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Summary: This report extracts mentions of children's rights issues in the reports of all UN Treaty Bodies and their follow-up procedures. This does not include the Concluding Observations of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child which are available here: http://www.crin.org/resources/treaties/index.asp
Please note that the language may have been edited in places for the purpose of clarity.
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- UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
- UN Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
- UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
- UN Human Rights Committee
- UN Committee against Torture
- UN Committee on Migrant Workers
- UN Committee on Enforced Disappearance
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UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
CERD/C/128/Add.3
Reviewed on 21 March 1997
The Committee regretted that Seychelles had not responded to its invitation to participate in the meeting
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UN Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
CEDAW/C/SYC/CO/1-5
Last Reported: 10 October 2013 Concluding Observations issued: 28 October 2013
Issues raised and recommendations given:
Temporary special measures: While welcoming the results achieved in ensuring substantive equality between women and men in the area of political life, health and education without the use of temporary special measures, the Committee remains concerned that no temporary special measures are in place or are planned to be applied as part of a necessary strategy to accelerate the achievement of substantive equality between women and men in areas in which women remain underrepresented or disadvantaged, including in the area of employment, where the better performance of women and girls in mathematics and scientific professions is not translated into employment of women; or, for disadvantaged groups of women, including women with disabilities and older women. (Para. 18)
The Committee encourages the State party to consider using temporary special measures, in accordance with article 4 (1) of the Convention, as interpreted in its general recommendation No. 25 on temporary special measures, in all areas covered by the Convention in which women are underrepresented or disadvantaged, including in the area of employment, where the better performance of women and girls in mathematics and scientific professions is not translated into employment of women; and, for disadvantaged groups of women, including women with disabilities and older women. (Para. 19)
Stereotypes and harmful practices: While noting the launch of various projects to eradicate patriarchal attitudes in the State party, the Committee remains concerned about the persistence of traditional stereotypes regarding the roles of women and men in the family and in society, which discriminate against women and perpetuate gender inequality, such as discriminatory media advertisements and vacancy announcements and the limited participation of men in child-raising and other domestic duties. (Para. 20)
The Committee recommends that the State party include in its national gender policy comprehensive measures aimed at women and men, girls and boys, to overcome stereotypical attitudes about the roles and responsibilities of women and men in the family and in society, to increase the participation of men in child-raising and other domestic duties and to eliminate patriarchal stereotypes in media advertisements and vacancy announcements. (Paras. 20-21)
Violence against women: While noting the continuing drafting of a domestic violence bill and the conduct of various awareness-raising initiatives on violence against women, the Committee remains concerned about: (a)The relatively high rate of violence against women, including domestic violence; (b)The lack of legal provisions specifically criminalizing acts of domestic violence, given that only breaching a protection order is criminalized, and the absence of legal provisions criminalizing marital rape; (c)The obstacles faced by women in reporting cases of domestic violence owing to lack of adequate response by the police and service providers in the collection of evidence; the very low conviction rate for cases of rape; and the slowness of the justice system and its negative impact on women victims of violence; (d)The limited training for the police, lawyers, health workers, the judiciary and the public at large on violence against women; (e)The absence of shelters for victims of domestic violence. (Para 22)
The Committee urges the State party: (a) To adopt a comprehensive strategy to combat violence against women; (b) To adopt a comprehensive law on violence against women that specifically criminalizes acts of domestic violence, including marital rape, and ensure that acts of domestic violence are tried by the criminal courts rather than the Family Tribunal; (c) To encourage women and girls who are victims of violence to report cases to the police, by raising awareness about the criminal nature of such acts, de-stigmatizing victims and providing systematic training to judges, prosecutors, the police and law enforcement and medical personnel on standardized, gender-sensitive procedures for dealing with victims of violence against women and effectively investigating complaints; (d) To ensure expeditious access to justice for women victims of all forms of violence and prosecute any such acts of violence, upon complaint by the victim or ex officio, and adequately punish perpetrators; (e) To strengthen victim assistance and rehabilitation through the establishment of a comprehensive care system for victims of gender-based violence, including measures to ensure their access to free legal aid, medical and psychological support, shelters and counselling and rehabilitation services. (Para. 23)
