IV. CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS

CERD

•          Zambia, CERD, A/48/18 (1993) 51 at para. 256.

As stated in General Recommendation XIII (42), law enforcement officials should receive intensive training to ensure that in the performance of their duties, they respect as well as protect human dignity and maintain and uphold the human rights of all persons without distinction as to race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin.

See also:

•          Kuwait, CERD, A/48/18 (1993) 69 at para. 380.

•          Trinidad and Tobago, CERD, A/50/18 (1995) 21 at para. 48.

•          Germany, CERD, A/48/18 (1993) 81 at para. 447.

The authorities should give serious consideration to the enactment of a comprehensive anti-discrimination law. Such a law would constitute a clear reaffirmation by the authorities that racial discrimination is absolutely unacceptable, detrimental to human rights and human dignity. Other preventive measures, such as information campaigns, educational programmes and training programmes addressed particularly to law enforcement officials, in accordance with article 7 of the Convention and General Recommendation XIII, would strengthen the effectiveness of the legal provisions.

•          Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro), CERD, A/48/18 (1993) 95 at para. 543.

The importance of providing proper training in human rights norms for law enforcement officials in accordance with General Recommendation XIII is emphasized, as is the ensuring of equitable representation among the ranks of national minorities.

•          France, CERD, A/49/18 (1994) 20 at paras. 145 and 154.

Paragraph 145

Concern is expressed that the law enforcement services should reflect the ethnic diversity of the population and adequate training with respect to racial discrimination should be organized.

Paragraph 154

The training of law enforcement officials in human rights standards should be strengthened and their recruitment should be broadened to include more members of differing ethnic backgrounds.

•          Norway, CERD, A/49/18 (1994) 37 at para. 262.

The State party should both improve the training of public officials (including immigration officers) to avoid racial discrimination and improve methods of supervision to ensure that there are effective controls upon their conduct.

•          Spain, CERD, A/49/18 (1994) 72 at para. 509.

Special attention should be given to the training and sensitization of law enforcement officials.

•          Australia, CERD, A/49/18 (1994) 78 at para. 548.

Law enforcement officials should receive more effective training to ensure that in the performance of their duties, they respect as well as protect human dignity and maintain and uphold the human rights of all. Similarly, the State party should continue to strengthen its education and training programme.

•          Sri Lanka, CERD, A/50/18 (1995) 32 at paras. 134 and 140.

Paragraph 134

Measures taken by the Government to disseminate knowledge of human rights among the various segments of the national community by, inter alia, the incorporation of human rights concepts into school curricula, training in human rights provided for law enforcement officials, and the introduction of human rights as a subject in undergraduate and postgraduate university studies are noted with satisfaction.

Paragraph 140

The State party should pay more attention to sensitizing the members of the law enforcement agencies, security and armed forces about human rights.

•          Romania, CERD, A/50/18 (1995) 53 at paras. 269, 277 and 278.

Paragraph 269

Satisfaction is expressed with the Government's efforts to raise awareness of international human rights standards through civic instruction in the schools and through human rights training programmes initiated in cooperation with international human rights organizations.

Paragraph 277

The Government should engage in a public campaign, conducted through the media, the schools and other means at the disposal of the Government, to familiarize the public with the Convention, to attempt to change traditional prejudices against minorities, and to convey messages of tolerance. In this regard, the Government should continue to provide instruction on international human rights standards and norms in the schools and organize periodic training programmes for persons engaged in the administration of justice, including judges, police officers and lawyers.

Paragraph 278

The Government should review and improve the training of law enforcement officials in light of the Committee's general recommendation XIII.

See also:

•          Guatemala, CERD, A/50/18 (1995) 58 at para. 316.

•          Nigeria, CERD, A/50/18 (1995) 101 at para. 626.

•          Chad, CERD, A/50/18 (1995) 106 at paras. 658 and 667.

Paragraph 658

Concern is expressed about the paralysis of the judiciary, associated with the lack of resources allocated to the courts, the inadequate training given to judges and political interference.

Paragraph 667

It is considered of the utmost importance to set up a training programme in humanitarian law and human rights for members of the armed forces, the police, the national gendarmerie and other State employees.

•          Colombia, CERD, A/51/18 (1996) 15 at paras. 54 and 57.

Paragraph 54

Particular attention should be paid to the problem of unlawful orders in the military, police and law enforcement agencies. Instances of unlawful orders being issued and carried out should be investigated and those found to have committed illegal actions should be punished. Impunity should be eliminated. These matters should also be covered in the training programmes of these agencies.

Paragraph 57

The State Party should intensify its cooperation with the technical assistance programme of the United Nations Centre for Human Rights, including for the training of those involved in activities related to human rights and for the education of the younger generation.

•          Zimbabwe, CERD, A/51/18 (1996) 20 at para. 95.

With regard to article 7 of the Convention, the Committee is concerned about the absence of educational programmes for the prevention of racial discrimination.

•          Russian Federation, CERD, A/51/18 (1996) 25 at para. 152.

The training of judges, lawyers, magistrates, law enforcement personnel and the military in human rights is recommended.

•          Spain, CERD, A/51/18 (1996) 32 at para. 213.

The Spanish authorities should urgently adopt more effective measures to contain and punish racist actions and xenophobia in all their forms, in particular through the training of members of the security forces, of the judiciary and other officials and through a close surveillance of extreme-right organizations.

•          Brazil, CERD, A/51/18 (1996) 45 at para. 308.

The Government should put more vigorously into practice its determination to defend the fundamental rights of indigenous people, blacks, mestizos and members of other vulnerable groups, who are regularly the victims of serious intimidation and violence, sometimes leading to their death. It is hoped that the authorities will systematically prosecute those guilty of such crimes, whether they are members of private militias or State officials, and will take effective preventive measures, especially through training for the members of the military police.

See also:

•          Mexico, CERD, A/52/18 (1997) 42 at para. 321.

•          India, CERD, A/51/18 (1996) 51 at para. 369.

A continuing campaign to educate the population on human rights, in line with the Constitution of the State party and with universal human rights instruments, including the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, is recommended. This should be aimed at eliminating the institutionalized thinking of the high-caste and low-caste mentality.

•          China, CERD, A/51/18 (1996) 57 at para. 407.

With respect to article 5 (e) (v) of the Convention, concern is expressed that at the secondary school and university levels children from minority nationalities are underrepresented. Moreover, concern is expressed that the instruction provided in the curricula on the history and culture of minority nationalities is not adequate as compared to the education provided concerning the history and culture of persons of the Han nationality.

•          Namibia, CERD, A/51/18 (1996) 67 at paras. 500 and 503.

Paragraph 500

Concern is expressed about apparent delays in the process of desegregation in the field of education, as well as the persistence of serious difficulties faced by black children in their access to public and private education, particularly insofar as secondary and higher education are concerned.

Paragraph 503

Affirmative measures should be adopted to overcome vestiges of the past that still hamper the possibilities for black people, including vulnerable groups among them, to have access to secondary and higher education and to enjoy just and favourable conditions of work in the private sector.

•          Guatemala, CERD, A/52/18 (1997) 14 at para. 94.

Efforts should be increased to promote affirmative measures in the fields of education and training and to introduce bilingual education for all parts of the population.

•          Belarus, CERD, A/52/18 (1997) 18 at para. 123.

In the framework of article 7 of the Convention, training concerning the principles and rights enshrined in the Convention should be provided to law enforcement officials, judicial personnel, teachers and social workers. Similarly, the State party should continue its efforts to incorporate the principles of the Convention in school curricula at all levels.

•          Luxembourg, CERD, A/52/18 (1997) 22 at para. 141.

The State party should consider providing education and training on racial tolerance and human rights issues to professional groups such as judges, magistrates, lawyers and civil servants.

•          Germany, CERD, A/52/18 (1997) 25 at para. 166.

Concern is expressed at instances of police brutality against foreigners, particularly Africans and Turks, which have been reported in the press. Better training and stricter disciplinary action against the perpetrators appear to be necessary.

•          Pakistan, CERD, A/52/18 (1997) 28 at para. 206.

In its continuing efforts in the field of human rights education and awareness, the State party should continue to pay attention to the establishment of training programmes aimed at familiarizing law enforcement officials, judges, magistrates, teachers and social workers with the standards of the Convention.

•          Belgium, CERD, A/52/18 (1997) 31 at para. 229.

The State party should ensure, by means of appropriate information and training, that the judicial authorities and the police treat persons of European and non-European origin in the same way.

•          Bulgaria, CERD, A/52/18, (1997) 39 at paras. 290 and 293.

Paragraph 290

The State party should take immediate steps to prevent and combat cases of excessive use of force by members of the security forces. Those steps should include the education and sensitization of law enforcement officials about the provisions of the Convention. Law enforcement officials should receive training to ensure that in the performance of their duties, they respect as well as protect human rights and uphold the human rights of all persons without distinction as to race, colour or national or ethnic origin.

Paragraph 293

Human rights education should be provided at all levels in educational establishments and comprehensive human rights training should be provided to all segments of the population, with a view to combating negative attitudes and prejudices towards minorities and to promoting understanding, tolerance and friendship.

•          Mexico, CERD, A/52/18 (1997) 42 at paras. 311 and 316.

Paragraph 311

The continuing inadequacy of the measures adopted to provide appropriate human rights training for State law enforcement officials who are in regular contact with "vulnerable" populations, particularly members of the forces of law and order and prison personnel, are of concern.

Paragraph 316

It is hoped that the State party will continue its efforts to improve the effectiveness of measures and programmes designed to ensure that members of all population groups, especially the 56 indigenous groups, fully enjoy their political, economic, social and cultural rights. The State party should devote due attention to the legislative changes required, as well as to the development of programmes to foster awareness of human rights, particularly among representatives of the State.

•          Algeria, CERD, A/52/18 (1997) 52 at para. 402.

The State party should continue and strengthen its efforts in human rights training activities for judges, lawyers and magistrates and put special emphasis on education and sensitization programmes about the provisions of the Convention, in accordance with article 7 of the Convention. This type of training should also be provided to law enforcement officials and members of the armed forces.

•          Denmark, CERD, A/52/18 (1997) 59 at para. 445.

Improvements in the human rights training of the police, designed to combat negative attitudes towards minorities and to promote good relationships with ethnic minorities, are welcomed.

•          The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, CERD, A/52/18 (1997) 67 at paras. 521 and 526.

Paragraph 521

Concern is expressed over the low levels of participation, in particular in secondary and higher education, of certain minorities, notably Roma children and Albanian girls in rural areas.

Paragraph 526

The State party should continue its efforts to facilitate the participation of different ethnic minorities in the educational system, in particular at the secondary and higher educational level, and to provide for the training of teachers for minority languages in public establishments.

•          Argentina, CERD, A/52/18 (1997) 69 at para. 543.

The organization of seminars and training programmes on human rights and the prevention of racial discrimination for judges and the staff of the Federal Prison Service are noted with satisfaction.

•          Russian Federation, CERD, A/53/18 (1998) 25 at para. 44.

The training of judges and law enforcement officials in matters relating to the exercise of individuals' rights and freedoms and, in particular, the right not to be discriminated against on racial grounds, should be continued and developed.

•          Switzerland, CERD, A/53/18 (1998) 28 at para. 61.

Preventive measures, such as information campaigns, educational programmes and more intensive training programmes for law enforcement officials will strengthen the implementation of the Convention.

•          Czech Republic, CERD, A/53/18 (1998) 35 at paras. 120 and 134.

Paragraph 120

Taking into account reports of cases of harassment and of excessive use of force by the police against minorities, especially against members of the Roma community, concern is raised that there may be insufficient training provided to law enforcement officials regarding the provisions of the Convention.

Paragraph 134

The State party should consider providing increased education and training on racial tolerance and human rights issues to professional groups such as judges, lawyers and civil servants so as to eliminate any cases of harassment or improper conduct in relation to persons belonging to minorities.

•          Cameroon, CERD, A/53/18 (1998) 53 at para. 276.

Human rights training for agents of the State is especially recommended.

•          Cambodia, CERD, A/53/18 (1998) 55 at para. 301.

All necessary measures should be taken to provide training and education of law enforcement officers, civil servants, judges and lawyers, as well as teachers and students, at all levels of education, and the public at large, in the field of human rights and prevention of racial discrimination.

See also:

•          Argentina, CERD, A/52/18 (1997) 69 at para. 557.

•          Burundi, CERD, A/52/18 (1997) 73 at para. 590.

•          Croatia, CERD, A/53/18 (1998) 59 at para. 324.

The State party should use all effective measures to familiarize the public with the Convention in order to change traditional prejudices against certain minorities and to convey messages of tolerance. In this regard, the State party should continue to provide instruction on international human rights standards in schools and organize training programmes for persons engaged in the administration of justice, including judges, lawyers and law enforcement officials.

•          Cyprus, CERD, A/53/18 (1998) 62 at para. 340.

The lack of information on complaints concerning racially motivated offences, other than complaints lodged by foreign housemaids, as well as the absence of lawsuits in courts claiming racial discrimination, and of communications filed with the Committee under article 14 of the Convention, may indicate that awareness of the Convention is not high among judges, lawyers and the public at large.

•          Gabon, CERD, A/53/18 (1998) 67 at para. 383.

The State party should take all necessary measures to ensure the training and education of law enforcement officials, teachers, social workers and students in the prevention of racial discrimination, and should include the teaching of human rights in school curricula.

See also:

•          Nepal, CERD, A/53/18 (1998) 73 at para. 440.

•          Nepal, CERD, A/55/18 (2000) 52 at para. 302.

•          Austria, CERD, A/54/18 (1999) 13 at para. 42.

The State party should consider providing education and training on racial tolerance and human rights issues to law enforcement officials and police officers, in accordance with article 7 of the Convention.

See also:

•          Italy, CERD, A/54/18 (1999) 19 at para. 133.

•          Haiti, CERD, A/54/18 (1999) 28 at para. 266.

•          Italy, CERD, A/54/18 (1999) 19 at para. 128.

Concern is expressed about the apparent lack of appropriate training for law enforcement officials and other public officials regarding the provisions of the Convention in connection with reports of acts of violence and ill-treatment by police and prison guards against foreigners and members of minorities in detention.

•          Peru, CERD, A/54/18 (1999) 21 at para. 162.

Programmes of instruction in human rights intended for justice administration personnel and members of the security forces should include training in the prevention of and protection against racial discrimination.

•          Syrian Arab Republic, CERD, A/54/18 (1999) 22 at para. 181.

The State party should undertake preventive measures, such as training programmes for law enforcement officials and security authorities, with a view to preventing human rights violations such as arbitrary arrests, detention, and disappearances of stateless refugees and foreigners.

•          Romania, CERD, A/54/18 (1999) 30 at para. 286.

Measures of affirmative action should be adopted in favour of the Roma population, especially in the areas of education and vocational training, with a view, inter alia, to placing Roma on an equal footing with the rest of the population in the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights, removing prejudices against the Roma population and enhancing its capacity in asserting its rights.

•          Islamic Republic of Iran, CERD, A/54/18 (1999) 32 at para. 308.

The State party should ensure that seminars, training courses and workshops on human rights include teaching about the Convention and give due attention to the concluding observations of the Committee and the relevant national legislation, in particular relating to availability of domestic remedies.

•          Iraq, CERD, A/54/18 (1999) 35 at para. 355.

Law enforcement officials should receive effective training on all matters relating to all aspects of non-discrimination covered by the Convention.

•          Chile, CERD, A/54/18 (1999) 37 at para. 380.

The State party should use all effective means to raise the awareness of its people about the rights of indigenous peoples and national or ethnic minorities. The State party is encouraged to continue to provide instruction on human rights standards in schools and organize training programmes for, in particular, law enforcement officials.

•          Latvia, CERD, A/54/18 (1999) 39 at para. 410.

In view of the need for persons involved in the administration of justice to adapt to a quickly evolving legal system, the State party should undertake as a matter of priority the training of judges and other members of the legal profession in international human rights standards.

•          Uruguay, CERD, A/54/18 (1999) 41 at para. 432.

The State party should consider providing education and training on racial tolerance and human rights issues to law enforcement officials.

•          Guinea, CERD, A/54/18 (1999) 48 at para. 542.

The State party should consider providing education and training on racial tolerance and human rights issues to the population at large and, in particular, to teachers and school administrators, in accordance with article 7 of the Convention.

•          France, CERD, A/55/18 (2000) 26 at para. 104.

Concern is expressed over reports that negative images of the Roma minority prevail in the mass media and in the public generally. It is recommended that the State party give full effect to the provisions of article 7 of the Convention by adopting effective measures, particularly in the fields of education, training and human rights information, to combat such prejudices.

•          Rwanda, CERD, A/55/18 (2000) 31 at para. 141.

The State party’s efforts to prevent impunity for perpetrators of genocide and other human rights violations and to bring those most responsible for such acts to justice is also noted. The State party’s efforts to rehabilitate the judicial system is encouraging, including the training of judicial and law-enforcement officials.

•          Zimbabwe, CERD, A/55/18 (2000) 38 at para. 198.

It is noted with regret that the full implementation of the policy to introduce minority languages into the school curricula has been impeded by financial, human and material constraints. The State party is encouraged to proceed with its proposal to give priority in the teacher training and curriculum development programmes to persons with minority languages.

•          Finland, CERD, A/55/18 (2000) 41 at paras. 216 and 219.

Paragraph 216

With respect to racially motivated crimes, it is of concern that police do not always intervene, their action is not always appropriate and that prosecutors hesitate to initiate criminal proceedings. It is noted that according to a 1999 study on attitudes of public authorities towards immigrants, police and frontier guards have the most negative attitudes. The continuation and strengthening of training

programmes for police and all law enforcement officials and the improvement of communication

between officials and immigrants in order to enhance mutual confidence is recommended.

