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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.
Palau - 11th Session - 2011 Scroll to: National Report 24. On 04 August 1995, Palau acceded to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). This is the only Human Rights Convention to which Palau has acceded. Subsequently, Palau has taken an active role in regional and global forums on children and social development. Palau has endorsed the Beijing Declaration, the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) and the World Fit for Children goals at the highest policy levels and uses these documents to guide national development. 34. Palau currently has in place a legislation that specifically deals with issues relating to human trafficking. The Anti-People Smuggling and Trafficking Act (Title 17 Chapter 39 of the Palau National Code) prohibits such practices, with penalties of up to 10 years imprisonment and a fine of up to USD 50,000 for exploiting or otherwise profiting from a trafficked person; up to 25 years imprisonment and a fine of up to USD 250,000 for trafficking involving force, fraud, or deception; and up to 50 years imprisonment and a fine of up to USD 500,000 for trafficking involving a child "by any means for the purpose of exploitation." There are also laws against slavery, fraud, and prostitution. 35. Children born of foreign parents adopted by Palauans cannot hold Palauan citizenship and are not accorded the same privileges as Palauans. An initiative to amend the Constitution to give eligibility of citizenship was rejected by popular votes in November 2008 general election. As a signatory to CRC, this issue is addressed in the Palau National Youth Policy. 39. The Victims of Crimes Assistance (VOCA) under the Ministry of Health is the only office dealing with the psychological trauma of domestic violence and crimes against children. For the last 10 years, the office has had only one staff who provides limited services to victims of crimes (child abuse, sex crimes, child neglect and domestic violence). Moreover, there is no facility to temporarily shelter and protect victims of violence (children, runaways, youth, women, elderly, neglected, disabled, etc.). Institutional capacity developments required for the VOCA office include improvement in its ability to collect data on domestic violence and crime statistics and preparation of medical reports compatible with international indicators to improve transparency and good governance in the public sector. 43. The following legislations protect the needs of individuals with disabilities: • RPPL No. 3–9 is an Act that provides for education, programs and services to children ages 0–21. 48. Palau has ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child. 49. There are also national laws established to ensure the protection of children: • Title 22 of the Palau National Code provides for free, compulsory public education for all children ages 6–17, or until graduation from high school. • RPPL No. 7–55 is an Act which provides for the elimination of spouse exemptions relating to child sexual abuse cases and amends the reporting requirements and penalties, to create a child hearsay exception, to allow close circuit television and to extend the statute of limitation. • Title 21 Chapter 6 of the Palau National Code states that "it is the policy of the National Government to provide for the protection of children who are subject to abuse, sexual abuse or neglect and who, in the absence of appropriate reports concerning their conditions and circumstances, may be further abused, sexual abused, or neglected by the conduct of those responsible for their care and protection." 50. Palau's Child Abuse Law (21 PNC Chapter 6 as amended by RPPL 7-55) defines abuse, neglect and sexual abuse; requires responsible officials to report suspected cases to the Office of the Attorney General within 48 hours; suspends the normal privileges of communications between spouses and doctors' clients in matters related to abuse; and provides for criminal penalties upon conviction ranging from a fine of not less than USD 1,000 to not more than USD 50,000 or imprisonment of not less than 6 months to 25 years or both. 51. The three National Government agencies responsible for intervening in suspected cases of abuse, neglect and sexual abuse are the Bureau of Public Safety, the Office of the Attorney General and VOCA (Victims of Crime and Assistance) within the Ministry of Health. 52. There is no legislation that specifically addresses exploitation of children via sexually explicit videos, movies, photos, and electronic images. There are anecdotal reports of children being exploited through payment for posing for sexually explicit photographs, but these reports could not be substantiated for this analysis. 53. Children with special needs are defined as persons between the ages of 0 and 21 years of age who need special assistance in education and related services beyond those required by most other children due to long term physical, developmental, behavioral or emotional conditions. This includes children with physical, mental, learning and emotional disabilities. There are approximately 300 such children currently on the registry in the Health Department, 189 of whom also receive special education services. Of the children served by special education, 15 are severely disabled, requiring either service in their home or in a specialized education facility. 