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Summary: A compilation of extracts featuring child-rights issues from the reports submitted to the second Universal Periodic Review. There are extracts from the 'National Report', the 'Compilation of UN Information' and the 'Summary of Stakeholders' Information'. Also included is the list of accepted and rejected recommendations. Czech Republic – 14th Session – 2012 Scroll to: National Report (Read about the first cycle review) 3. An important development in the period under review was the adoption of the Anti-discrimination Act in 2009. Stronger protection and enforcement of individual rights and freedoms was also the aim of many other legislative changes, such as the new Criminal Code (2009) that requires greater respect for human rights and freedoms, the amended Code of Civil Procedure (2008) that improves the protection of the rights of the child and the procedural status of children, and the amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure that address privacy protection in the context of telephone interception (2008) and the right of crime victims to claim compensation for non-pecuniary damage in partie civile proceedings (2011). The Foreigners Residence Act was amended in 2010 to introduce alternatives to custodial detention of foreigners and to improve the procedural protection of their rights. The amendment prolongs the maximum time foreigners can spend in detention; however, this applies only to foreigners who obstruct the execution of an administrative expulsion order. A minor foreigner can be detained only if there are reasonable grounds for believing that he or she would otherwise pose a risk to national security or seriously disrupt public order. When an entire family is in detention, special regard must be given to the children’s situation at all times. Minor asylum seekers cannot be detained. The new healthcare legislation in force since 2012 defines the rights and status of patients as equal partners of the healthcare staff. 4. Certain problems accompanied the 2009 amendment to the Code of Criminal Procedure concerning the disclosure of information on individuals involved in criminal proceedings. In the initial stages of the drafting process the amendment protected the privacy of minors and victims of crimes violating personal integrity. Suspects, defendants and witnesses were added at a later stage, and the scope of the amendment was further expanded to prohibit the disclosure of information gathered from telephone intercepts. The sanctions for the disclosure of such information were to be much stricter that initially proposed. On the whole, at this stage privacy protection prevailed over the freedom of speech and information. There was also no room left for resolving potential conflicts between these rights in a way that would take into account the circumstances of each individual case. Accordingly, a new amendment was adopted in 2011 to permit disclosure in cases where public interest takes precedence over the privacy of the individual concerned. Potential conflicts between the two rights are to be resolved in court. Similar problems were encountered in connection with an amendment to the Public Assemblies Act that introduced sanctions for wearing a face covering at public assemblies. In this case, the Interior Ministry eventually explained in its interpretative comments that the sanctions were intended for those who cover their faces with criminal intent, not those who want to hide their identity when demonstrating their views. 5. During the period under review the Czech Republic ratified a number of international human rights conventions. Additional particulars are provided in the appropriate section of Part C. Legislation concerning the criminal liability and punishment of legal entities for certain crimes was adopted in late 2011. This will enable the Czech Republic to ratify a number of international conventions on the fight against organized crime and the protection of its victims, as well as conventions concerning human trafficking and protection of the rights of the child. 7. Likewise important was the Supreme Administrative Court ruling that dissolved the far-right Workers´ Party for promoting violence and intolerance towards groups of population and for denying democratic principles. The Supreme Court, the highest judicial body in civil as well as criminal matters, issued unifying opinions concerning the practice of removing children from families because of economic hardship or poor housing (the Supreme Court clearly condemned this practice); concerning proceedings on the admissibility of commitment to and detainment in a healthcare facility, and the amount of compensation to be awarded in accordance with the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) case-law for unreasonable delays in court proceedings and for unlawful detention. Implementation of recommendations - combatting racism, violence - protecting minorities? ; integration for strangers - promoting Roma culture, remembrance of the Holocaust 20. The National Plan of Action for Inclusive Education was adopted in 2010 in response to the judgment of the ECtHR in the case D.H. and others v. the Czech Republic. It establishes a framework for activities promoting equal access to and equal opportunities in education, with the aim to make education more inclusive and to prevent social exclusion of individuals and whole social groups. As a result of legislative amendments made in 2011, the educational and psychological counselling system became responsive to special educational needs. The emphasis is on the quality of counselling; assessments must be made within the prescribed time-limits and then regularly reviewed to keep track of the child’s progress. The amendments help ensure that choice of an educational programme, and of the learning environment, is based on a professional assessment of the pupil’s educational needs, subject to the informed consent of the pupil’s statutory representatives. Pupils without disabilities are not taught according to school educational programmes for disabled pupils. A pupil who is disadvantaged (socially or in terms of health) but not disabled may be temporarily placed in a class for disabled pupils if his or her overall performance in the mainstream class remains poor despite all available measures and support. However, such placement must not last more than five months. Throughout this period, the pupil must continue to be taught according to a mainstream primary school education programme. An assessment recommending a pupil for education in a school programme for disabled pupils is valid for one year and then must be reviewed. This means that education programmes are always chosen on the basis of expert assessment, subject to the informed consent of statutory representatives. The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports provides guidance and systematic support, including financial support, for all these steps. 21. Early intervention services for socially disadvantaged pre-school children and their families focus on ways to make pre-school education more accessible for the target group. The aim is to facilitate and encourage systematic development of the skills and competences (including language and communication skills) that are necessary for successful school entry. This involves the promotion of head-start classes, as well as schemes to increase the capacity of kindergartens, and the training of teachers to work with children with different educational needs. Support is also provided e.g. to low-threshold centres and assistant teachers. 22. The Inclusive Education Support Centre is a project launched in 2009. To date it has provided support to openness and inclusion schemes at more than 200 primary schools. 130 schools participated in the project in the 2010/2011 school year. In the next stage of the project the Centre will develop methodology for teacher − assistant teacher cooperation, for teaching catch-up lessons in and out of school and creating individual education plans, as well as for different forms of cooperation with families based on the principles of social work and for cooperation with other organizations and institutions. 