Paragraph 219

The State party is invited to strengthen measures to promote tolerance and combat prejudices, particularly in the fields of teaching, education, culture and information. The State party should find adequate modalities to make journalists and people working in the media sector more aware of racial discrimination.

•          Slovenia, CERD, A/55/18 (2000) 45 at para. 246.

Although the initiatives to sensitize and train civil servants and public officials on human rights and racial discrimination are welcomed, concern remains that these efforts are still insufficient. It is recommended that the State party strengthen its human rights sensitization and training programmes, especially with regard to law enforcement and military personnel.

•          Slovakia, CERD, A/55/18 (2000) 47 at para. 264.

In light of the fact that the Roma are among the populations hardest hit by unemployment because of inadequate skill levels and low levels of education, the State party should ensure that the National Employment Plan contains adequate job-training initiatives, and should implement affirmative action programmes to improve the employment situation among the Roma in various levels of employment.

•          Czech Republic, CERD, A/55/18 (2000) 50 at para. 284.

The Committee reiterates its concern about the lack of effectiveness and confidence in the ability of the criminal judicial system to prevent and combat racial crimes. In this connection, concern is also expressed about the degrading treatment by the police of members of minority groups. The continuation and strengthening of training programmes for police and all officials in charge of implementing the law on issues related to the implementation of the Convention is recommended. The State party is reminded of General Recommendation XIII relating to the implementation of articles 2 and 7 of the Convention.

•          Argentina, CERD, A/56/18 (2001) 18 at paras. 44 and 56.

Paragraph 44

The measures taken to strengthen the National Institute to Combat Discrimination, Xenophobia and Racism (INADI) are welcomed. The activities of INADI are welcomed, such as organizing training seminars for primary and secondary school teachers to embrace pluralism, training courses for law enforcement officials, publicity campaigns in the media and the establishment of a mechanism to receive complaints and take action thereon by mediating and intervening in the courts.

Paragraph 56

It is noted with concern that there have been reports of police brutality committed on a variety of pretexts, on grounds of race, colour or ethnic origin. Therefore, in the courses and seminars organized to provide human rights education for members of the police, armed forces, immigration and prison officials, particular attention should be given to the dissemination and implementation of the Convention.

•          Bangladesh, CERD, A/56/18 (2001) 21 at para. 76.

In connection with the implementation of article 7 of the Convention, the State party is encouraged to continue to take steps to strengthen awareness about human rights in general and the Convention in particular, through education. It is further recommended that the State party undertake training in the provisions of the Convention in the training programmes of law enforcement officials.

•          Georgia, CERD, A/56/18 (2001) 24 at para. 99.

The State party’s report and the present concluding observations should be widely distributed to the public. It is recommend that the State party disseminate the text of the Convention and organize education and training programs aimed at all sectors of society, in particular, law enforcement officials regarding human rights in general and the provisions of the Convention in particular.

•          Germany, CERD, A/56/18 (2001) 27 at para. 113.

Concern is expressed about repeated reports of racist incidents in police stations as well as ill-treatment inflicted by law enforcement officials on foreigners, including asylum seekers, and German nationals of foreign origin. Although the number of these incidents has diminished recently, the State party is urged to strengthen existing educational measures for civil servants who deal with issues involving foreigners, including asylum seekers, and German nationals of foreign origin.

•          Greece, CERD, A/56/18 (2001) 29 at paras. 129 and 137.

Paragraph 129

Consistent with the State party's expressed desire to integrate rather than assimilate minority groups into the social, economic and cultural life of the country, in a manner aimed at preserving their diverse cultures and identities, the Committee welcomes the information provided by the State party concerning the implementation of educational programmes aimed at the teaching of the Greek language to students with a different mother tongue, and the training of teachers in the teaching of Greek as a second language.

Paragraph 137

It is recommended that the State party take further measures to increase the awareness of the principles of the Convention by law enforcement officials.

•          Japan, CERD, A/56/18 (2001) 34 at paras. 171 and 174.

Paragraph 171

Discriminatory statements made by high-level public officials are noted with concern. Concern is particularly expressed about the lack of administrative or legal action taken by the authorities in violation of article 4(c) of the Convention, and the interpretation that such acts can be punishable only if there is an intention to incite and promote racial discrimination. The State party is urged to take appropriate measures to prevent such incidents in the future and to provide appropriate training to, in particular, public officials, law enforcement officers and administrators with a view to combatting prejudices which lead to racial discrimination, in compliance with article 7 of the Convention.

Paragraph 174

Concern is expressed about discrimination affecting the Korean minority. Though efforts are being made to remove some of the institutional obstacles for minority students from international schools, including Korean schools, to enter Japanese universities, it is of particular concern that studies in Korean are not recognised and resident Korean students receive unequal treatment with regard to access to higher education. The State party should undertake appropriate measures to eliminate discriminatory treatment of minorities, including Koreans, in this regard and to ensure access to education in minority languages in public Japanese schools.

•          Egypt, CERD, A/56/18 (2001) 50 at para. 289.

The State party should continue its efforts to train all personnel working in the field of criminal justice and law enforcement officials in the spirit of respect for human rights and non-discrimination on ethnic or racial grounds.

•          Italy, CERD, A/56/18 (2001) 53 at para. 302.

It is noted with satisfaction that new courses on human rights implementation and principles have been set up for the police, the carabinieri and for the personnel of detention facilities.

•          United States of America, CERD, A/56/18 (2001) 64 at para. 394.

The incidents of police violence and brutality are noted with concern, which include cases of deaths as a result of excessive use of force by law enforcement officials, particularly affecting minority groups and foreigners. The State party should take immediate and effective measures to ensure the appropriate training of the police force with a view to combatting prejudices which may lead to racial discrimination and ultimately to a violation of the right to security of persons. Firm action should also be taken to punish racially motivated violence and ensure the access of victims to effective legal remedies and the right to seek just and adequate reparation for any damage suffered as a result of such actions.

ICCPR

•          Republic of Korea, ICCPR, A/47/40 (1992) 113 at para. 516.

The conditions under which prisoners are being re-educated does not constitute rehabilitation in the normal sense of the term and the amount of coercion utilized in that process could amount to an infringement of the provisions of the Covenant relating to freedom of conscience.

•          Mongolia, ICCPR, A/47/40 (1992) 134 at para. 602.

Adequate training in human rights norms should be provided for attorneys and members of the judiciary as well as for police, prison and other security officials. In undertaking the implementation of these recommendations, the State party should further avail itself of the Advisory Services and Technical Assistance Programme of the Centre for Human Rights.

•          Senegal, ICCPR, A/48/40 vol. I (1993) 23 at para. 113.

Training courses should be organized for members of the police, the army and the security forces as well as for other law enforcement officials so as to better acquaint them with the basic principles and norms of human rights and laws aimed at their protection.

See also:

•          Islamic Republic of Iran, ICCPR, A/48/40 vol. I (1993) 44 at para. 266.

•          Venezuela, ICCPR, A/48/40 vol. I (1993) 61 at para. 310.

•          Dominican Republic, ICCPR, A/48/40 vol. I (1993) 95 at para. 465.

Training courses in international human rights standards should be provided for police and prison officials.

•          Uruguay, ICCPR, A/48/40 vol. I (1993) 102 at para. 508.

Legislation and procedures concerning the use of firearms by police should be reviewed and additional training in human rights norms should be provided for police and other law enforcement officials.

•          Guinea, ICCPR, A/48/40 vol. I (1993) 111 at para. 549.

There is a need to develop programmes of education concerning human rights and specific programmes to be used in training law enforcement officers with the assistance, where necessary, of the Centre for Human Rights.

•          Ireland, ICCPR, A/48/40 vol. I (1993) 119 at para. 616.

Training in human rights should be systematically provided to law enforcement officials. Police should be well-acquainted with relevant international norms and standard rules including the provisions of the Covenant. Further measures should also be taken to ensure that the provisions of the Covenant are made widely known, particularly within the legal profession and among members of the judiciary. In general, efforts in the area of human rights education in schools and universities should be increased.

•          Hungary, ICCPR, A/48/40 vol. I (1993) 128 at para. 665.

The texts of the Covenant and the first Optional Protocol should be widely publicized so that the judiciary, the relevant governmental agencies, and the general public are made fully aware of the rights enshrined in the provisions of these instruments. Adequate training in human rights norms should be provided for members of the judiciary and the legal profession, as well as police and prison officials, and human rights education should be included in the school and university curricula.

•          Bulgaria, ICCPR, A/48/40 vol. I (1993) 149 at para. 746.

More energetic measures need to be taken to eliminate discrimination against ethnic and religious minorities and to encourage tolerance. To that end, a full human rights teaching programme should be set up and effective penalties should be provided for persons who abuse their authority, particularly law enforcement officials. It is stressed that, under article 27 of the Covenant, minorities should not only have the same economic and political status as other Bulgarian citizens, but should also benefit from special measures of protection.

•          Romania, ICCPR, A/49/40 vol. I (1994) 28 at para. 146.

The need for greater control over the police, particularly in the context of the recent authoritarian past from which Romanian society is emerging, is emphasized. Determined and continuing efforts need to be undertaken to ensure that there is no element of racism in law enforcement, either in practice or in public perception. Further progress should be achieved in fully returning the police to civilian control. There should be intensive training and education programmes aimed at law enforcement officials as well as a determined effort to ensure adequate minority representation in the police force.

•          Costa Rica, ICCPR, A/49/40 vol. I (1994) 31 at paras. 156 and 160.

Paragraph 156

Concern is expressed at the inadequacy of training on human rights standards, particularly the provisions of the Covenant, provided to the police and security forces and the extent to which their activities are monitored.

Paragraph 160

The importance of adequate training for the police and other security forces and prison personnel with respect to the relevant provisions of the Covenant as well as other applicable international human rights standards, including the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, is stressed.

See also:

•          Gabon, ICCPR, A/52/40 vol. I (1997) 24 at para. 130.

•          Mexico, ICCPR, A/49/40 vol. I (1994) 33 at para. 179.

Law enforcement officials should be properly trained so that ensuring respect for the basic rights of the persons placed under their control becomes an integral part of their task.

•          El Salvador, ICCPR, A/49/40 vol. I (1994) 38 at para. 224.

Respect for human rights should be institutionalized at all levels of the Government and recognized as an essential element of the process of national reconciliation and reconstruction. To that end, all articles of the Covenant should be fully incorporated into the national legal system; comprehensive human rights training should be provided to judges, the police and the military; and human rights education should be provided in schools at all levels.

See also:

•          Haiti, ICCPR, A/50/40 vol. I (1995) 46 at para. 240.

•          Italy, ICCPR, A/49/40 vol. I (1994) 47 at paras. 285 and 288.

Paragraph 285

More effective and thorough human rights training should be provided to law enforcement officials and prison officers.

Paragraph 288

Education and training programmes on multi-culturalism should be strengthened with a view to eliminating racial discrimination and advancing tolerance and understanding among peoples and races.

•          Cyprus, ICCPR, A/49/40 vol. I (1994) 53 at paras. 318 and 329.

Paragraph 318

It is of concern that police officers and other law enforcement officials are not provided with adequate education and training with regard to the provisions of the Covenant concerning arrest and detention procedures.

Paragraph 329

Instructions on the use of force by police should be updated to conform with the requirements of the Covenant and the Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials.

•          Paraguay, ICCPR, A/50/40 vol. I (1995) 42 at para. 223.

The Covenant, the Optional Protocols and the Committee's comments should be widely disseminated among the Paraguayan public and the scope of human rights education should be extended to members of the police and security forces, the legal profession and other persons involved in the administration of justice, with a view to making it a part of their regular training.

•          Yemen, ICCPR, A/50/40 vol. I (1995) 49 at para. 265.

The appropriate mechanisms should be established to revise the relevant legal codes, to provide human rights training for personnel involved in the administration of justice, to draft the State party's reports to various human rights treaty bodies, and to collect and analyse data on human rights issues. In this regard, the Government should draw on the assistance available through the Centre for Human Rights technical cooperation services.

•          United States of America, ICCPR, A/50/40 vol. I (1995) 52 at para. 280.

It is regretted that members of the judiciary at the federal, state and local levels have not been fully made aware of the obligations undertaken by the State party under the Covenant, and that judicial continuing education programmes do not include knowledge of the Covenant and discussion on its implementation. Whether or not courts of the United States eventually declare the Covenant to be non-self-executing, information about its provisions should be provided to the judiciary.

•          Ukraine, ICCPR, A/50/40 vol. I (1995) 57 at para. 328.

There should be intensive training and educational programmes in the field of human rights aimed at law-enforcement officials.

•          Latvia, ICCPR, A/50/40 vol. I (1995) 62 at paras. 357 and 361.

Paragraph 357

Intensive training and education programmes in the field of human rights for law enforcement officials, as well as officials of the correctional service, are recommended.

Paragraph 361

Human rights education should be provided in school at all levels and comprehensive human rights training should be provided to judges, lawyers, law enforcement officers and other persons involved in the administration of justice. In this regard, the State party should avail itself of the technical cooperation services of the United Nations Centre for Human Rights, and seek the cooperation of the relevant non-governmental organizations.

•          Russian Federation, ICCPR, A/50/40 vol. I (1995) 65 at paras. 385 and 407.

Paragraph 385

The lack of familiarity of law enforcement and prison officers with the guarantees provided in the new Constitution and with international human rights standards under the Covenant is deeply regretted.

Paragraph 407

Education in human rights should be included in school and university curricula and the Committee’s comments should be widely disseminated and incorporated into the curricula of all human rights training programmes organized for law-enforcement officers and administration officials.

•          Estonia, ICCPR, A/51/40 vol. I (1996) 19 at paras. 132 and 135.

Paragraph 132

The need for effective control over the police and prison officials is emphasized. Intensive training and education programmes in the field of human rights for law enforcement officials and prison officials are recommended to ensure their observance of the Covenant and other international instruments.

Paragraph 135

The Covenant, the Optional Protocol and the Committee's comments should be widely disseminated in Estonia. Human rights education should be provided in school at all levels and comprehensive human rights training be provided to all segments of the population, including law enforcement officers and all persons involved in the administration of justice. In this regard, the State party should avail itself of the technical cooperation services of the United Nations Centre for Human Rights.

•          Spain, ICCPR, A/51/40 vol. I (1996) 24 at para. 183.

Comprehensive human rights training should be provided to law-enforcement officials and prison personnel.

•          Brazil, ICCPR, A/51/40 vol. I (1996) 44 at paras. 324 and 331.

Paragraph 324

Immediate and effective steps should be taken to prevent and combat human rights violations by members of the security forces, especially cases of summary and arbitrary executions, torture, excessive use of force and arbitrary detention. These steps should include the education and sensitization of law enforcement officials, particularly the military police, about human rights. Campaigns and programmes should be developed accordingly and the systematic incorporation of human rights education in all training activities ensured.

Paragraph 331

Regular training courses on human rights should be held for lawyers, prosecutors and judges.

•          Gabon, ICCPR, A/52/40 vol. I (1997) 24 at para. 143.

The Government should develop information and awareness programmes on the principles and provisions of the Covenant in the various languages spoken in Gabon. It is also recommended that human rights education be provided at all levels in schools and that comprehensive human rights training be provided to all segments of the population, including law enforcement officers and all persons involved in the administration of justice. In this regard, the State party should avail itself of the technical cooperation services of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Centre for Human Rights.

•          Germany, ICCPR, A/52/40 vol. I (1997) 32 at para. 182.

Although programmes of education of young people and training of police officers concerning racism, anti-Semitism and xenophobic attitudes have been started, it is regretted that broader educational and training programmes in human rights values do not appear to have received the same level of support. It is also of concern that despite significant efforts by the Government, racism, xenophobia and anti-Semitism still persist among certain segments of the population. Efforts to educate the youth and train the police that racism and xenophobia are violative of basic human dignity, contrary to fundamental values and constitutionally and legally impermissible should be intensified, and it is urged that such education and training should be placed in the wider context of human rights education and training. The Federal and Länder governments should introduce courses in human rights in schools, colleges and universities and also in police and defence academies with a view to strengthening a culture of respect for human rights.

•          Georgia, ICCPR, A/52/40 vol. I (1997) 40 at para. 262.

Educational and training programmes should be drawn up with a view to developing a culture of respect for human rights in all sectors of the population, inter alia, judges, the security forces and prison personnel.

•          Colombia, ICCPR, A/52/40 vol. I (1997) 44 at para. 298.

All necessary measures should be taken by the authorities to ensure that the gap between laws protecting fundamental rights and the situation of human rights in practice is reduced. To this effect, educational and training programmes should be devised so that all segments of the population, in particular members of the army, the security forces, the police, judges, lawyers and teachers, can develop a culture of respect of human rights and human dignity.

See also:

•          Bolivia, ICCPR, A/52/40 vol. I (1997) 35 at para. 223.

•          Portugal (Macau), ICCPR, A/52/40 vol. I (1997) 50 at para. 329.

Human rights education should be extended to members of the police and security forces, the legal profession and other persons involved in the administration of justice, with a view to making it a part of their regular training.

•          Slovakia, ICCPR, A/52/40 vol. I (1997) 58 at paras. 375 and 377.

Paragraph 375

Priority should be given to addressing discrimination, in particular through training and education campaigns.

