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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. Thailand - 12th Session - 2011 Scroll to: National Report 16. Thailand is committed to the people-centred ASEAN Charter and regional human rights mechanisms within ASEAN. The country stands ready to support the work of the Thai representatives in the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) and the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC) to enable these mechanisms to effectively protect the rights of the peoples of ASEAN. 18. Thailand is currently Party to 7 core international human rights instruments, namely: (1) the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR); (2) the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR); (3) the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and its Optional Protocol; (4) the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and its two Optional Protocols on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict and on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography; (5) the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD); (6) the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT); and (7) the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Thailand is also Party to the 4 Geneva Conventions of 1949. Most recently, Thailand has become a Party to the United Nations Convention against Corruption on 31 March 2011. 33. Thailand has abolished the death penalty for persons below 18 years of age, and does not apply the death penalty on pregnant women and persons with mental illness. The death penalty is imposed only on persons who have committed serious crimes, and royal pardons are sought and granted on various occasions whereby the death sentence is commuted to life imprisonment. Furthermore, Thailand attaches importance to the process of national consultation on the death penalty. 43. The Constitution guarantees the right of workers to receive security and welfare in accordance with the law. The Labour Protection Act of 1998 (2008 amendment) is the main law specifying the rights and duties of both employers and employees, with provisions governing employment and minimum standards to which all employers must adhere regarding all aspects of employment, including working days, holidays, leave, wages, overtime, work safety and environment, welfare, as well as employment of women and children. Under the Act, all workers will be protected regardless of race, nationality or any other status. 53. Thailand is implementing an education for all policy. All children must receive 9 years compulsory education and are entitled to receive 12 years basic education under the Constitution. This is further reinforced by the 15-year free education programme for all, from kindergarten up to high school level, regardless of nationality. 54. Children with disabilities are entitled to free education from birth up to undergraduate level with due regard to their special needs. Special education centres in every province provide support for children with disabilities from birth, with a view to enhancing their quality of life and enabling them to co-educate with other children. 55. Muslim children in the Southern Border Provinces receive education that is consistent with their way of life, identity, culture and specific needs. The Government continues to focus on improving educational standards, developing religious teachers, instilling a sense of national solidarity and multiculturalism, using local language in conjunction with Thai language, and promoting vocational training to achieve better job placements. A number of scholarships are provided to students to enable them to further their education. 56. As for students living in remote areas, ICT is used to manage groups of schools, with one main school acting as a hub to assist other schools in providing remote education to students. Distance and adult learning will be further promoted to help those previously lacking opportunities to pursue higher education. 57. Although an education for all policy is being implemented, challenges still exist in terms of the quality of education and ensuring equal access. Further efforts are needed to improve the quality of education and teachers, including expanding education opportunities for poor children and those living in remote areas by promoting schools within local communities. Children not in the education system or who drop out from schools will be assisted to further their education. Children with disabilities need further support so that they can co-educate with other children without being discriminated against. The 15-year free education programme needs to be strengthened to ensure that children do receive education free of charge without any costs. 58. Non-Thais and persons without a clear legal status, including those belonging to ethnic groups, children of migrant workers as well as children who unlawfully enter the country are also entitled to 15 years education free of charge. The education cost per head for these children is allocated at an equal amount to Thai children. However, much needs to be done for them to have equal access to education. Currently, the Ministry of Education is promoting greater awareness among schools across the country about these children's right to enroll in public schools as well as seeking measures to help them adapt and stay in school for a longer period. 