification programmes to prevent disabilities, increase its efforts to
implement alternatives to the institutionalization of children with
disabilities, establish special education programmes for children with
disabilities and further encourage their inclusion in society. Additionally, the
Committee recommends that the State party undertake an awareness-raising
campaign to sensitize the public about the rights and special needs of children
with disabilities as well as children with mental health concerns. The Committee
further recommends that the State party seek technical cooperation for the
training of professional staff working with and for children with disabilities
from WHO, among others.

Right to an adequate standard of
living

49.
The Committee notes with concern the
increasingly high number of children living in households below the poverty
line. The Committee is also concerned about the poor housing situation and
living standards of families who fled their homes in the interior during the
civil unrest of the 1980s and are currently living in urban squatter
communities. Concern is also expressed at the large and increasing number of
children living and/or working on the streets.

50. In accordance with article 27 of the
Convention, the Committee recommends that the State party increase its efforts
to provide material assistance and support to economically disadvantaged
families and guarantee the right of children to an adequate standard of living.
The Committee further recommends that the State party establish mechanisms to
ensure that children living and/or working on the streets are provided with
identity documents, food, clothing and housing. Moreover, the State party should
ensure that these children are provided with adequate access to health care;
rehabilitation services for physical, sexual and substance abuse; services for
reconciliation with families; and education, including vocational and
life-skills training. The Committee recommends that the State party cooperate
and coordinate its efforts with civil society in this regard.

7. Education, leisure and cultural
activities

Right to and aims of education

51.
The Committee notes the efforts of the State
party within the school environment, including the establishment of a school
nutrition programme, the introduction of school transportation in some regions
of the country, the implementation of a programme that provides allowances for
the rental of books and subsidies for school uniforms and other relevant
learning materials for economically disadvantaged children; the establishment of
a programme that allows teenage mothers to continue their education; and the
decision to host a National Education Congress in December 2000. The Committee
remains concerned, however, about the situation of education, particularly in
the interior. In this regard, the Committee notes that there are still limited
access to education, high drop-out and repetition rates, insufficient numbers of
trained teachers actually in the classroom, insufficient schools and classrooms,
and a general lack of relevant learning material. The Committee notes with
concern that the budgetary allocations for education have been progressively
reduced during the past decade. The insufficient efforts made by the State party
to incorporate the use of local languages into the educational curriculum is
also a matter of concern for the Committee.

52. The Committee recommends that the State
party take all appropriate measures, including the allocation of adequate
financial, human and technical resources, to improve the situation of education
and ensure that all children enjoy the right to education. It is further
recommended that all appropriate measures be taken to increase access to
education, especially as regards children living in the interior, and to
encourage trained teachers to stay in teaching. The Committee further recommends
that the State party seek to implement additional measures to encourage
children, especially girls in the interior and boys in urban communities, to
stay in school, particularly during the period of compulsory education. The
Committee encourages the State party to reinforce its efforts to include the use
of traditional languages in the school curricula. The State party is encouraged
to follow through with its proposal to host a National Education Congress to
improve the overall situation of education in all regions of the country, and in
this context, the Congress is strongly encouraged to include the general
principles of the Convention, as well as articles 28, 29 and 31, in its
discussions and recommendations to the State party. It is recommended that the
State party encourage child participation within the school environment,
including in disciplinary matters. It is recommended that the State party seek
to strengthen its educational system through closer cooperation with UNICEF and
UNESCO.

8. Special protection measures

Economic exploitation

53.
In light of the current economic situation,
the increasing number of school drop-outs and the increasing number of children
living and/or working on the streets, the Committee is concerned about the lack
of information and adequate data on the situation of child labour and economic
exploitation within the State party.

54. The Committee encourages the State party to
introduce monitoring mechanisms to ensure that the labour laws are enforced and
to protect children from economic exploitation, particularly in the informal
sector. It is further recommended that the State party undertake a comprehensive
study to assess the situation of child labour. The Committee encourages the
State party to consider ratifying the ILO Minimum Age Convention (No. 138) and
the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention (No. 182).

Drug abuse

55.
The Committee is concerned with the high
incidence of drug, alcohol and substance abuse among youth and the limited
psychological, social and medical programmes and services available in this
regard.

56. In light of article 33 of the Convention,
the Committee recommends that the State party take all appropriate measures,
including administrative, social and educational measures, to protect children
from the illicit use of alcohol, narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances and
to prevent the use of children in the illicit production and trafficking of such
substances. It encourages the State party to support rehabilitation programmes
dealing with child victims of alcohol, drug and substance abuse. In this regard,
the Committee encourages the State party to consider seeking technical
assistance from UNICEF, WHO and the United Nations International Narcotics
Control Board, among others.

Sexual exploitation and sexual
abuse

57.
The Committee expresses its concern about
the increasing number of child victims of commercial sexual exploitation,
including prostitution and pornography, involving both boys and girls. Concern
is also expressed at the insufficient programmes for the physical and
psychological recovery and social reintegration of child victims of such abuse
and exploitation.

58. In light of article 34 and other related
articles of the Convention, the Committee recommends that the State party
undertake studies with a view to understanding the scope of the problem and
implementing appropriate policies and measures, including the physical and
psychological recovery and social reintegration of victims. The Committee
recommends that the State party take into account the recommendations formulated
in the Agenda for Action adopted at the World Congress against Commercial Sexual
Exploitation of Children held in Stockholm in 1996.

Administration of juvenile justice

59. The Committee expresses concern at:

(a) The inefficiency and ineffectiveness of the
administration of juvenile justice system and in particular its incompatibility
with the Convention, as well as other relevant United Nations standards;

(b) The length of pre-trial detention;

(c) The holding of minors in adult detention
facilities; the poor conditions in detention facilities; the lack of adequate
facilities for children in conflict with the law, especially girls; the limited
numbers of trained personnel to work with children in this regard; and the lack
of a complaint mechanism for children whose rights have been violated.

60. The Committee, while noting the completion
of a study on juvenile justice, recommends that the State party:

(a) Take all appropriate measures to implement a
juvenile justice system in conformity with the Convention, in particular
articles 37, 40 and 39, and other United Nations standards in this field, such
as the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of Juvenile
Justice (the Beijing Rules), the United Nations Guidelines for the Prevention of
Juvenile Delinquency (the Riyadh Guidelines) and the United Nations Rules for
the Protection of Juveniles Deprived of their Liberty;

(b) Use deprivation of liberty only as a measure
of last resort and for the shortest possible period of time; improve the
conditions in detention facilities; protect the rights of children deprived of
their liberty, including their right to privacy; and ensure that children remain
in contact with their families while in the juvenile justice system;

(c) Introduce training programmes on relevant
international standards for all professionals involved with the administration
of juvenile justice;

(d) Consider seeking technical assistance from
OHCHR, the Centre for International Crime Prevention, the International Network
on Juvenile Justice and UNICEF, through the Coordination Panel on Technical
Advice in Juvenile Justice, among others.

9. Dissemination of reports

61. Finally, the Committee recommends that, in
light of article 44, paragraph 6, of the Convention, the initial report and
written replies presented by the State party be made widely available to the
public at large and that the publication of the report be considered, along with
the relevant summary records and the concluding observations adopted thereon by
the Committee. Such a document should be widely distributed in order to generate
debate and awareness of the Convention and its implementation and monitoring
within the Government and the general public, including NGOs.

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