Paragraph 377

Cases of excessive use of force by law enforcement officials as well as maltreatment of detainees during police custody are of concern. It is also noted that the law enforcement system will only be able to function properly when sufficient attention is given to the training of law enforcement officials. Therefore, the Committee recommends the setting up of appropriate training programmes for law enforcement and custodial personnel in the field of human rights, especially on articles 7, 9 and 10 of the Covenant. More generally, training programmes should be set up for professional groups such as judges, lawyers and public servants, and human rights education should be provided in schools at all levels, in order to develop a culture of human rights within society.

See also:

•          Lithuania, ICCPR, A/53/40 vol. I (1998) 30 at para. 169.

•          France, ICCPR, A/52/40 vol. I (1997) 62 at para. 403.

The State party is urged to introduce into the training of law enforcement officials, at all levels, a comprehensive course in human rights along the lines suggested in the United Nations training manual for law enforcement officers.

•          India, ICCPR, A/52/40 vol. I (1997) 67 at paras. 430 and 438.

Paragraph 430

Despite measures taken by the Government, members of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, as well as the so-called backward classes and ethnic and national minorities continue to endure severe social discrimination and to suffer disproportionately from many violations of their rights under the Covenant, inter alia inter-caste violence, bonded labour and discrimination of all kinds. It is regretted that the de facto perpetuation of the caste system entrenches social differences and contributes to these violations. Further measures should be adopted, including education programmes at national and state levels, to combat all forms of discrimination against these vulnerable groups, in accordance with articles 2, paragraph 1, and 26 of the Covenant.

Paragraph 438

Concern is expressed at allegations that police and other security forces do not always respect the rule of law and that, in particular, court orders for habeas corpus are not always complied with, particularly in disturbed areas. Concern is also expressed over the incidence of custodial deaths, rape and torture, and at the failure of the Government of India to receive the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the question of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Therefore, it is recommended that priority be given to providing training and education in the field of human rights to law enforcement officers, custodial officers, members of the security and armed forces, and judges and lawyers, and that the United Nations Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials be taken into account in this regard.

•          Sudan, ICCPR, A/53/40 vol. I (1998) 22 at para. 132.

Training in human rights law should be given to all judges, law enforcement officers and members of the legal profession.

•          Belarus, ICCPR, A/53/40 vol. I (1998) 26 at para. 145.

In accordance with paragraph 10 of the Committee's General Comment No. 20 (44) on article 7 of the Covenant, "enforcement personnel, (...) police officers and any other persons involved in the custody or treatment of any individual subjected to any form of arrest, detention or imprisonment must receive appropriate instruction and training" concerning the ban on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment prohibited by article 7 and the observance of other human rights norms.

•          Cyprus, ICCPR, A/53/40 vol. I (1998) 33 at para. 185.

The incorporation of a human rights course element into the core training programme for police officers and for government officials is noted with satisfaction.

•          Zimbabwe, ICCPR, A/53/40 vol. I (1998) 35 at paras. 218 and 230.

Paragraph 218

Intensive training and education programmes in the field of human rights for members of the army and law enforcement officials are recommended.

Paragraph 230

The introduction of appropriate awareness campaigns to create a deeper understanding of the Covenant and of the need to respect and protect human rights is recommended. Training programmes should be developed in order to acquaint public officials and professional groups working in the area of human rights, including public officials, law-enforcement and correctional officials, members of the judiciary, members of the defence forces, teachers, social workers and health care personnel. The State party is encouraged to include the Covenant in school curricula and to give consideration to reflecting it in the training curricula.

•          Ecuador, ICCPR, A/53/40 vol. I (1998) 43 at para. 282.

The information that a series of educational programmes have been devised in collaboration with international institutions, to enable all segments of the population, in particular members of the army, security forces and the police, and members of the judiciary and lawyers, to be better acquainted with international standards for the protection and observance of human rights and human dignity, is welcomed.

•          The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, ICCPR, A/53/40 vol. I (1998) 55 at para. 378.

The persons responsible for reported cases of abuse of police authority, including unlawful arrest and detention, excessive use of force - especially against members of minority groups - and physical ill-treatment of detainees should be subjected to appropriate disciplinary or penal sanctions. Training programmes on human rights for the police should be strengthened and permanent mechanisms should be established for ongoing instruction with the participation of international agencies and experts in the field.

•          United Republic of Tanzania, ICCPR, A/53/40 vol. I (1998) 57 at paras. 402 and 404.

Paragraph 402

The absence of training for the police in human rights and in the proper use of riot equipment, such as "rubber bullets", is regretted. Noting actions by the police resulting in homicide, and generally concerned that investigation of complaints against the police is carried out by the police themselves, the Committee recommends that thorough training for the police be provided and an independent mechanism be set up for investigating complaints against the police.

Paragraph 404

Resources should be made available to remedy overcrowding, rape and other sexual abuse of female prisoners, and a failure to comply with minimum standards. Training in human rights should be given to prison officers, and a sufficient number of female officers should be recruited to ensure that only such officers are in charge of female prisoners.

•          Armenia, ICCPR, A/54/40 vol. I (1999) 29 at para. 119.

The State party is commended for its efforts in disseminating information on human rights, including human rights education in school curricula. In particular, human rights training of the legal profession and of the judiciary is necessary for democracy. Therefore, such training should be provided.

•          Japan, ICCPR, A/54/40 vol. I (1999) 36 at para. 174.

Training should be made available for judges, prosecutors and administrative officers in human rights under the Covenant. Judicial colloquiums and seminars should be held to familiarize judges with the provisions of the Covenant. The Committee's general comments and the Views expressed by the Committee on communications under the Optional Protocol should be supplied to the judges.

•          Cambodia, ICCPR, A/54/40 vol. I (1999) 57 at para. 304.

Firm measures, including the training of the judiciary and the police in human rights, should be taken to ensure strict compliance with national laws relating to arrest and preventive and pre-trial detention and article 9 of the Covenant.

•          Republic of Korea, ICCPR, A/55/40 vol. I (2000) 29 at para. 156.

Efforts to provide human rights education to public officials should be continued, and making such education obligatory should be considered, not only for public officials but for members of all human rights-related professions, including social workers and medical personnel.

•          Portugal (Macau), ICCPR, A/55/40 vol. I (2000) 33 at paras. 167 and 168.

Paragraph 167

A paucity of judges, lawyers and interpreters might adversely affect the administration of justice.

Paragraph 168

Efforts should be made to train lawyers and interpreters and give them a specialization in human rights.

•          Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (China), ICCPR, A/55/40 vol. I (2000) 40 at para. 249.

Educational systems should not discriminate against girls in selection for secondary schools.

•          United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man), ICCPR, A/55/40 vol. I (2000) 47 at para. 304.

Human rights education should be extended to members of the police forces, the legal profession and other persons involved in the administration of justice, with a view to making it a part of their regular training. Human rights education should also be incorporated at every level of general education.

•          Guyana, ICCPR, A/55/40 vol. I (2000) 53 at paras. 359 and 366.

Paragraph 359

All law enforcement officials should be thoroughly trained in international human rights standards, particularly those contained in the Covenant.

Paragraph 366

Police and other law enforcement personnel should be trained to understand the importance of ensuring that women who are victims of violence are accorded equal protection and that preventive and punitive measures are enforced.

•          Kyrgyzstan, ICCPR, A/55/40 vol. I (2000) 57 at para. 388.

Measures should be taken to enhance awareness of the Covenant and its Optional Protocol through a programme of dissemination of human rights texts and the systematic training of all persons involved in the administration of justice, in particular judges, lawyers, prosecutors and prison personnel.

•          Ireland, ICCPR, A/55/40 vol. I (2000) 61 at para. 431.

The Committee welcomes the initiatives being undertaken in the area of human rights education, including education for primary and secondary students, members of the police (Garda) and the legal profession.

•          Venezuela, ICCPR, A/56/40 vol. I (2001) 49 at para.77(8).

The State party is urged to pass laws giving effect to the prohibition of torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment laid down in article 7 of the Covenant and article 46 of the Constitution, and strengthen the human rights education programmes for all State officials whose functions are related to the treatment of detainees.

•          Dominican Republic, ICCPR, A/56/40 vol. I (2001) 54 at para. 78(15).

It is of concern that prisons are guarded by the police and the army because there is no prison guard service, although training courses to that end have started. To comply with article 10 of the Covenant, the State party needs to establish as soon as possible a specialized prison guard service independent of the police investigation services and the armed forces that meets the United Nations standard minimum rules on the treatment of prisoners and is given instruction in human rights.

•          Uzbekistan, ICCPR, A/56/40 vol. I (2001) 59 at paras. 79(20) and 79(26).

Paragraph 79(20)

The State party should take measures to overcome traditional attitudes regarding the role of women in society. It should take steps to increase the number of women in decision-making bodies at all levels and in all areas. It should also organise special training programmes for women and regular awareness campaigns in this regard.

Paragraph 79(26)

The lack of training of public officials in international human rights standards is of concern. The State party should organise training programmes for all public officials, particularly law enforcement officials and the judiciary, on human rights law and the Covenant in particular.

•          Croatia, ICCPR, A/56/40 vol. I (2001) 65 at paras. 80(7) and 80(16).

Paragraph 80(7)

Under the Croatian Constitution international treaties, including the Covenant, have status with legal force superior to domestic legislation, and most Covenant rights have also been specifically incorporated in the Constitution. However, the judiciary is not generally trained in international human rights law, with the result that in practice there is very little direct enforcement of Covenant rights. The State party should intensify its efforts to educate judges and lawyers about the Covenant and its implications for the interpretation of the Constitution and domestic legislation so as to ensure that all actions of the State party, whether legislative, executive or judicial, will be in accordance with its obligations under the Covenant.

Paragraph 80(16)

The heavy backlog of cases awaiting hearing before the Croatian courts, particularly in civil matters, is of deep concern. The delays in the administration of justice are apparently compounded by the application of the statute of limitations to suspend or discontinue cases that, for reasons often not attributable to the litigant in question, have not been brought on for hearing. The State party is urged to accelerate its reform of the judicial system, inter alia through simplification of procedures, training of judges and court staff in efficient case management techniques.

•          The Netherlands, ICCPR, A/56/40 vol. I (2001) 76 at para. 82(14).

It is of concern that children of ethnic minorities are under-represented at higher education levels.

ICESCR

•          Spain, ICESCR, E/1992/23 (1991) 60 at para. 291.

In order to comply with the obligations that derive from the Covenant, additional measures should be taken to eliminate the uneven distribution of students in universities which results in conditions detrimental to the teaching-learning environment and the gap between theory and practice in vocational education.

•          Colombia, ICESCR, E/1992/23 (1991) 68 at para. 321.

Concern is expressed that education in human rights as called for in article 13 (1) of the Covenant is currently being given only to members of the judiciary and police force. Human rights education needs to extend to all constituents of the nations if it is to achieve its goal - the full development of the human personality and a sense of its dignity, and strengthened respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.

•          Poland, ICESCR, E/1993/22 (1992) 32 at para. 130.

The liberalization of the education system is noted, as is the new emphasis placed on secondary vocational education. Concern is expressed that the new thrust towards a market-oriented economy is accompanied by a decrease in the budget for education. The general decline in the economy constitutes a threat to the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights. It is re-emphasized that the difficulties being experienced during the period of transition do not diminish the State’s obligation to protect the more vulnerable members of society.

•          Kenya, ICESCR, E/1994/23 (1993) 24 at para. 84.

It is regretted that there are significant gender disparities and regional differences with regard to access to education, a significant difference in quality between the government secondary schools and the Harambee or community schools, as well as difficulties encountered through the introduction of the new 8-4-4 system of education.

•          Islamic Republic of Iran, ICESCR, E/1994/23 (1993) 32 at para. 126.

Concerns are expressed over the situation of certain minority groups which have not been satisfactorily answered in the course of the present session, including prohibition of the admission to university of Baha'is and restriction of freedom of debate and choice in the university institutions.

•          Germany, ICESCR, E/1994/23 (1993) 49 at para. 250.

Concern is expressed over the disparity which appears to exist in Germany between men and women with regard to educational achievements and the participation of women in all levels of education and professional careers, despite the efforts made by the German authorities.

•          Senegal, ICESCR, E/1994/23 (1993) 51 at paras. 261 and 265.

Paragraph 261

It is noted with alarm that budgetary cutbacks carried out in the educational sector under the programme of structural adjustment will have serious social and economic consequences for the future of the country. In this connection, concern is expressed over the restrictions on school enrolment which have been undertaken with a view to reducing the number of qualified applicants to administrative posts in the public sector. Concern is also expressed over the high proportion of drop-outs from general technical secondary education which has reached the level of 35 per cent of total enrolment.

Paragraph 265

A thorough review of the State party’s policies should be undertaken with regard to education and vocational training with a view to expanding budgetary allocations for this section, expanding access to education and, in particular, reducing the number of student drop-outs. In this connection, the importance of higher education and vocational training in developing a robust economy is underlined.

•          Mauritius, ICESCR, E/1995/22 (1994) 37 at para. 181.

With regard to article 13, note is taken of the flaws in the educational system. In particular, it is noted that the Mauritian school system is extremely competitive, which leads to widespread, Government-encouraged and costly private tuition and thus renders access to secondary and tertiary education more difficult for the poorer segments of the population. Concern is also expressed over the reintroduction of fees at the tertiary level of education, which constitutes a deliberate retrogressive step.

•          The Gambia, ICESCR, E/1995/22 (1994) 42 at para. 203.

Concern is expressed not only about the high rates of illiteracy but also the gender disparities apparent in the figures: The latest UNICEF data reports that over 75 per cent of adults between the ages of 15 and 54 are functionally illiterate and that 90 per cent of the total are women. The same data source reports how women are disadvantaged educationally, females comprising only one third of primary school students and only one fourth of high school students. It is also of concern that, as a result of the absence of compulsory education legislation and because of the paucity of secondary school opportunities, most children complete their formal education by the age of 14 and informally enter the work force.

•          Mali, ICESCR, E/1995/22 (1994) 64 at para. 352.

Concern is expressed over the fact that Mali has shown only modest progress in terms of educational standards over the past 20 years and has actually been regressing over the past 10 years. The rate of school enrolment in Mali is among the lowest in the world. Enrolment in primary schools included only 15 per cent of children in the relevant age group (males 17 per cent, females 14 per cent); secondary enrolment is equivalent to only 7 per cent of children in the appropriate age group (males 10 per cent, females 5 per cent). Many students receive higher education abroad, mainly in France and Senegal. Repeat and drop-out rates are very high; only 7 per cent of pupils complete the primary education cycle each year. Most of the recurrent education budget goes to teachers' salaries, yet 20 per cent of the teachers are not in school but are assigned to other duties.

•          Republic of Korea, ICESCR, E/1996/22 (1995) 24 at para. 79.

Programmes of education should be extended in order to increase awareness of the provisions of the Covenant throughout society and to ensure its application in the judicial process, as well as its observance by law enforcement agencies.

•          Philippines, ICESCR, E/1996/22 (1995) 30 at paras. 128 and 133.

Paragraph 128

On the issue of Filipino overseas workers, it is recognized that the Government cannot control such emigration. More can and should be done to inform and educate existing and potential workers about the difficulties they might face abroad and about their rights.

Paragraph 133

The provisions of the Covenant should be used as a supplementary guide to the interpretation of relevant domestic legislation. All relevant domestic courts, tribunals and administrative and other bodies should ensure that their decisions are consistent with the obligations contained in the Covenant. In this regard, the provision of training programmes for the judiciary, the legal profession and other relevant bodies concerning the application of the Covenant is recommended.

•          Colombia, ICESCR, E/1996/22 (1995) 41 at para. 199.

Human rights education should be provided at all education levels, particularly in primary education, and in the training of police officers, members of security and armed forces, magistrates and judges.

•          Ukraine, ICESCR, E/1996/22 (1995) 50 at para. 276.

Steps should be taken to incorporate human rights education in all school curricula, in accordance with the goals and objectives of the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education. Education in the field of human rights should be provided to law enforcement officials.

•          Algeria, ICESCR, E/1996/22 (1995) 54 at para. 304.

Those responsible for enforcing the law should be given instruction in human rights.

•          Paraguay, ICESCR, E/1997/22 (1996) 22 at para. 91.

The Government should expand the campaign undertaken by the Directorate-General for Human Rights of the Ministry of Justice and Labour in relation to human rights education at the primary, secondary and university levels and extend its scope to include elected officials, the military, professors and the judiciary.

•          El Salvador, ICESCR, E/1997/22 (1996) 34 at para. 176.

Particular attention should be paid to the problem of unemployment. Measures should be taken to ensure that as few jobs as possible are sacrificed and that social protection and vocational rehabilitation programmes are guaranteed for persons who lose their jobs.

•          Portugal (Macau), ICESCR, E/1997/22 (1996) 48 at para. 265.

Comprehensive human rights training should be provided to all segments of the population, including law enforcement officers and all persons involved in the administration of justice.

•          Belarus, ICESCR, E/1997/22 (1996) 51 at para. 293.

The Government should increase its efforts in relation to human rights education so as to ensure that all categories of students, teachers, judges, the police and other law enforcement agents are covered.

•          Finland, ICESCR, E/1997/22 (1996) 55 at para. 313.

Specifically targeted training programmes should be launched by the authorities to increase the awareness of judges and lawyers of the rights enshrined in the Covenant.

•          United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Hong Kong), ICESCR, E/1997/22 (1996) 58 at para. 356.

More effective measures should be undertaken to retrain those who have lost employment or are underemployed as a result of economic restructuring.

•          Zimbabwe, ICESCR, E/1998/22 (1997) 24 at para. 81.