27. Anonymous surveys mostly work with researcher-assigned ethnicity data. In 2008-2010 there were several surveys to assess Roma children’s chances of success in the mainstream education system. In 2010 the Czech School Inspectorate used this method to measure the progress made in transforming the former special schools. Currently the Ombudsman conducts another survey to count Roma children in selected primary schools for disabled pupils. This will show whether the share of Roma pupils in these schools is proportionate to the incidence of mental disability in the total population. The aim is to detect any continuing indirect discrimination practices based on ethnic origin. The survey is anonymous, based on questionnaires for class teachers and on-site visits by the Ombudsman’s staff. The teacher identifies Roma children on the basis of their family backgrounds, and the Ombudsman’s staff identify them on the basis of observation in class. The results of the survey will be known in 2012. 29. Anti-discrimination legislation is based on the constitutional principles of equality in dignity and rights, and on the prohibition of discrimination on illegitimate grounds. The Anti-Discrimination Act effective since 2009 defines the right to equal treatment and protection against discrimination. 36. The Czech Republic ratified the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court in 2009. In the same year it ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities without any reservations. In 2011 it submitted its first report on the implementation of this Convention, and is currently preparing to put into place an independent monitoring mechanism as required by the Convention. Preparations to ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention are progressing as well. In 2012 the Czech Republic ratified the Additional Protocol to the European Social Charter Providing for a System of Collective Complaints, and the Convention on the International Protection of Adults. Ratification of the International Convention on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance is currently being considered. On the other hand, the Czech Republic does not intend to ratify the Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families, as it believes that the protection offered by the existing national legislation is sufficient and consistent with all other commitments the Czech Republic has undertaken in the field of human rights. For this reason the Czech Republic has not accepted the relevant recommendation. 40. The Czech Republic pays great attention to the protection of the rights of the child. In 2010, following ECtHR rulings, the Government approved a policy paper on “General Measures for the execution of ECtHR judgments – preventing the removal of children from their parents on social and economic grounds”. The General Measures should prevent unreasonable interference with the child’s right to be cared for by his or her parents and the right to the protection of family and private life. The basic principle is that the practice of removing children from their families solely because of economic hardship or poor housing is inadmissible, unless the child’s life, health or healthy development are seriously at risk, and that only in situations where it is not possible to protect the child in other ways. The appropriate legislative changes are now being approved. 41. Problems related to children must be addressed jointly by courts, authorities responsible for social and legal protection of children, municipal and regional authorities, NGOs and the parents themselves. The action to be taken in each child’s case should be set out in an individual protection plan. The policy is to supervise and provide protection while letting the child stay with, or quickly return to, his or her natural family. This means that the referral of children to emergency protection centres will be subject to stricter rules requiring cooperation between the centre and the child’s family. The number of children per one social worker will be regulated by means of workload quotas, and the funding of authorities responsible for social and legal protection of children will be targeted more effectively. Quality standards will be set for social and legal protection of children, and compliance will be monitored. There will be more intensive cooperation with providers of social activation services for families with children, emergency assistance and temporary shelters. Professionals working with vulnerable children and families will undergo training courses on preventive work with families in hardship situations. Judges and court staff will be briefed on the relevant case-law and advised how to more efficiently cooperate with other professionals when gathering information about a family’s situation and about the available forms of financial, social and psychological assistance. 42. There is a significant body of case-law on the rights of the child and on family protection. A unifying opinion issued by the Supreme Court in 2010 says that a court cannot order a child to be placed in an institution solely because of the family’s economic hardship. This opinion is supported by Constitutional Court rulings that declare it inadmissible to remove children from parents solely on the grounds of economic hardship. The Constitutional Court also stresses that a child who is capable of forming his or her own views must be heard in proceedings affecting him or her. 43. In 2012 the Czech Republic adopted a National Strategy for the Protection of the Rights of the Child. The Strategy is based on international conventions and on the recommendations of international bodies, including the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC). It sets out the aims and policies that will form the core of a system for protecting children’s rights and addressing their needs in a natural or foster family setting. The Strategy respects the child’s needs and development, and promotes his or her long-term interests. It treats every child as a unique individual while ensuring equal opportunities for all. Special attention will be paid to children and families with specific needs. In these cases, all the competent government authorities and NGOs will be brought in to work closely with the family, friends, school and local community to ensure the child’s healthy development. The cross-cutting priorities include: the child’s participation, elimination of discrimination and unequal treatment of children, the right to family life, and the quality of life for children and families. The secondary aims are: to identify the children’s needs, to provide equal opportunities for all children, to allow the children to participate in matters affecting them, to support positive parenting and foster care, to deinstitutionalize care, to put into place services for families with children, to unify the system of care for children, and to raise public awareness on the rights of the child. The Plans of Action developed for the Strategy are described in Chapter IV. A similar aim – to ease the situation of families with children – is also at the core of the new legislation on alternative childcare services. This legislation promotes the reconciliation of work, family and private life. It makes it easier for parents to retain contact with the workplace during parental leave and to return to work or to find a new job after the leave. 44. The National Coordination Mechanism for Search for Missing Children is a missing children alerts system launched in 2010. The system is activated and data on missing children entered by the Police of the Czech Republic subject to certain criteria. The system gets the public involved in search for missing children. At present there are ten cooperating radio and TV stations, news agencies and Internet portals. The media and general public receive alerts via the www.pomoztemenajit.cz website. An SMS alert service will begin soon on a trial basis. The mechanism includes psychological support for missing children’s families. So far, the system has been activated in 69 cases. The experience with its practical operation is reflected in the internal regulations of the Police of the Czech Republic. 45. The rights of the child and their protection are promoted in government awareness-raising campaigns. The aim of a campaign organized by the Government Commissioner for Human Rights in 2009–2010 was to raise public awareness of violence against children and the forms it may take. All campaign publications were posted on the dedicated website www.stopnasilinadetech.cz. The basic publication was the “ABC on Violence against Children”, a picture book describing the most serious forms of this phenomenon. Another publication, a “Calendar on Violence against Children”, was distributed to schools and psychological and educational counselling centres and used during the expert seminars that were part of the campaign. A specially designed school timetable form was distributed to all first-formers at the beginning of the school year. The schools also received a brochure for teachers on “Interpersonal Violence against Children”. Other brochures distributed to the public dealt with issues such as positive parenting or child Internet safety. There were twelve seminars on forms of violence against children, ways to help child victims of violence, forms of prevention, and alternative methods of positive parenting. The seminars held in Prague and other towns across the Czech Republic were attended by experts, staff of government authorities and NGOs. The campaign included TV and radio spots and billboards with pictures from the “ABC on Violence against Children” across the Czech Republic. 