54. Services for children with disabilities are coordinated by an Interagency Task Force headed by the Ministry of Health with membership from Special Education, Head Start, Behavioral Health, Vocational Rehabilitation, Physical Therapy, Out Patient Clinic and Palau Parents Network. The purpose of the Task Force is to provide seamless child center services extending from birth to childhood. 55. Under the Palau Constitution (Art V), persons with disabilities are designated as a vulnerable group entitled to special consideration by government. The Handicapped Children's Act of 1989 (22 PNC § 4) requires the National Government to "provide education services to all children to enable them to live free and productive lives ... (and) to provide full education opportunities and necessary support services to each handicapped child in order that the child acquires the skills and knowledge necessary to lead a fulfilling and productive life as a citizen of the republic." 56. The Act also designates mainstreaming as the strategy of choice for delivering services to the disabled, establishes the Interagency Task Force on Children with Special Needs and guarantees that, if Federal funds for Special Education services phase out, the Olbiil Era Kelulau will appropriate replacement funds from local revenues. 57. Art VI of the Palau Constitution states that public education for citizens shall be free and compulsory. This is in line with the Convention on the Rights of the Child to which Palau is a party. Furthermore, the Palau National Code, Title 22, §101 states that the National Government shall "provide for an educational system which shall enable the citizens of Palau to participate fully in the progressive development of the Republic as well as to gain knowledge in all areas" ... and that "the purposes of education in the Republic are to increase citizen participation in economic and social development., These skills include professional and vocational, as well as social and political abilities." 59. The evolving progression from childhood to full maturity is recognized in the Palau National Youth Policy that defines youth as persons aged between 13 and 34 years. The law also recognizes the gradually evolving capacity of the youth. The law (21 PNC§105) states that an individual reaches the age of maturity on his or her 18th birthday. Eighteen is also used as the demarcation between childhood and adulthood in three other sections of the legal code: • National Child Abuse and Neglect Act (21 PNC §6) • Delinquent Child Act (34 PNC §6105) and • Voting Rights (PNC, Title 23). 62. Palau National Youth Policy Mandate #2 states that "the nation shall ensure safe, healthy and enjoyable passage through the youth period by developing strategies to maximize physical, spiritual and mental health, paying special attention to addressing the issues of substance abuse, depression and suicide." The Convention on the Rights of the Child, Art. 36, states that a child has the right to protection from; "all form of exploitation prejudicial to any aspects of the child's welfare." The Palau Master Plan, Medium Term Development Strategies, Health Master Plan, and Education Master Plan are all in line with the Pacific Youth Strategies and the Millennium Development Goals. 88. The Republic of Palau ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child on 04 August 1995. The Convention, with its holistic progressive improvements for the survival, development, protection, and participation rights, has proven a most useful "road map" for Palau's child advocacy. When the concept of rights of children was first introduced in the 1990s, it was somewhat contentious; over time, most Palauans have come to accept it. The Palauan term used to convey rights is actually a phrase "ulekerreuil a llemeltel a klechad er a ngalek" (literal translation "nurturing the rights of humanity in the child"). 89. A Health Plan and an Education Master Plan have been developed and are aligned with the articles of the Convention. 90. Although progress has been made towards our obligations to the Convention, Palau still lacks resources to oversee the development and progress of the Convention at the national, regional and international levels. 1. In 2001, the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) regretted that Palau had not acceded to any of the other main international human rights instruments, including the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families. It encouraged Palau to consider acceding to such international instruments, including the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Cooperation in respect of Intercountry Adoption. 2. CRC also encouraged Palau to consider ratifying ILO Convention No. 138 (1973) concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment and Convention No. 182 (1999) concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour, the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict and the Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. 5. CRC expressed concern regarding the insufficient efforts made to enact relevant articles of the Convention into the Palau Legal Code. It recommended that Palau take all appropriate and effective measures to ensure that its laws conformed fully to the principles and provisions of the Convention. The Committee also encouraged Palau to consider the possibility of enacting a comprehensive code for children. 