The State party is urged to undertake an appropriate information campaign to acquaint the public, as well as government officials at all levels, with the provisions of the Covenant. Educational programmes should be extended in order to increase awareness of its provisions throughout society and to ensure its application in the judicial process, as well as its observance by law enforcement agencies.

•          Russian Federation, ICESCR, E/1998/22 (1997) 27 at para. 105.

It is noted with concern that the State party is ill-equipped to deal with the problem of unemployment, which now affects between 3 million and 7 million persons. The criteria for eligibility for unemployment benefits, the system for detecting fraudulent benefits applications, and the low amount of such benefits all appear to be in need of reconsideration. Moreover, services to assist the unemployed to obtain employment, including information and retraining services, need to be developed more fully.

•          Dominican Republic, ICESCR, E/1998/22 (1997) 43 at paras. 230 and 232.

Paragraph 230

Concrete and appropriate measures should be taken, such as information and education campaigns and the reform of the criminal law, in order to penalize acts of racial discrimination by public officials and private persons, and to prevent and combat such acts.

Paragraph 232

The State party should take effective measures at the educational and socio-economic levels in order to fulfill its obligations under the Covenant, with a view to stemming the outflow of skilled workers from the State party.

•          United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, ICESCR, E/1998/22 (1997) 56 at para. 314.

Uniform defined criteria should be formulated for school exclusions. The State party should report on what government programmes, if any, exist to facilitate the insertion of excluded young people into alternative training or apprenticeship programmes.

•          Azerbaijan, ICESCR, E/1998/22 (1997) 61 at para. 344.

Instruction on the Covenant should be included in the training of lawyers, judges, social workers and other professionals involved with economic, social and cultural rights.

•          Luxembourg, ICESCR, E/1998/22 (1997) 69 at paras. 406 and 407.

Paragraph 406

The State party should engage in a review process with a view to decreasing the high number of school drop-outs. The State party is encouraged to adopt the draft law guaranteeing the right to continuing education.

Paragraph 407

In the spirit of the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education, the State party is encouraged to include human rights education in school curricula. The State party should undertake measures to educate the judiciary, professional groups, non- governmental organizations and the general public about the provisions of the Covenant.

•          Nigeria, ICESCR, E/1999/22 (1998) 27 at paras. 126 and 127.

Paragraph 126

University fees increased dramatically in 1997 and students in some universities, especially in southern Nigeria, were required to pay 10 times as much as other students. In addition, satellite campuses were forced to close for no particular reason.

Paragraph 127

The military authorities have found intellectuals, journalists, university professors and university students to be easy targets for repression or persecution on the pretext that they constitute the most vociferous and dangerous political opposition. One of the major university campuses has been put under military guardianship. Universities have suffered repeated and long periods of closure. There is also a brain drain in academia, as a result of political and academic instability as well as the extremely low salaries of university professors.

•          The Netherlands, ICESCR, E/1999/22 (1998) 37 at paras. 185 and 193.

Paragraph 185

The consequences of the Tuition Fees Act, which have led to a constant increase in the cost of education, are of concern. Such increases are contrary to the principle of equality of opportunities between the children of rich families and children of poor families.

Paragraph 193

Appropriate steps should be taken to alleviate or eliminate the adverse effects of the Tuition Fees Act.

•          Israel, ICESCR, E/1999/22 (1998) 43 at para. 269.

Measures should be undertaken to address the inequalities in the educational system at the secondary and university levels, particularly in terms of budget allocations. A study should be undertaken on the viability of establishing an Arab university within Israel for the purpose of ensuring equal opportunities and access to higher education in the respective official languages.

•          Germany, ICESCR, E/1999/22 (1998) 54 at paras. 321 and 336.

Paragraph 321

It is noted with concern that tuition fees for university education are increasing, despite the fact that article 13 of the Covenant calls for the progressive introduction of free higher education.

Paragraph 336

The State party should avoid increases in university tuition fees.

•          Canada, ICESCR, E/1999/22 (1998) 63 at para. 414.

It is of concern that loan programmes for post-secondary education are available only to Canadian citizens and permanent residents and that recognized refugees who do not have permanent residence status, as well as asylum seekers, are ineligible for these loan programmes. It is also of concern that tuition fees for university education in Canada have dramatically increased in the past few years, making it very difficult for those in need to attend university in the absence of a loan or grant. A further subject of concern is the significant increase in the average student debt on graduation.

•          Iceland, ICESCR, E/2000/22 (1999) 26 at para. 83.

The high rate at which young people drop out of upper secondary education is of concern. In addition, it is noted that 60 per cent of university graduates are female, and only 40 per cent male, which is explained by the fact that most males receive vocational training in secondary school and are determined to pursue a trade rather than a university education.

•          Tunisia, ICESCR, E/2000/22 (1999) 36 at paras. 177 and 180.

Paragraph 177

Attention should be paid to unemployment, particularly long-term unemployment, and the State party is encouraged when reviewing its vocational training programmes or establishing new institutions of higher learning, to take into consideration the needs of the economy so as to maximize the employment potential of graduates.

Paragraph 180

The State party should take all necessary corrective measures, including revising the minimum age of employment, particularly in agriculture, to address the problem of students dropping out of colleges and secondary schools. Further, with regard to article 13 of the Covenant, the State party is encouraged to establish separate courses on human rights, particularly at the university level.

•          Bulgaria, ICESCR, E/2000/22 (1999) 46 at para. 233.

The fees introduced in higher education may represent a serious obstacle for disadvantaged groups of society seeking such an education.

•          Armenia, ICESCR, E/2000/22 (1999) 54 at para. 311.

Human rights education should be ensured in curricula at all levels of education, as well as in relevant public institutions such as the judiciary, administrative bodies and the police force.

•          Italy, ICESCR, E/2001/22 (2000) 34 at paras. 127 and 133.

Paragraph 127

It is recommended that the State party organize briefings for judges to familiarize them with the provisions of the Covenant and the general comments adopted by the Committee.

Paragraph 133

The State party should devise a national strategy to combat violence against women, the elements of which should include data collection, enactment of relevant legislation, training courses for and sensitizing of the police forces and the judiciary, establishment of refuges for battered women and public awareness-raising campaigns.

•          Jordan, ICESCR, E/2001/22 (2000) 49 at paras. 251 and 257.

Paragraph 251

The Committee recommends the training of law enforcement officials, care workers, judges and health professionals in the identification, reporting and management of cases of abuse.

Paragraph 257

It is recommended that the State party develop an ongoing programme for the dissemination of information regarding the implementation of the Covenant among the public, civil society and all sectors and levels of administration. Moreover, it is recommended that the State party strengthen its efforts and develop systematic and ongoing training programmes on the provisions of the Covenant for professional groups, including parliamentarians, judges, lawyers and local government officials.

•          Sudan, ICESCR, E/2001/22 (2000) 57 at para. 299.

The State party's efforts in the field of education are welcomed, in particular the establishment of 16 new universities, located in each department of the country, and the increased enrolment of women at all levels of education.

•          Portugal, ICESCR, E/2001/22 (2000) 70 at para. 421.

The State party is urged to allow foreign workers to enrol in the vocational guidance and training courses to which Portuguese workers are entitled.

•          Finland, ICESCR, E/2001/22 (2000) 73 at paras. 438 and 448.

Paragraph 438

Concern is expressed that, while the Covenant may be directly invoked before the courts of Finland, there is no case law data suggesting that this has ever happened. In this respect, the Committee is concerned that lawyers and judges may not be sufficiently aware of the rights enshrined in the Covenant.

Paragraph 448

The State party is encouraged to ensure that all judges and lawyers receive further training provided free of charge to familiarize them with the provisions of the Covenant and the general comments adopted by the Committee.

•          Belgium, ICESCR, E/2001/22 (2000) 77 at para. 486.

The State party is encouraged to combat unemployment among young people and the long-term unemployment of workers over the age of 45, through appropriate vocational and technical training.

•          Venezuela, ICESCR, E/2002/22 (2001) 29 at paras. 92 and 97.

Paragraph 92

The State party is urged to organize an awareness-raising campaign to educate the public at large on their economic, social and cultural rights, and to target in particular magistrates, police officers and other responsible officials.

Paragraph 97

It is recommended that the State party take effective action to reduce the unemployment rate by, inter alia, providing training for young people and protection against unwarranted dismissal for workers, and by conducting regular reviews of the minimum wage levels to enable workers to attain an adequate standard of living for themselves and their families.

•          Honduras, ICESCR, E/2002/22 (2001) 33 at paras. 119, 128, 138 and 148.

Paragraph 119

Concern is expressed about the lack of adequate human rights training in the State party, in particular the rights guaranteed in the Covenant and in the Constitution, especially among the judiciary and other actors responsible for the implementation of the Covenant.

Paragraph 128

Concern is expressed about the extent of domestic violence and the apparent inability of the State party to implement legislation against this phenomenon, particularly due to the lack of appropriate training of police and other law enforcement officials.

Paragraph 138

It is recommended that the State party improve the human rights training programmes in such a way as to ensure better knowledge, awareness and application of the Covenant and other international human rights instruments, and in particular among the judiciary, law enforcement officials and other actors responsible for the implementation of the Covenant.

Paragraph 148

It is strongly recommended that the State party implement vigorously the existing legislation on domestic violence, and that police and other law enforcement officials be given better training to this end.

•          Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (China), ICESCR, E/2002/22 (2001) 39 at para. 173.

The programme for training unskilled and unemployed workers, with the objective of finding employment for them, is commended. It is noted with appreciation that the Employers Training Board conducts training programmes for unskilled women and provides them with allowances during training courses.

•          Republic of Korea, ICESCR, E/2002/22 (2001) 45 at paras. 238, 241 and 252.

Paragraph 238

The predominance of private institutions in higher education is noted with concern. This is detrimental to the lower income groups. Furthermore, over two-thirds of the students in higher education are males, which is contrary to the principle of gender equality.

Paragraph 241

It is noted with concern that human rights education has not yet been formally incorporated as a required subject for all members of those professions that are most directly involved in the promotion and protection of economic, social and cultural rights.

Paragraph 252

It is recommended that the State party establish a plan to strengthen the public education system in conformity with article 13 of the Covenant and General Comment Number 13 and in accordance with the State party's high level of economic development. The plan should include the following elements: a reasonable timetable for specific actions for the introduction of free and compulsory secondary education; a re-examination of the functions and quality of the public education system relative to private education, with a view to strengthening the former and easing the burden on low-income groups imposed by the latter; a study of accessibility of schools at all levels, including tertiary education, and specific actions to be taken to ensure equal access by all sectors of society; and a reassessment of the curricula at all levels of instruction directed at promoting respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.

•          Bolivia, ICESCR, E/2002/22 (2001) 52 at para. 287.

It is recommended that the State party adopt and implement programmes to increase technical and professional training opportunities, job opportunities and to reduce unemployment.

•          Togo, ICESCR, E/2002/22 (2001) 57 at para. 318.

Particular concern is expressed with regard to the education of children. A pattern of discrimination against children, especially girls, is prevalent in the State party. According to the 2000 UNDP Human Development Report, only 70.2% of primary school age girls attend primary school, which is 74% of the male ratio. Only 40.0% of the secondary school age girls attend secondary school, which is 52% of the male ratio. At the university level, women's enrolment constitutes only 21% of the ratio for male tertiary education enrolment. This inequality is also reflected in the difference in literacy rates, which is 38.4% for adult women, only 53% of the male rate.

•          Senegal, ICESCR, E/2002/22 (2001) 61 at paras. 360, 368 and 383.

Paragraph 360

There is concern that the State party is no longer always hiring trained teachers, but employs unskilled teachers as volunteers at lower wages, and that the number of drop-outs among primary and secondary school pupils is significant.

Paragraph 368

Effective action should be taken to reduce the unemployment rate by providing training for young people in urban areas and by conducting regular reviews of the minimum wage levels in order to enable workers to attain an adequate standard of living for themselves and their families.

Paragraph 383

Efforts should be intensified to increase the school attendance of children, especially at the primary level, to address the problem of drop-outs among primary and secondary pupils.

•          Panama, ICESCR, E/2002/22 (2001) 73 at paras. 471 and 479.

Paragraph 471

With regard to Act No. 38 of 2001 on domestic violence, effective measures should be taken to vigorously disseminate and implement existing legislation on domestic violence. Police and other law enforcement officials should be given better training to this end.

Paragraph 479

Measures should be taken that are aimed at increasing the resources available to fight illiteracy and promote primary and secondary education.

•          Ukraine, ICESCR, E/2002/22 (2001) 78 at paras. 498 and 515.

Paragraph 498

It is noted with concern that the budgets allocated for education and scientific research have fallen sharply, leading to a deterioration in the quality of education. There is particular concern about obsolete teaching materials and equipment in schools and colleges, and the low levels of remuneration for teachers.

Paragraph 515

The State party should develop an ongoing programme for the dissemination of information regarding the content of the Covenant and its implementation among the public, civil society, and all sectors and levels of administration. Moreover, the State party should develop systematic and ongoing training programmes on the provisions of the Covenant for professional groups, including parliamentarians, judges, lawyers and local government officials.

•          Nepal, ICESCR, E/2002/22 (2001) 83 at paras. 536 and 563.

Paragraph 536

Concern is expressed about the high unemployment and underemployment rates and about the lack of skills-oriented education.

Paragraph 563

Effective action should be taken to reduce the unemployment rate by providing skills-oriented education and training, particularly in the agricultural sector.

•          Japan, ICESCR, E/2002/22 (2001) 90 at para. 614.

Teaching and training programmes on human rights for judges, prosecutors and lawyers should be improved in order to enhance knowledge, awareness and application of the Covenant.

•          Germany, ICESCR, E/2002/22 (2001) 97 at paras. 655.

Concern is reiterated about the lack of any court decisions in which reference is made to the Covenant and its provisions. It is of concern that judges are not provided with adequate training on human rights, in particular on the rights guaranteed in the Covenant. A similar lack of human rights training is discernable among prosecutors and other actors responsible for the implementation of the Covenant.

•          Germany, ICESCR, E/2002/22 (2001) 97 at paras. 660, 671, 685 and 689.

Paragraph 660

Concern is expressed about the high levels of unemployment that continue to persist, especially among the youth. The problem of youth unemployment is particularly grave in the new Länder, resulting in the migration of young persons to the old Länder. There is further concern that vocational training programmes for youth are not adequately adapted to their needs.

Paragraph 671

It is of concern that several Länder have abandoned the principle of free higher education by requiring the payment of fees, which in some cases are allocated to cover administrative costs of the Länder, and not university expenditure.

Paragraph 685

Training programmes should be undertaken for those dealing with victims of trafficking in persons to ensure that they are sensitized to the needs of the victims, to provide better protection and appropriate care, and to ensure that victims can claim redress before courts of law.

Paragraph 689

The German Federal Government should introduce a reduction of tuition fees in the national framework legislation regulating higher education, with a view to abolishing them.

CEDAW

•          Madagascar, CEDAW, A/49/38 (1994) 45 at para. 235.

Education and training are considered the springboard to development. In giving females education and training, care must be taken not to concentrate on traditional female occupations to avoid stereotyping and also to give them the opportunity of having better-paid occupations.

•          Mauritius, CEDAW, A/50/38 (1995) 44 at para. 213.

Non-academic training such as embroidery, industrial sewing, etc., conducted as a positive discrimination programme would only contribute to keeping women to the feminized sector of the economy.

•          Tunisia, CEDAW, A/50/38 (1995) 52 at paras. 268 and 275.

Paragraph 268

In higher education women are concentrated in specific areas of studies and therefore in professions which have low return or less job opportunities. Women need to be encouraged to join scientific fields in order to have better chances of employment.

Paragraph 275

More training courses for women in non-traditional areas should be conducted, and more support should be given to women in the area of agriculture.

•          Uganda, CEDAW, A/50/38 (1995) 61 at para. 344.

It is necessary to develop an overall programme of prevention of violence against women and attention should be given to the victims, which includes the need to educate the police to treat and handle the violated woman in such a way that her predicament will not be worsened. This creation of awareness is necessary since Uganda's draft Constitution recognizes this kind of treatment as illegal.

•          Paraguay, CEDAW, A/51/38 (1996) 16 at para. 130.

The State party should strengthen and broaden its initiatives to extend bilingual education to all citizens, in particular women, and to combat the social, economic and cultural factors causing the high drop-out and illiteracy rates among women.

•          Ethiopia, CEDAW, A/51/38 (1996) 19 at paras. 156 and 158.

Paragraph 156

Training programmes should be put in place aimed at rehabilitating prostitutes and equipping them and other women with skills that will provide an alternative source of income.

Paragraph 158

Measures, including temporary special measures and programmes, must be adopted to give girls and women equal access to high quality education and training.

•          Ukraine, CEDAW, A/51/38 (1996) 32 at para. 299.

Legislation that allows the activities of numerous sex services and the practice of hiring women as dancers, waiters or other staff to work abroad, often leading to prostitution, should be reviewed and amended, and measures should be taken to prosecute criminal offenders and to rehabilitate the victims through education, training and support services.

•          Rwanda, CEDAW, A/51/38 (1996) 36 at para. 326.

The monitoring unit of the Human Rights Field Operation in Rwanda must be educated and trained about sexual assault, rape, and systematic rape.

•          Slovenia, CEDAW, A/52/38/Rev.1 part I (1997) 15 at paras. 103, 105, 108 and 113.

Paragraph 103

The clustering of female students in certain disciplines, at both schools and universities, that do not provide optimum employment opportunities, is of concern.

