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Summary: A compilation of extracts featuring child-rights issues from the reports submitted to the first Universal Periodic Review. There are extracts from the 'National Report', the 'Compilation of UN Information' and the 'Summary of Stakeholder's Information'. Also included is the final report and the list of accepted and rejected recommendations. Liberia - 9th Session - 2010 Scoll to: 25. Since its establishment, the Committee also has successfully conducted a public hearing on a proposed Children's Act. This Act is currently before the Senate awaiting approval. 35. In an effort to cooperate with human rights mechanisms, the country has taken the following measures: • Submitted its initial report under the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 2002; • Submitted its combined initial, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth periodic report under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women in 2008 ; • Submitted its combined second, third and fourth periodic report under the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 2009; • Received a visit from the Independent Expert on Liberia in 2004; • Received a visit from the Independent Expert on Liberia in 2005; • Received a visit from the Independent Expert on the Technical Cooperation and Advisory Services in Liberia in 2006; • Received a visit from the Independent Expert on the Situation of Human Rights in Liberia in 2007; and • Received a visit from the Independent Expert on Human Rights in Liberia in 2008. 65. In 2006, Liberia relaunched the Free and Compulsory Primary Education Program (FACPEL). The aims of the program are: to ensure that all children start primary education at the national school starting age of 5 and complete primary level education, to provide all children access to primary education that improves learning and cognitive skills in an environment conducive to their physical and mental wellbeing, and to ensure that no child is denied the right to primary education as a result of age or other circumstances. 66. With a view of promoting basic education8 to all, the country is implementing the Accelerated Learning Program (ALP). The program targets individuals ages 8-15 whose primary education was interrupted as a result of the conflict and has effectively increased over-age school enrollment. Additionally, Liberia has completed the Non-Formal Education (NFE) curriculum. The curriculum, which targets individuals age 15-35, covers literacy, numeracy, life skills and work readiness. 67. Furthermore, Liberia has incorporated Peace, Human Rights and Citizenship Education (PEHCED) program into the curriculum of elementary and secondary schools and trained teachers in the methods for teaching the program. The PEHCED program includes concepts such as human rights and responsibilities, peace and humanitarian law, sense of nationhood and other similar concepts. 68. Other measures taken by Liberia to improve access to and quality of education include: building and renovating educational facilities in different parts of the country, providing tuition assistance to students attending teacher colleges, producing and distributing textbooks and other teaching and reading materials, implementing the Early Grade Reading Assessment (EGRA) program, which provides early reading intervention assessment and support in 15 education districts, and drafting a policy to develop an Early Childhood Development (ECD) Curriculum to ensure that children ages 0-5 have access to quality ECD services and programs. 70. Further, the Division of School Feeding of the Ministry of Education provides hot meals and take-home rations to primary school children in public schools around the country. In addition to alleviating short term hunger, these programs have helped attract and retain more children, especially girls, in school. 73. The creation of the Gender Committee greatly increased the participation of women in the TRC process. Women were not only encouraged to come forward and share the full spectrum of their experiences during the conflict; they were also actively recruited to work as statement takers. Further, the Gender Committee provided psycho-social support during and after statement takings and testimonies, engaged male partners to promote behavioral change and provided medical and child reunification referrals. The final report of the TRC includes a chapter dedicated to the experiences of women during the conflict, including specific recommendations to address the physical, psychological, social, political and economic needs of women. (unsure) 74. Taking into account the high incidence of rape against girls and women in post- conflict Liberia, in 2005 the government enacted legislation to amend the new Penal Code of 1976- the Rape Law. In the following year and under the leadership of the Ministry of Gender and Development, a National Gender Based Violence Plan of Action was launched. The main objective of the National Plan is to prevent the high incidence of gender based violence in different communities and provide physical, psychological, economic and legal support to girls and women victims of gender based violence. 79. To further build the capacity of women and continue on the path of progress, Liberia launched the National Policy on Girls' Education in April of 2006. The main objectives of the policy are, by the year 2015, to ensure that boys and girls will have equal access to all levels of education; to reduce obstacles impeding the enrollment and retention of girl students; to reduce the gap between boys' and girls' primary, secondary, and tertiary education completion rates by increasing the availability of scholarship opportunities to girl students; to offer life skills at school that will increase the self esteem of girl students; and to end the impunity of teachers who commit sexual and physical abuses against students. 