GUINEA: Persistent violations of children's rights

Summary: The violations highlighted are those issues raised with the State by more than one international mechanism. This is done with the intention of identifying children's rights which have been repeatedly violated, as well as gaps in the issues covered by NGOs in their alternative reports to the various human rights monitoring bodies. These violations are listed in no particular order.

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Early and forced marriage
UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (Concluding Observations, February 2013)

While welcoming the definition of a child in Guinea contained in the Children’s Code is in line with the Convention and the fact that the minimum legal age of marriage is now fixed at 18 years for both boys and girls, the Committee is concerned that article 269 of the Children’s Code allows the marriage of boys and girls under 18 years, with the consent of their parents or legal guardians.

The Committee urges the State party amend article 269 of the Children’s Code and eliminate all discrepancies linked to the age of marriage. (Paragraphs 33 and 34)

The Committee also expresses deep concern at the prevalence of early and forced marriages in the State party including marriages as a mean of “compensation” or “settlement” organised by families between sexually abused girls and their abusers and at limited measures taken to eradicate these practices as well as alimentary taboos, levirate, sororate, repudiation and polygamy.

The Committee recommends the State party to:

(a) Enforce existing legislation prohibiting FGM and early and forced marriage as well as "marriages as a “mean of compensation” or “settlement" by bringing perpetrators to justice, and ensure that other harmful practices are outlawed and punished;
(b) Strengthen efforts to raise awareness within the extended family, among Local Protection Committees, health care providers and practitioners, traditional and religious leaders on the harmful impact of FGM and other harmful traditional practices on the psychological and physical health and welfare of the girl child, as well as her future family;
(c) Assist and empower practitioners of FGM to find an alternative source of income; and
(d) Actively promote change with regard to levirate, sororate, repudiation, polygamy and other practices that impact adversely on women, girls and children. (Paragraphs 55 and 56)

UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
Last reported: 25 July 29007
Concluding Observations issued: 10 August 2007

The Committee is concerned about various prevailing discriminatory provisions in the Civil Code, such as a lower age of marriage for women (17 years) than for men (18 years), the notion that the man is the head of the household and as such determines the location of the family domicile, and the provisions relating to custody of minor children and the unequal sharing of marital responsibilities.
The Committee urges the State party to place high priority on the speedy adoption of the draft civil code in order to bring the relevant provisions promptly into line with articles 1, 2, 15 and 16 of the Convention. The Committee calls upon the State party to increase its efforts to sensitise public opinion regarding the importance of this reform, in order to achieve full compliance with its provisions. (Paragraph 44 and 45)

[The Committee] is also concerned about the very low number of girls in higher education, the low level of schooling of girls, in particular in rural areas, and the high drop-out rate of girls, including for such reasons as pregnancy and early and forced marriage.
It requests the State party to implement specific measures to enable girls to complete their schooling after childbirth, and to combat early and forced marriage as obstacles to their education. It encourages the State party to strengthen collaboration with civil society and to seek enhanced support from the international community and donor organisations to accelerate compliance with article 10 of the Convention. (Paragraphs 34 and 35)

Universal Periodic Review (May 2010)

A - 40. Enact without delay national legislation on domestic violence and marital rape and all forms of sexual abuse, and ensure equal rights for women, in law and in practice, in the areas of land ownership, inheritance, marriage and the protection of women and children, as recommended by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (Israel); (accepted)
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Female genital mutilation
UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (Concluding Observations, February 2013)

The Committee notes with regrets that in spite of the enactment of law L010/AN/2000 of 10 July 2000 on Reproductive Health, prohibiting female genital mutilation (FGM) (art.13) and the elaboration of a strategic plan against FGM (2012-2016), 96% of girls and women are still subject to FGM as indicated by the delegation during the dialogue. (Paragraph 54)

UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
Last reported: 25 July 2007
Concluding Observations issued: 10 August 2007