6. CRC noted that the National Youth Policy Task Force had proposed a narrowing of the definition of youth from 15–45 years to 15–34 years. However, the Committee was concerned that the new proposal did not take into account the definition of the child (persons below the age of 18 years) provided in the Convention and recommended that the proposal be reconsidered. 7. CRC expressed concern regarding the low legal age for criminal responsibility (10 years) and recommended that Palau raise it. 8. CRC recommended that Palau take all appropriate measures to introduce legal minimum ages for the sexual consent of boys and the employment of children to guarantee greater protection for children below the age of 18 years. 9. CRC recommended that Palau review its legislation concerning abortion, with a view to guaranteeing the best interests of child victims of rape and incest. 11. CRC was concerned that the Office of Child and Family Support, identified in the National Plan of Action for Children as the focal point for children and family support activities and for coordinating the implementation of the Convention, had not been established. It recommended that Palau take appropriate measures to establish such Office and to ensure the allocation of adequate financial, human and technical resources. 12. CRC encouraged Palau to reinforce its efforts to establish an ombudsperson for children to deal with complaints of violations of child rights and to provide remedies for such violations. The Committee noted the intention to establish such an ombudsperson within the Office for Child and Family Support and suggested that Palau reconsider that proposal to ensure that the agency with responsibility for coordinating implementation of the Convention was not also responsible for monitoring implementation. It also encouraged Palau to ensure that the ombudsperson was allocated adequate resources and was accessible to children. CRC suggested that Palau introduce an awareness-raising campaign to facilitate the effective use by children of the ombudsperson for children. 13. CRC noted the establishment in 1995 of the National Committee on Population and Children (CoPopChi), the inter-agency committee mandated to monitor implementation of the Convention. In 2008, UNICEF noted that CoPopChi had disintegrated and a replacement body had not emerged to continue the work of monitoring and advocating for children. 14. CRC welcomed the National Plan of Action for Children, which identified priority areas consistent with the Convention and made recommendations with regard to agencies and organizations best suited to implement the Plan. The Committee encouraged Palau to take all appropriate measures to implement such National Plan. 15. In 2008, UNICEF noted that there had been significant progress in implementing the National Plan of Action for children in the areas of health, nutrition and education but less progress in achieving recommended legal reforms, while ongoing social change had continued to undermine traditional values and institutions beneficial to children. 16. CRC welcomed the establishment, within the Ministry of Health, of the Victims of Crime Assistance programme to provide assistance to victims of child abuse and domestic violence. The Committee was concerned about the insufficient financial and human resources allocated to the initiative and the inadequate programmes established to prevent and combat all forms of abuse against children and to facilitate their rehabilitation. 17. CRC noted with appreciation the efforts of Palau to disseminate the principles and provisions of the Convention. In particular, the Committee noted that Palau translated the Convention into Palauan and distributed it at public meetings, in schools and among parents. 18. CRC recommended that greater effort be made to ensure that the provisions of the Convention were widely known and understood by adults and children, particularly at the community level. In that regard, the Committee recommended the reinforcement of adequate and systematic training and/or sensitization of State officials; parliamentarians; and professional groups working with and for children, as well as traditional community leaders. Further, it recommended that Palau continue to promote the Convention through, inter alia, the use of local languages and traditional methods of communication. 22. CRC noted with concern that the principle of non-discrimination was not adequately implemented with respect to vulnerable groups of children, especially children of non- Palauan parentage, including children of immigrant families and children adopted through inter-country adoptions; children living in the outer islands; and children living and/or working on the streets. The Committee was particularly concerned about their limited access to adequate health, education and other social services. It recommended that Palau increase its efforts to ensure the implementation of laws, policies and programmes guaranteeing the principle of non-discrimination, particularly as it relates to vulnerable children. 23. CRC expressed concern that children in inter-country adoptions were generally not eligible for a Palauan passport and might not own or inherit land or benefit from health, education and social service subsidies. It recommended that Palau take all appropriate measures, including those of a legal nature, to ensure that non-Palauan children are afforded equal and adequate access to health, education and social services. 