59. On education for displaced persons, please refer to paragraph 103 under the section on displaced persons and asylum seekers. 60. The promotion and protection of the rights of the child is a priority for Thailand. Since becoming a Party to the CRC in 1992, Thailand has enacted new laws and amended more than 17 pieces of legislation to bring them into alignment with the CRC's provisions. The most notable ones are the Child Protection Act of 2003 and the Act and the Procedure for the Juvenile and Family Court of 2010. Arrested children must be brought to the Juvenile and Family Court within 24 hours and the Court can issue a protection order of a child without the commencement of any legal proceedings. Therapy is used as a substitute for criminal punishment and a special investigation room for children is to be set up in police stations.i 61. Local administrative organizations are given a significant role in child protection and development. Child protection committees and child and youth councils have been established at all levels from the national down to local levels. However, efforts are required to ensure that local mechanisms can function more effectively on child protection. Master plans on child protection need to be established at the local and community levels with encouragement to work more closely with the local child and youth councils. 62. The Government attaches special attention to early childhood, and has set up a national committee on early childhood development, chaired by the Prime Minister, to move forward implementation of the Long-Term Policy and Strategy for Early Childhood Development (2007–2016). This focuses on appropriate development for children from 0–5 years of age by providing welfare for mothers and their children in terms of nutrition, healthcare and early childhood development centres.ii Special care is also given to children with disabilities. 63. With regard to children in the Southern Border Provinces, efforts have been made by concerned State agencies to promote their development and protect them from violence in the area. As a result, in 2010 the number of children affected by violence significantly declined to the lowest figures since 2004. Protection for schools and teachers has been provided to ensure children the right to education. For children and youth who have committed crimes relating to security, the Government is fully aware of the importance of applying the juvenile justice system to such persons rather than the special security laws. 64. With regard to stateless children, in 2010 Thailand announced the withdrawal of its reservation to Article 7 of the CRC, which guarantees, among others, the right of the child to be registered immediately after birth. According to the nationality and immigration laws, as well as the Management Strategy on the Problem of Status and Rights of Persons, children of long-term migrants and those belonging to ethnic groups are entitled to apply for Thai nationality or the status of legal migrants, in line with the established rules.iii Children of migrant workers under 15 years of age can be registered along with their parents, which allows them to stay in Thailand legally and be entitled to various basic rights. There is also the possibility for them to obtain the nationality of their country of origin by virtue of jus sanguinis (right of blood), supported by their birth registration and nationality verification of their parents. 65. Violence against children remains an important challenge, whether in the forms of domestic violence, child pornography, child sex abuse, or the involvement of children with narcotic drugs. This problem requires effective law enforcement as well as awareness and understanding of the laws and the exercise of child sensitivity by law enforcement officials. Effort needs to be redoubled to help bring misled children back to school and to promote the role of families, communities and schools in preventing, protecting and assisting abused children. With regard to the issue of child pornography, there is a need to include the definition of "child pornography" in the relevant law. 66. In terms of assistance, mechanisms such as the One-Stop Crisis Centre (OSCC) in hospitals, telephone hot lines and public and private shelters have been set up with multi-professional teamsiv as well as NGO networks providing support to abused children and those at risk of being abused. A situation analysis of violence against children has been conducted, the results of which will help guide the formulation of a national policy for the prevention and protection of violence against children and youth. 67. With regard to child labour, the 1998 Labour Protection Act (2008 amendment) prohibits the employment of children under the age of 15. Thailand has made considerable progress in tackling the problem particularly through awareness raising activities and the establishment of child labour prevention networks down to the village level. A National Committee on the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour, chaired by the Prime Minister, has been set up to steer policies and measures to resolve this problem in a comprehensive manner with a particular focus on the abuse of migrant children. Nevertheless, there is a need to strengthen the work of labour inspectors. Measures to bring more migrant children into the education system are also needed. 