46. In 2011 the Government Commissioner for Human Rights, in cooperation with the Council of Europe, organized a campaign to “Stop Sexual Violence against Children”. The aim was to draw attention to the problem of sexual violence against children, and to present to the public Council of Europe materials on the problem and its prevention. The main campaign tool was a children’s picture book “Kiko and Hand”, accompanied by guidance materials and other advice for adults using the book to explain the problem to children. All campaign materials were distributed to organizations working with vulnerable children. They are also available in public libraries and on the website www.tadysenedotykej.org. The campaign included a preparatory expert seminar and a large national conference discussing the forms and statistical incidence of sexual violence, as well as efficient and child-friendly approaches to prevention and protection, ways to combat the problem, care and assistance for victims and their families, and awareness-raising policies. 52. The Czech Republic is committed to supporting all minorities living in its territory, including sexual minorities. The Committee for Sexual Minorities set up within the Government Council for Human Rights in 2009 uses the Yogyakarta Principles as a guidance document for its work. The seats on the Committee are divided between government authorities and civil society representatives. The Committee analyzes the situation and rights of sexual minorities in the Czech Republic and, like the Council’s other committees, may present to the Council proposals concerning legislative amendments, changes to the procedures followed by government authorities, and solutions to other problems facing sexual minorities. For example, the Committee helped create a handbook on “Homophobia in the Classroom” and recommendations for the media how to treat and present to the public different sexual identities. 55. The use of caged and net beds in residential social care facilities is prohibited by the 2006 Social Care Act. It is only permitted to restrain a client by holding him or her, by secluding him or her in a safe room, and by means of medication prescribed by, and administered in the presence of, a physician. Clients can be restrained if their behaviour poses an imminent danger to human life and health, unless the situation can be brought under control by other means. The restraint must not be applied for longer than is strictly necessary to deal with the imminent danger. The client must be warned that he or she is going to be put under restraint. The social care provider must record every use of restraint and notify the client’s statutory representative without undue delay. Compliance with these rules is the subject of inspections and there are sanctions for violators. 56. The use of caged beds in healthcare facilities is prohibited. The new 2012 Healthcare Services Act permits only the use of net beds, and that only in cases where physical restraint is necessary to avert an imminent danger to human life, health or safety. Confinement to a net bed must be ordered or, if there is a danger in delay, immediately endorsed by a physician. The patient and his or her statutory representative must always be informed about the reasons. Every use of a net bed must be recorded in the patient’s medical record. Confinement to a net bed must not last longer than strictly necessary. If the patient is to remain confined in a net bed for more than 24 hours without his or her consent, a court approval is required. The patient must be under medical supervision at all times. 57. The Czech Republic is very strongly committed to combating human trafficking. The 2009 Criminal Code makes human trafficking a crime, along with deprivation or restriction of personal liberty, abduction abroad, sexual coercion, sexual abuse, procurement and unauthorized employment of foreigners. The Czech Republic has a National Strategy to combat trafficking in human beings for 2008–2015. The Strategy provides an overview of the situation and identifies the key problems, such as the application of criminal legislation and coordination of prevention, research and victim protection. Following a review of the situation, new policies for the years 2012–2015 underline the need to educate and train the appropriate professional groups, to raise awareness among the vulnerable groups, and to establish cooperation with additional institutions and organizations, namely as regards worker exploitation. The policies are developed by the Interior Ministry in cooperation with other ministries and government authorities, and with NGO’s helping the victims of human trafficking. 58. The education, training and awareness-raising activities target both professionals and the general public. Police officers are trained to identify victims of human trafficking and offer them assistance. Education and training is provided to public prosecutors, judges, physicians, municipal police forces, and institutions such as Employment Centres, Czech embassies, social welfare departments of local government authorities, and the Interior Ministry’s Refugee Facilities Administration. In 2007–2010, the IOM, in cooperation with the NGOs La Strada and Caritas of the Archdiocese of Prague, organized an awareness-raising campaign “Say it for Her” against human trafficking in Prague. The campaign targeted the clients of prostitutes as well as the wider public. Participating organizations created a platform called “Together against Human Trafficking” and opened a hotline for anonymous reporting of suspected human trafficking cases. The campaign included a dedicated website (in Czech, English and German) and publication of materials on human trafficking. In 2009 the Interior Ministry published a bilingual brochure and a leaflet for victims of human trafficking with basic information about organizations offering help. In 2011 the leaflet was translated into the languages of the most common countries of origin of victims, and will be distributed in 2012. 59. A three-year project for “Detecting cases of people trafficked for the purpose of worker exploitation or forced labour” was launched in 2010. The project is managed by the Interior Ministry in cooperation with the NGO La Strada and the Judicial Academy. The aim is to raise public awareness on human trafficking and to give the victims better access to legal representation and other services. The project i.a. charts the experience with criminal law approach to cases where people are being trafficked for the purpose of forced labour or other forms of exploitation. One of the specific objectives is to create a definition of “forced labour” and “worker exploitation” reflecting Czech as well as foreign experience, and to promote the active use of the definition in Czech courts. 60. In cooperation with NGOs, the Czech Republic has developed a Programme to Support and Protect Victims of Human Trafficking. The Programme offers assistance to victims, including psychosocial and health care, accommodation and related services, and encourages victims to cooperate with law enforcement authorities. Another aim of the Programme is to support the victims´ social rehabilitation and to regularize the residence status of victims who are not EU citizens. As part of the programme, the Interior Ministry coordinates and funds the victims’ voluntary and safe return to their countries of origin. Since 2003 there have been 50 cases of voluntary return, including 14 cases of victims returning to the Czech Republic. 61. A policy document on “Trafficking in children – recommended procedures for public authorities” was published in 2011 as part of an action to prevent child trafficking. The recommended procedures were developed jointly by government authorities and NGOs. They should be followed by public authorities when dealing with crimes against property committed by minor foreigners. It stresses that the child offender may actually be a victim of human trafficking who has been coerced into committing the crime. The document was distributed to all relevant authorities and institutions and is available on the Interior Ministry website. 