80. The impact of the National Policy on Girls' Education, along with the Free and Compulsory Primary Education Policy, has been an increase in girls' primary and secondary school enrollment rates, respectively, by 82% and 16% between 2005/06 and 2007/08. 81. In order to reduce teenage pregnancy drop-out rates, Liberia has launched the Special Girls' Education Initiative (SGEI), an all girls' night school program for pregnant students and teenage mothers. Further, the country plans to establish a "preventing and reporting" system under which counseling centers will be set up in public primary and secondary schools to monitor cases of teenage pregnancy, school drop-out rates as well as gender based violence and other human rights abuses. 84. The State of Liberia has made considerable efforts to promote the economic empowerment of women. In March of 2010, the country officially launched the Economic Empowerment of Adolescent Girls Project. The goal of the project is to provide adolescent girls and young women economic skills training with emphasis on non-traditional sectors such as security, construction, mining and business. Further, the country is currently implementing a Rural Women's Empowerment Project. This project, which aims to strengthen the institutional capacity of female producers' and entrepreneurs', provides skills and business training, technical assistance and business support services, market information and access to credit to women around the country. 87. During the protracted civil conflict, children were disproportionately affected and suffered the majority of the human rights violations committed. Some of the major human rights violations against children include abduction, assault, forced displacement, forced recruitment, forced labor, sexual violence, rape, sexual slavery, sexual abuse and being forced to witness unspeakable atrocities. 88. Recognizing the devastating effects of the civil conflict on Liberian children, and following the recommendation of the Committee on the Rights of the Child, the Republic of Liberia has taken the following measures towards the protection and promotion of the rights of children in the country. 89. The Liberian TRC was given an unprecedented mandate to systematically include children in all aspects of the Commission's truth seeking and reconciliation process. In order to ensure child-sensitive and child-friendly mechanisms, the TRC identified and formally collaborated with child protection agencies in the country as well as the Liberian Children's Parliament. 90. As a result of these collaborations, the TRC was able to engage in a variety of training activities on child issues and child-sensitive mechanisms for Commissioners and statement takers, organize awareness raising activities to promote the participation of children and their families in the TRC process, and hold regional hearings and statement takings exclusively focused on children and children's issues. 91. The final outcome of the above efforts is a Children's Chapter in the final TRC Report reflecting the experiences of Liberian children before, during, and after the conflict with recommendations that place the needs of children within the international child rights framework. 92. In order to monitor the alternative care for children without a family, Liberia has formulated regulations and set in place minimum standards for the operation of orphanages and child care institutions in the country. To ensure compliance, the country has assigned social workers to all 15 counties and has taken appropriate measures against orphanages and child care institutions found in violation of established standards. 93. Liberia, through the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, has also provided trainings to orphanage managers and caretakers to build their capacity in child care services; held a series of stakeholders workshops and awareness raising activities regarding regulations on alternative care for children without a family and established an inter- Ministerial network with the Liberian National Police, Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Gender to facilitate the protection of children without a family. 94. With regard to child trafficking through adoptions, Liberia created an ad-hoc adoption authority to monitor adoption practices in the country. After a two month country- wide public awareness and consultation campaign, the adoption authority recommended placing a moratorium on all adoptions until protective adoption laws are put in place and advocated for the closure of adoption agencies suspected of child trafficking.9 The authority also recommended that the country become a party to the Hague Adoption Convention. 95. As a party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Liberia has made considerable efforts to protect children from child labor. Since 2007, the country has sponsored a series of awareness raising workshops on child labor in all 15 counties; assigned Child Welfare Officers (CWOs) in each county to create long-term awareness of child rights, including child labor, and initiated the establishment of 480 community based Child Welfare Committees (CWCs) to monitor and report child rights violations and promote children's rights within their respective communities. 