Children’s Rights Event in Geneva
Geneva, Jun 7. -Cuba and Costa Rica are the two Latin American countries that will present reports this week in the 57th session of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC).
The CRC, attached to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, is made up of 18 independent experts, two of them from Chile and Peru, with mandates until 2013 in some cases and 2015 in others.
Reports from Bahrein, Czech Republic, Cambodia and Egypt have been discussed so far, and along with Cuba and Costa Rica, a report from Finland will be heard during this session, which ends June 17.
Presided over by Jean Zermatten of Switzerland, participants commented on the Czech case, particularly regarding the treatment of Roma people and the absence of policies to facilitate education for children from low-income families.
Regarding Bahrein, some problems on the implementation of the Convention of the Rights of the Child and a criminal law to drastically penalize adolescents 15-18 years old were discussed, although efforts on education were recognized.
In Egypt, some concerns were raised about the differentiated treatment of boys and girls, and experts had a lengthy debate on child prostitution and pornography.
In the case of Cambodia, during a round of questions by delegates, concerns were raised about on drug use, malnutrition, domestic violence and prostitution directly or indirectly affecting children.
Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Abelardo Moreno, chief of the island's delegation to this event, said he would be proud to talk on Wednesday about his country's experience and achievements in education, health and other social spheres that result in the defense of the greatest right, which is the right to life of children. (Prensa Latina)
