Submitted by crinadmin on
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.
- UN Human Rights Committee
- UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
- UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
- UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
- UN Committee against Torture
- UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture
- UN Committee on Migrant Workers
- UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- UN Committee on Enforced Disappearance
Ratified in 2008, but not yet reported.
____________________________________________________
UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Not yet signed or ratified.
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UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
Not yet signed or ratified.
____________________________________________________
UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
CEDAW/C/VUT/CO/4-5
Concluding Observations on the Fourth and Fifth Periodic Reports
Adopted by Commmittee: 24 February 2016
Published: 7 March 2016
Issues Raised:
Access to Justice:
The Committee is concerned about the lack of procedural accommodation of the justice system for women and girls with disabilities, such as accessible information, provision of sign language interpreter, alternative forms of communication.
(para.10)
Violence:
The Committee is equally concerned that the prevalence of sexual abuse of girls under 15 years is one of the highest in the world, and that nearly one in three women have been sexually abused before that age, mostly by male family members and partners.
(para. 20)
Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation:
The Committee is concerned at the absence of a law to prevent, suppress and punish trafficking in persons, in particular women and girls. It is further concerned at the lack of data on trafficking and exploitation of prostitution and that no comprehensive research is being undertaken on the phenomenon of trafficking and exploitation of prostitution in the State party.
(para. 22)
Education:
The Committee welcomes the progress achieved in increasing enrolment and completion rates of girls at the primary level and the National Curriculum Statement 2010 which integrates gender aspects across all curricula, teacher’s guides and learning materials. However, the Committee notes with concern: The high dropout rates among girls at the secondary level of education where some 50% of girls enrolled drop out between grade 7 and 11; The absence of a law guaranteeing the right of pregnant women and girls to return to school after giving birth; The indirect costs of schooling at the primary and secondary levels, such as costs of transport, which affect girls disproportionately given that parents with limited means often give priority to the schooling of their sons;
The reported incidents of sexual violence in schools involving both male teachers and students, and the absence of any protocols for school authorities to handle such cases; The very limited number of girls applying for tertiary education scholarships despite existence of the 50/50 allocation guidelines;
(para. 26)
Health:
The Committee notes with concern: Women’s and girls’ limited access to health services, especially for those living in remote areas, and to contraceptives, the lack of trained health-care professionals, and limited access to medical treatment and rehabilitation services for victims of gender-based violence; The high number of early pregnancies; and barriers preventing women and girls with disabilities from fully accessing health-care services, including sexual and reproductive health services.
(para. 30)
The Disabled:
The Committee takes note of the review of the National Disability Policy and Plan of Action 2008-2015 which allowed for the recognition of the specific needs of women and girls with disabilities. However, it is concerned about the lack of concrete measures taken to protect the rights of women and girls with disabilities, including their rights to inclusive education, employment and health care, and about the absence of mechanisms to protect them from multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination. The Committee is further concerned that women and girls with disabilities are not systematically involved in decisions that affect their lives and do not have the opportunity to express their opinion on matters that affect them directly.
(para. 34)
Marriage:
The Committee is concerned that no amendment has been made to the Control of Marriage Act in order to increase the minimum age for marriage from 16 to 18 for women.
(para. 38)
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UN Committee against Torture
Ratified in 2011, but not yet reported.
____________________________________________________
UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture
No visits undertaken.
____________________________________________________
UN Committee on Migrant Workers
Not yet signed or ratified.
____________________________________________________
UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Ratified in 2008, but not yet reported.
____________________________________________________
UN Committee on Enforced Disappearance
Signed in 2007, but not yet ratified.