68. Street children remain an important challenge. The Government and NGOs have been helping these children by providing teachers, counseling, shelters, as well as bringing them into the educational system and reintegrating them with their families. However, this problem still needs to be continuously tackled through a systematic and effective strategy. 75. Importance is being placed on the problem of premature teen pregnancy. The National Policy and Strategy on the Development of Sexual Reproductive Health has been developed to address the problem through a multidisciplinary approach and promoting sexual reproductive health education for children and youth as an effective preventive measure. Thailand is also in the process of developing the Draft Reproductive Health Protection Act to promote and protect the sexual reproductive rights of all women. It also addresses the right to education of pregnant teenagers to enable them to continue their studies in schools. 100. Regarding the right to health of unregistered migrant workers and their children, the Ministry of Public Health provides treatment to all workers regardless of their legal status. The Ministry aims to reach out to this group by providing health promotion, prevention and treatment, including immunization for children of migrant workers at their communities. 104. Children living in the temporary shelters receive education equivalent to grade 1 to grade 10. Even though the curriculum in the temporary shelters has not been certified by the educational system, a standard curriculum both in Thai and English languages is currently being developed for further accreditation. In addition, all children in the temporary shelters are entitled to be registered at birth. 107. The problem of human trafficking in Thailand is a complex one as a country of origin, transit and destination. The problem affects the most vulnerable groups, especially women, girls, boys, migrant workers and ethnic groups. It also takes various forms, such as trafficking for sexual exploitation, labour exploitation and forced begging. 108. The fight against human trafficking began in earnest in the late 1980s and has been declared a national agenda since 2004. Relevant laws, policies and mechanisms have been constantly developed, with the major progress being the Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Act of 2008. The Act adopts a rights-based approach and protects all victims of trafficking regardless of gender, nationality or legal status, in line with the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. 113. In order to reaffirm Thailand's commitment to combating human trafficking, the Government has extended an invitation to the Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children to visit the country in 2011. 123. Although multidisciplinary mechanisms are in place to protect human rights at the local level, challenges remain in practice in ensuring that these mechanisms work effectively. Local work plans still do not adequately address the protection of the rights of various groups, such as children and women. Meanwhile, the central budget still needs to be devolved for the local authorities to manage themselves. The work of these local bodies should be transparent and accountable, with monitoring mechanisms involving the public and civil society. 126. Accelerating reform of the power structure through decentralization of administrative power to the localities, communities and the people, in line with the Constitution, in order to strengthen human rights protection at the local level. Ensuring the protection of human rights, particularly the rights of women, children, persons with disabilities and the elderly, including community rights, through inclusion in work plans at the local level, and involving the public in the formulation, implementation and evaluation of the policies and plans that affect their lives in the community. 2. In 2006, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) drew attention to the fact that reservations to article 16 were contrary to the object and purpose of the Convention. Thailand was urged to consider withdrawing its reservations to CEDAW and CRC and its declarations to ICCPR, including that related to the imposition of the death penalty on persons below 18 years of age. 8. In 2006, CRC recommended that Thailand carry out comprehensive public education campaigns to prevent and combat all forms of discrimination. 14. In 2006, CEDAW expressed concern about the situation of Muslim women in the south who lacked access to education, social security, health care and economic opportunities and were subjected to early marriage due to cultural norms and that this situation was further exacerbated by unrest in the south. These concerns were shared by UNCT, which also pointed out that many women had limited access to matrimonial property after the death of husbands in accordance with the Muslim personal law. CRC noted with concern that violence and unrest in the SBP had severe consequences and endangered the right of the child to life, survival and development. UNCT referred to reported cases of the cash-assistance entitlement of children orphaned by the violence being denied if their father was involved in insurgent activity. 