62. In 2011 the Human Rights Section of the Government Office created a “Strategy for Combating Social Exclusion for 2012-2015”. The Strategy has been approved by the Government and will be implemented by the Government Human Rights Commissioner and the Agency for Social Inclusion. The main aim is to eliminate social exclusion and poverty in socially excluded neighbourhoods. To this end, the Strategy helps excluded individuals and families find their way back to the mainstream social and economic structures. The main concerns are care for vulnerable children, planning and development of social services, pre-school and school education, active employment policy, support of low-income housing, etc. The Strategy proposes measures to address the situation of socially excluded communities in the context of their wider neighbourhoods, and to prevent the emergence of socially excluded neighbourhoods. 64. The long-term education and school system development policy for 2012–2015 requires i.a. support for the participation of socially disadvantaged children in pre-school education, support for primary schools establishing head-start classes, assessment of the contribution of head-start classes to inclusive education, measures to ensure the regular school attendance of socially disadvantaged pupils throughout the school year, support for primary schools preparing to take in socially disadvantaged pupils, and close interaction between educational and social intervention services with a view to timely identification of special educational needs. 65. The first Plan of Action to implement the National Strategy for Protecting the Rights of the Child (see Chapter III, paragraph 43) covers the years 2012–2015. It contains a list of tasks for each government authority. The aim is to improve the quality of life for children and families, to eliminate discrimination and unequal treatment of children, to support the child’s full development in a natural or foster family setting, and to promote the active participation of children and young people in decision-making processes directly affecting them. 1. The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) noted with satisfaction the ratification by the Czech Republic of CRPD in 2009, as also welcomed by the Committee against Torture (CAT), and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court,as welcomed by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). CEDAW, CERD and the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) encouraged the Czech Republic to consider ratifying ICRMW and CPED. In 2011, CRC urged the State to ratify OP-CRC-SC, ICRMW and OP-CRPD.The Committee against Torture (CAT) invited the State party to ratify ICRMW, CED, OP-ICESCR and OP-CRC-SC. 2. CRC recommended that the Czech Republic consider withdrawing its reservation to article 7, paragraph 1, of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. In 2010, CEDAW reiterated its recommendation that the Czech Republic consider ratifying the Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its Protocol, and OP-CRC-SC. 5. CEDAW welcomed the adoption and implementation of the Anti-Discrimination Act prohibiting discrimination on grounds of sex and sexual orientation, as also welcomed by UNHCR. In 2011, CERD welcomed legislative and institutional steps taken by the Czech Republic, including the amendments of the Rules of Civil Procedure; the Penal Code; the Labour Code; and the Civic Associations Act; adoption of a National Action Plan in the context of the Decade of Roma Inclusion 2005-2015; the Strategy for the Work of the Czech Police Force in Relation to Minorities; the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion, and the establishment of the Agency for Social Inclusion in Roma localities; Supreme Administrative Court decision of 2010 dissolving the Workers Party for its advocacy of neo-Nazi ideology and expressions of opposition to immigrants and minorities; extension of the Concept of Roma integration for the period 2010–2013; and awareness-raising activities organized on Roma culture and history. CRC also welcomed similar legislative, institutional and policy measures. 6. While welcoming the fact that the Czech Republic intends to revise and simplify the Alien Act, UNHCR noted concerns that, if adopted, the legislation will mandate that any alien in proceedings for administrative expulsion, including asylum seekers, children older than 16 years and families with children will be placed in detention. UNHCR recommended that consideration be given to its suggestion to revise the provisions of the proposed legislative changes on detention, and to ensure that asylum seekers, including minors older than 16 years and families with children, will not be detained in the future. 7. UNHCR expressed concern regarding the draft Citizenship Act of the Czech Republic, in particular on the provision that a child born in Czech territory acquires Czech citizenship at birth if one of the parents holds a Czech residence permit for a period longer than 90 days. UNHCR also expressed concern that the draft Act differentiates in the conditions for acquisition of nationality between stateless children in general and those who are placed in institutional, foster or another form of alternative care. 13. Special-procedures mandate holders have sent communications with regard to deportation, racism, trafficking in persons, increasing tension between Roma and non-Roma, and secrete detention. 26. CEDAW remained concerned about the underreporting of domestic violence and rape; low prosecution and conviction rates; lenient sentences; limited access to legal aid for victims of domestic or sexual violence claiming only “immaterial” damage; lack of victim assistance and protection; and that the definition of rape in the new Criminal Code might not cover any sexual act committed against a non-consenting person, including in the absence of active resistance. 28. The Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children, was informed that in 2010 the Criminal Code was amended so that a duty to report applied to the crime of human trafficking and the crime of depriving personal freedom. The duty to report allegedly prevented NGOs and other service providers assisting trafficked persons from building a relationship of trust and confidence with trafficked persons. Further, it allegedly discouraged certain communities such as a migrant community from reporting possible cases of human trafficking to NGOs, as they may wish to avoid contact with the law enforcement authorities for reasons related to their immigrant status. 29. CEDAW recommended adoption and implementation of a standardized policy for all relevant governmental bodies to identify victims of trafficking in human beings, and review of the Programme of Support and Protection of Human Trafficking Victims. CEDAW called on the Czech Republic to ensure that perpetrators were brought to justice. CEDAW recommended designing and implementing preventive measures specifically targeting Roma and migrant women and girls, as also noted by CERD. CAT made similar recommendations. 30. CRC recommended that the Czech Republic strengthen psychosocial support to child victims of sexual abuse. 31. CRC encouraged the Czech Republic to eliminate all forms of violence against children; and ensure the implementation of the recommendations of the United Nations study on violence against children. 32.CRC urged the Czech Republic to address the widespread tolerance of corporal punishment with a view to encouraging the use of alternative disciplinary measures in accordance with the inherent dignity of the child and to ensure that corporal punishment was prohibited in all settings, including the family. CAT was also concerned about the widespread tolerance of corporal punishment and the absence of legislation explicitly prohibiting it. 35.CERD reiterated its previous recommendations that the Czech Republic should ensure that racially motivated acts of violence against Roma were investigated and that perpetrators did not remain unpunished. It encouraged the recruitment of members of Roma communities by the police. 36. CRC was concerned that children under the age of 15 could be placed, even for petty offences, in institutional care prior to legal proceedings, without the guarantees associated with standard criminal proceedings. CRC regretted that children were not always held separately from adults and under acceptable conditions. 