Paragraph 105

That women are clustered in certain jobs and professions and at certain job levels is noted with concern. The feminization of the medical profession and the low wages in that sector are also noted. The high number of young unemployed women who were looking for a first job, and the failure to find such employment, which might confine women to the role of homemaker, is of concern. In that context, account is taken of the unfortunate fact that market economies tended to favour male employees who, by virtue of traditional roles and work allocation, were deemed to be unencumbered by family responsibilities.

Paragraph 108

The judiciary should be made aware of the meaning of indirect and structural discrimination, de facto equality and the concept of temporary special measures.

Paragraph 113

Systematic efforts should be taken to ensure that women students are encouraged to enter diverse disciplines so as to overcome the clustering of female students in certain disciplines at schools and universities. Such measures could include special counselling and gender-specific temporary measures with numerical goals and timetables. Women's studies should also be formally established at universities and made part of the school curriculum. The Government should also review its gender-neutral educational framework and develop positive measures to counteract hidden stereotypical educational messages and practices.

•          Turkey, CEDAW, A/52/38/Rev.1 part I (1997) 24 at paras. 194, 201, 203 and 204.

Paragraph 194

Serious efforts were required to address violence against women, especially domestic violence, through legislation and comprehensive, gender-sensitive awareness-raising and education for the public in general and in particular for law enforcement agencies, such as judges, lawyers and police.

Paragraph 201

Continuing support should be given to female students in order to increase the rate of female university graduates and their participation in non-traditional fields.

Paragraph 203

Adequate measures should be taken to provide skills training, retraining and credit facilities or other support services that would provide employment opportunities or self-employment for urban migrant workers, to correct occupational segregation through concrete measures and to provide the necessary protection to working women to ensure their safety and healthy conditions of work.

Paragraph 204

Concrete training programmes aimed at increasing opportunities for women to make use of micro-credit programmes are necessary.

•          Denmark, CEDAW, A/52/38/Rev.1 part I (1997) 34 at para. 270.

The gender and culture course, which is currently optional in pre-university curricula, should be made mandatory in secondary education.

•          Armenia, CEDAW, A/52/38/Rev.1 part II (1997) 78 at para. 64.

Due attention should be given to the subject of violence against women, by encouraging a public discussion of its various forms, initiating appropriate legislation, training law enforcement officers, judges and health professionals, including adequate numbers of female personnel, to identify, manage and eliminate the manifestations of violence against women, and by guaranteeing that the necessary psycho-social and health services are available to victims of violence, with particular attention to internally displaced and refugee women.

•          Namibia, CEDAW, A/52/38/Rev.1 part II (1997) 82 at paras. 106, 116, 117 and 121.

Paragraph 106

The low level of participation of women in higher education and the high drop-out rate of girls from the formal education system are noted with serious concern.

Paragraph 116

Educational and advocacy programmes should be intensified to achieve de facto equality and programmes should be designed and implemented that would redefine the roles of women and men in the family.

Paragraph 117

More educational programmes on human rights and legal literacy for women should be introduced at all levels.

Paragraph 121

The importance of measures such as improving the economic empowerment of women to reduce their dependence on men and their vulnerability to domestic violence is emphasized. Awareness-raising programmes for health professionals, the police and the judiciary should also be introduced to improve their understanding of the problem that violence poses for women.

•          Antigua and Barbuda, CEDAW, A/52/38/Rev.1 part II (1997) 97 at para. 254.

The continuing selection by female students of stereotypical subjects and the greater exposure of girls within the school system to domestic skills and boys to technical skills are matters of concern.

•          Australia, CEDAW, A/52/38/Rev.1 part II (1997) 111 at para. 406.

The Government should strengthen its support for women's studies, provide funding for research and teaching, and facilitate international academic exchange and cooperation in that field.

•          Bangladesh, CEDAW, A/52/38/Rev.1 part II (1997) 117 at paras. 453, 454 and 463.

Paragraph 453

In view of the impact of globalization on rural economics, the Government should give high priority to the issues and problems of rural women, especially their ownership of land and access to credit, loans and skills training in new agricultural technologies, with a view to strengthening their productive and employment capacity.

Paragraph 454

The strengthening of gender sensitization and training programmes for the judiciary, police and health professionals, particularly those relating to violence against women, is recommended.

Paragraph 463

The continuance of affirmative action measures such as quota seats for women in Parliament, in local bodies and in the civil service is recommended. This should be accompanied by capability building and skills training to enable women to participate actively in electoral politics as well as in the civil service.

•          Azerbaijan, CEDAW, A/53/38/Rev.1 part I (1998) 7 at para. 78.

Human rights education should be introduced in schools and universities.

•          Zimbabwe, CEDAW, A/53/38/Rev.1 part I (1998) 13 at para. 153.

Gender-sensitive training should be extended to all sectors, including health-care workers.

•          Czech Republic, CEDAW, A/53/38/Rev.1 part I (1998) 16 at paras. 190 and 202.

Paragraph 190

The absence of special legislation on violence against women and the Government’s perception that there is no need for such legislation is of concern. The lack of information on any preventive measures and/or programmes to support victims of violence, raise public awareness of the issue and sensitize health professionals and law-enforcement personnel on the topic is also of concern.

Paragraph 202

The enactment of a special law and introduction of policies to combat all forms of violence against women, together with promotion of education and media programmes sensitizing the public on this issue, is urged. In addition, the training for the judiciary, law enforcement officers, lawyers, health professionals and others whose work is relevant in the context of violence against women is recommended.

•          Bulgaria, CEDAW, A/53/38/Rev.1 part I (1998) 19 at paras. 256 and 259.

Paragraph 256

In order to tackle the problem of trafficking in women, it is essential to address women’s economic vulnerability, which is the root cause of the problem. In addition, national legislation should be reviewed and amended in accordance with the Convention, effective administrative and police structures need to be created, media sensitization and training campaigns should be conducted and the work of women’s non-governmental organizations in this area should be promoted.

Paragraph 259

Special measures should be taken to encourage women to become entrepreneurs. Training should be provided and measures taken to facilitate access to credit and loans for women, in particular rural women.

•          Indonesia, CEDAW, A/53/38/Rev.1 part I (1998) 24 at para. 303.

Gender sensitization of authorities, including the judiciary, law enforcement officers, lawyers, social workers, health professionals or others who are directly involved in combatting violence against women is urged.

•          Dominican Republic, CEDAW, A/53/38/Rev.1 part I (1998) 28 at para. 348.

Vocational and technical training and career counselling for young women should be strengthened and information activities regarding non-traditional jobs for women should be increased in order to reduce job segregation patterns and the wage gap between women and men.

•          Mexico, CEDAW, A/53/38/Rev.1 part I (1998) 32 at paras. 410, 412 and 422.

Paragraph 410

The introduction of training for health personnel with regard to women’s human rights is recommended, particularly with regard to their right, freely and without coercion, to choose means of contraception.

Paragraph 412

The possibility of implementing an integrated, long-term plan for combating violence should be considered. Such a plan could include taking legal action, training judicial, law enforcement and health personnel, informing women about their rights and about the Convention and strengthening victims’ services.

Paragraph 422

Education programmes on the provisions of the Convention and the rights of women should be introduced for judicial personnel, law enforcement officers, lawyers and others who are responsible for applying the law.

•          Slovakia, CEDAW, A/53/38/Rev.1 part II (1998) 55 at paras. 85 and 93.

Paragraph 85

The establishment of and increase in “household management schools”, which cater to female students and train them for traditional roles, thus promoting gender stereotyping, is of concern.

Paragraph 93

The absence of development programmes for rural women to assist them in obtaining the skills and resources necessary to become competitive in the labour market is of concern.

•          South Africa, CEDAW, A/53/38/Rev.1 part II (1998) 58 at para. 122.

Efforts to prevent and combat violence against women should continue to receive the priority attention they require. Steps should be taken, including through education, awareness-raising and sensitization of the public, to deal with stereotypical attitudes that are amongst the root causes of violence against women and to emphasize the unacceptability of such violence.

•          Nigeria, CEDAW, A/53/38/Rev.1 part II (1998) 61 at para. 167.

In the field of education, efforts should be increased, through the implementation of a specific programme to reduce illiteracy among women, particularly in rural areas, and to promote access by girls to secondary education.

•          United Republic of Tanzania, CEDAW, A/53/38/Rev.1 part II (1998) 66 at para. 230.

Immediate action should be taken to modify customary laws and religious laws to comply with the constitution and the Convention. Further information is requested on measures that have been taken or will be taken as follow-up to the Customary Law Declaration of 1963. Awareness-raising campaigns should be organized for the general public, as well as training courses to sensitize policy makers, the judiciary and law enforcement officers, and assistance should be sought from United Nations agencies in the region for such activities.

•          Peru, CEDAW, A/53/38/Rev.1 part II (1998) 72 at paras. 328 and 334.

Paragraph 328

The necessary practical measures should be taken to implement Act No. 26260 on domestic violence and the necessary efforts should be taken to treat the victims and to provide training to police officers, members of the army, and court, medical and paramedical personnel, psychologists and nursing staff whose job it is to treat the victims.

Paragraph 334

Greater efforts should be made to achieve the principles of equal pay and equal pay for work of equal value, to educate women so as to enable them to enter the labour force, to provide training and re-training programmes so as to encourage women to gain access to non-traditional jobs, to guarantee their right to social security and thus ensure that women are able to be active agents in the development of the country.

•          Algeria, CEDAW, A/54/38/Rev.1 part I (1999) 12 at paras. 76, 80 and 88.

Paragraph 76

The development and implementation of a legal literacy strategy and training for all levels of society in order to address discriminatory cultural norms and attitudes is recommended.

Paragraph 80

The Government should take specific legislative and structural steps to shelter women from domestic and sexual violence and provide women who are victims of violence with comfort, assistance, advice, guidance and information concerning legal redress. Education and awareness training on domestic and sexual violence should be made available to police officers, judges, doctors and the mass media to make their intervention more effective.

Paragraph 88

Unemployed women should be required to participate in traineeships and retraining programmes, including in non-traditional areas, and benefit from job-creation measures to a degree proportional to the unemployment rate for women.

•          Kyrgyzstan, CEDAW, A/54/38/Rev.1 part I (1999) 15 at paras. 121 and 123.

Paragraph 121

The Government should introduce a range of measures, including comprehensive public education and mass media campaigns, to eliminate traditional stereotypes of the roles of men and women.

Paragraph 123

The enhancement of comprehensive measures to prevent violence and to support women victims, including gender-sensitization and the training of law enforcement officials, is recommended. The introduction of measures aimed at improving the economic status of women, including retraining for income-generating occupations, is also recommended, in light of the linkage of violence with poverty.

•          Liechtenstein, CEDAW, A/54/38/Rev.1 part I (1999) 18 at para. 159.

The persistence of de facto inequality between women and men, which is particularly reflected in the low participation of women in public life and decision-making, in the economy and in their under-representation in tertiary education, is a concern.

•          Greece, CEDAW, A/54/38/Rev.1 part I (1999) 20 at paras. 190 and 202.

Paragraph 190

The Government should strengthen the legislative and policy framework to prevent, eliminate and prosecute violence against women. Urgent measures should be taken to institutionalize the training of police and law enforcement personnel to ensure the appropriate handling of cases of violence against women.

Paragraph 202

The Government is urged to intensify its efforts to prevent and to remedy functional illiteracy among women. The Government should also conduct a comprehensive review of all educational curricula at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels, with a view to eliminating remaining discriminatory aspects, remedying the stereotypical portrayal of women and girls and creating an educational environment that is conducive to girls' and women's education and learning. The Government should include the achievement of equality between women and men and between girls and boys as a societal goal in its educational policy. The Government is urged to establish degree-granting women's studies programmes to provide academic support to political and practical changes aimed at creating a non-patriarchal society.

•          Thailand, CEDAW, A/54/38/Rev.1 part I (1999) 24 at para. 233.

Sensitization programmes should be provided to policy makers, administrators, legal personnel and other professionals involved in the health and education sectors. School textbooks should be revised to eliminate stereotyped images of women and girls and to include women's human rights issues.

•          China, CEDAW, A/54/38/Rev.1 part I (1999) 26 at paras. 286, 295 and 300.

Paragraph 286

The Government should examine and revise its laws and policies on violence against women. The handling of domestic violence cases should be systematically included in the training of law enforcement officials and health-care personnel.

Paragraph 295

The Government should adopt a specific time-frame, with budgetary and resource allocation, for the achievement of universal literacy and primary education. It should also abolish official and unofficial school fees, which often result in the exclusion of girls from enjoying their right to education, particularly in poor rural areas. Special measures and incentives should be introduced to ensure that girls are able to fully utilize access to primary education, and are given opportunities for secondary and higher education and vocational training. Likewise, the Government should revise school textbooks and curricula to eliminate gender stereotypes and to include the achievement of gender equality as a societal goal in its education policy.

Paragraph 300

The ways in which the Government’s population policy is implemented at the local level should be examined and publicly debated. The Government is urged to promote information, education and counselling, in order to underscore the principle of reproductive choice, and to increase male responsibility in this regard. The Government should make clear that coercive and violent measures are prohibited and enforce such prohibitions through fair legal procedures that sanction officials acting in excess of their authority. The Government is urged to introduce gender-sensitivity training for family planning officials.

•          Colombia, CEDAW, A/54/38/Rev.1 part I (1999) 33 at paras. 363, 364, 382, 386, 388 and 399.

Paragraph 363

There has been no systematic development of training programmes for government, state or court officials, or for police officers responsible for the implementation of the rules and procedures relating to compliance with the law and the implementation of the Convention.

Paragraph 364

Training programmes should be introduced for all those officially responsible for ensuring compliance with current legislation.

Paragraph 382

A systematic effort should be made to educate the population on gender issues by all possible methods and in all sectors. Programmes should be developed with the aim of raising the awareness of media personnel with respect to equality of men and women, with a view to eradicating sexist stereotypes in all media.

Paragraph 386

Regulations, programmes and other measures, including career counselling, should be put in place to prevent girls and young women from dropping out of school and to reverse the trend of high female drop-out rates. The introduction of vocational programmes to promote the access of women and men to all careers is recommended.

Paragraph 388

Appropriate measures should be taken to improve the status of working women, including through the establishment of child-care centres and the introduction of training programmes to promote the integration of women into the labour force and to diversify their participation, through the implementation of legislative measures and through greater efforts to achieve equal pay for work of equal value.

Paragraph 399

Those involved in planning and programme implementation should receive gender-sensitive training. Micro-credit programmes should be introduced to improve the economic situation of women, as well as programmes to improve the enjoyment by rural women and displaced women of their human rights to health and education.

•          Belize, CEDAW, A/54/38/Rev.1 part II (1999) 49 at para. 55.

The Government is encouraged to intensify its programmes for women entrepreneurs, including access to loans, credits and skill development, as well as to ensure that educational and vocational training opportunities for girls include non-traditional and emerging areas of the economy, such as the information and communications fields.

•          Georgia, CEDAW, A/54/38/Rev.1 part II (1999) 53 at paras. 95, 100 and 106.

Paragraph 95

The principle of the equality of women and men should be incorporated in the Constitution. Education and awareness-raising campaigns should be initiated utilizing, inter alia, the large number of women in mass media and education. Efforts should be made to obtain a clear understanding of indirect discrimination so as to accelerate its elimination and to put in place new legislation addressing the issue of indirect discrimination. Training of lawmakers and the judiciary, health professionals and the mass media in this respect is also recommended.

Paragraph 100

Comprehensive measures to eliminate gender stereotypes through a number of efforts, including the review of textbooks beyond primary education, the sensitization of teachers, the creation of awareness and understanding through research into the rich heritage of women’s positive role in Georgian history for policy planning and as role models, and the formulation of positive symbolic messages at the highest political level concerning the equality of women in all areas of life are recommended.

Paragraph 106

Comprehensive measures aimed at the improvement of women’s economic status through training and retraining, as well as the introduction of quotas for women in the governmental job creation schemes should be implemented. Programmes to encourage women to participate in modern sectors of the national economy, as well as in entrepreneurship, are also recommended.

•          Nepal, CEDAW, A/54/38/Rev.1 part II (1999) 57 at paras. 141 and 144.

Paragraph 141

The Government is urged to introduce and implement policies and programmes for free and compulsory education for all girls at the primary level; vocational and skill development training for income generation, especially for marginalized rural women; and the facilitation of women’s access to non-traditional and non-stereotypical education. The Government should take concrete measures to increase the number of women in higher education, in particular in non-traditional fields. School curricula and textbooks should also be reviewed in order to eliminate gender stereotypes.

Paragraph 144

The Government is urged to launch gender sensitization and advocacy programmes aimed at the civil service and opinion leaders, political decision makers, health professionals and law enforcement officials, so as to ensure that a clear understanding of the obligations under the Convention is achieved.

•          Ireland, CEDAW, A/54/38/Rev.1 part II (1999) 60 at para. 199.

The Government is encouraged to ensure, through various means and channels, that gender training is not only an integral part of law school curricula but that it is also part of the continuing education of legal professionals and the judiciary.

•          Spain, CEDAW, A/54/38/Rev.1 part II (1999) 67 at paras. 260 and 264.

Paragraph 260

The Government is urged to assess continuously the adequacy of its incentive programmes for women entrepreneurs and to monitor the need for comprehensive programmes providing information, training, economic incentives and skills development to ensure success for women in small and medium-sized enterprises.

Paragraph 264

Domestic violence issues should be included as a mandatory part of the basic training of law enforcement personnel, and investigation and prosecution of domestic violence complaints should be undertaken on par with other criminal offences.