15. In 2006, CRC expressed concern about the persistence of discrimination against the child, particularly with respect to the girl child, children of indigenous, and religious or ethnic minority communities, children of refugees and asylum-seekers, children of migrant workers, street children, children with disabilities, children living in rural areas, and children living in poverty. UNCT noted that, despite ongoing efforts to protect children from violence, children across the country, particularly the children of ethnic and religious minorities, of migrant families and of the population who remained below the poverty line continued to face violations, such as sexual exploitation and abuse, detention as a first response, child labour, trafficking, corporal punishment, unnecessary institutionalization and violence in their homes, schools and community. 18. UNCT, while welcoming the 2008 amendment to the Nationality Act, noted that full safeguards were not provided in preventing statelessness. There were gaps in the acquisition of nationality under the Act and other gaps that could lead to statelessness or a heightened risk of statelessness.v UNCT noted that, while universal birth registration was codified by the 2008 Civil Registration Act, as many as 15 per cent of births remained unregistered. UNCT suggested the issuance of birth certificates through the hospital system. Related concerns were raised by the HR Committee and CRC, with CEDAW also noting that certain provisions of the Nationality Law continued to discriminate against Thai women who marry foreign men. 22. The HR Committee was concerned at the overcrowding and general conditions of places of detention; and that the right of detainees of access to lawyers and members of the family was not always observed in practice. The Committee considered the duration of detention before a person was brought before a judge to be incompatible with the requirements of the Covenant. The Committee recommended that the use of shackling and long periods of solitary confinement be stopped immediately; and there should be compulsory segregation of juveniles from adults. 24. In 2011, the Secretary-General stated that the United Nations had received information that pointed to the alleged involvement of children in activities of non-State armed groups and village defence volunteers (Chor Ror Bor). Thailand stated that no children were associated with the village defence volunteers. UNCT stated that in the SBP ongoing violence is taking a high toll on children, in spite of Thailand's efforts to protect them. Children have been subject to the application of martial law and the Emergency Decree due to the special legal mechanism under the security laws and the absence of special regulations for juveniles. Physical abuse of children and psychological damage as a result of searches, home visits, questioning, arrests and detention have been reported. Children affected included those suspected of participating in or supporting any act that constitutes an emergency situation, and those whose family members have been suspected of participating in or supporting any aforementioned act.vi In 2011, Thailand stated that allegations, reported in the Secretary-General's previous reports, of children detained in police and army interviewing centres for their suspected association with armed groups had been addressed. 25. UNCT noted that many child victims of domestic violence were placed in an institution and that limited investment by Thailand in the prevention of abuse, violence, neglect and exploitation perpetuated a cycle of violence against children. UNCT recommended that free legal aid and psycho-social protection for survivors be enhanced and the criminal justice system be more gender-sensitive and child-friendly to avoid re-victimization of women and children survivors of violence. CRC urged Thailand to prohibit by law all forms of corporal punishment. 26. The HR Committee expressed concern about trafficking in persons for purposes of sexual exploitation and forced labour, including child prostitution and about the significant proportion of children, often stateless or of foreign nationality who engaged in labour and were often victims of trafficking. Related concerns were expressed by CRC, the ILO Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations (CEACR) in 2011 and CEDAW, including on sex tourism and child pornography. CEDAW recommended that Thailand address the root cause of trafficking by increasing its efforts to improve the economic situation of women. 32. Noting the high rate of women in prison, CRC was concerned that sentencing decisions did not consistently take into account the best interests of the child and women's role as mothers with child caring responsibilities. UNCT recommended that the criminal justice system be reviewed to be more gender-sensitive and child-friendly, and that psycho-social protection and legal aid made available to all. 33. In 2006, CRC noted that some existing legislation, for example the Penal Code regarding the minimum age of criminal responsibility (7 years), was still not in compliance with the Convention. UNCT recommended that security laws be reviewed to ensure their conformity with international juvenile justice standards, that civil society organizations be part of the review process and that effective monitoring mechanisms be established. Related recommendations were made by the CRC. 34. CRC, concerned that identities and photos of child victims were presented in the media, urged Thailand to establish mechanisms to ensure that all materials broadcast respect the child's right to privacy and that appropriate human rights training is given to media professionals. 