While noting the entrenched cultural underpinning of female genital mutilation and welcoming the promulgation of Act L/2000/010/AN of 10 July 2000 on reproductive health which prohibits female genital mutilation, as well as other measures, such as the prohibition on carrying out female genital mutilation at health facilities, the Committee is deeply concerned about the persistence and very high incidence of that harmful practice, which is a grave violation of girls’ and women’s human rights and of the State party’s obligations under the Convention. It is also concerned about the impunity of perpetrators. The Committee notes the serious health complications for girls and women arising out of the practice of female genital mutilation and which, in some cases, may lead to death.
The Committee urges the State party to raise awareness about the Law on Reproductive Health that prohibits all forms of female genital mutilation and to ensure its enforcement, including the prosecution and adequate punishment of offenders. It urges the State party to strengthen its awareness-raising and education efforts, targeted at both men and women, with the support of civil society and religious leaders, in order to eliminate the practice of female genital mutilation and its underlying cultural and religious justifications. It encourages the State party to devise programmes for alternative sources of income for those who perform female genital mutilation as a means of livelihood. It calls upon the State party to address the health consequences of female genital mutilation and provide medical support to those affected by it. In this context, it also encourages the State party to seek technical assistance from the United Nations Population Fund and the World Health Organisation. (Paragraphs 24 and 25)

Universal Periodic Review (May 2010)

A - 95. Continue the efforts in providing free education and health care and combating female genital mutilation and HIV/AIDS (Indonesia); (accepted)

A - 105. Seek support from the international community, and particularly from United Nations institutions and programmes, in order to establish capacity-building and technical assistance programmes, notably in the areas pertaining to human rights training; child labour; women's rights, particularly female genital mutilation; security, in particular the reinforcement of the army and the judiciary; support for families and communities to help them in fighting against the effects of poverty and HIV/AIDS; education; and juvenile justice (Côte d'Ivoire). (accepted)
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Violence against children, particularly affecting girls
UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (Concluding Observations, February 2013)

The Committee is concerned at the alarmingly high number of children, especially girls, subjected to violence and abuse at home, at school, and in alternative care settings. The Committee regrets that these cases of abuse are seldom reported and that the perpetrators are rarely held accountable.

The Committee urges the State party to:

(a) Ban all forms of abuse and neglect against children in all settings;
(b) Establish community protection mechanisms mandated to monitor and report cases of abuse and neglect in a stigma free environment; and
(c) Train all professionals working with and for children, including teachers, religious and community leaders, and health and social workers, to identify child victims and to effectively intervene in case of abuse and neglect against children. (Paragraphs 50 and 51)

UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
Last reported: 25 July 2007
Concluding Observations issued: 10 August 207

The Committee remains concerned about the prevalence of violence against women and girls. The Committee is particularly concerned about occurrences of domestic violence, rape, including marital rape, and all forms of sexual abuse of women, and about the persistence of patriarchal attitudes whereby the physical chastisement of family members, including women, is considered acceptable. It is further concerned about the lack of information and data in the report on the prevalence of different forms of violence against women, the lack of legislation to address domestic violence comprehensively, the apparent lack of public awareness of this violation of women’s human rights and the insufficient support for victims of violence.
The Committee urges the State party to place the highest priority on implementing a comprehensive approach to address all forms of violence against women. It encourages the State party to make full use of the Committee’s general recommendation 19 in such efforts and of the United Nations Secretary-General’s in-depth study on all forms of violence against women (A/61/122/Add.1 and Corr.1). It urges the State party to raise public awareness through the media and education programmes that all forms of violence against women are unacceptable. The Committee calls upon the State party to train the judiciary, law enforcement officials, legal professionals, social workers and health providers so as to ensure that the perpetrators of violence against women are effectively prosecuted and punished with the required seriousness and speed and that effective and gender-sensitive support is provided to victims. It calls on the State party to enhance victims’ access to legal redress and to establish support measures for victims of violence against women, including shelters and legal, medical and psychological support. The Committee urges the State party to enact without delay legislation on domestic violence, including marital rape, and all forms of sexual abuse, as requested in the Committee’s previous concluding comments (see A/56/38, part two, chap. IV, para. 135). The Committee requests the State party to provide information in its next report on the laws, policies and programmes in place to deal with all forms of violence against women and on the impact of such measures, as well as statistical data and trends over time concerning the prevalence of various forms of such violence. (Paragraphs 26 and 27)

Universal Periodic Review (October 2010)

A - 30. Follow up on the recommendations of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women on redoubling national efforts in favour of gender equality, in particular through education and awareness-raising campaigns; the investigation and punishment of violations of the rights of women and girls, in particular sexual violence; and the rehabilitation and compensation of victims (Mexico); (accepted)

A - 32. Further improve the protection of women and girls against violence and discrimination (Germany); (accepted)

A - 40. Enact without delay national legislation on domestic violence and marital rape and all forms of sexual abuse, and ensure equal rights for women, in law and in practice, in the areas of land ownership, inheritance, marriage and the protection of women and children, as recommended by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (Israel); (accepted)

