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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.
Detention of childrn with adults UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (Concluding Observations, October 2011) The Committee notes that the agreement between the State Prison and Probation Administration and the Governmental Agency for Child Protection on the imprisonment of persons under 18 years of age falls short of a legal guarantee of separation from adults, as contained in article 37, paragraph c, of the Convention under which the State party has made a reservation (paragraph 56). UN Committee against torture Last reported: 9 May 2008 Concluding Observations adopted: 15 May 2008 No separate prisons exist for housing female or juvenile prisoners. The State party should ensure that juvenile prisoners are held separately from adults. It should also ensure that the prison wardens involved in dealing with female and juvenile prisoners are trained to deal with the necessary sensitivity and characteristics required (paragraph 7). Trafficking and sale of children UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (Concluding Observations, October 2011) The Committee welcomes the significant efforts made by the State party by introducing amendments to the penal code whereby the use of prostitution, in particular involving children, is criminally punishable, and adoption of a National Plan of Action against Trafficking in 2009. Nevertheless, the Committee reiterates its concern (CRC/C/OPSC/ISL/CO/1) about the principle of "double criminality" in article 5 of the General Penal Code, which requires that a person who has committed a serious or lesser offence abroad can be punished in Iceland only if the act is punishable under the law of the country in which it was committed. The Committee is concerned that this requirement limits the possibility of the prosecution of offences on sale, prostitution and pornography involving children, and therefore limits the protection of children against these crimes (paragraph 54). UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women Last reported: 9 July 2008 Concluding Observations adopted: 18 June 2008 The Committee is concerned about the lack of information provided by the State party on trafficking, especially of women and girls. The State party should reinforce existing measures to prevent and combat trafficking; ensure the protection of the human rights of women and girls who are victims of trafficking; and establish a legal framework for victim and witness protection (paragraphs 224 and 225). High dropout rate among students with immigrant backgrounds UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (Concluding Observations, October 2011) [T]he Committee is concerned that: UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination Last reported: 25-26 February 2010 Concluding Observations adopted: 10 March 2010 There is a disproportionately high drop-out rate for students with immigrant backgrounds in upper secondary education. The State party should intensify its efforts to address the situation of students with immigrant background in secondary education in order to increase enrolment and school attendance, and to avoid drop-outs (paragraph 19). UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (Concluding Observations, October 2011) The Committee, while noting with appreciation that statistics show a decrease in the use of some types of drugs and alcohol by young people, regrets that the use of alcohol remains a problem (paragraph 44). UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Last reported: 13-14 May 2003 Concluding Observations adopted: 23 May 2003 There is a high level of alcohol and drug consumption among young people in the State party; the Committee urges the State party to take effective measures to address this (paragraphs 18 and 28).