Education: The Committee notes the high level of education of girls and the high literacy rate of women in the State party, the existence of a policy on equal access to scientific, technical and vocational education and training and of a component in the draft national gender policy aimed at increasing the proportion of girls entering science, technology, engineering and mathematics subjects. The Committee is concerned, however, about: (a) The remaining significant underrepresentation of girls in traditionally male-dominated fields of study, such as engineering and technology; (b) The very low participation of women and girls in employment in mathematics and scientific professions, their high performance at educational institutions in these subjects notwithstanding; (c) Some cases of girls who drop out from school as a result of teenage pregnancy. (Para. 28)
The Committee recommends that the State party: (a) Include in the draft national gender policy measures aimed at increasing the representation of girls in traditionally male-dominated fields of study, such as mathematics, information technology, engineering, natural sciences and technological subjects; (b) Take measures to ensure that the better performance of women and girls in mathematics and scientific studies translates into the employment of women in these sectors; (c) Prevent girls from dropping out of school as a result of teenage pregnancy by integrating age-appropriate education on sexual and reproductive health and rights, including on responsible sexual behaviour, into the health and family life education curricula for all levels of education; and strengthen the provision of support to young women so that they can return to school after pregnancy. (Para. 29)
Support for employed parents: While noting the efforts of the State party to finalize the revision of the Employment Act and to include in it provisions aimed at defining and preventing sexual harassment, and shifting the burden of proof to employers in civil proceedings concerning work-related discrimination against women under certain conditions, the Committee remains concerned about: (d)The limited availability of day-care facilities for children under 3.5 years of age, and the limited participation of fathers in child-raising and other domestic duties, thus limiting the ability of women to join the labour force. The Committee recommends that the State party: (e) Increase the number and capacity of public day-care nurseries and day schools, promote responsible fatherhood and take measures to encourage fathers to participate more actively in child-raising and to share equally other domestic duties. (Para. 30-31)
Health: While welcoming the quality and accessibility of maternal health services in the State party, the Committee is concerned about: (a)The high rate of teenage pregnancies and the requirement of parental consent for teenage girls to gain access to contraceptives and HIV testing; (b)The increase in the number of unsafe abortions and the provision, in the Penal Code, of heavy sanctions in case of illegal abortion (seven years’ imprisonment according to article 148 of the Penal Code, although the delegation stated that those sanctions were not implemented in practice). (Para. 34)
In line with its general recommendation No. 24 on women and health, the Committee calls upon the State party: (a) To put an end, without delay, to the requirement of parental consent for teenage girls to gain access to contraceptives and HIV testing; (b) To finalize the adoption of the draft national policy on sexual and reproductive health and ensure that it provides for affordable access to contraceptives and for awareness-raising campaigns on women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights, with special attention to the risks of teenage pregnancy, the importance of using contraceptives for family planning and the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS; (c) To repeal article 148 of the Penal Code providing for seven years’ imprisonment for illegal abortion; (d) To provide pregnant women and girls with access to high-quality services for the management of complications arising from unsafe abortion and to reduce maternal mortality rates, in accordance with the Committee’s general recommendation No. 24 on women and health. (Para. 35)
Marriage and family relations: While noting the information provided by the delegation that the Civil Code is under review, all discriminatory provisions will be repealed and provisions governing de facto unions will be included, the Committee is concerned about the delay in finalizing this process. The Committee is particularly concerned about: (a)The existence of discriminatory provisions in the Status of Married Women Act, the Civil Status Act and the Civil Code, including those: (i)Providing for disparities in the minimum age of marriage for girls (15 years) and boys (18 years) (article 40 of the Civil Status Act); (iii)Giving preference to the father as regards the administration of the child’s property (article 389 of the Civil Code); the consent to the child’s marriage (articles 46 (1) and 47 (1) of the Civil Status Act); and the domicile of the child. (Para. 38)
The Committee recommends that the State party: (a) Repeal, without delay, discriminatory legal provisions relating to marriage and family relations, including those: (i) Providing for disparities in the minimum age of marriage for girls (15 years) and boys (18 years) (article 40 of the Civil Status Act); (iii) Giving preference to the father as regards the administration of the child’s property (article 389 of the Civil Code); the consent to the child’s marriage (articles 46 (1) and 47 (1) of the Civil Status Act); and the domicile of the child; (...) (c) Include in the next report information on the situation of single women with children born out of wedlock, including measures taken to ensure that their rights are protected. (Para. 39)
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UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Ratified in 2009, but not yet reported.
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UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Ratified in 1992, but not yet reported.
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Ratified in 1992, but not yet reported.
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Ratified in 1992, but not yet reported.
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UN Committee on Migrant Workers
Ratified in 1994, but not yet reported
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UN Committee on Enforced Disappearance
Signed ni 2007, but not yet ratified.