A - 45. Undertake more effective measures to address the problems of impunity and violence against women and girls, including through the strengthening of law enforcement and the judicial system and intensive media and education programmes aimed at increasing public awareness and sensitivities on the rights of women (Malaysia); (accepted)

A - 46. Pursue the fight against the impunity of the perpetrators of sexual violence against women and young girls (Senegal); (accepted)

A - 67. Take all measures necessary to combat impunity and bring to justice those responsible for or involved in serious human rights violations, and in particular acts of sexual violence against women and girls (Republic of Korea); (accepted)
A - 75. Noting the possible crimes against humanity, including sexual violence against women and girls, committed during the events starting on 28 September 2009, and recognising that Guinea has ratified the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, bring to justice those responsible for those violations and combat impunity for those events (Costa Rica); (accepted)
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Trafficking of children
UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (Concluding Observations, February 2013)

While welcoming the adoption of a Multilateral Cooperative Agreement to Combat Trafficking in Persons and the Joint Plan of Action against Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, in West and Central African Regions in 2005, the Committee is concerned that:

(a) The State party remains a source, transit, and to a lesser extent, a destination country for children subjected to forced labour and sex trafficking and that the majority of Guinea’s trafficking victims are children;
(b) The relationship between the specialised police unit responsible for child labour and child trafficking investigations; and the National Committee to Fight Against Trafficking in Persons have yet to be clearly defined; and
(c) Prosecutions of child trafficking cases are rare.

The Committee recommends the State party to:

(a) Continue ongoing efforts to prevent, detect, investigate, and prosecute trafficking cases;
(b) Elaborate and implement programmes of prevention and protection against trafficking and the sale of children within the framework of the child protection policy and strategy, with a particular focus on vulnerable groups of children;
(c) Train law enforcement officials and build their capacity to identify victims of trafficking; and
(d) Undertake a campaign to increase public awareness of trafficking. (Paragraphs 83 and 84)

UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
Last reported: 25 July 2007
Concluding Observations issued: 10 August 2007

While appreciating the State party’s efforts to combat the trafficking of women and girls, the Committee remains concerned about the absence of adequate measures to combat this phenomenon, including its causes and extent, in particular from the State party’s position as a country of origin, transit and destination. Moreover, the Committee is concerned about the lack of data and statistical information about the extent of trafficking in women and girls, in particular internal trafficking from rural to urban areas.
The Committee urges the State party to undertake efforts to determine the causes and extent of trafficking of women and girls from its perspective as a country of origin, transit and destination and to determine the incidence of internal trafficking. It recommends that the State party strengthen measures to combat and prevent trafficking in women and girls and to improve the economic situation of women so as to eliminate their vulnerability to exploitation and traffickers. The Committee requests the State party to provide, in its next report, comprehensive information and data on trafficking in women and girls. (Paragraphs 28 and 29)

Universal Periodic Review (May 2010)

A - 49. Continue its efforts to combat the trafficking of women and children in law and in practice, and take adequate measures to combat the phenomenon by providing comprehensive information and data on trafficking in women and girls, as recommended by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (Israel); (accepted)

A - 51. Punish and prevent trafficking in children for the purpose of forced labour (Argentina); (accepted)
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Inadequate provision for education and disparities in the provision of education, particularly affecting girls, children in rural areas and children with disabilities
UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (Concluding Observations, February 2013)

While noting the adoption of the National Policy on Preschool Education and Child Protection (2007), the Committee is however concerned at the limited budgetary allocations to that sector and that one third of children remain completely deprived of access to education. The Committee is particularly concerned that:

(a) The disparity of schooling between boys and girls and remains an important challenge in all indicators related to education as well as disparities between rural and urban environments, and between regions and prefectures;
(b) Even though public school tuition is free, parents must still pay for books and uniforms;
(c) Only one child in every 5 ends primary school at the required age of 12; The teacher/pupil ratio remains high 44.1 for primary and 35 for secondary education; giving teachers less time to devote to students thereby reducing the quality of education;
(d) Poor hygiene facilities pose major problems for children, especially girls;
(e) Private schools are not regulated; and children in Koranic schools are often forced by their teachers to beg or work in fields; and
(f) The rate of pre-schooling is very low with strong disparities between Conakry and the rest of the country.