35. Expressing concern at early marriage due to cultural norms, CEDAW encouraged Thailand to provide increased educational opportunities to girls to discourage early marriages. 42. CRC recommended that Thailand: effectively implement domestic labour laws; extend the Labour Protection Act to ensure protection for children working in the informal sector (for example agriculture, small-scale family enterprises and domestic service); improve the labour inspection system and enable it to monitor and report on the practice of domestic and rural labour by children; and continue to actively participate in regional and interregional ILO/IPEC activities. 44. CRC recommended that Thailand continue to allocate resources for effective poverty reduction measures, particularly in the north, north-east and the SBP. A 2007 UNDP report indicated that access to health services is skewed. Maternal mortality remained very high in the Muslim-majority area in the SBP. Child malnutrition persisted among hill tribe people in remote northern areas. In 2006, CRC was particularly concerned at iodine and iron deficiencies, at the incidence of thalassemia and the low rate of exclusive breastfeeding. CRC recommended that Thailand continue to improve access to safe drinking water and sanitation facilities, particularly in remote areas of the country. 45. UNCT commended Thailand for its commitment to realizing the right to education for all children, particularly for the launch in 2009 of a 15-year free-education policy to enable children to have equal access to quality education. Translating this policy into reality remained a challenge at all levels. About 60 per cent of children attend some form of pre-primary education. Almost half of the students do not finish the 12-year basic education cycle. 46. UNCT noted that ensuring the right to an education for children with disabilities needed further emphasis. In principle, Government regulations allowed migrant and/or stateless children to go to school, but in reality the education system did not provide adequate support to schools to this end. In 2006, CRC also recommended that Thailand continue efforts to provide indigenous and minority children with equal access to quality education, which respects their distinct cultural patterns and uses local indigenous and minority languages; and expand the availability and improve the quality of vocational training. 47. UNCT noted that there had been a decline in attacks against schools in 2010 as well as against students and teachers in the SBP. Military presence in schools, although being addressed by the Government, remained a concern as schools should be "zones of peace". 49. According to the UNCT, Thailand hosted over two million migrant workers from neighbouring countries. Significant steps had been taken to regularize their position and to access social services. However, challenges in ensuring the promotion and protection of migrants' rights were still significant. Irregular migrant workers can be subjected to deception and human trafficking by means of debt bondage and physical abuse, particularly in fisheries, agriculture and as domestic helpers, as well as subjected to expulsions. Many children of migrants encountered challenges in accessing education. Surveys showed that women, who constituted the majority in the informal (especially domestic) sector, were very vulnerable to violations. The cases were seriously underreported due to the fear of deportation. Access to justice for migrant workers was limited and available legal aid is not accessible to the majority of migrant workers due to language barriers. UNCT noted that the current Nationality Verification Process (NV) was limited to migrant workers, leaving out their families and children. The NV Process needed to be more inclusive, non-discriminatory, and reviewed, making it simpler, more affordable and transparent. 52. In 2006, CRC acknowledged that an exceptional natural disaster caused by the Indian Ocean tsunami of 26 December 2004 had largely devastated the south-western coast of Thailand - giving rise to a number of economic and social difficulties and affecting the lives of many children. It also acknowledged the challenges faced by Thailand as a result of the civil unrest in the southernmost provinces, which had adversely impacted overall human rights development in the country. 54. UNCT welcomed Thailand's human rights commitments in five areas: strengthening the implementation of the National Action Plan on Human Rights and the effectiveness of its monitoring mechanism and follow-up; continuing active engagement and dialogue with civil society and encouraging public participation to enhance human rights and a democratic environment; expediting efforts to withdraw its reservations to CRC, CEDAW and ICCPR; pursuing efforts for ratification of CED and ILO Conventions No. 87, 98 and 111; and cooperating closely with treaty bodies, and intensifying efforts to implement their recommendations and ensuring submission of national reports under the instruments within the scheduled timeline. 