26. CRC expressed concern at the disparity in the legal minimum age for marriage of girls (16 years) and boys (18 years) and recommended that Palau take all appropriate measures to increase the legal minimum age of marriage for girls to that of boys. 28. CRC noted that Palau had enacted legislation to protect children with disabilities and had established an Inter-agency Task Force on Children with Special Needs. The Committee was concerned about the insufficient efforts and the reluctance of teachers to facilitate the inclusion and acceptance of children with disabilities into the regular school system, despite requirements under law. It recommended that Palau strengthen its efforts to develop early identification programmes to prevent disabilities; establish special education programmes for children with disabilities; and implement the law that provided for their inclusion within the school system. 29. CRC encouraged Palau to reinforce its efforts to raise awareness and sensitize the public about the rights and special needs of children with disabilities, including children with mental health concerns. It encouraged Palau to consider including mental disabilities within the definition of disabilities; to ensure that such children are provided with adequate care, services and rehabilitation to children with such concerns; and to allot adequate human and financial resources. 32. CRC was concerned about the increasing incidence of sexual abuse of children, including within the family, as well as the continued lack of awareness about domestic violence, ill-treatment, abuse (sexual, physical and psychological) and neglect of children. The Committee recommended that Palau reinforce its efforts to prevent and combat such abuses and take appropriate measures to guarantee the physical and psychological recovery and social reintegration of child victims. 33. CRC was concerned about the lack of authority under law to remove a child from harmful situations within the home in order to protect him or her. It recommended that Palau review its legislation to guarantee greater protection for children. 35. CRC was concerned that corporal punishment was widely accepted in Palau and that domestic legislation generally did not prohibit and eliminate its use in homes and schools. It recommended that Palau take all appropriate measures, including of a legislative nature, to prohibit and eliminate all forms of corporal punishment. The Committee suggested that Palau conduct awareness-raising and education campaigns to change public attitudes. 36. CRC expressed concern at the absence of adequate labour laws to protect children from economic exploitation. In the light of the increasing number of school drop-outs, the lack of a minimum age for employment and the increasing number of children living and/or working on the streets, the Committee was concerned about the lack of information and adequate data on the situation of child labour and economic exploitation in Palau. It recommended that Palau enact legislation to protect children from economic exploitation and introduce appropriate monitoring mechanisms to ensure the enforcement of such laws, including in the informal sector. It recommended that Palau undertake a comprehensive study to assess the situation with regard to child labour. 37. In 2008, UNICEF and the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific reported that human trafficking for the purpose of the sex trade was occurring in Palau. The numbers, while small were still significant considering the size and the population of the country. There was no legislation that specifically addressed child sexual exploitation through videos, movies, photos and electronic images. 38. CRC recommended that Palau take appropriate measures to ensure the passage of adequate legal protection of children, including boys, against commercial sexual exploitation and pornography and to ensure the non-stigmatization and non-criminalization of such children. It expressed concern at the fact that there were insufficient programmes for the physical and psychological recovery and social reintegration of child victims of such abuse. The Committee recommended that Palau undertake studies with a view to implementing appropriate policies and measures in that regard. 39. CRC expressed concern at the increasing number of children living and/or working on the streets and the lack of policies, programmes and services to provide them with greater protection and care. The Committee recommended that Palau undertake a study to understand the scope and nature of such increasing phenomenon. It also recommended that Palau establish mechanisms to ensure that such children are provided with nutrition, clothing, housing, health and rehabilitation services, education, and vocational and life- skills training. The Committee further recommended that Palau implement foster care and other alternative care programmes to guarantee greater protection and care for children deprived of a family environment. 40. CRC noted that under customary law, family matters usually reflected "the best interests of all concerned parties" as opposed to "the principle of the best interests of the child". It recommended that Palau take appropriate measures to ensure that the general principle of the best interests of the child was appropriately integrated in all legal provisions and customary law; in judicial and administrative decisions; and in policies, projects, programmes and services which had an impact on children. 