The Committee urges the State party to:

(a) Ensure that education is effectively free for all children in the State party without hidden costs;
(b) Allocate increased resources to the education sector in order to improve, expand, build and reconstruct adequate school facilities and infrastructure throughout the State party, and create a truly inclusive educational system welcoming children with disabilities as well as children from all minorities;
(c) Increase education funding allocations to the poorest, most conflict-affected and remote districts so as to ensure equitable access to education including pre-school for all children, including the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children;
(d) Take active measures to promote the right of girls to education through social mobilisation campaigns;
(e) Improve the quality of education by reducing the number of teacher/pupil ratio and take all measures to ensure that children complete their schooling, including concrete action to address the reasons behind failure to complete schooling; and
(f) Enforce professional standards and guidelines to be adopted in both public and private Koranic schools. (Paragraphs 73 and 74)

The Committee while acknowledging the State party’s efforts to eliminate discrimination against children in situation of vulnerability, including children with disabilities, children living in rural areas, children living in poverty, refugee children and children born out of wedlock. The Committee however notes with concern that these measures remain insufficient to significantly improve education and health service delivery to these children.

The Committee expresses serious concern that girls are still subjected to gender-based discrimination from the earliest stages of their life through their childhood due to the persistence of adverse and traditional attitudes and norms. The Committee is also concerned that no systematic efforts have been undertaken, including with religious leaders, opinion makers, and the mass media, to combat and change the discriminatory attitudes and practices concerning the tasks and roles of women and girls.

The Committee urges the State party to adopt and implement a comprehensive strategy addressing all forms of discrimination, and ensuring that all children have equal access to education and health services while ensuring that girls and boys have the access in terms of inheritance. A particular emphasis should be put on promoting the rights of girls, children with disabilities, children living in rural areas, children living in poverty, refugee children and children born out of wedlock. (Paragraphs 35 to 37)

The Committee welcomes the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2008 and notes with satisfaction the elaboration of a strategy of education for children with disabilities. However, the Committee regrets that the implementation of the aforementioned strategy has not resulted in improved access to basic social services, notably in the areas of education and health for children. The Committee is further concerned that there is only one secondary school facility accessible to children with disabilities in the State party.

In light of its General Comment No. 9 on the rights of children with disabilities (CRC/C/GC/2006/9) the Committee urges the State party to ensure that children with disabilities fully enjoy their rights under the Convention in particular their right to health, education and adequate standard of living. The Committee encourages the state party to allocate the necessary resources for an effective implementation of the national strategy to with a view to guarantee to all children with disabilities, in particular those living in rural areas, access to education and health care, opportunities for play and culture, family life, protection from violence, an adequate standard of living and the right to be heard. (Paragraphs 63 and 64)

UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
Last reported: 25 July 2007
Concluding Observations issued: 10 August 2007

While noting with satisfaction the inclusion of functional literacy modules in the curriculum of the women’s self-help centres (CAAF) and, in 2003, the establishment of a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Chair of Women, Gender, Society and Development at the University of Conakry, the Committee remains concerned about the very high rate of illiteracy among women and girls, which clearly demonstrates patterns of direct and indirect discrimination under article 10. It is also concerned about the very low number of girls in higher education, the low level of schooling of girls, in particular in rural areas, and the high drop-out rate of girls, including for such reasons as pregnancy and early and forced marriage. It is further concerned about the poor educational infrastructure and the insufficient number of schools and qualified teachers, as well as about the economic burden for parents to send girls to school.
The Committee urges the State party to raise awareness of the importance of education as a human right and as a basis for the empowerment of women, and to take steps to overcome traditional attitudes that perpetuate discrimination and lack of compliance with the provisions of article 10 of the Convention. It recommends that the State party implement measures to ensure equal access for girls and women to all levels of education and to ensure the retention of girls in school, including through temporary special measures in accordance with article 4, paragraph 1, of the Convention and the Committee’s general recommendation 25, such as incentives for parents to send girls to school. The Committee calls on the State party to make every effort to improve the literacy level of girls and women through the adoption of comprehensive programmes of formal and non-formal education, and through adult education and training. It requests the State party to implement specific measures to enable girls to complete their schooling after childbirth, and to combat early and forced marriage as obstacles to their education. It encourages the State party to strengthen collaboration with civil society and to seek enhanced support from the international community and donor organisations to accelerate compliance with article 10 of the Convention. (Paragraphs 34 and 35).
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Discrimination against women and girls
UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (Concluding Observations, February 2013)