38. CRC was concerned at the widespread attitude of accepting institutionalized care as a primary alternative to the family environment. 39. CRC was also concerned about the absence of a clear, consistent and objectively determined set of criteria for assessing a child’s suitability for adoption. 40. CRC strongly urged the Czech Republic to end the “Baby Box” programme as soon as possible and expeditiously to strengthen and promote alternatives. CRC urged it to address the root causes which led to the abandonment of infants, including the provision of family planning and adequate counselling and social support for unplanned pregnancies and the prevention of risk pregnancies. 41. CRC remained concerned about the situation of stateless minor applicants in theCzech Republic whose applications for nationality had been pending for a prolongedperiod of time. CRC was concerned that insufficient measures had been undertaken to ensure that all children had the right to know and be cared for by their parents. 43. CERD regretted that article 4 (b) of the Convention was not adequately covered by the Czech Republic’s legislation, which referred to persons only but did not prohibit organizations and other propaganda activities inciting racial discrimination. 44. CRC reiterated its recommendation to introduce a comprehensive legal provision establishing the right of the child to participate that would be applicable to courts, administrative bodies, institutions, schools, child-care institutions and families in matters affecting children, and guarantee the right to appeal against the decisions. 46. CEDAW recommended: ensuring that migrant women retain their legal status when taking maternity and parental leave; investigating abusive labour practices against migrant women; and that all migrant women and their children be covered by health insurance and have access to affordable health-care services, irrespective of their residence status and employment.50. CRC noted that the Czech Republic did not have legislation providing for social housing, which was a major factor contributing to the social exclusion and/or placement into care of children. CRC noted that while it had a system of social benefits, these did not provide an adequate solution for the large numbers of families with children lacking adequate housing. 54. CEDAW took note of the interference with women’s reproductive health choices in hospitals; a rapid increase in the Caesarean section rate; separation of newborns from their mothers for up to several hours without health-related reasons; refusal to release the mother and child from hospital before 72 hours after childbirth; and patronizing attitudes of doctors which impeded the exercise by mothers of their freedom of choice. It noted women’s limited options for delivering their babies outside hospitals. 55. CRC was concerned that children of foreign nationals were precluded from access to public health insurance; were required to obtain private health insurance at significantly higher costs; and that those who had severe illnesses were often rejected by private health insurance providers and could not access health services and care. 56. CRC recommended stepping up efforts in adolescent-sex and reproductive-health education; improving the accessibility of contraception to reduce the number of teenage pregnancies; developing child-friendly programmes to assist teenage mothers and their children; and addressing the high rates of suicide amongst adolescents. 57. CEDAW noted with concern the segregation of many Roma girls in schools for pupils with mild mental disabilities. CEDAW urged the Czech Republic to reinforce its programmes to include Roma girls in mainstream education. CEDAW recommended reducing school dropout and absenteeism of Roma girls and educating teachers to counter persistent prejudices against Roma and negative gender stereotypes, and on gender equality policies. 58. CRC remained deeply concerned about segregation of children of Roma origin through the slow operationalization of effective reform measures to facilitate inclusion and integration; low rates of actual implementation of culturally sensitive or adapted tests for determining the academic/intellectual abilities of children from ethnic minorities; continued placement of Roma children in separate classes and the teaching of Roma children with a reduced syllabus formerly used for special schools; absence of financial support for children from socially or financially disadvantaged situations, resulting in the tendency for such children to be categorized as having “disabilities” in order to receive additional financial resources designated for children with disabilities; and lack of genuine informed consent in the process leading to a child’s placement in the Framework Education Programme for Children with Light Mental Disabilities. 59. CERD expressed its concern regarding the persistent segregation of Roma children in education; that the practice of linking social disadvantage and ethnicity with disability for the purposes of school-class allocation had continued; and that some amendments to regulatory decrees which took effect in September 2011 might reinforce discrimination against Roma children in education. CRC urged the Czech Republic to eliminate all forms of segregation of children of Roma origin, especially the discriminatory practices against them in the education system, and to provide essential services and housing. 60. CAT was also concerned about the placement of Roma children in educational facilities for children with slight mental disabilities or with a reduced syllabus formerly used for special schools, which compromises their subsequent educational development. CAT recalled that the special protection of certain minorities or marginalized individuals or groups especially at risk is part of the State party’s obligations under the Convention. 62. CRC recommended that the Czech Republic effectively provide mainstream education for children with disabilities; amend its legislation to prohibit schools from refusing children on the grounds of insufficient material resources; provide socio-economic support to children with disabilities regardless of their age; and promote and facilitate care for children with disabilities in a family environment. 63. CAT recommended that the Czech Republic allocate appropriate funding for the implementation of the national plan on the transformation of psychiatric, health, social and other services for adults and children with intellectual or psychosocial disabilities to ensure a speedy process of deinstitutionalization to more community-based services and/or affordable housing, and establish close supervision and monitoring by judicial organs of any placement in institutions of persons with intellectual or psychosocial disabilities, with appropriate legal safeguards and visit by independent monitoring bodies. 64. CERD expressed its concern about the discrimination experienced by minority and non-citizen women on the basis of both their ethnicity and gender. 65. CAT was seriously concerned about the reports concerning the continued marginalization of and discrimination against the members of the Roma minority. This has included some incidents in the recent past of three deaths, anti-Roma rallies as well as arson attacks against Roma homes. CAT was also concerned about the lack of prompt, impartial and effective investigations and prosecutions regarding such incidents. 66. CERD recommended that the Czech Republic include in its overall strategy the issue of overrepresentation of Roma children in State care institutions by addressing the root causes of this phenomenon and that it organize training and education for associated professionals and personnel on Roma rights. 69. CRC remained seriously concerned about the continuing practice of detaining asylum seekers, including children. CRC was concerned at the situation of detained asylum-seeking families and guardians with minors at the specialized detention centre in Bela-Jezova which did not meet the required standard for asylum-seeking children’s well-being and their best interests. 70. CRC was deeply concerned that refugees faced serious challenges in exercising their right to education in the Czech Republic. CRC was concerned that children below the age of 16 were excluded from language training and that such training for those residing outside State-run refugee facilities had been discontinued and that non-Czech-speaking children were often placed in classes which did not correspond to their age, intellectual development or needs; and refugee children were often similarly subject to segregation. 