•          United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, CEDAW, A/54/38/Rev.1 part II (1999) 71 at para. 313.

The Government is called upon to improve the education of judges with regard to domestic violence so that these cases are given the same attention and consideration as cases brought under other provisions of the criminal law.

•          India, CEDAW, A/55/38 part I (2000) 7 at para. 73.

In addition to programmes already undertaken, the introduction of gender sensitization and human rights programmes for the police, the security forces and medical professionals is recommended.

•          Myanmar, CEDAW, A/55/38 part I (2000) 12 at paras. 118, 125 and 126.

Paragraph 118

The Government is urged to carry out human rights education and gender-sensitization training, for all law enforcement and military personnel.

Paragraph 125

The restricted admission of women to certain courses in higher education contravenes article 10 (b) and (c) of the Convention.

Paragraph 126

The Government is urged to modify the policies on restricted admission, as the women themselves should be entitled to decide which subjects they wish to study and professions they wish to pursue.

•          Jordan, CEDAW, A/55/38 part I (2000) 16 at paras. 159 and 188.

Paragraph 159

Satisfaction is expressed over the level of education that girls and women have achieved, in particular, the parity in enrolment rates in the basic and secondary cycles and the fact that the gap between women and men in university education is closing. The Government’s efforts to further reduce women’s illiteracy rate are also commended.

Paragraph 188

Concern is expressed that, notwithstanding rural women’s important role in Jordan and the Government’s efforts at providing education and extension services, they continue to be marginalized in agriculture.

•          Burkina Faso, CEDAW, A/55/38 part I (2000) 25 at para. 271.

It is recommended that, as in the case of the campaign to combat genital mutilation, education and awareness-raising activities on the phenomenon of violence within the family and sexual violence should be directed towards the police force, judges, health-care providers and the media so that their efforts can be more effective. A legal education campaign directed at women is desirable, so that they are better aware of their rights.

•          Germany, CEDAW, A/55/38 part I (2000) 29 at para. 310.

The Government is urged to take measures to ensure that public officials, including law enforcement officials, contribute to the realization of the principle of de facto equality for women in the entire territory of the country. The Government should ensure that tertiary and continuing legal education of lawyers and the judiciary adequately covers the evolving understanding of equality and non-discrimination and international norms and standards in that regard. The Government is also urged to ensure the availability of effective domestic remedies and their accessibility to women, especially in the light of the pending entry into force of the Optional Protocol to the Convention. Direct reference to the Convention in the its legislative, policy and programmatic initiatives is also encouraged, since the Convention is legally binding and such use would increase awareness of the international commitments entered into by the State party.

•          Belarus, CEDAW, A/55/38 part I (2000) 34 at paras. 362 and 370.

Paragraph 362

The State party should train teachers to strengthen capacity for human rights education in schools. Monitoring human rights education and gender studies with regard to the number of educational establishments offering such education, and also the impact of such education, is also recommended.

Paragraph 370

Training and sensitization programmes should be implemented for the judiciary, law enforcement officials and members of the legal profession, as well as awareness-raising measures to create zero tolerance in society with regard to violence against women.

•          Luxembourg, CEDAW, A/55/38 part I (2000) 38 at para. 395.

The Government is commended for its efforts to teach equality, in particular through its project entitled “Partageons l’égalité-Glaichheet delen-Gleichheit teilen” (sharing equality), which aims at promoting equality of opportunity between girls and boys from the pre-school stage, by integrating the equality principle in the training curricula of teachers and trainers, including the development of training manuals and modules.

•          Republic of Moldova, CEDAW, A/55/38 part II (2000) 56 at paras. 92 and 110.

Paragraph 92

The State party should ensure, through legal education and continuing professional training, that judicial officers are aware of the Convention.

Paragraph 110

The Government is encouraged to include sex education systematically in schools, including vocational training schools, to continue its cooperation with international organizations to improve the general health situation of women and girls in the State party, and to take measures aimed at reducing occupational health risks to women workers.

•          Lithuania, CEDAW, A/55/38 part II (2000) 61 at paras. 133, 143 -145, 151 and 162.

Paragraph 133

The efforts by the Government to combat violence against women, especially domestic violence, are appreciated. The creation, with the collaboration of non-governmental organizations, of telephone hot lines and crisis centres to provide information and assistance to women victims of violence, and the training of police officials in this regard, are commended.

Paragraph 143

The Government should design and implement specific targeted programmes for different groups of unemployed women, addressing their training needs in different employment areas with a view to future-oriented jobs.

Paragraph 144

The fact that the position of women in the labour market is characterized by discrimination, in particular of women with children, and by a strong occupational segregation with a concomitant wage differential, is noted with concern. That there may be hidden discrimination against women in the training programmes offered by the Labour Exchange Offices, is also a matter of concern.

Paragraph 145

Efforts should be made to eliminate occupational segregation through efforts in education, training and retraining.

Paragraph 151

The Government should continue to pay serious attention to domestic violence against women, including through ongoing training of police officials, future lawyers and judges and through easy access to courts by the victims of domestic violence.

Paragraph 162

The situation of older women, who constitute a large proportion of the population, is of concern. Gender-sensitive policies and programmes that address the specific needs of older women should be designed and implemented. Social workers should be provided with gender-sensitive education and training in order to be able to recognize and meet those needs.

•          Iraq, CEDAW, A/55/38 part II (2000) 66 at paras. 197 and 198.

Paragraph 197

The level of illiteracy among women, the increasing rate at which girls drop out of secondary and higher education, and the low representation of women in technical schools, are noted with concern.

Paragraph 198

The Government is called upon to eradicate illiteracy and to ensure primary and secondary education for girls by preventing school dropouts. Furthermore, educational and training opportunities should be broadened for girls and young women at the secondary and tertiary levels and in technical fields. Particular attention should be given to ensuring that girls and women have equal access to new specializations, including the opportunity to acquire skills and knowledge to participate on a basis of equality with men in the labour market and in the future reconstruction of the country.

•          Austria, CEDAW, A/55/38 part II (2000) 70 at paras. 230-232.

Paragraph 230

With respect to violence against women, notwithstanding the extensive measures already undertaken, the Government is urged to ensure ongoing education for law enforcement officials and the judiciary, including their sensitization to violence against women in migrant communities, and to extend such programmes to health professionals. Particular attention should be paid to the physical, emotional and financial abuse of elderly women.

Paragraph 231

Concern is expressed over the high percentage of the female population in Austria which has no education beyond the compulsory level. The continuing gender role stereotyping in the area of education and vocational training for girls and boys is also a matter of concern.

Paragraph 232

Measures should be taken to encourage girls to continue their education beyond the compulsory level and particularly in the areas of science and technology. The Government should also introduce affirmative action to increase the appointment of women to academic posts at all levels and to integrate gender studies and feminist research in university curricula and research programmes.

•          Romania, CEDAW, A/55/38 part II (2000) 77 at paras. 305, 307, 310 and 311.

Paragraph 305

The Convention and its applicability at the domestic level should be included in law school curricula and continuing judicial education.

Paragraph 307

Measures should be taken to ensure that law enforcement officials, the judiciary and health-care providers are aware that violence against women, including domestic violence, constitutes an infringement of the human rights of women under the Convention that must be prosecuted with the seriousness and speed it deserves.

Paragraph 310

Concern is expressed over the high rate of illiteracy of women over 50 years of age and the extremely wide gap in illiteracy between the urban and rural populations, as well as the high dropout rates for girls at secondary level.

Paragraph 311

Measures should be taken to increase the literacy levels of older women, and to reduce the literacy gap between urban and rural women. Efforts should also be made to ensure that education, including continuing education and adult literacy programmes, are targeted to women and include training in new information and communications technologies to provide women and girls with the skills required in a knowledge-based economy.

•          Burundi, CEDAW, A/56/38 part I (2001) 7 at paras. 54 and 56.

Paragraph 54

Post-trauma counselling should be provided, as stipulated in the Arusha Accords, for women who are victims of gender-based violence. The Government should ensure that relevant personnel are trained to give such assistance.

Paragraph 56

The Government is encouraged to ensure the implementation of laws and policies that provide for de jure equality and seek to eliminate discrimination against women. The Government should ensure that those charged with responsibility for the implementation of laws and policies are made fully aware of their contents and public education and legal literacy campaigns should be put in place to ensure wide knowledge of law and policy reform.

•          Kazakhstan, CEDAW, A/56/38 part I (2001) 10 at paras. 90 and 96.

Paragraph 90

Efforts to promote women to positions of power should be strengthened by organizing special training programmes for women and by conducting awareness-raising campaigns on the importance of women’s participation in decision-making at all levels.

Paragraph 96

Gender training for all public officials, in particular law enforcement officials and the judiciary, as well as health workers, is recommended, in order to educate them about all forms of violence against women and girls. Awareness-raising campaigns should be organized through the media and public education programmes to address all forms of violence against women and girls, including domestic violence.

See also:

•          Guinea, CEDAW, A/56/38 part I (2001) 55 at para. 135.

•          Viet Nam, CEDAW, A/56/38 part II (2001) 68 at para. 253.

•          Maldives, CEDAW, A/56/38 part I (2001) 15 at para. 134.

The Government has not yet introduced temporary special measures according to article 4, paragraph 1, of the Convention to improve women’s access to higher education, decision-making positions and legislative bodies at the national and local levels.

•          Uzbekistan, CEDAW, A/56/38 part I (2001) 18 at paras. 169, 177, 181 and 183.

Paragraph 169

The Government should take urgent measures to overcome traditional stereotypes regarding the role of women and men in the society. It is emphasized that gender equality policy in compliance with the Convention will require the reconceptualization of the role of women in society from that of mother and wife, exclusively responsible for children and the family, to that of individual person and actor in society. The number of women in decision-making bodies at all levels and in all areas should be increased. Efforts to organize special training programmes for women and to conduct on a regular basis awareness-raising campaigns in this regard should be strengthened.

Paragraph 177

Training on gender issues for all public officials should be organized, in particular law enforcement officials and the judiciary, as well as for members of khokims’ offices at all levels and the local mahalas, to educate them about all forms of violence against women and girls in accordance with general recommendation 19 on Violence against Women.

Paragraph 181

Urgent measures should be taken to prevent the decline of women in higher education. Raising awareness and providing incentives to encourage young women to enter male-dominated fields of study are recommended.

Paragraph 183

Equal opportunities for women and men in the labour market should be ensured, including through the use of temporary special measures. Special training and retraining programmes for different groups of unemployed women should be designed and implemented.

See also:

•          Kazakhstan, CEDAW, A/56/38 part I (2001) 10 at para. 102.

•          Mongolia, CEDAW, A/56/38 part I (2001) 26 at paras. 245 and 256.

Paragraph 245

The progress made in providing women with access to education and the achievement of high levels of participation at the tertiary level are commended.

Paragraph 256

Legal literacy programmes for the community and gender-sensitization programmes for judges and law enforcement officials should be developed.

•          Finland, CEDAW, A/56/38 part I (2001) 29 at para. 298.

Efforts should be increased to eliminate stereotypes in women’s education, biased perceptions in job evaluations and pay relating to traditional areas of employment for women. In particular, efforts to encourage cross-vocational training in typical female and male-dominated areas and to address the issue of the negative impact on women of policies of time-fixed contracts are recommended.

•          Egypt, CEDAW, A/56/38 part I (2001) 33 at paras. 338, 339 and 345.

Paragraph 338

Taking note of the successful efforts to reduce the drop-out rate for girls in primary education, the remaining high level of illiteracy among women and the rate at which girls and young women drop out of secondary school and university are noted with concern.

Paragraph 339

Programmes to prevent drop-outs by girls in primary education and to reduce the drop-out rate of girls and young women at secondary school and university should be continued, including through the use of incentives for parents, so as to provide young women with the necessary skills and knowledge to allow them to participate, on the basis of equality, with men in the labour market.

Paragraph 345

Training and sensitization programmes for the judiciary, law enforcement officials and members of the legal and health professions should be implemented, and awareness-raising measures should be taken to create zero tolerance in society with regard to violence against women.

•          Singapore, CEDAW, A/56/38 part II (2001) 51 at paras. 92 and 93.

Paragraph 92

The imposition of a maximum quota on the number of women medical students is of concern.

Paragraph 93

The maximum quota on the number of women medical students should be removed and childcare arrangements and flexible working hours provided, so as to encourage and enable women doctors to pursue their profession.

•          Guyana, CEDAW, A/56/38 part II (2001) 60 at para. 169.

Laws and policies on maternity should be brought in conformity with the Convention. A national policy for the private and public sectors should be developed that includes minimum mandatory and paid maternity and parental leave, and effective sanctions and remedies should be provided for violation of laws on maternity leave. Training programmes for the staff of the Labour Office should be established to facilitate prosecution and ensure the effective enforcement of existing laws for both the public and private sectors.

•          The Netherlands, CEDAW, A/56/38 part II (2001) 63 at para. 210.

The Government is urged to increase its efforts to provide training and education to prostitutes in order to ensure that they have a full range of options for earning their livelihood.

•          Viet Nam, CEDAW, A/56/38 part II (2001) 68 at paras. 257, 259, 264 and 265.

Paragraph 257

The implementation of legal provisions that guarantee women de jure equality should be monitored so as to ensure that they benefit women de facto. Gender-sensitization and training programmes for law-enforcement, judicial and health personnel and others responsible for the implementation of legislation should be introduced, so that women’s de facto enjoyment of equality will be guaranteed.

Paragraph 259

Gender training should be organized for all public officials, in particular law-enforcement personnel, the judiciary and members of local committees, on violence against women and girls, and public awareness campaigns should be launched on all forms of violence against women and girls and the impact of such violence.

Paragraph 264

Despite the efforts and the progress made with regard to primary and secondary education, concern is expressed about the high female drop-out rate from schools, and particularly higher education, in rural areas. It is noted that the increase in the rate has coincided with the transformation to a market economy, and it is of concern that the gains that have been made in regard to women’s and girls’ education may not be sustained.

Paragraph 265

Efforts to promote the access of women and girls to higher education and their retention in the system should be intensified. Incentives should be provided to parents in order to encourage them to ensure that their daughters attend school.

•          Nicaragua, CEDAW, A/56/38 part II (2001) 72 at paras. 291, 295 and 307.

Paragraph 291

The Government is commended for its efforts to include the teaching of human rights in kindergarten, primary, secondary and technical or vocational schools, and in military and police training academies, and on the integration of a gender perspective into the National Development Plan and school curricula and teacher training.

Paragraph 295

Measures to change stereotypical attitudes about the roles and responsibilities of women and men, including awareness-raising and educational campaigns directed at both women and men, as well as the media, should be strengthened in order to achieve de facto equality between women and men. An assessment of the impact of the measures should be undertaken in order to identify shortcomings, and to adjust and improve these measures accordingly.

Paragraph 307

Measures should be taken to improve the status of working women, including the introduction of training programmes to promote the integration of women into the labour force and to diversify their participation. The State party should also ensure the establishment of childcare centres; improved access to credit, with special emphasis on rural women; and greater efforts to achieve equal pay for work of equal value.

•          Sweden, CEDAW, A/56/38 part II (2001) 76 at para. 350.

Despite the high achievement of women in tertiary education, there are very few women professors in the universities and this is of concern. There also appears to be an imbalance in the access of women, as compared to men academics, to research grants and other resources.

CAT

•          Poland, CAT, A/49/44 (1994) 12 at para. 72.

A specific training programme on torture should be formulated for civilian and military personnel, lawyers and the medical profession.

•          Egypt, CAT, A/49/44 (1994) 14 at para. 94.

While paying particular attention to the protection of the rights of persons arrested and detained, the State party should intensify the educational, training and information programmes provided for in article 10 of the Convention, for all the officials concerned.

See also:

•           Morocco, CAT, A/50/44 (1995) 17 at para. 113.

•          Israel, CAT, A/49/44 (1994) 24 at para. 170.

A vigorous programme of education and re-education of the General Security Service, the Israel Defence Forces, police and medical profession should be undertaken to acquaint them with their obligations under the Convention.

See also:

•          Nepal, CAT, A/49/44 (1994) 22 at para. 147.

•          Peru, CAT, A/50/44 (1995) 11 at para. 73.

The efforts to educate medical and law-enforcement personnel, civil and military, should be intensified, as should the programmes for the full rehabilitation of victims.

See also:

•          Poland, CAT, A/52/44 (1997) 18 at para. 106.

•          Morocco, CAT, A/50/44 (1995) 17 at para. 113.

The State party should intensify the education, information and training programmes called for by article 10 of the Convention, for all the officials concerned.

•          Italy, CAT, A/50/44 (1995) 21 at para. 157.

The State party should establish more training programmes for law-enforcement and medical personnel.

•          Jordan, CAT, A/50/44 (1995) 23 at paras. 171 and 179.

Paragraph 171

A comprehensive programme of education for members of the police, security forces, and medical personnel would be useful, in particular given the fact that so many refugees from other countries are located in the State party.

Paragraph 179

Educational programmes are expected to be started as a matter of urgency for law enforcement and medical personnel, focussing on the obligations laid down in the Convention and on how evidence of torture may be recognized. In the case of medical personnel, such educational programmes should include methods for the rehabilitation of victims of torture.

•          Guatemala, CAT, A/51/44 (1996) 10 at para. 57.

The State party should organize intensive programmes of technical training for the police, prosecutors and judges.

•          United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, CAT, A/51/44 (1996) 12 at para. 65.

The following is recommended:

Re-educating and retraining police officers, particularly investigating police officers, in Northern Ireland as a further step in the peace process;

Training immigration officers on how to manage violent prisoners with minimum risk of harm to all those involved.