55. In 2005, the HR Committee requested Thailand to provide information, within one year, on its response to the Committee's recommendations contained in paragraphs 13 (state of emergency), 15 (excessive use of force against detainees) and 21 (child labour). A follow-up reply was submitted in 2006. 4. JS9 recommended that the Government ratify OP-ICESCR and immediately repeal its reservations to CEDAW, CRC, CERD and CAT. 20. JS9 indicated that people living with HIV faced discrimination in society. JS3 noted that many Government agencies refused to employ people living with HIV/AIDs (PLHA). HIV positive children were stigmatized, making it difficult to attend school. JS3 recommended that the Government apply a human rights based approach to overcome HIV/AIDS issue without discrimination; amend laws that obstruct access to various services for PLHA; lift policies that stigmatize, discriminate or violate the rights of PLHA in employment, access to social services and welfare; amend rules and regulations to allow children below 18 years old access to voluntary counseling and testing services without parental consent. 28. JPF highlighted that Malay Muslim women had been affected by the violence in southern Thailand and faced trafficking, domestic violence and health issues. JS9 indicated that more than 2,188 were widowed and sexual violations including rape of women and girls were widespread. JS9 referred to reports that 5,111 children in the south were orphaned due to the loss of their custodian and that children aged 13 and above had lost their lives and been detained in army camps with adults. 29. JPF referred to the persistence of children's involvement in Chor Ror Bor (Government-established village defence volunteer units), as well as their continued involvement in armed opposition groups in southern Thailand. It highlighted the need for the Government to end children's recruitment and use by all armed parties. JS8 stated that the martial law should not be applied to children under the age of 18 in any circumstances. JS10 stated that special attention must be paid to children and youth who were accused of committing criminal offences related to political rallies and political unrest in the Deep South. NHRC stated that the detention and treatment of juveniles below 18 years was not in accordance with international standards. 30. Global Initiative to End All Corporal Punishment against Children (GIEACPC) noted that corporal punishment was lawful in the home and alternative care settings and continued to be used in schools. 48. JS10 reported that 62.7 per cent of employed were from the informal sectorvii and indicated that "Contract farming" in the agriculture sector was not protected by the new Home Workers Protection Act. JS10 recommended that Thailand ensure the work safety and development of the children of workers in the Informal Sector. 49. IHRB recommended that Thailand enhance protections for groups whose rights are particularly affected by private sector activity, such as migrant workers and child labourers and pursue companies that violate labour laws, particularly in industries with a high incidence of human rights abuses, such as shrimp processing. 53. JS7 noted a high number of early pregnancies and related health problems and that the suicide rate among adolescents was constantly increasing. It recommended elimination of disparities in health care between cities and remote areas and of dangerous practices of illegal abortions; and paying special attention to drug addiction. STP reported on the lack of health personnel and violent attacks had forced hospitals to cut down their outreach services to the minimum, in the south. The maternal mortality ratio was three times higher, and the infant mortality was 30 per cent higher than the national average. JS10 stated that the Government should pass the "Reproductive Health Bill." 54. JS7 stated that, despite advances, access to quality education in the North and North-East region was still being impeded, including by linguistic barriers. JS7 noted with concern episodes of child abuse by teachers. JS7 recommended that Thailand provide adequate teacher training, suitable teaching materials and prioritize human rights education. 55. CDC highlighted that not all schools outside the camp Mae La accepted children of undocumented migrants. JS4 recommended that the Government promote policies on entering migrant children into Thai schools; and recognize and allow education certificates to be transferable to the Thai education system. 