96. With regard to child abuse, in addition to the activities carried out by CWOs and CWCs, Liberia has established a Child Protection Network (CPN). This network, which is composed of Ministries, governmental agencies and local & international non- governmental organizations, holds monthly meetings to share information, discuss issues and design a common approach to prevent child abuse. 97. To address sexual abuse and exploitation against children, the country has established a Gender Based Violence Unit within the Ministry of Gender and Development. The Unit regularly collaborates with relevant governmental and non-governmental stakeholders as well as gender based violence task forces located at county levels to address issues of sexual abuse and exploitation. Further, the Unit holds regular public awareness campaigns exclusively dedicated to issues that affect the rights of children. 98. In addition to the above examples of progress, Liberia has taken measures towards the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. As a starting point, the country has distributed over 10,000 copies of the Convention to individuals, schools, hospitals and other public places; established an inter-Ministerial steering committee to ensure effective implementation of the Convention and following the 2009 country report to the CRC Committee, distributed tracking forms to relevant Ministries to make regular reports on the implementation of the Convention. 99. Further, to facilitate the right of children to participate in the decision making process, the country has established 15 Children's Assemblies and the Liberian Children's Parliament. The Children's Assemblies, which are located in every county of Liberia, and the Parliament help monitor and report child rights concerns and advocate for the promotion of children's rights. 106. Based on nation wide consultations with a variety of stakeholders, Liberia acknowledges the following should constitute key national priorities: • Provide periodic human rights education to citizens; • Enhance human rights awareness among public officials, particularly among law enforcement and prison officials; • Continue strengthening the capacity of Ministries, governmental agencies and all other institutions with competence for human rights; • Incorporate human rights education into the curriculum of all primary, secondary, and tertiary schools around the country; • Ratify human rights conventions not yet ratified; • Take all necessary actions to domesticate ratified human rights conventions; • Ensure the development and adoption of a national human rights action plan for Liberia; • Ensure the effectiveness and full independence of the Liberian Independent National Commission on Human Rights; • Implement TRC Report Recommendations without legal and constitutional implications; • Continue protecting and promoting the due process rights of citizens, for example by building prison facilities, police stations, court houses and continuing to strengthen the capacity and professionalism of the judiciary and law enforcement; • Ensure the effective implementation of the Free and Compulsory Primary Education Program; • Ensure that schools are staffed with qualified and adequately compensated teachers and administrators; • Continue efforts to improve the standard of living for all Liberians by providing decent housing, better health care, improved educational opportunities, electricity, potable water, road networks, etc.; • Reinforce efforts to protect and promote the rights of vulnerable groups, such as women, children, persons with disabilities and the elderly; and • Reinforce efforts to create jobs, especially for the youth and persons with disabilities. 1. The Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) noted with appreciation the ratification in 2003 of ILO Convention No. 182.7 It recommended that Liberia ratify the Optional Protocols to the CRC,8 and ratify and implement the Hague Convention No. 33 on Protection of Children and Cooperation in respect of Inter-country Adoption.9 5. In 2009, CEDAW called on Liberia to incorporate the principle of equality between women and men into the Constitution.16 UNCT and CRC highlighted the need for constitutional amendments with regard to discriminatory provisions concerning the right to citizenship for children born in Liberia,17 and the Secretary-General did the same with regard to stipulations on the conduct of elections.18 6. In its 2009 report to the Human Rights Council, OHCHR proposed a number of legislative amendments to prohibit violence against children.19 CEDAW noted with appreciation the recent efforts to revise discriminatory legislation and enact new laws, including the 2006 Rape Law and the Bill for the Equal Participation of Women in the Political Process, which was pending in Parliament.20 14. In 2005, Liberia adopted the United Nations Plan of Action (2005–2009) for the World Programme for Human Rights Education focusing on the national school system. The Ministry of Education committed to introducing human rights into national primary and secondary curricula, as part of a broader programme to rebuild and improve Liberia's educational system in the post-conflict era.35 15. CEDAW appreciated Liberia's efforts to put in place the National Gender-based Violence Plan of Action (2006), the National Policy on Girls' Education (2006), the National Rural Women's Program (2008), and the national action plan for the implementation of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000). It noted, however, that