The Committee expresses serious concern that girls are still subjected to gender-based discrimination from the earliest stages of their life through their childhood due to the persistence of adverse and traditional attitudes and norms. The Committee is also concerned that no systematic efforts have been undertaken, including with religious leaders, opinion makers, and the mass media, to combat and change the discriminatory attitudes and practices concerning the tasks and roles of women and girls.
The Committee urges the State party to adopt and implement a comprehensive strategy addressing all forms of discrimination, and ensuring that all children have equal access to education and health services while ensuring that girls and boys have the access in terms of inheritance. A particular emphasis should be put on promoting the rights of girls, children with disabilities, children living in rural areas, children living in poverty, refugee children and children born out of wedlock. (Paragraphs 36 and 37)

Universal Periodic Review (May 2010)

A - 32. Further improve the protection of women and girls against violence and discrimination (Germany); (accepted)

A - 30. Follow up on the recommendations of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women on redoubling national efforts in favour of gender equality, in particular through education and awareness-raising campaigns; the investigation and punishment of violations of the rights of women and girls, in particular sexual violence; and the rehabilitation and compensation of victims (Mexico); (accepted)
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Sexual violence and abuse
UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (Concluding Observations, February 2013)

The Committee welcomes the elaboration of the National Strategy to Combat Gender-Based Violence, including strategies to prevent sexual exploitation and abuse in 2010. The Committee is however concerned at the shortcomings in the relevant legislation in particular that sexual violence is considered as an offense against morality as opposed to a crime against the person. The Committee is also seriously concerned about the lack of a coordinated and coherent approach of child protection and about the prevailing culture of corruption and impunity in this field.

The Committee urges the State party to address all shortcomings in its legislation on sexual exploitation and abuse and in particular, clearly define sexual violence as an offense against the person. The Committee also urges the State party to:

(a) Adopt specific programmes and policies for the prevention, protection, recovery and reintegration of child victims of sexual exploitation and abuse, and ensure that those programmes are in accordance with the outcome documents adopted at the 1996, 2001 and 2008 World Congress against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children held in Stockholm, Yokohama and Rio de Janeiro;
(b) Develop adequate methods of identification, systematic reporting and investigation of cases of sexual exploitation and of recovery for the victims;
(c) Prosecute and sanction all perpetrators of sexual exploitation and abuse, including teachers and ensure that judges and law-enforcement authorities take all appropriate measures to bring the perpetrators to justice and provide them with sentences commensurate to their crime; and
(d) Strengthen coordination between all actors of the protection system and allocate sufficient human, technical and financial resources to that end. (Paragraphs 52 and 53)

Universal Periodic Review (May 2010)

A - 30. Follow up on the recommendations of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women on redoubling national efforts in favour of gender equality, in particular through education and awareness-raising campaigns; the investigation and punishment of violations of the rights of women and girls, in particular sexual violence; and the rehabilitation and compensation of victims (Mexico); (accepted)

A - 40. Enact without delay national legislation on domestic violence and marital rape and all forms of sexual abuse, and ensure equal rights for women, in law and in practice, in the areas of land ownership, inheritance, marriage and the protection of women and children, as recommended by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (Israel); (accepted)

A - 46. Pursue the fight against the impunity of the perpetrators of sexual violence against women and young girls (Senegal); (accepted)

A - 67. Take all measures necessary to combat impunity and bring to justice those responsible for or involved in serious human rights violations, and in particular acts of sexual violence against women and girls (Republic of Korea); (accepted)

A - 75. Noting the possible crimes against humanity, including sexual violence against women and girls, committed during the events starting on 28 September 2009, and recognising that Guinea has ratified the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, bring to justice those responsible for those violations and combat impunity for those events (Costa Rica); (accepted)
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Inadequate health and educational response to HIV and AIDS and discrimination against children with HIV and AIDS
UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (Concluding Observations, February 2013)

The Committee notes that although the National Multi-Sectoral Committee to Combat HIV/AIDS was established in 2002, major gaps remain in its implementation resulting in children living with HIV and AIDs not having access to proper health care. The Committee is also concerned that early sexual activity, FGM and the low level of knowledge about HIV among adolescent increase the risk of HIV/AIDS spreading.