41. CRC recommended that Palau take all effective measures to implement a juvenile justice system in conformity with the Convention (arts. 37, 40 and 39) and with other United Nations standards in this field, such as the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of Juvenile Justice (the Beijing Rules), the United Nations Guidelines for the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency (the Riyadh Guidelines) and the United Nations Rules for the Protection of Juveniles Deprived of their Liberty. The Committee also recommended that Palau establish social services to support judges and to guarantee the rights of children (especially the right to a fair hearing) in traditional disciplinary measures. 42. CRC noted that the views of children aged 12 years and older were heard in court on matters relating to their own adoption and in criminal cases. In other matters that was at the discretion of the judge. While noting that family law matters were generally dealt with under customary law, the Committee expressed its concern that traditional culture, values and attitudes might not always provide for the expression and consideration of the views of children. It recommended that Palau encourage respect for the views of the child in the family, communities, schools, and administrative and judicial systems. 43. UNICEF noted that most adjudicated cases of child abuse and neglect were serious cases for which penalties under the current law were weak. The lack of a community consensus on what constituted abuse and neglect had started to create problems in determining whether cases should be defined and judged under Palauan tradition or under western standards. UNICEF also noted that the system of protecting children (and women) victims was weak. 44. CRC recommended that Palau take appropriate measures to ensure that cases of domestic violence, ill-treatment and sexual abuse of children were properly investigated in a child-friendly judicial procedure and that sanctions were applied to perpetrators, with due regard given to protecting the right to privacy of the child. 46. CRC noted with concern the breakdown of the traditional extended family structure and the increasing number of female-headed households. It also expressed concern that despite the changing nature of the traditional family support system, Palau had not instituted a foster care programme, other alternative care facilities and adequate early child- care services. The Committee further expressed concern at the lack of policies, programmes and services to strengthen families and recommended strengthening families as social units in cooperation and coordination with civil society. 47. CRC expressed concern at the inadequate legislation, policies and institutions to regulate inter-country adoptions and to protect children rights in that regard. The law regarding inter-country adoptions did not allow the adopting parents to transfer their nationality to non-Palauan adopted children. The Committee recommended that Palau establish proper monitoring procedures with respect to domestic and inter-country adoptions and introduce adequate measures to monitor the practice of traditional informal adoptions with the view to preventing abuse and protecting the best interests of the child. 49. CRC welcomed the positive reaction of Palau to the proposal to consider the establishment of a children's parliament and encouraged the State to establish such a parliament or some other framework for the participation of children in society. 51. CRC noted with concern that there was no social welfare system in Palau and that since independence (1994) budgetary allocations for education and social services had been gradually reduced. The Committee recommended that Palau establish a social welfare system to protect vulnerable children. It also encouraged the prioritization of budgetary allocations to ensure implementation of the economic, social and cultural rights of children to the maximum extent of available resources, paying particular attention not only to education and health, but also to social services, especially in the outer islands and among non-Palauan children. 53. CRC recommended that Palau undertake a needs-assessment study of female-headed households with a view to ensuring adequate availability and accessibility of welfare programmes, alternative care facilities and early child-care services. 54. CRC recommended that Palau reinforce its efforts to promote proper breastfeeding practices, especially among working mothers and in the work environment. It recommended that Palau take appropriate measures to promote and encourage healthy nutritional practices, in order to prevent and address overweight and obesity among children. 55. CRC recommended that Palau increase its efforts to promote adolescent health policies and services and to strengthen reproductive health education, including the promotion of male acceptance of the use of contraceptives. It suggested that Palau undertake a study to understand the scope of adolescent mental health concerns. The Committee also recommended that the State undertake measures to increase the number of social workers and psychologists, and to develop accessible youth-friendly care, counselling and rehabilitation facilities for adolescents. 56. CRC recommended that Palau take appropriate measures to protect children from the illicit use of alcohol, narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances and to prevent the use of children in the illicit production and trafficking of such substances. It encouraged Palau to strengthen its efforts to implement rehabilitation programmes dealing with child victims of alcohol, drug and substance abuse. 