implementation of some of these plans and policies remained at the initial stages.36 UNCT reported that, in 2009, the Government had adopted a National Gender Policy to mainstream gender into all national development processes.37 19. UNCT also indicated that gender disparity persisted at all levels, including with regard to literacy and political participation, noting that women constituted only 14 per cent of the cabinet, 5 per cent of the legislature and less than 1 per cent of the judiciary. Early marriage was common practice, and nearly half of all girls were married by the age of 18, sometimes by force.45 CEDAW was similarly concerned at the persistence of harmful traditional practices, patriarchal attitudes and stereotypes regarding the roles, responsibilities and identities of women and men.46 It urged Liberia to put in place legislative and educational measures to modify or eliminate such practices and stereotypes.47 CEDAW was particularly concerned at the situation of women in rural areas, who were disproportionately affected by a lack of adequate health services, education, economic opportunities, social benefits and access to justice.48 (unsure) 22. In 2004, CRC had expressed concern at the very high incidence of disabilities among children as a result of the civil war, and at persisting de facto discrimination against children with disabilities.53 UNCT indicated that the Government had established a National Commission on Disabilities in 2005, noting however, it has not been very active.54 23. CRC was also concerned that the granting of citizenship to children born in Liberia was restricted on the basis of colour or racial origin. In this regard, CRC recommended that Liberia amend article 27 of its Constitution, as well as its citizenship laws.55 25. The Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, arbitrary and summary executions noted that incidents of "vigilante justice" had resulted in at least ten deaths in 2008 and that mob attacks on crime suspects had reportedly taken place at police stations and courthouses. Various cases of "mob justice," including against juvenile thieves and "witches" had also been documented in 2007.58 In 2009, the Secretary-General stated that rape and armed robbery remained prevalent and that communal and mob violence also continued, often emanating from tensions between ethnic groups and communities over land disputes.59 (unsure) 27. CEDAW noted with grave concern the extent and intensity of violence against women, especially sexual violence, both during and after the conflict.61 It urged Liberia to prioritize the adoption of a legal framework to address violence against women, and to undertake educational and public awareness programmes.62 The independent expert on technical assistance noted that rape and sexual violence remained the most frequently committed serious crimes in Liberia.63 UNCT noted that victims of sexual violence, including rape, were predominantly female children under the age of 15 years. In 2006, less than ten per cent of reported rape cases had been fully prosecuted.64 In June 2010, during her visit to Liberia, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on sexual violence in conflict observed that sexual violence had been brutal and widespread during the civil war, used to terrorize, displace and control the civilian population. This had left a heavy mark on society, and today the challenge is to transition to a new society in which women and children are left in peace and are safe in school, in their homes and market places.65 28. CRC, CEDAW and UNCT noted that female genital mutilation was prevalent. Liberia was urged to enact legislation prohibiting this practice without delay.66 OHCHR recommended that the international community, in collaboration with civil society and the Government, raise awareness in this regard.67 29. CEDAW requested Liberia to accelerate its efforts to effectively implement the 2005 Anti-Human Trafficking Act.68 CRC recommended that Liberia engage in bilateral and regional cooperation for the elimination of child sexual exploitation and trafficking.69 UNCT indicated that Liberia had established a National Anti-Trafficking Task Force led by the Ministry of Labour, noting however that, according to a UNICEF commissioned report,70 the task force still faced serious challenges. 30. In 2004, CRC was deeply concerned at the effects of the armed conflict on child victims, including child combatants, and the tragic loss of life and severe psychological trauma inflicted upon them. It urged Liberia to take all necessary measures, in cooperation with civil society and United Nations bodies such as UNICEF, to address the needs of child victims.71 CRC was also concerned about the incidence of abuse, including sexual violence, and neglect of children and recommended that cases of violence be properly investigated and sanctioned, and that services for psychological recovery and social reintegration be provided to victims.72 OHCHR recommended that the Government cooperate with the international community and civil society to raise awareness on issues such as child development, non-punitive discipline and the need for greater support for families. It also submitted detailed recommendations on the prohibition of all forms of violence against children in all settings.73 31. In its report to the Council in 2009, OHCHR described the situation in orphanages as critical, and noted that most of the children in these institutions were not actually orphans, but rather recruited with promises to parents that their children would receive