In light of its General Comment No. 3 on HIV/AIDS and the rights of the child (CRC/GC/2003/3), the Committee recommends that the State party take all measures to ensure effective enforcement and implementation of HIV/AIDS related laws and programmes, including conducting training for law enforcement officials, and professionals working with and for children and adolescents. (Paragraphs 69 and 70)

The Committee notes with concern that children are placed in centres created by non-governmental organisations for economic, political, religious and conflict-related reasons and as a result of stigmatisation when they are affected by HIV/AIDS or victims of sexual abuse. The Committee expresses concern that these institutions do not always meet the minimum standards of practice, including decent living conditions and that insufficient attention is paid to the reunification of children with their parents. (Paragraph 60)

The Committee notes that although efforts have been made by the State party to improve access to health services for adolescents through the creation of the law L010/AN/2000 of 10 July 2000 on reproductive health, it remains concerned about the absence of comprehensive information on key health issues affecting adolescent, including teenage pregnancy, substance abuse (including alcohol and drugs), HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and non-communicable diseases (NCD).

Referring to its General Comment No. 4 on adolescent health and development in the context of the Convention (CRC/GC/2003/4), the Committee recommends that the State party set up a comprehensive data collection system on key areas of health affecting children ,raise awareness and provide access to services for adolescents in relation to sexual and reproductive health, respond to the increasing number of teenage pregnancies and abortions, and facilitate access to contraceptives, as well as to quality reproductive health services, assistance and counselling. The Committee also recommends that the State party develop specialised and youth-friendly drug-dependence treatment and harm reduction services for children and young people. (Paragraphs 67 and 69)

Universal Periodic Review (May 2010)

A - 95. Continue the efforts in providing free education and health care and combating female genital mutilation and HIV/AIDS (Indonesia); (accepted)

A - 105. Seek support from the international community, and particularly from United Nations institutions and programmes, in order to establish capacity-building and technical assistance programmes, notably in the areas pertaining to human rights training; child labour; women's rights, particularly female genital mutilation; security, in particular the reinforcement of the army and the judiciary; support for families and communities to help them in fighting against the effects of poverty and HIV/AIDS; education; and juvenile justice (Côte d'Ivoire). (accepted)
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Economic exploitation of children, including child labour
UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (Concluding Observations, February 2013)

The Committee reiterates its concern (CRC/C/15/Add.100 para. 32, 1999) at the large number of children who are involved in labour activities, including in the informal sector, in agriculture, in the fishing industries and in domestic labour. The Committee is also concerned that different minimum ages of employment are applied when parents or legal guardians consent to the economic activities of the children. The Committee is particularly concerned that:

(a) Children work in mines, agriculture and the fishing industries, for long hours in hazardous conditions; and
(b) Girls as young as 5 years who perform domestic labour, carry heavy loads, are often not paid for their work and subject to emotional, physical and sexual abuse.
The Committee recommends the State party to:
(a) Fix strict age limits for children engaged in labour activities, including in the informal and private sectors, according to the ILO Convention no. 138 and enforced mechanisms to control, investigate and prosecute violations of the law;
(b) Conduct a national child labour survey to collect reliable and valid data in order to understand the dynamics of child labour and to support recommendations that will address the root causes and the dangers of child labour throughout the country;
(c) Include children and representatives of children’s organisations in all efforts to eliminate child labour;
(d) Provide educational opportunities for children who must work for their family’s survival;
(e) Raise awareness on the negative consequences of child labour through a wide public information campaign; and
(f) Ratify ILO Convention no.181

Universal Periodic Review (May 2010)

A - 51. Punish and prevent trafficking in children for the purpose of forced labour (Argentina); (accepted)

A - 105. Seek support from the international community, and particularly from United Nations institutions and programmes, in order to establish capacity-building and technical assistance programmes, notably in the areas pertaining to human rights training; child labour; women's rights, particularly female genital mutilation; security, in particular the reinforcement of the army and the judiciary; support for families and communities to help them in fighting against the effects of poverty and HIV/AIDS; education; and juvenile justice (Côte d'Ivoire). (accepted)
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Impunity for human rights violators
UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (Concluding Observations, February 2013)

The Committee ... is concerned about:

(d) The limited knowledge of the law by both the general population and law enforcement authorities which results in a high level of impunity for child rights violations.

The Committee recommends the State party:

(d) Take appropriate measures to ensure that law enforcement authorities as well as the general population be informed of new laws, in particular those that relate to child rights. (Paragraphs 11 and 12)

Universal Periodic Review (May 2010)

A - 67. Take all measures necessary to combat impunity and bring to justice those responsible for or involved in serious human rights violations, and in particular acts of sexual violence against women and girls (Republic of Korea); (accepted)

A - 75. Noting the possible crimes against humanity, including sexual violence against women and girls, committed during the events starting on 28 September 2009, and recognising that Guinea has ratified the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, bring to justice those responsible for those violations and combat impunity for those events (Costa Rica); (accepted)

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