71. CAT was concerned about the continuous practice of detention of asylum-seekers, including families with children and minors accompanied by a legal guardian; the restrictions in the freedom of movement of asylum seekers in closed reception centres; and the regime and material conditions of detention in centres for foreign nationals awaiting deportation recommending implementing alternatives to detention of asylum seekers, including unconditional release, in particular of families with children and asylum-seeking adults who are responsible for children. 72. UNHCR noted that no statelessness-determination procedure had yet been established in the Czech Republic. 1. Joint Submission 1 (JS1) recommended that the Czech Republic ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography and the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children, supplementing the UN Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime. 2. JS1 further recommended the ratification of the Council of Europe (CoE) Convention on the Protection of Children Against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse, the CoE Convention on Trafficking in Human Beings, and the CoE Convention on Cybercrime, as well as cooperation with the CoE towards the implantation of human rights instruments both in the Czech Republic and in other CoE Member States. 3. Amnesty International (AI) noted that in 2009, the Parliament adopted the Anti-Discrimination Act and expressed concerns that the Act has shortcomings, which may affect its effectiveness in ensuring access to remedies for Roma families who experience discrimination. Open Society Justice Initiative (OSJI) noted a similar concern regarding the practical application of the Anti-Discrimination Act. Joint Submission 2 (JS2) recommended strengthening anti-discrimination legislation to enable positive action leading to the abolition of segregated settings and the achievement of better education outcomes for children from Roma communities and children with disabilities, and clearly defining in the law segregation as one of the forms of discrimination. 6. JS1 noted that while a new definition of trafficking in human beings introduced in Section 232(a) of the 2004 Criminal Code provides for a definition of trafficking in children, it falls short of international standards in defining trafficking in children as the term “exploitation” does not include prostitution and other forms of sexual exploitation of children. 7. JS1 stated that the Czech Criminal Code lacked a clear definition of child pornography that would be consistent with the provisions of relevant international and regional legal standards. JS1 further stated that this was a major legal gap, which encourages the production of child abuse materials in the country. 8. OSJI noted that two amended administrative decrees: 72/2005 on the provision of counselling services in schools and school counselling facilities and 73/2005 on the education of children, pupils and students with special educational needs and exceptionally gifted children, pupils and students, entered into force. OSJI further noted that section 3 of Decree 73/2005 still allowed for children with social disadvantages to be placed in separate classes for children with disabilities for up to five months if such children fail to cope in mainstream school over an extended period. 9. While noting the Czech school system provides no systemic support to assist children with social disadvantages in mainstream schooling, OSJI stated that, to the extent that a disproportionate number of Roma children may fall into this socially disadvantaged category and may hence have difficulty in mainstream schools absent any additional support, placement in segregated classes with a limited curriculum may prove even more disruptive to their schooling and further hinder their ability to catch up with their mainstream peers upon return to regular classes. 10. JS1 recommended the establishment of an Ombudsperson for children noting that the present Public Defender of Rights (Ombudsman) has limited control over cases of children rights. 11. JS1 recommended integration of the issue of child trafficking in the National Action Plan and any national policy targeted human trafficking. 12. JS1 stated that action plans for addressing commercial sexual exploitation of children were expert-oriented and not adequately accessible to all children, their parents and the general public. 13. AI noted that in March 2010, the Government adopted the National Action Plan for Inclusive Education (NAPIE) which aims to address shortcomings in access to education for Roma children recommending that the Ministry of Education confirm the commitment to implementing it. The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights (CoE/ Commissioner) welcomed the adoption of this National Action Plan while noting that statistics indicating that Roma children were still 12 times more likely than their non-Roma peers across the country to be educated in special schools offering inferior education and much more likely than that in certain regions. OSJI also stated that the NAPIE was not a comprehensive programme of action but an intention to create a plan with no concrete targets, no defined or identified funding and an unacceptably long timeframe for implementation. In addition, OSJI stated that the NAPIE in its current form did little to end discrimination and segregation of Roma children. AI further recommended ensuring its effective implementation, including by making available the necessary human and other resources and by adequate funding from the Ministry of Education and other relevant government agencies. 14. JS2 noted the Strategy for the Fight Against Social Exclusion 2011 -2015 adopted in 2011, many key provisions of which such as the need to abolish the system of practical schools were subsequently repudiated by Ministry of Education officials. JS2 also noted that no budget had been allocated to put the Strategy into practice. 15. OSJI recommended that the Czech Republic request technical assistance and/or country visits by the Special Rapporteur on the right to education and the Independent Expert on Minority Issues to help address persistent discrimination against Roma in education. 17. The CoE/Commissioner noted that there had been virtually no change on the ground in the Czech Republic since the European Court of Human Rights found in 2007 that the country had discriminated against Roma children by educating them in schools for children with mental disabilities. The CoE/Commissioner further stated that the implementation of the landmark judgment (D.H. and Others v Czech Republic) was worryingly delayed and it was not clear whether this would change in the near future. 27. According to the CoE, there is no explicit prohibition in legislation of corporal punishment in the home, in schools and in other institutions. Global Initiative to End All Corporal Punishment of Children (GIEACPC) noted more specifically that corporal punishment was lawful in the home while it was unlawful in schools under article 31 of the Education Act, which provides that “especially rude verbal or intentional physical assault of a pupil or student” is “a serious wilful violation of duties.” In the penal system, corporal punishment was unlawful as a sentence for crime under the Criminal Code and the Juvenile Justice Act No. 218/2003. In alternative care settings, corporal punishment was unlawful in institutions under the Act on Institutional Care (Act No. 102/2002, as amended in 2005), which specifies the permitted means of correction. However, the Act does not explicitly prohibit corporal punishment. On the other hand, corporal punishment was lawful in non-institutional forms of care. In this regard, GIEACPC recommended that legislation be enacted to explicitly prohibit corporal punishment of children in all settings, including the home as a matter of priority. 28. While noting that the Criminal Code does not provide a clear and comprehensive definition of child prostitution, JS1 stated that any other forms of gratification in exchange of sexual activity with a child should also be included in the Criminal Code. JS1 further expressed concern that children between 15 and 18 years of age can legally engage in prostitution. 29. JS1 also stated that an elaborate, unified and coordinated system of crisis intervention, long-term care for victims, and rehabilitation was not in place. There was no special support or rehabilitation programme for commercial sexual exploitation of children victims available in such institutions and many children managed to run away and became re-victimized. In this regard, JS1 recommended developing a rehabilitation and reintegration support programme for child victims of trafficking and establishing more care centres providing tailored support to child victims of prostitution and pornography. 