a better education and other opportunities. The institutions had become business ventures for their directors, who collected funds from unsuspecting donors and uninformed rural families, while failing to comply with the minimum standards promulgated by the Government for such institutions. OHCHR recommended that orphanages operating without accreditation be identified and reassessed and that those found to be below standard be closed down. Children concerned should be reunified with parents or relatives, or relocated to suitable institutions.74 UNCT recommended that Liberia expedite the adoption and establishment of a domestic legal framework for child protection that included the Children's Bill and the Adoption Law.75 32. In 2010, the ILO Committee of Experts referred to allegations concerning captivity practices and forced child labour in the south-eastern part of the country in connection with armed conflict.76 37. In 2004, CRC had recommended that Liberia continue its efforts to reform the juvenile justice system.92 UNCT noted that the main legal framework for juvenile offenders was now contained in chapter 11 of the Judiciary Law, under which a Juvenile Court had been established in Monrovia.93 Due to the absence of a fully functional juvenile justice system, implementation of laws and procedures relating to child offenders and children in need of care and protection is poor, and there are no reformatory or rehabilitation facilities.94 UNCT and OHCHR recommended that Liberia facilitate the proper functioning of the juvenile justice system by providing Magistrates and law enforcement personnel with extensive training on juvenile justice issues, and by building rehabilitation and reformatory institutions for juvenile offenders.95 48. The 2008–2012 UNDAF underscored that the social consequences of the war, compounded by the vast damage to infrastructure, had translated into higher rates of maternal and neonatal deaths.111 Less than half of all births had been attended by skilled health personnel in 2007, and under-five mortality per 1,000 live births was 133.112 Violence as well as substance abuse had left many young people with psychological trauma.113 CEDAW was also concerned at the alarming rate of maternal mortality, the high incidence of teenage pregnancy, and the lack of access by women to health services114. It encouraged Liberia to continue its collaboration with civil society and the international community with a view to strengthening its own capacity to deliver basic health care and increasing access by women and girls to those services on an equal basis.115 51. The 2008-2012 UNDAF stated that Liberia's general rate of illiteracy was estimated at over 50 per cent and that gender disparities as well as urban/rural differences in access to education were a serious problem.118 UNESCO's Global Monitoring Report 2005 estimated that less than one-third of school-aged children attended school.119 UNCT indicated that the low net primary enrolment rate was often attributed to unofficial fees and costs relating to uniforms and supplies, such as books. In addition, there was still an insufficiency of schools, especially in rural communities, to absorb all school-aged children.120 OHCHR reported that plans were under way to rehabilitate three teacher-training institutions based in rural areas.121 52. In 2004, CRC had recommended that Liberia ensure free education without any hidden costs, and design accelerated learning and vocational training programmes for young people who had missed out on educational opportunities.122 CEDAW recommended that Liberia take steps to ensure equal access for girls and women to all levels of education, and address the problem of sexual abuse and harassment in schools.123 55. UNCT noted that as part of the Government's efforts to institutionalise peace, citizenship and human rights education into the curricula for grades 1 to 12, the Ministry of Education, with support from UNESCO and UNMIL, had developed teaching guides on the subject, and trained 55 Liberian educators.130 57. UNCT reported that, in March 2010, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare had launched the new Regulations for the appropriate use and conditions of alternative care for children. The Regulations set clear deadlines for the accreditation process and verification of compliance by an independent accreditation team.133 61. UNCT stated that UNICEF, UNMIL and international NGOs, especially Save the Children, continued to support the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in building regulatory and institutional frameworks aimed at enhancing child protection. UNICEF was funding a project aiming at de-institutionalize an estimated 2,000 children who had parents or next of kin willing to take care of them.137 62. CEDAW recommended that Liberia continue to avail itself of technical assistance in the implementation of the Convention and that it further strengthen its cooperation with UNDP, UNIFEM, UNICEF, UNFPA, WHO, OHCHR and DESA.138 7. AI further observed that, despite the stated intentions of the United Nations and the Government in favour of a gender-based approach to DDRR, women and former combatant groups had not been involved in its planning and implementation. Factors such as the reluctance of women and girls to identify themselves as fighters for fear of stigmatization, the fear of reprisals from former male commanders, and the lack of childcare facilities, coupled with the lack of evening classes, had not been taken into account when implementing DDRR. This had hampered the reintegration of women and girls into civilian life. 12 16. AI stated that prisons remain understaffed, overcrowded, and that access to food, water, hygiene or medical services was restricted. Security in prisons was also poor, which frequently resulted in prisoner escapes. Women and juveniles were often subjected to abuse by guards and fellow inmates. In 2009, half of the country's prisoners had been held at Monrovia Central Prison, which operated at four times its capacity due to the large number of pre-trial detainees. Men and women were held together, as were juveniles and adults, and pre-trial detainees with convicted prisoners. 