Child Rights

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Child Rights

NGO Statement to the 2002 CG Meeting

Final Draft of the NPRS

1. CRC IMPLEMENTATION AND MONITORING:

·                     The RGC should turn its national plans and outcomes of seminars into practical implementation in the field.

Action Matrix 5.2.3.: “Strengthen National Sub-committee on Child Labour to implement and monitor child protection programme.” No budget reference.

·                     The RGC should widely inform the public about the availability of its child protection services and encourage people to make use of such services.

Not included.

·                     CRC should be part of National Education Curriculum.

Not included.

2. ABUSE, EXPLOITATION AND TRAFFICKING OF CHILDREN:

·       The RGC should demonstrate its commitment to protecting children against these types of crimes by sponsoring and supporting a national campaign of awareness about policies and laws against abuse, exploitation and trafficking. This campaign should involve community awareness programs, school programs, media campaigns and training for officials in the relevant ministries.

The only recommendation included in the text is the awareness programs on trafficking in the poor areas. Also included in the Action Plan Matrix 5.2.3. (2), though no budget reference.

·       While respecting the independence of the Judiciary, the RGC should increase human and financial resources to detect, investigate and successfully prosecute all perpetrators and people involved in the abuse, exploitation and trafficking of children, regardless of their position or status.

Partly included. Law enforcement authorities will be educated both in law and in its consistency/ enforceability. However, the need to be able to prosecute all perpetrators, regardless of position or status, is not mentioned.

·       The RGC should facilitate improved coordination and cooperation between relevant ministries, both nationally, and with officials from neighboring countries.

Partly included; the need for coordination and cooperation with officials in Vietnam is included but coordination and cooperation between relevant national ministries are not included.

·       Donors need to cooperate to ensure that service gaps can be filled and duplication does not occur.

Not included.

·       A public statement should be made about the progress of implementation of the 5 Year Plan of Action, and follow up should be implemented.

Not included.

3. HIV/AIDS

·       Make available and publicize basic services for child victims of HIV/AIDS.

Partly included. Children as a specific target group are not included; expansion of care programs for the vulnerable are included.

·       Reconsider the awareness campaign against HIV/AIDS, as some messages frighten people, which leads to discrimination and exclusion of victims.

Not included in the text. However, the importance of targeted community prevention programs is acknowledged and expansion of awareness programs is put into the Action Plan matrix.

·       Create Community-Based Care Centers for victims of HIV/AIDS, as there are not enough hospitals.

The need for community-based support services is acknowledged and according to the Action Plan Matrix these should be strengthened, although creation of care centers is not included in the text.

4. DRUGS

·                     Establish and implement a drug abuse prevention strategy.

Not specifically included in the text, though in the Action Plan Matrix under Social Protection (5.2.1.) there is reference to the prevention of substance abuse among juvenile children by expanding awareness campaigns and informal education, with budget of $6 Million (2003-2005).

·                     Take tougher action against the use and trafficking of illicit drugs.

Not included.

5. ADOPTION

·       The Government must sign the Hague Convention on Inter-Country Adoption.

Not included.

·       Pass new legislation which meets the requirement of the Hague Convention and UN Child Convention.

Not included.

·       Set up national and international network to combat illegal adoption.

Not included.

·       Criminalize those involved in exploitative practices in adoption.

Not included.

6. JUVENILE JUSTICE

·       The RGC needs to endorse and facilitate the establishment of community-based corrections as an alternative to imprisonment, especially for children in conflict with the law. This will require close cooperation with NGOs.

Not included in the text, though the need for prevention and supportive actions at the community level are recognized in the Action Plan Matrix, including 2 specialized care centers “to deal with juvenile delinquents” (5.2.1.(2)).

·       The MOI should ensure all institutions provide accommodation separate from adults and education and rehabilitation programs for juvenile detainees.

Not included.

·       The RGC should draft legislation, complying with the CRC, specific to juveniles in conflict with the law, and establish a Children's Court.

Not included.

·       All legislation should be amended in favor of children to protect and supervise children in conflict with law.

Not included.

·       The mandate and purpose of the Youth Detention Centre in Phnom Penh should be established to avoid illegal detention.

Not included.

Conclusion

The RGC should make more effort to implement CRC and review laws and legislate to ensure CRC compliance. It should seek to enter child-related international treaties. It should give more focus to practical implementation, not just planning and workshops.