•          Colombia, CAT, A/51/44 (1996) 15 at para. 82.

The State party should keep under systematic review the rules, methods and practices referred to in article 11 of the Convention, conduct human rights education and training programmes for military, police, medical and civilian guard personnel, and establish appropriate systems of compensation and rehabilitation for the victims.

•          Armenia, CAT, A/51/44 (1996) 17 at para. 100.

The authorities should give high priority to the training of personnel enumerated in article 10 of the Convention.

•          China, CAT, A/51/44 (1996) 22 at para. 150.

The State party should continue to train law enforcement personnel, procurators, judges and medical doctors to become professionals of the highest standing.

•          Croatia, CAT, A/51/44 (1996) 25 at para. 162.

A vigorous programme of education of police, as well as prison, medical, prosecution and judicial personnel should be undertaken to ensure that they understand their obligations pursuant to the relationship between the domestic law and the international human rights regime.

See also:

•          Georgia, CAT, A/52/44 (1997) 20 at para. 121.

•          Russian Federation, CAT, A/52/44 (1997) 9 at para. 43.

The State party should expedite the process of training personnel, including medical personnel, of all agencies involved in law enforcement and the detention of prisoners as to their powers and duties under the law.

•          Republic of Korea, CAT, A/52/44 (1997) 12 at para. 64.

Education regarding the prohibition against torture should be fully included in the training of police investigators, public prosecutors, other law enforcement personnel and medical personnel, with special emphasis on the definition of torture as contained in article 1 of the Convention and on the criminal liability of those who commit acts of torture.

See also:

•           Namibia, CAT, A/52/44 (1997) 35 at para. 243.

•          Ukraine, CAT, A/52/44 (1997) 23 at para. 151.

It is particularly important to organize special training for the personnel of correctional institutions, especially doctors, in the principles and standards of the Convention.

•          Cyprus, CAT, A/53/44 (1998) 8 at para. 51.

A strong programme of re-education directed to field law enforcement personnel that emphasizes a commitment to human rights is advocated.

•          Cuba, CAT, A/53/44 (1998) 12 at para. 118.

The State party should set up a comprehensive programme, which should be kept under constant review, for educating and training law enforcement personnel, medical personnel, public officials and all those involved in the interrogation, custody or treatment of any person arrested, detained or imprisoned.

•          Germany, CAT, A/53/44 (1998) 19 at para. 194.

Police and immigration officers of all ranks, as well as medical personnel, should receive compulsory training concerning human rights in general and especially concerning the Convention against Torture; since most reports of ill-treatment come from foreigners, it is recommended that these officers also receive training in the areas of conflict management and ethnic minorities.

•          Venezuela, CAT, A/54/44 (1999) 16 at para. 149.

Human rights training initiatives for State law enforcement officials and prison personnel should be continued, and should be extended to all police and security forces.

•          Italy, CAT, A/54/44 (1999) 19 at para. 168.

The lack of training in the field of human rights is of concern, in particular, the prohibition against torture to the troops participating in peacekeeping operations and the inadequate number of military police accompanying them.

•          Malta, CAT, A/55/44 (2000) 10 at para. 44.

The inclusion of human rights in the training programme of the police academy is welcomed.

•          Austria, CAT, A/55/44 (2000) 11 at para. 50.

Clear instructions should be given to the police by the competent authorities to avoid any incidence of ill-treatment by police agents. Such instructions should emphasize that ill-treatment by law enforcement officials shall not be tolerated and shall be promptly investigated and punished in cases of violation, in accordance with the law.

•          Finland, CAT, A/55/44 (2000) 12 at para. 53.

The efforts made in educational programmes for the police and personnel dealing with asylum seekers and the legal measures taken to accommodate asylum seekers in places other than prison are noted with satisfaction.

•          Portugal, CAT, A/55/44 (2000) 22 at para.103.

The State party should continue to undertake vigorous measures, both disciplinary and educative, to maintain the momentum moving the police culture in the State party to one that respects human rights.

•          China, CAT, A/55/44 (2000) 24 at paras. 129 and 144.

Paragraph 129

The State party is encouraged to continue and to intensify its efforts to provide training courses on international human rights standards for law enforcement officers.

Paragraph 144

The continuation and intensification of preventive measures, including training for law enforcement officials is recommended.

•          El Salvador, CAT, A/55/44 (2000) 28 at paras. 157 and 158.

Paragraph 157

The promulgation and effective observance of the new Penal Code and Code of Criminal Procedure, whose provisions include important guarantees for the protection of fundamental human rights, should contribute to better fulfilment of the State's obligations under the Convention.

Paragraph 158

Among those provisions, particular importance is attached to the creation of the Office of the Procurator for the Protection of Human Rights and the significant activity undertaken by this institution, both in its duties of supervising respect and guarantees for human rights and in the development of human rights promotion and education programmes, particularly those intended for law enforcement personnel. The human rights education activities conducted by the Salvadoran Institute of Human Rights, the Judicial Service Training Colleges and the National Public Security Academy are also of particular importance.

•          The Netherlands, CAT, A/55/44 (2000) 33 at para. 188.

The practice of controlling prison discipline by the use, on a virtually daily basis, of riot squads, should be reviewed and, in particular, efforts should be made to develop alternative means to prevent inter-prisoner violence. Such means should include the proper training of prison personnel.

•          Armenia, CAT, A/56/44 (2001) 17 at para. 39.

The State party is encouraged to continue education and training activities on the prevention of torture and the protection of individuals from torture and ill-treatment for police and for the staff of prisons, including Ministry of the Interior facilities and military prisons.

•          Australia, CAT, A/56/44 (2001) 22 at para. 53.

The State party should continue its education and information efforts for law enforcement personnel regarding the prohibition against torture, and improve further its efforts in training, especially of police, prison officers and prison medical personnel.

•          Canada, CAT, A/56/44 (2001) 24 at para. 59.

The State party should continue and enhance training of military personnel on the standards required by the Convention and related human rights matters, including those regarding discriminatory treatment.

•          Cameroon, CAT, A/56/44 (2001) 28 at para. 66.

The training programme for law enforcement personnel in human rights should be pursued, with particular reference to the prohibition of torture.

•          Georgia, CAT, A/56/44 (2001) 35 at para. 82.

Steps should be taken to continue education and training activities on the prevention of torture and the protection of individuals from torture and ill-treatment for police and for the staff of prisons, as well as for forensic experts and medical personnel in prisons in examining victims of torture and documenting acts of torture. Effective measures should be taken to prosecute and punish violence against women as well as trafficking in women, including adopting appropriate legislation, conducting research and raising awareness of the problem as well as including the issue in the training of law enforcement officials and other relevant professional groups.

•          Greece, CAT, A/56/44 (2001) 38 at paras. 87 and 88.

Paragraph 87

Concern is expressed that, although the domestic legislation provides a satisfactory framework for protecting human rights in general and of certain Convention rights in particular, difficulties in effective implementation remain, which may amount to a breach of the Convention, including the lack of comprehensive training of medical personnel and law enforcement officers at all levels, on the provisions of the Convention.

Paragraph 88

Such measures should be taken as are necessary, including training, to ensure that in the treatment of vulnerable groups, in particular foreigners, ethnic and national minorities, law enforcement officers do not resort to discriminatory practices.

•          Bolivia, CAT, A/56/44 (2001) 40 at paras. 92, 93 and 97.

Paragraph 92

The measures adopted by the State party to implement human rights training programmes not only for public officials, but also in universities and secondary schools, with the participation of the United Nations Development Programme and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights are noted with satisfaction.

Paragraph 93

It is noted that the lack of training in human rights and, in particular, in the prohibition of torture given to law-enforcement officials and members of the armed forces, has resulted in a situation in which serious ill-treatment and torture are inflicted.

Paragraph 97

The State party should step up the activities to protect, defend and promote human rights which, according to its report, the State party has been developing, particularly those relating to vocational training for all law-enforcement officials.

•          Slovakia, CAT, A/56/44 (2001) 43 at para. 105.

The State party should continue to provide human rights training for law enforcement, military and other officials, including those operating in local communities, as well as for those at border areas, and those serving at officially administered institutions, and provide clear guidelines on the prohibition against torture and ill-treatment and the prohibition on returning persons facing a probable risk of torture.

•          Brazil, CAT, A/56/44 (2001) 49 at paras. 119 and 120.

Paragraph 119

Concern is expressed about the lack of training of law-enforcement officials in general, at all levels, and of medical personnel, as provided by article 10 of the Convention.

Paragraph 120

The State party should reinforce human rights education and promotion activities in general and regarding the prohibition of torture in particular, for law-enforcement officials and medical personnel, and introduce training in these subjects in official education programmes for the benefit of the younger generations.

•           Kazakhstan, CAT, A/56/44 (2001) 52 at para. 129.

The State party should ensure the training of specialized personnel to identify signs of physical and psychological torture and ensure, when such personnel are requalified, that their examinations include awareness of the Convention's requirements.

•          Costa Rica, CAT, A/56/44 (2001) 55 at paras. 135 and 136.

Paragraph 135

Concern is expressed about the inadequacy of training concerning the prohibition of torture for police officers and prison personnel.

Paragraph 136

The State party should step up training activities, with the specific inclusion of full information on the prohibition of torture in the training of police officers and prison personnel.

CRC

•          Viet Nam, CRC, CRC/C/16 (1993) 18 at para. 66.

The appropriate amendments should be made to the Penal Code in order to adequately reflect the provisions contained in articles 37, 39 and 40 of the Convention as well as the relevant provisions of the Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials and other international standards in this field such as the "Beijing Rules", the "Riyadh Guidelines" and the Rules for the Protection of Juveniles Deprived of their Liberty. In this connection, a training course for law enforcement personnel should be organized by the Centre for Human Rights in Viet Nam.

•          Russian Federation, CRC, CRC/C/16 (1993) 21 at paras. 87 and 91.

Paragraph 87

Alternatives to institutionalization in boarding schools, such as foster care, should be actively sought. Further training of personnel in all institutions such as social, legal or educational workers is recommended. An important part of such training should be to emphasize the promotion and protection of the child's sense of dignity and the issue of child neglect and maltreatment. Mechanisms to evaluate the ongoing training of personnel dealing with children are also required.

Paragraph 91

The training of law enforcement officers, judges and other administration of justice officials should be devoted to an understanding of international standards on juvenile justice.

•          Colombia (preliminary), CRC, CRC/C/24 (1994) 18 at para. 82.

A new attitude and approach should be developed, particularly as regards the police and the military, in order to enhance respect for all children, regardless of their social, economic or other background, and to reaffirm their value. In this connection, information and training programmes should be strengthened at the level of the community and the family.

•          Romania, CRC, CRC/C/24 (1994) 21 at para. 99.

Personnel dealing with children should be provided with adequate training in the basic principles and norms contained in the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Special training should be given to social workers in recognition of the importance of this profession.

•          Belarus, CRC, CRC/C/24 (1994) 24 at para. 119.

A stronger emphasis should be placed on primary health care activities, which would include the development of educational programmes to cover such matters as family education, family planning, sex education and the benefits of breast-feeding. Equally, community health care workers should be trained to develop awareness of these subjects among the general public, including children.

•          Pakistan, CRC, CRC/C/29 (1994) 10 at paras. 52-54.

Paragraph 52

Measures must be taken to make the provisions and principles of the Convention widely known among adults and children alike. In addition, it is recommended that training about child rights should be given to relevant professional groups. Law enforcement personnel, including police officials and judges, should be aware of the provisions of the Convention, especially those relating to the system of the administration of juvenile justice.

Paragraph 53

The State party should develop awareness-raising and training programmes to combat violence against children and prevent their abuse, neglect, abandonment and ill-treatment. Such programmes should be addressed, among others, to parents, teachers and law enforcement officials.

Paragraph 54

The Government is encouraged to continue taking measures to strengthen the primary health-care system. Greater emphasis should be placed on family education, including family planning, and to training community health care-workers to assist in these tasks.

•          France, CRC, CRC/C/29 (1994) 17 at para. 102.

Further awareness-raising and educational measures should be undertaken to prevent child abuse and the physical punishment of children.

•          Chile, CRC, CRC/C/29 (1994) 25 at para. 151.

The Government should consider pursuing the measures adopted to fight situations of child ill-treatment. The importance of ensuring training activities for the professional groups concerned, as well as of developing mediation measures, is stressed.

•          Argentina, CRC, CRC/C/38 (1995) 10 at para. 44.

A larger part of the education and training of law enforcement personnel, judges and other administration of justice officials should be devoted to an understanding of international standards on juvenile justice.

•          Philippines, CRC, CRC/C/38 (1995) 12 at para. 63.

The lack of vocational training opportunities, the high drop-out rate in primary education and the low rate of enrolment in secondary education are of concern.

•          Colombia, CRC, CRC/C/38 (1995) 16 at para. 98.

A new attitude and approach in the training of professional groups working with or for children should be developed, particularly as regards the police and the military, in order to enhance respect for all children, regardless of their social, economic or other background, and to reaffirm the value of their fundamental rights. In this connection, information and training programmes should be strengthened, including at the level of the community and the family, and the rights of the child should be included in the framework of the training curriculum of the professional groups concerned.

•          Jamaica, CRC, CRC/C/38 (1995) 25 at para. 166.

Measures should be envisaged to improve the quality of education, and to intensify teacher training and vocational training.

•          Nicaragua, CRC, CRC/C/43 (1995) 10 at para. 57.

The State party should consider using the Convention as a tool for the prevention of violence and abuse. One way to achieve this is by teaching children to defend their rights and for trained individuals working with and for children to transmit the values of the Convention to children. Thus, education about the Convention should be incorporated into non-formal and formal educational curricula and into training and retraining programmes for professionals working with or for children, including teachers, health workers, social workers, judges and law enforcement officials.

•          Canada, CRC, CRC/C/43 (1995) 16 at para. 93.

In connection with the child's right to physical integrity, the possibility of introducing new legislation and follow-up mechanisms to prevent violence within the family should be considered, and educational campaigns should be launched with a view to changing attitudes in society on the use of physical punishment in the family and fostering the acceptance of its legal prohibition.

•          Ukraine, CRC, CRC/C/46 (1995) 11 at paras. 73 and 77.

Paragraph 73

The situation of children in institutions should be addressed, with a view to envisaging and making available possible alternatives to institutional care through, for example, guidance and counselling, foster care and education and vocational training programmes.

Paragraph 77

Training programmes on the relevant international standards should be organized for all those professionals involved with the system of juvenile justice, in particular judges, law enforcement officials, correctional officers and social workers.

See also:

•          Myanmar, CRC, CRC/C/62 (1997) 25 at para. 180.

•          Germany, CRC, CRC/C/46 (1995) 15 at para. 105.

The State party should make full use of the opportunity offered by the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education to pursue further the preparation of educational materials on human and children's rights and the incorporation of human rights education, particularly about the rights of the child, into school curricula and into the training programmes of professional groups working with or for children, including teachers, judges, lawyers, social workers, health service personnel, police and immigration officials.

•          Yemen, CRC, CRC/C/50 (1996) 9 at paras. 36 and 42.

Paragraph 36

The lack of training activities for professional groups working with and for children, including teachers, social workers, health personnel, judges and law enforcement officials, is regretted.

Paragraph 42

The State party should provide specific training activities on the Convention to professional groups working with and for children, including teachers, social workers, health personnel, judges and law enforcement officials.

See also:

•          Guatemala, CRC, CRC/C/54 (1996) 31 at para. 204.

•          Cyprus, CRC, CRC/C/54 (1996) 38 at para. 258.

•          Mongolia, CRC, CRC/C/50 (1996) 13 at paras. 69 and 78.

Paragraph 69

Periodic training programmes on the rights of the child should be organized for professional groups working with or for children, including teachers, law enforcement officials, social workers and judges, and human rights and children's rights should be included in their training curricula.

Paragraph 78

Law reform in the field of children's rights and training of professionals working with children should be initiated. Special attention should be paid to training in the relevant international standards, in particular for judges, law enforcement officials, correctional officers and social workers.

•          Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro), CRC, CRC/C/50 (1996) 17 at paras. 104, 114 and 118.

Paragraph 104

Training and retraining programmes and opportunities need to be systematically developed for professionals working with or for children, in particular the police and law enforcement and army personnel, to ensure that they understand children's rights and their responsibility for actions taken which impact on the promotion and protection of the rights of the child.

Paragraph 114

With reference to the efforts required to prevent and combat the abuse of children, consideration should be given to the elaboration of a comprehensive and integrated public information campaign, to the undertaking of a review of the national legislative measures in this field and their compliance with the Convention's provisions, as well as to the further development of training programmes for professionals involved in this field of work.

Paragraph 118

Serious consideration should be given to the possibility of allocating further resources for programmes for the prevention of sexual abuse and exploitation and the rehabilitation of victims, including training of and support to the professionals dealing with these issues and the development of an integrated and coordinated approach to assist both the victims and the perpetrators of such abuse. In connection with this point, the State party should consider greater use of the media in relation to awareness-raising and education on the dangers of sexual exploitation and abuse and the issues of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.

•          Iceland, CRC, CRC/C/50 (1996) 23 at paras. 129, 140 and 145.

Paragraph 129

The establishment of the Government Agency for Child Protection is welcomed. Its functions, as a centralized authority providing the Child Welfare Committees with improved support, preparing training programmes for members of the Child Welfare Committees, or informing foster-parents and preparing them to assume their tasks, are of great importance for a better implementation of the rights enshrined in the Convention.

