CRC/C/COG/CO/2-4
Below is a short summary of some of the key issues from the Committee on the Rights of the Child's 65th session concluding observations for the Republic of Congo. Read the full text, and you can find other documents related to the Committee's 65th session (including alternative reports submitted by NGOs and the Committee's concluding observations for other States reviewed in this session) on the Committee’s session page.
Right to life and survival: The Committee recommends that the State party develop and implement
awareness raising campaigns against superstitious beliefs concerning children with albinism, as well as investigate, prosecute, and, where appropriate, punish perpetrators of acts of homicide targeting children with albinism.
Birth registration: The Committee remains concerned about the large number of children that are still not registered and insufficient awareness of the importance of registration. It urges the State party to establish an accessible birth registration system covering the entire country and to register those who have not been yet been registered at birth, including indigenous children and refugee children.
Corporal punishment: The Committee welcomes the prohibition of corporal punishment but is concerned that it is still being used as a form of punishment at home and at school. The Committee urges the State party to ensure that all cases of corporal punishment are effectively investigated and prosecuted. It also recommends that a suitable mechanism be set-up by which children can lodge complaints of violence, such as corporal punishment.
Sexual exploitation and abuse: The Committee particularly calls on the State party to ensure domestic laws that protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation are being enforced and to provide intensive training to police personnel, judiciary and professionals working with and for children. The Committee also calls on the State party to develop programmes and policies for the prevention, recovery and social reintegration of child victims.
Family and alternative care: The Committee urges the State party to increase alternative family based care options for children currently in children’s shelters and care institutions with a view to abolishing them.
Health and welfare: The Committee calls on the State party to review existing policies and practices, and ensure that healthcare is provided free of charge to all children.
Harmful practices: The Committee urges the State party to adopt legislation prohibiting harmful practices and ensure the eradication of female genital mutilation. It also recommends that the State party take active and concrete measures to enforce the legal prohibition of early and forced marriage.
For more information on harmful practices, access CRIN’s page here.
Education: The Committee urges that the State party ensures that free education and textbooks are provided to all children and that children in care institutions and penitentiary institutions are provided with the same number of hours and classes as children in regular schools.
Juvenile justice: The Committee calls on the State party to establish a juvenile justice system, including juvenile courts and to develop more alternatives to trial, sentencing and execution of punishment such as community service and mediation between the victim and offender in order to avoid stigmatisation and for their effective reintegration.