28 18. JS2 stated that the Government, rather than effectively addressing human trafficking, subsidized many of the orphanages that were engaged in human trafficking. JS2 claimed that although a moratorium on the adoption of children had been declared, the problem of human trafficking continued to grow due to a lack of appropriate legislation. 30 19. GIEACPC observed that, following examination of the state party's initial report in 2004, the Committee on the Rights of the Child had recommended that the Government explicitly prohibit corporal punishment in all settings, including in the family. 31 It stated that in Liberia corporal punishment remained lawful in homes, schools and alternative care settings and that the provisions against violence and abuse in the Penal Code (1976) and the Constitution (1986) were not interpreted as prohibiting corporal punishment of children. 32 GIEACPC noted that a new Children's Act had been passed in 2009, but indicated that it had no details of the provisions of this legislation. GIEACPC stated that corporal punishment was explicitly prohibited as a disciplinary measure in prisons in the Criminal Procedure Code, but that it had no information on the legality of corporal punishment in other institutions accommodating children in conflict with the law. 33 20. AI stated that widespread child abuse continued with an increase in reports of sexual violence against children. 34 21. AI also indicated that female genital mutilation was traditionally performed on young girls, particularly in rural areas, as part of initiation rites, noting that domestic law did not specifically prohibit this practice. 35 22. AI stated that child labour was widespread in its worst forms, which included hazardous labour in the alluvial diamond industry and child prostitution. It indicated that, while employment and apprenticeship of children under the age of 16 during school hours was prohibited, the Ministry of Labour's Child Labour Commission was ineffective in enforcing the relevant law in this regard. 36 30. AI stated that children in conflict with the law continued to be addressed inappropriately, due to the absence of a functional juvenile justice system. 55 38. IHRB stated that Liberia's private employment sector continued to suffer from a number of shortfalls impacting on Liberia's human rights obligations under international law. These included inadequate monitoring of safety standards in rubber plantations, including protection of workers from hazardous materials; the use of child labour in rubber plantations, agriculture and the alluvial diamond industry; the reliance on an informal and casually employed workforce at less favourable working and living conditions; the lack of legislation guaranteeing workers adequate protection against anti-union discrimination; and the lack of adequate safeguards to ensure labour rights for the high proportion of women employed in the informal sector. 68 42. AI stated that maternal mortality remained high and appeared to have increased from 578 deaths in 2000 to 994 deaths in 2007 per 100,000 live births, due to an acute shortage of skilled labour, inadequate emergency obstetric care, inefficient referral systems, poor nutritional status of pregnant women and very high numbers of teenage pregnancies. The Government had pledged to address the high maternal mortality rate and had made certain commitments in that regard, all of which had yet to be implemented. AI stated that despite the Government's pledge to maintain the suspension of medical fees for pregnant women until the socio-economic situation improved, many pregnant women seeking access to care still paid medical fees, which in some cases were excessive. 79 44. AI asserted that many children including former combatants and unaccompanied IDPs lived on the streets, especially in Monrovia. It stated that orphanages faced difficulties in providing basic sanitation, adequate medical care and appropriate diet, and that many orphans lived outside these institutions. 81 45. JS2 highlighted that school buildings and facilities were lacking, and that in some cases schools were not easily accessible and children were required to walk for two to three hours to reach them. 82 It asserted that despite these circumstances, the Government's budgetary allocation for education was only nine percent. JS2 noted that Liberia was a signatory to the CRC and that in it had also signed a protocol on the provision of free and compulsory primary education, in Dakar, Senegal in 2000. 