Not included.

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1. CRC IMPLEMENTATION AND MONITORING:
· The RGC should turn its national plans and outcomes of seminars into practical implementation in the field.	Action Matrix 5.2.3.: “Strengthen National Sub-committee on Child Labour to implement and monitor child protection programme.” No budget reference.
· The RGC should widely inform the public about the availability of its child protection services and encourage people to make use of such services.	Not included.
· CRC should be part of National Education Curriculum.	Not included.

2. ABUSE, EXPLOITATION AND TRAFFICKING OF CHILDREN:
· The RGC should demonstrate its commitment to protecting children against these types of crimes by sponsoring and supporting a national campaign of awareness about policies and laws against abuse, exploitation and trafficking. This campaign should involve community awareness programs, school programs, media campaigns and training for officials in the relevant ministries.	The only recommendation included in the text is the awareness programs on trafficking in the poor areas. Also included in the Action Plan Matrix 5.2.3. (2), though no budget reference.
· While respecting the independence of the Judiciary, the RGC should increase human and financial resources to detect, investigate and successfully prosecute all perpetrators and people involved in the abuse, exploitation and trafficking of children, regardless of their position or status.	Partly included. Law enforcement authorities will be educated both in law and in its consistency/ enforceability. However, the need to be able to prosecute all perpetrators, regardless of position or status, is not mentioned.
· The RGC should facilitate improved coordination and cooperation between relevant ministries, both nationally, and with officials from neighboring countries.	Partly included; the need for coordination and cooperation with officials in Vietnam is included but coordination and cooperation between relevant national ministries are not included.
· Donors need to cooperate to ensure that service gaps can be filled and duplication does not occur.	Not included.
· A public statement should be made about the progress of implementation of the 5 Year Plan of Action, and follow up should be implemented.	Not included.

3. HIV/AIDS
· Make available and publicize basic services for child victims of HIV/AIDS.	Partly included. Children as a specific target group are not included; expansion of care programs for the vulnerable are included.
· Reconsider the awareness campaign against HIV/AIDS, as some messages frighten people, which leads to discrimination and exclusion of victims.	Not included in the text. However, the importance of targeted community prevention programs is acknowledged and expansion of awareness programs is put into the Action Plan matrix.
· Create Community-Based Care Centers for victims of HIV/AIDS, as there are not enough hospitals.	The need for community-based support services is acknowledged and according to the Action Plan Matrix these should be strengthened, although creation of care centers is not included in the text.
4. DRUGS
· Establish and implement a drug abuse prevention strategy.	Not specifically included in the text, though in the Action Plan Matrix under Social Protection (5.2.1.) there is reference to the prevention of substance abuse among juvenile children by expanding awareness campaigns and informal education, with budget of $6 Million (2003-2005).
· Take tougher action against the use and trafficking of illicit drugs.	Not included.

5. ADOPTION
· The Government must sign the Hague Convention on Inter-Country Adoption.	Not included.
· Pass new legislation which meets the requirement of the Hague Convention and UN Child Convention.	Not included.
· Set up national and international network to combat illegal adoption.	Not included.
· Criminalize those involved in exploitative practices in adoption.	Not included.

6. JUVENILE JUSTICE
· The RGC needs to endorse and facilitate the establishment of community-based corrections as an alternative to imprisonment, especially for children in conflict with the law. This will require close cooperation with NGOs.	Not included in the text, though the need for prevention and supportive actions at the community level are recognized in the Action Plan Matrix, including 2 specialized care centers “to deal with juvenile delinquents” (5.2.1.(2)).
· The MOI should ensure all institutions provide accommodation separate from adults and education and rehabilitation programs for juvenile detainees.	Not included.
· The RGC should draft legislation, complying with the CRC, specific to juveniles in conflict with the law, and establish a Children's Court.	Not included.
· All legislation should be amended in favor of children to protect and supervise children in conflict with law.	Not included.
· The mandate and purpose of the Youth Detention Centre in Phnom Penh should be established to avoid illegal detention.	Not included.

Conclusion
The RGC should make more effort to implement CRC and review laws and legislate to ensure CRC compliance. It should seek to enter child-related international treaties. It should give more focus to practical implementation, not just planning and workshops.	Not included.