57. CRC recommended that Palau reinforce its efforts to improve environmental health, particularly as regards solid waste management. 59. CRC welcomed the legal amendment (1997–1998) that provided for compulsory education for all children between the ages of 5 and 17 years and noted the Master Plan for Education 2000. However, it recommended that Palau review that Plan with a view to ensuring full conformity with the Convention (art. 29, para.1, and others). 61. CRC was concerned about the inadequate performance of students and the continually high drop-out rates, particularly at the secondary school level. It recommended that Palau implement additional measures to encourage children, especially boys, to stay in school, particularly during the period of compulsory education. In this connection, it recommended that Palau undertake a study on school dropout and its linkages with the relevance of educational material and teaching methods. 62. CRC expressed concern regarding the insufficient support to teachers in smaller schools in the rural areas and outer islands, and the situation of overcrowding in the larger schools in the urban centres. 63. CRC recommended that Palau introduce a physical education programme into the school curriculum and reinforce its efforts to establish clear policy and practice regarding the use of Palauan as a parallel language in the school curriculum. 67. CRC noted the challenges faced by Palau in implementing adequate programmes and services for children living in the outer islands. It noted the adverse effects that the limited availability of skilled human resources had on implementation of the Convention. It noted that a significant portion of the State's financing was derived from transfer payments from the United States of America under the Compact of Free Association, the phasing out of which in 2009 might have an impact on the allocation of budgetary resources. The implementation of the Convention was hindered by the fact that the National Master Development Plan, established in 1998, did not include children's programmes. 69. CRC recommended that Palau seek technical assistance from OHCHR, UNICEF, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the International Narcotics Control Board, the Centre for International Crime Prevention and the International Network on Juvenile Justice regarding: its legislation to protect children from violence; adolescent health; training of professional staff working with and for children with disabilities; measures to protect children from alcohol, narcotic drugs and psychotropic substance abuse; and juvenile justice through the Coordination Panel on Technical Assistance and Advice in Juvenile Justice. 70. CRC recommended that Palau strengthen its educational system through closer cooperation with UNICEF and UNESCO. Summary of stakeholders' information 4. VOICES Palau indicated that despite ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) by Palau over a decade ago, there is lack of implementation, especially in the area of updating domestic laws to implement the CRC. As an example, VOICES Palau indicated that there is no protection for boys in cases of sexual abuse. 8. OceaniaHR noted that the Convention on the Rights of the Child has been ratified. However, the children of Palau are not taught their basic rights enshrined in the CRC. Palau should create a national plan of action regarding human rights education of its citizens beginning with its children through elementary and high school curriculum. OceaniaHR indicated that it is imperative for Palau to adopt a national plan of action on human rights education. 9. OceaniaHR noted that Palau should create cultural based child rights material rooted in the articles of the CRC. 11. Global Initiative to End All Corporal Punishment of Children (GIEACPC) noted that, despite the recommendations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child, corporal punishment of children is lawful in the home. Provisions against violence and abuse in the Child Abuse Law are not interpreted as prohibiting corporal punishment in childrearing and there is no explicit prohibition of corporal punishment in schools. The Master Plan for Education (2000) aims to discourage and prevent the use of corporal punishment at primary and secondary levels. In the penal system, corporal punishment is unlawful as a sentence for crime but is lawful as a disciplinary measure in penal institutions. In alternative care settings, corporal punishment is lawful by guardians and others with parental authority under the provisions confirming "the power to exercise parental control and authority" in the Palau National Code. GIEACPC hoped that the Universal Periodic Review will highlight the importance of prohibiting all corporal punishment of children in all settings, including the home, and urged the Government to enact legislation to achieve this as a matter of priority. Accepted and Rejected Recommendations The following recommendations were accepted: A - 61.1. Increase its efforts aimed at the incorporation of the CRC provisions and principles into the domestic legal system (Poland); A - 61.4. Amend relevant domestic legislation so as to offer married women the same level of protection against coerced sex as to unmarried women and remove the law which discriminates against a wife's and female child's right to inherit property (United Kingdom); A - 61.14. Take measures to ensure the full implementation of the principles and provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Intensify efforts to establish an Ombudsman for Children to deal with complaints of violations of the rights of the child, particularly those related to child exploitation and sexual violence (Spain); A - 61.16. Take all measures to implement the National Action Plan for Children (Republic of Moldova); A - 61.17. Establish policies, programmes and services to provide children with greater protection and care (Brazil); A - 61.19. Accelerate efforts aimed at raising awareness and education among the general population on human rights, particularly on the rights of women, children and disabled persons (Malaysia); A - 61.20. Meet its reporting obligations under the CRC (Maldives); A - 61.22. Promote and protect the rights of persons with disabilities by, among others, involving persons with disabilities in all phases of ratification of the CRPD and the Palau National Policy on Disability, and ensuring access to education as well as an inclusive education system at all levels for children with disabilities (Thailand); A - 61.23. Adopt legislative and public policy measures aimed at eliminating discrimination against children in situation of vulnerability, including children of immigrant families (Argentina); A - 61.27. Consider establishing shelters for victims of domestic violence and reinforce efforts to prevent and combat child abuses, including measures to assist in recovery and reintegration (Canada); A - 61.34. Implement policies to ensure the promotion of the rights of women and children, specifically in combating domestic violence (South Africa); A - 61.38. Reinforce the efforts to prevent and combat trafficking in human beings for sexual exploitation with particular focus on children (Slovakia); A - 61.39. Adopt legislation aimed at protecting children from economic and sexual exploitation (Thailand); A - 61.40. Adopt expeditiously necessary legislation and implement all relevant measures to prevent and combat sexual abuse of children, providing for the physical and psychological recovery and social reintegration of child victims (Slovakia); A - 61.41. Conduct investigation of all alleged sexual abuse of children in a childfriendly judicial procedure, with due regard given to protecting the right to privacy of the child (Slovakia); A - 61.42. Step up the implementation of measures to combat, prevent and punish acts of child abuse, child neglect and domestic violence (Malaysia); A - 61.44. Prohibit the use of corporal punishment in homes and in schools and conduct awareness campaigns to reduce the scope of this action (Norway); A - 61.46. Establish mechanisms ensuring that street children are provided with clothing, housing, health and educational services (Poland); A - 61.52. Intensify the efforts, including through increasing the seeking of technical cooperation, for establishing special educational programmes for boys and girls with disabilities (Mexico); A 62.18 (Part 2).- the Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child withi n the framework of the National Plan of Action for Children referred in the national report (Chile); A - 62.24 (Part 2). the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocols; (Spain); A - 62.24 (Part 4).Ratify the two Optional Protocols on the Convention on the Rights of the Child (Spain); A - 62.30. Review the legislation on minimum age for criminal responsibility (Brazil); A - 62.31. Raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility in compliance with international standards (Slovakia); A - 62.34. Urgently implement legislation that specifically addresses child sexual exploitation through electronic images and take appropriate measures to ensure adequate legal protection of children, including boys, against commercial sexual exploitation (United Kingdom); A - 62.35. Enact legislation that addresses exploitation of children via sexually explicit videos, movies, photos and electronic images (New Zealand); A - 62.36. Enact legislation to prevent child labour and protect children from commercial sexual exploitation (Trinidad and Tobago); A - 62.37. Seek the assistance of ILO to combat child labour (Brazil); A - 62.41. Equalize the legal minimum age of marriage for girls and boys (Norway); No recommendations were rejected. The following were left pending: P – 62.18 (Part 1). Gradual consideration be given, with the assistance of OHCHR, to the ratification of some human rights treaties, in particular the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and (Chile) P – 62.24 (Part 1). Sign and ratify the two International Covenants; the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (Spain); P - 62.24 (Part 3). the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappareance; and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination(Spain); P - 62.24 (Part 5).In particular, sign and ratify the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and its Optional Protocol, whose ratification was approved by the Senate in early 2008 and is still awaiting for the approval of the House of Representatives (Spain); P - 62.29. Revise the status of children born of foreign parents in accordance with relevant international standards (Hungary); P - 62.33. Ratify the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and children, a protocol to the Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (United States of America);
3rd May, 10am to 1pm
UN Compilation
Stakeholder Compilation
Accepted and rejected recommendations