83 Accepted and Rejected Recommendations The following recommendations were accepted: A - 77.5. Continue to prioritize and implement policies and legislation to address violence against women and the protection of the human rights of children (South Africa); A - 77.8. Accelerate the process for the adoption of the national human rights action plan for Liberia and the adoption of the proposed children's act (Egypt); A - 77.9. Take further legislative and policy measures to protect the rights of children, including by ensuring that Liberia meets its obligations under the CRC and the Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography (Australia); A - 77.16. Continue to reinforce its national programmes in the area of education and to seek the necessary technical and financial assistance to accompany it in its integration of human rights education and training into its programmes (Morocco); A - 77.18. Continue to pay particular attention to the rights of children and women, including through the development and enactment of national action plans (Egypt); A - 77.20. Strengthen efforts to improve the protection of human rights across the country, capacity- building of local authorities and empowerment of communities, in particular women and girls, ensuring the involvement of the civil society, both urban and rural and across the country, in the follow-up to the review report (Norway); A - 77.32. Take all necessary measures to ensure the full enjoyment of human rights by women and girls, including by way of properly and promptly investigating and prosecuting cases of gender-based and sexual violence (Sweden); A - 77.33. Address the high level of female genital mutilation and early marriage through more concerted efforts, involving local levels (Norway); A - 77.34. Increase public awareness campaigns against female genital mutilation (FGM) (United States of America); A - 77.38. Encourage Liberia to strengthen its policies to combat against child trafficking (Thailand); A - 77.39. Reinforce actions for the protection of child victims of trafficking and sexual exploitation (Bangladesh); A - 77.41. Intensify efforts to strengthen the criminal justice system and reform the juvenile justice system (Ghana); A - 77.50. Encourage Liberia to strengthen its judicial system, especially in view of promoting accountability, in order to bring to justice those committing violence against women and children (Thailand); A - 77.58. Encourage stronger promotion of the rights of women and children by meeting their immediate post-conflict needs. These include, for example, the elimination of gender inequalities, the promotion of equal educational opportunities as well as equal opportunities for socio-economic and political participation, and the elimination of violence against women and children (Thailand); A - 77.59. Expand its School Feeding Programme and integrate it with local agricultural production (Brazil); A - 77.63. Continue the implementation of programmes and plans for the enhancement of education in Liberia at all levels, as well as earmarking more financial resources for this purpose (Libyan Arab Jamahiriya); A - 77.64. Promote and deploy further efforts to bridge the gap between boys and girls in completing the primary, secondary and university levels (Libyan Arab Jamahiriya); A - 77.65. Take steps to effectively guarantee the right to education (Italy); A - 77.66. Make accessible to the general public and teach human rights in school and university establishments, as well as in the professional sector (Congo); A - 77.67. Reinforce the protection and promotion of the rights of vulnerable groups, namely, children, women, disabled and elderly persons (Algeria); A - 77.68. Sustain efforts to promote and protect the rights of groups and of the vulnerable population, such as children, women, disabled and elderly persons (Cuba); A - 77.69. Continue to reinforce efforts to promote the rights of vulnerable groups such as women and children, especially orphaned and disabled children and child victims of trafficking and sexual exploitation (Bangladesh); The following recommendations were met with no clear position: N/C - 78.1. Ratify the Optional Protocol to ICESCR, first Optional Protocol to ICCPR, Optional Protocol to CEDAW and the two Optional Protocols to CRC (Slovakia); N/C - 78.2. Sign and ratify: the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the Optional Protocol to CEDAW; the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families; the Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child; the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Optional Protocol thereto; and the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (Argentina); N/C - 78.4. Ratify both Optional Protocols to the CRC (Slovenia); N/C - 78.21. Criminalize female genital mutilation (Canada); N/C - 78.22. Specifically prohibit the practice of female genital mutilation (Portugal); N/C - 78.23. Specifically prohibit the practice of female genital mutilation as a matter of urgency (Sweden); N/C - 78.24. Adopt legislative provisions in order to prohibit, sanction and effectively prevent the practice of female genital mutilation (Argentina); N/C - 78.25. Adopt a law to prohibit female genital mutilation (Senegal); N/C - 78.26. Legally prohibit female genital mutilation, in accordance with international standards and in line with the recommendations contained in paragraph 21 of the 2009 CEDAW report (Italy); N/C - 78.27. Bring its legislation into conformity with its international human rights obligations by criminalizing the practice of female genital mutilation (United States of America); N/C - 78.38. Support the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, in particular to achieve the enjoyment of women and child rights and the implementation of its recommendations (Sudan); No recommendations were rejected.
1st November 2010 - 10am to 1pm
National report
Compilation of UN information
Summary of Stakeholder information
Accepted and rejected recommendations
Stakeholders Compilation