30. JS1 recommended providing capacity building to law enforcement officials as well as workers on the identification of child victims of commercial sexual exploitation and on measures to protect children from commercial sexual exploitation, for instance, child-friendly procedures within the justice system. 32. JS1 stated that the Czech Republic had no separate justice system to adjudicate cases involving persons under the age of 18. JS1 further stated that the law in the area of juvenile justice was rather ambiguous as it did not clearly distinguish between punitive measures imposed on children in conflict with the law and protection measures applicable to child victims. 33. JS4 noted that under the 2006 Law on Registered Partnership, registered partners of the same-sex were not entitled to adopting children, not even the biological child of the other partner. JS4 further noted that the 2012 new Civil Code to come into effect on 1 January 2014 had omitted the institution of registered partnership, as a result of which registered partners are not eligible for consideration as family. 34. JS4 also noted that a new Law on International Private Law along with the Civil Code would not recognize adoption performed abroad by Czech same-sex couples, which would lead to a legal vacuum regarding the legal status of the adopted child. 39. JS2 noted that child victims of commercial sexual exploitation were granted neither legal nor psychological assistance nor adequate social rehabilitation support system. In this regard, JS2 recommended strengthening the provision of holistic and long-term psychological support to child victims of sexual abuse. 40. JS2 stated that the National Action Plan of Inclusive Education adopted in 2010 failed to embrace the fundamental principle of inclusive education whereby all children, Romani and non-Romani, those with disabilities and those without, should be educated together in a mainstream school setting with appropriate support and not separated out into schools or classes that carry the stigma of inferiority. OSJI noted the Grand Chamber judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in D.H. and others v Czech Republic holding that the Czech Government’s disproportionate assignment of Roma children to separate and inferior schools and classes violated their right to education and the European Convention’s prohibition against discrimination. OSJI further stated that despite the above-noted legal victory, discrimination and segregation of Roma children continued. 41. As such, OSJI stated that there had been little change on the ground while referring to the recommendations of the first UPR cycle in this respect. OSJI further specified that since its last review by the UPR in 2008, Roma children were still disproportionately languishing in inferior quality practical schools and segregated classes in mainstream schools. Though some changes had been made, they were largely cosmetic. The Government had yet to propose, let alone to institute, the fundamental structural changes to the Czech schooling system needed to stop and redress the violation of Roma children’s rights to education and freedom from discrimination in policy, law and practice. 42. AI stated that the above-mentioned National Action Plan for Inclusive Education was not being implemented and the Ministry of Education lacked capacity and political will to put an end to discrimination in access to education. AI further expressed concern that Roma children continue to experience widespread and systematic discrimination in their access to education. 43. OSJI noted that the Czech Government was failing to spend all the EU Structural Funds available to it for inclusive education purposes. OSJI also noted that since 2010, the Ministry of Education had systematically cut resources and expertise from its department set up to address inclusive education leaving little technical expertise to ensure that anti-discrimination policies can be effectively implemented in practice. 44. AI further stated that as a result of the lack of government action, Roma children continued to be disproportionately represented in “practical” elementary schools (the former “special schools”) and in classes teaching an inferior curriculum. AI noted that the name change from special to practical schools had not been accompanied by any measures to ensure that children who had been wrongly placed in the special schools were transferred to schools corresponding to their actual abilities and skills. JS2 noted that lack of data on the placement of Roma children into practical schools was an ongoing issue, which hinders effective decision-making and policy development. Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) quoted the official estimation of the Czech Education Authority that 35 per cent of the children diagnosed with a slight mental handicap belong to the Roma ethnic group. According to STP, the assessment method of psychologists in the centres for educational advice that excludes Roma children from regular classes refusing them access to higher education. 45. AI recommended: provision of the necessary resources to ensure that additional support is immediately available for children who need it to effectively participate in and develop to their fullest potential within the mainstream elementary school system; development of a concrete timeline for the transfer of all Romani children erroneously placed in practical schools to mainstream schools containing a mix of Roma and non-Roma pupils; development of a comprehensive plan and timeline with clear, achievable and ambitious annual targets to eliminate the segregation of Roma children within the mainstream education system; and ensuring that the Office of Public Defender of Rights is adequately resourced to monitor the desegregation of schools and the integration of children from practical elementary schools into mainstream elementary schools. OSJI made similar recommendations in this regard. 46. In addition, CoE-ECRI urged the authorities at the relevant levels to transfer substantial numbers of Roma children from specialized primary schools to ordinary education based on clear and ambitious targets. The implementation of these targets should be monitored and a national supervisory mechanism set up to ensure that the relevant authorities are held to account for the results achieved. The CoE/Commissioner and the CoE Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities made a similar recommendation. 47. JS2 stated that a new testing regime proposed to be implemented in 2013 could also encourage segregation as tests will only assess aggregated school results from each school, not taking into account the learning difficulties of individual children. According to JS2, this broad testing methodology may have an impact on school’s efforts towards inclusion. Further, schools may be even more reluctant to accept children from socially disadvantaged backgrounds for fear of losing funding if they don’t score well on the tests. 48. In 2009, the CoE Committee of Ministers called on the Czech Republic to promote awareness and tolerance vis-à-vis the regional or minority languages as an integral part of the cultural heritage of the country both in the general curriculum at all states of education and in the media. It further urged the Czech Republic to adopt a structured policy for the protection and promotion of Romani and German, and to create favourable conditions for their use in public life ensuring that speaking Romani at school is not prohibited or discouraged. 