56. HRW reported that the Pejuang Kemerdekaan Patani insurgency in the loose network of BRN-Coordinate (National Revolution Front-Coordinate) was a separatist movement involving Thailand's southern border provinces and that insurgents frequently targeted teachers and schools, as these were seen as Government entities. Insurgents had targeted Malay Muslim teachers at Government schools and Islamic school administrators who resisted insurgents' efforts to use classrooms for indoctrination and recruiting. JS9 indicated that schools were frequently shut down. 57. JS7 reported that ethnic minorities' children were being discriminated against and marginalized because of their distinct living habits and language. Due to geographical isolation, ethnic communities did not have access to some basic services. Accepted and Rejected Recommendations The following recommendations were accepted: A - 88.1. Ratify the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime and its Protocols to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children, and Against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air (Australia); A - 88.21. Continue to work closely with ASEAN to build on the mechanisms of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) and the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC) to promote and protect the rights of the peoples of ASEAN (Singapore); A - 88.23. Strengthen the implementation of policies and measures to protect vulnerable social groups like women, children, poor people, ethnic minorities, migrants (Viet Nam); A - 88.26. Combat discriminatory practices against children and adolescents belonging to minorities or in a situation of special vulnerability (Uruguay); A - 88.33. Pursue efforts to ensure gender equality and combat violence against women and children (Egypt); A - 88.34. Continue to promote and protect the rights of women and children (Bangladesh); A - 88.35. Review the legislation and national public policies regarding the rights of the child in the light of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and its Optional Protocols (Uruguay); A - 88.36. Enhance policy for the protection of children’s rights and strengthen mechanisms currently in place and promote and protect the rights of children (South Africa); A - 88.41. Strengthen the systems of legal assistance and psycho-social protection so that they are adapted to the particular needs of minors and prevent them from becoming again victims of domestic violence (Honduras); A - 88.43. Implement more rigorously the existing m echanisms to protect and assist children living and/or working on the streets (Republic of Korea); A - 88.45. Continue cooperating closely with neighbouring countries in combating and suppressing trafficking in persons, particularly women and girls and in addressing the situation of irregular migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers (Malaysia); A - 88.51. Increase efforts to effectively prevent trafficking in human beings for purposes of sexual exploitation and forced labour, including child prostitution (Republic of Moldova); A - 88.52. Adopt all necessary measures to tackle the root causes of the problems of child prostitution, sexual tourism, use of children in pornography and trafficking in women, stepping up its efforts to improve the economic situation (Uruguay); A - 88.53. Seriously address the issues of child pornography and human trafficking in girls and boys for sexual purposes, including by encouraging police and border forces to strengthen efforts at fighting these phenomena as well as seeking accountability where lack of state efforts at prosecution could amount to human rights violations (Sweden); A - 88.63. Further accelerate the reform of the justice system to ensure equal treatment for all citizens while continuing to pay specific attention to women and children (Lebanon); A - 88.76. Consider developing a system of alternative sentencing to effectively reduce the number of women and children held in prison (Austria); A - 88.77. Review its penitentiary policy to become more gender-sensitive and child-friendly, taking on board the interests of mother-prisoners and their minor children (Slovakia); A - 88.78. Consider raising (from 7 years old) the minimum age of criminal responsibility (Brazil); A - 88.79. Ensure separation of juvenile offenders from adult inmates (Slovakia); A - 88.90. Address the problems of maternal mortality and child malnutrition in remote areas of the country (Slovenia); A - 88.91. Continue enhancing the quality of the access to education, including equal access to education for all children (Sri Lanka); The following recommendations were rejected: No relevant rejected recommendations. The following recommendations were left pending: P - 89.36. Adopt all necessary measures to eradicate the abuse and sexual exploitation of children, corporal punishment, the recruitment of children by armed groups and to combat the worst forms of child labour (Uruguay); P - 89.37. End the recruitment of children and their participation in armed groups (Honduras); P - 89.38. Prohibit corporal punishment of children in all settings (Slovenia); P - 89.47. Raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility to at least 12 years, as recommended by the CRC, and enforce compulsory segregation of juveniles from adults in detention (Slovenia); P - 89.48. Raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility to at least 12 years, in line with the recommendations by the Committee on the Rights of the Child (Austria); P - 89.49. Review security laws to ensure their conformity with the international human rights standards and in particular with regard to juvenile (alleged) offenders (Slovenia);
5th October, 2.30pm to 5.30pm
UN Compilation
Stakeholder Compilation
Accepted and Rejected Recommendations
Summary of stakeholders' information