50. Furthermore, the CoE Committee of Ministers called on the Czech Republic to improve legislation concerning the composition and powers of committees for national minorities, including the creation of regional or minority language schools and the use of Polish place names in topographical signs. It also called on the Czech Republic to take measures to make available teaching in or of Slovak, Romani and German in cooperation with the speakers. Accepted and Rejected Recommendations No recommendations were accepted or rejected. The following recommendations are pending: P - 94.2. Consider an early ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography (OP-CRC-SC) (Malaysia)/Consider ratifying the OP-CRC-SC (Rwanda); P - 94.3. Sign and ratify the OP-CRC-SC (Egypt, Kyrgyzstan)/ Ratify the OP- CRC-SC (Greece, Tunisia, Spain, Uruguay)/ Ratify the OP-CRC-SC with a view to providing better implementation to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (Turkey)/ Expedite the ratification of the OP-CRC-SC (India)/Ratify the OP-CRC-SC and offer quality psychological support to child victims of sexual exploitation (Belgium); P - 94.4. Enact the necessary legislation in view of its ratification of the OP- CRC-SC (Lichtenstein); P - 94.5. Consider an early ratification of the third optional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a communication procedure (Slovakia); P - 94.13. Consider the ratification of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children (Rwanda); P - 94.14. Sign and ratify the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children (Egypt)/Ratify the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (Tunisia); P - 94.22. Ratify the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, as a member of the European family (Turkey); P - 94.25. Include in its national legislation a clear definition of child pornography and review legislation with a view to criminalizing child prostitution, including the adoption of a victim-oriented approach towards children victims of sexual exploitation (Egypt); P - 94.29. Ratify the OP-CRC-SC and take necessary measures aiming at the accreditation of the Public Defender of Rights of Citizens by the International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions (Algeria); P - 94.32. Consider the creation of an Ombudsman for children’s rights in order to further enhance the status of children (Ireland); P - 94.34. Increase efforts to protect the rights of vulnerable groups, particularly women and children (Iraq); P - 94.35. Continue its policies on improving the rights of the child (Jordan); P - 94.36. Step up its efforts to ensure the implementation of the First Plan of Action for the National Strategy for the Protection of the Rights of Child 2012 – 2015 (Indonesia); P - 94.37. Fully implement the National Strategy for the Protection of the Rights of the Child through plans of action (Republic of Moldova); P - 94.38. Review the recent national strategy for the protection of rights of children and take into account the concerns and recommendations made during the second UPR cycle in this regard (Nicaragua); P - 94.39. Take into account the resolutions approved by the Council, which covers a series of important issues and offers significant recommendations to promote and protect the rights of children (Nicaragua); P - 94.73. Stop and redress the violation of Roma children’s rights to education and freedom from discrimination in policy, law and practice to ensure that anti-discrimination policies can be effectively implemented in practice (Iran (Islamic Republic of)); P - 94.85. Continue to strengthen Government policies to ensure children are not exploited or trafficked (Namibia); P - 94.86. Provide capacity-building to law enforcement officials on the identification of child victims of commercial sexual exploitation and on measures to protect children from commercial sexual exploitation (Lichtenstein); P - 94.87. Provide capacity-building to law enforcement officials as well as workers on the identification of child victims of commercial sexual exploitation and on measures to protect children from commercial sexual exploitation, for instance, child-friendly procedures within the justice system(Iran (Islamic Republic of)); P - 94.88. Take measures to combat domestic violence, in particular against children, including the usage of corporal punishment (Russian Federation); P - 94.89. Explicitly prohibit all corporal punishment of children in all settings, including in the home (Lichtenstein); P - 94.90. Explicitly prohibit corporal punishment of children in all settings (Hungary); P - 94.91. Develop more effective programmes to support families, care institutions and foster families by paying special attention to the rights of children and adolescents (Russian Federation); P - 94.95. Confirm the commitment by the Ministry of Education to implement the National Action Plan for Inclusive Education (Palestine); P - 94.96. Take measures to ensure the effective implementation of the National Action Plan for Inclusive Education (NAPIE) by ensuring that adequate funding is made available and that concrete targets are set to ensure that all children, including Roma, are provided with equal access and equal opportunity to education (Canada); P - 94.97. Undertake appropriate measures in the education sphere to further focus on the effective integration and development of disadvantaged children (Sri Lanka); P - 94.98. Take appropriate steps to ensure inclusive education in Czech schools. (Norway); P - 94.99. Redouble its efforts in the comprehensive implementation of the National Plan of Action for Inclusive Education (Indonesia); P - 94.100. Fully implement the 2010 National Action Plan for Inclusive Education by mainstreaming Romani students whenever possible (United States of America); P - 94.101. That the Ministry of Education fully implement the National Plan of Action for Inclusive Education for Roma children in school (Belgium); P - 94.102. Fully implement the National Plan of Action for Inclusive Education and eliminate practices that lead to the continued segregation of Roma children at school, redouble efforts to remedy all shortcomings faced by Roma children in the field of education (Kyrgyzstan); P - 94.103. Implement effectively the National Action Plan for Inclusive Education, including by making available adequate human and financial resources, and strengthen it by developing a concrete timeline with clear targets to put an end to the segregation of Roma children within the mainstream system (Denmark); P - 94.104. Ensure prompt and effective implementation of the NAPIE and other strategies and action plans relevant to the full realization of the rights of Roma children by, inter alia, making available the necessary human and other resources and setting clear, measurable and ambitious targets for transfers of children to ordinary education and for overall de-segregation of the school system (Finland); P - 94.105. Seek to ensure full participation of the Roma themselves in these efforts (Finland); P - 94.106. Promote the integration of Roma children in the educational system under the same conditions as the other children (Spain); P - 94.107. As part of its efforts to achieve inclusive education for Roma, take measures necessary to include students and teachers from the specialised education system into the regular system (Mexico); P - 94.108. Increase efforts for the efficient implementation of the right to education of members of the Roma minority, as recommended by the Committee on the Rights of the Child and Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights (Slovenia); P - 94.109. Reinforce its programmes to include Roma girls in the mainstream education (Bangladesh); P - 94.110. Continue with measures to remove discrimination and segregation of Romani pupils, including by ensuring effective implementation of its National Action Plan for Inclusive Education (Australia); P - 94.111. Effectively eliminate segregation of Roma within the education system, inter alia, by fully and swiftly implementing the National Action Plan for Inclusive Education aiming at addressing issues identified by the European Court for Human Rights (Austria); P - 94.112. Revise criteria for enrolment into special schools thus avoiding the enrolment of Roma children in special schools without due recommendation of education and psychology professionals (Brazil); P - 94.113. Fund and implement a single plan and timeline with clear annual targets aimed at eliminating school segregation for Roma children and ensuring inclusive education (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland); P - 94.114. Ensure effective access of children with disabilities to compulsory education, including through the legal amendments to prohibit the denial of access to education for those children because of limited material and other resources (Uzbekistan); P - 94.115. Continue its efforts to provide minority and migrant boys and girls the best possible access to the general education that benefits all citizens of the country (Paraguay); P - 94.131. Provide effective guarantee for the rights of Roma in the fields of education, employment and housing (China); P - 94.135. Establish affirmative actions for members of Roma communities, including by considering reserving vacancies at universities and at the public service (Brazil);
Monday 22 October 2012 - 9.00 a.m. - 12.30 p.m.
Compilation of UN information
Summary of Stakeholder information
Accepted and Rejected Recommendations
Summary of stakeholders' information