Paragraph 140

The lack of comprehensive and systematic training programmes for professionals working for and with children, such as teachers or social workers, or who are in contact with children, such as policemen, lawyers, magistrates or doctors, on children's rights and on the exercise of their rights, are of concern.

Paragraph 145

The authorities are urged to integrate the Convention and children's rights into the training curricula of professional groups dealing with children and in the school and university curricula.

•          Republic of Korea, CRC, CRC/C/50 (1996) 26 at paras. 159 and 170.

Paragraph 159

The lack of adequate training on the contents of the Convention of the various professional groups working with and for children, including teachers, social workers, judges, law enforcement officials, psychologists and health personnel, is noted with regret.

Paragraph 170

Training activities on the Convention should be ensured to professional groups working with and for children, including teachers, social workers, judges, law enforcement officers, health personnel and officials entrusted with the task of ensuring data collection in the areas covered by the Convention.

•          Croatia, CRC, CRC/C/50 (1996) 31 at para. 205.

In keeping with efforts to promote the process of national reconciliation and national dialogue, training programmes should be organized for members of the army, police and judiciary on the provisions of the Convention.

•          Finland, CRC, CRC/C/50 (1996) 35 at paras. 226 and 235.

Paragraph 226

The need to improve the training of social workers through retraining programmes is a concern.

Paragraph 235

Periodic training and retraining programmes on the rights of the child should be organized for professional groups working with or for children, especially social workers, but also teachers, law enforcement officials and judges. Human rights and children's rights should be included in their training curricula.

•          Nepal, CRC, CRC/C/54 (1996) 25 at paras. 175 and 188.

Paragraph 175

The State party should ensure specific training on the Convention for professional groups working with and for children, including teachers, social workers, health personnel, judges and law enforcement officials. International cooperation with the Centre for Human Rights and the United Nations Children's Fund could be sought to this effect.

Paragraph 188

A technical assistance programme should be developed with the Centre for Human Rights, including in the areas of law reform in the field of children's rights and training of professionals working with children. Special attention should be paid to training programmes on the relevant international standards, in particular for judges, law enforcement officials, correctional officers and social workers.

•          Guatemala, CRC, CRC/C/54 (1996) 31 at paras. 214 and 220.

Paragraph 214

The lack of specialized training of professionals working in the field of juvenile justice, which hampers efforts to ensure the independence of the judiciary and the capacity of the system to effectively investigate crimes committed against children and undermines measures to eradicate impunity, is a concern.

Paragraph 220

Training and education in the principles and provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child is urgently required and must encompass all professionals working with or for children.

•          Slovenia, CRC, CRC/C/57 (1996) 34 at para. 216.

All appropriate measures should be taken to reduce school drop-out by, inter alia, promoting vocational training and alternative educational programmes.

•          Bulgaria, CRC, CRC/C/62 (1997) 7 at paras. 56 and 58.

Paragraph 56

Vocational training on the Convention on the Rights of the Child should be developed.

Paragraph 58

Training programmes on the relevant international standards should be organized for all professionals involved with the juvenile justice system and specialized courts should be established as a priority matter. For this purpose, technical assistance should be sought from the High Commissioner/Centre for Human Rights and the Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Division of the United Nations.

•          Ghana, CRC, CRC/C/66 (1997) 15 at para. 113.

The State party is encouraged to undertake to prevent and combat the phenomenon of children working and/or living on the street by, inter alia, engaging in research and collection of data, promoting integration and vocational training programmes, as well as guaranteeing equal access to health and social services.

See also:

•          Togo, CRC, CRC/C/69 (1997) 39 at para. 284.

•          Bangladesh, CRC, CRC/C/66 (1997) 22 at para. 166.

Greater efforts should be directed to training teachers, improving the school environment, increasing enrolment and fighting school drop-out.

•          Paraguay, CRC, CRC/C/66 (1997) 29 at para. 215.

All appropriate measures should be taken to combat the phenomenon of children working and/or living on the street. Pupil retention programmes and vocational training for drop-outs should be encouraged. The authorities should provide special training to law enforcement personnel to prevent the stigmatization, abuse and ill-treatment of these children.

•          Lao People’s Democratic Republic, CRC, CRC/C/69 (1997) 8 at paras. 51 and 78.

Paragraph 51

The lack of vocational training opportunities, particularly in rural and remote areas, is of concern.

Paragraph 78

Concerning the trafficking of boys and girls into neighbouring countries for work or prostitution, efforts should be strengthened to raise awareness in communities and establish vocational training for young people, in particular in rural areas. Cooperation with neighbouring countries is strongly encouraged.                            

•          Uganda, CRC, CRC/C/69 (1997) 21 at para. 150.

Greater efforts should be directed to training teachers, improving learning and teaching facilities and the school environment, increasing enrolment and fighting school drop-out.

•          Trinidad and Tobago, CRC, CRC/C/69 (1997) 33 at para. 223.

Awareness-raising programmes on children's rights should be conducted for members of Parliament to assist them in incorporating the principles and provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child into legislative reform.

•          Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, CRC, CRC/C/73 (1998) 9 at para. 36.

Insufficient steps have been taken to date to promote awareness and understanding of the principles and provisions of the Convention among both children and adults. Of particular concern is the training on children's rights provided to professionals working with and for children which appears to be insufficient and unsystematic.

See also:

•          Republic of Korea, CRC, CRC/C/50 (1996) 26 at para. 180.

•          Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, CRC, CRC/C/79 (1998) 13 at para. 98.

•          Ireland, CRC, CRC/C/73 (1998) 14 at para. 95.

The development of a systematic information campaign on children's rights for children and adults alike is encouraged. Furthermore, children's rights should be incorporated in the curricula of all educational and pedagogical institutions.

•          Japan, CRC, CRC/C/79 (1998) 25 at para. 159.

The unequal access by children of Korean origin to institutions of higher education and the difficulties encountered by children in general in exercising their right to participate in all parts of society, especially in the school system, are of concern.

•          Ecuador, CRC, CRC/C/80 (1998) 9 at paras. 49 and 53.

Paragraph 49

The educational system and its policies should be strengthened in order to reduce gender and geographical disparities and retention programmes, and vocational training should be established for drop-out students.

Paragraph 53

Concerning the trafficking of boys and girls into neighbouring countries for work, including prostitution, measures should be taken on an urgent basis, such as a comprehensive programme of prevention, including an awareness-raising campaign and educational programmes, in particular in the rural areas and for concerned governmental officials, and of rehabilitation of the victims. Cooperation with neighbouring countries is strongly encouraged.

•          Bolivia, CRC, CRC/C/80 (1998) 22 at para. 117.

Training programmes on the relevant international standards should be conducted for all professionals involved with the juvenile justice system. In this regard, the State party should consider seeking technical assistance from, inter alia, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Centre for International Crime Prevention, the International Network on Juvenile Justice and UNICEF, through the Coordination Panel on Juvenile Justice.

•          Kuwait, CRC, CRC/C/80 (1998) 28 at para. 143.

The recent increase in the number of children living and/or working on the streets, especially children of the Bedoon community, is of concern. All appropriate measures should be taken to provide access to school to all children and prevent and combat school drop-out. Vocational training projects and adequate social programmes should be developed.

•          Thailand, CRC, CRC/C/80 (1998) 35 at para. 161.

All appropriate measures, including training, should be taken to strengthen law enforcement and prevent corrupt practices.

•          Guinea, CRC, CRC/C/84 (1999) 21 at paras. 103 and 116.

Paragraph 103

Training programmes for professional groups working with and for children need to be further developed. Efforts should be continued in the provision of sensitization programmes and training to all professional groups working with and for children, such as judges, lawyers, law enforcement and army officials, civil servants, personnel working in institutions and places of detention for children, teachers and health personnel, including psychologists and social workers.

Paragraph 116

Sensitization programmes for practitioners of female genital mutilation and other harmful practices should continue to be carried out.

See also:

•          Yemen, CRC, CRC/C/84 (1999) 33 at para. 164.

•          Barbados, CRC, CRC/C/87 (1999) 9 at paras. 48 and 57.

Paragraph 48

The inadequate promotion of civil rights and freedoms of the child is of general concern. Traditional social attitudes regarding the role of children appear to make it difficult to accept children fully as the subjects of rights. Efforts should be redoubled to educate and sensitize parliamentarians and government officials, professional groups, parents and children on the importance of fully accepting the concept of child rights, and legislative measures should be envisaged to guarantee the enjoyment of civil rights and freedoms for every child.

Paragraph 57

The practical implementation of educational reforms and of the policy to provide textbooks to all school children is of concern, as are the determination of the child’s academic ability at the early age of 11 and the growing incidence of educational underachievement among boys. Teachers should be re-trained to increase attention to child rights. Efforts should be increased to reform education. Namely, a careful study should be done on the impact of writing secondary school entrance exams at the age of 11; and recent reform initiatives should be evaluated. If necessary, international assistance should be shou7ght form UNICEF, with a view to increasing the quality and relevance of education.

•          Saint Kitts and Nevis, CRC, CRC/C/87 (1999) 17 at paras. 76, 84 and 89.

Paragraph 76

Adequate and systematic training and/or sensitization of professional groups working with and for children, such as judges, lawyers, law enforcement personnel, teachers, school administrators, health personnel, including psychologists, social workers, officials of the administration of both islands and personnel of child-care institutions should be reinforced.

Paragraph 84

Additional training, including in children's rights, for social and welfare workers as well as the establishment of an independent complaints mechanism for children in alternative care institutions is recommended.

Paragraph 89

Educational programmes should be reviewed with a view to improving its quality and relevance and ensuring that students receive an adequate mix of academics and life skills, including communication, decision-making and conflict-resolution skills. Additional measures should be implemented to encourage children, especially boys, to stay in school, particularly during the period of compulsory education. In this regard, the State party is urged to take all necessary measures to ensure the full implementation of its policy regarding the readmission of teenage mothers into the school system in all regions of its territory. The acceleration of the implementation of the Caribbean Community Multi-agency Health and Family Life Education Project, which facilitates the retraining of teachers as well as the development of appropriate curricula and public education campaigns, is encouraged. The educational system should also be strengthened through seeking closer cooperation with UNICEF and UNESCO.

See also:

•          Grenanda, CRC, CRC/C/94 (2000) 72 at para. 401.

•          South Africa, CRC, CRC/C/94 (2000) 81 at para. 438.

•          Georgia, CRC, CRC/C/97 (2000) 18 at para. 111.

•          Tajikistan, CRC, CRC/C/100 (2000) 53 at para. 298.

•          Honduras, CRC, CRC/C/87 (1999) 26 at para. 120.

All appropriate measures, including setting up multidisciplinary programmes and rehabilitation measures, should be taken to prevent and combat child abuse and ill-treatment of children within the family, at school and in society at large. Law enforcement should be strengthened with respect to such crimes and adequate procedures and mechanisms to deal with complaints of child abuse should be reinforced in order to provide children with prompt access to justice and to avoid impunity for the offenders. Educational programmes should be established to combat traditional attitudes within society regarding this issue. In this regard, international cooperation should be sought from UNICEF and international non-governmental organizations.

See also:

•          Nicaragua, CRC, CRC/C/87 (1999) 54 at para. 237.

•          Venezuela, CRC, CRC/C/90 (1999) 10 at para. 52.

•          Chad, CRC, CRC/C/87 (1999) 45 at paras. 185 and 194.

Paragraph 185

The State party is urged to redouble its efforts to protect children from harmful information and material and to educate and sensitize parliamentarians and government officials, professional groups, parents and children on the importance of fully accepting the concept of child rights.

Paragraph 194

Awareness-raising campaigns and sensitization programmes for traditional and religious leaders and for practitioners of female genital mutilation should continue to be carried out.

•          Nicaragua, CRC, CRC/C/87 (1999) 54 at paras. 241 and 248.

Paragraph 241

The high drop-out rates from primary and secondary schools, especially in rural areas, the poor condition of schools and the scarcity of textbooks remain of concern. Efforts should be continued in the field of education by strengthening educational policies and the system in order to establish retention programmes and vocational training for drop-outs, to improve school infrastructure, to continue with curricular reform, including teaching methodologies, to eradicate urban/rural disparities with reference to school enrolment and attendance, and to implement special education programmes, taking into account the needs of working children.

Paragraph 248

Training programmes should be provided on the relevant international standards for judges and all professionals and staff involved with the juvenile justice system. In this regard, additional technical assistance should be sought from, inter alia, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Centre for International Crime Prevention, the International Network on Juvenile Justice and UNICEF, through the Coordination Panel on Juvenile Justice.

•          Venezuela, CRC, CRC/C/90 (1999) 10 at paras. 42 and 55.

Paragraph 42

Sensitization and training programmes for all professional groups working with or for children, such as judges, lawyers, law enforcement and army officials, civil servants, personnel working in institutions and places of detention for children, teachers and health personnel, including psychologists and social workers, should be reinforced. To this effect, the State party should consider seeking international cooperation from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and UNICEF.

Paragraph 55

The high drop-out and repetition rates in primary and secondary schools, the regional disparities in access to education, the insufficient number of well-trained teaching staff and children's limited access to material and textbooks remain matters of concern. Efforts should be continued in the field of education by strengthening policies and the system in order to improve ongoing retention programmes and vocational training for drop-out students; to improve school infrastructure; to continue with curricular reform, including teaching methodologies; to eradicate regional disparities with reference to school enrolment and attendance; and to implement special education programmes, taking into account the needs of working children.

•          Russian Federation, CRC, CRC/C/90 (1999) 18 at paras. 111 and 114.

Paragraph 111

The growing drop-out rates, the reduction in enrolment rates for vocational and technical secondary education - especially among girls - and the deterioration of school infrastructure and the conditions of service for teachers, including low wages and delays in payment, remain matters of concern.

Paragraph 114

The practice of discrimination against children without residence permits should be ended through training and awareness-raising for local government and law-enforcement officials.

•          Vanuatu, CRC, CRC/C/90 (1999) 29 at paras. 147 and 151.

Paragraph 147

Adequate and systematic training and/or sensitization of professional groups working with and for children, such as judges, lawyers, law enforcement personnel, teachers, school administrators and health personnel, should be offered. The Convention should be integrated into the curricula at all levels of the educational system. To this end, technical assistance should be sought from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, UNICEF and UNESCO.

Paragraph 151

The measures taken to raise awareness of the negative effects of corporal punishment should be reinforced and it should be ensured that alternative forms of discipline are administered in families, schools, and care and other institutions, in a manner that is consistent with the child’s dignity. In this connection, counseling and other programmes should be provided for parents, teachers and professionals working in institutions to encourage the use of alternative forms of punishment.

•          Mexico, CRC, CRC/C/90 (1999) 34 at paras. 173 and 187.

Paragraph 173

Systematic education and training programmes should continue to be implemented on the provisions of the Convention for parliamentarians and all professional groups working for and with children, such as judges, lawyers, law enforcement officials, civil servants, municipal workers, personnel working in institutions and places of detention for children, teachers, health personnel, including psychologists, and social workers. Technical assistance from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and UNICEF could be requested in this regard.

Paragraph 187

The high drop-out and repetition rates in primary and secondary schools, and the disparities in access to education between rural and urban areas remain of concern. The situation of children belonging to indigenous groups regarding their access to education and the low relevance of the current bilingual educational programmes available for them is especially of concern. Efforts should continue to be taken to strengthen educational policies and the system in order to reduce regional disparities in access to education and to strengthen ongoing retention programmes and vocational training for drop-out students. Effective measures should be taken to improve the educational situation of children belonging to the most vulnerable groups, in particular, with regard to bilingual education programmes for children belonging to indigenous groups. Technical assistance should be considered in this area from UNICEF and UNESCO.

•          Mali, CRC, CRC/C/90 (1999) 43 at para. 221.

Efforts should be continued to conduct sensitization programmes for practitioners and the general public in order to change traditional attitudes and discourage harmful practices. In this regard, alternative career training programmes for practitioners should be established.

•          The Netherlands, CRC, CRC/C/90 (1999) 53 at para. 245.

The State party should continue to promote the participation of children in decision-making processes in all matters affecting them. In this regard, training programmes for local officials and other decision-makers should be developed to enable them to take adequately into consideration the opinions of children presented to them, with particular emphasis on involving and reaching vulnerable groups, such as children of ethnic minorities.

•          India, CRC, CRC/C/94 (2000) 10 at paras. 57, 83, 90 and 113.

Paragraph 57

The State party should develop training programmes on the provisions of the Convention for all professional groups working with children (i.e. judges, lawyers, law enforcement officials, civil servants, local government officials, personnel working in institutions and places of detention for children, teachers, health personnel, including psychologists, and social workers).

Paragraph 83

The State party should combat discrimination against HIV/AIDS affected persons by strengthening awareness-raising and sensitization programmes for the public, and particularly health professionals.

Paragraph 90

The State party should undertake studies on and develop measures to address the prevailing disparities in access to education; to improve the quality of teacher training programmes and the school environment; to ensure that the quality of non-formal education schemes is monitored and guaranteed, and that working and other children who participate in such schemes are integrated into mainstream education. The State party should ensure and facilitate opportunities for the most vulnerable groups of children to proceed to secondary education.

Paragraph 113

The 1986 Juvenile Justice Act should be fully enforced. The judiciary and lawyers should be trained and made aware of it.

See also:

•          Costa Rica, CRC, CRC/C/94 (2000) 37 at para. 222.

•          Armenia, CRC, CRC/C/94 (2000) 53 at para. 315.

•          Grenada, CRC, CRC/C/94 (2000) 72 at para. 394.

•          South Africa, CRC, CRC/C/94 (2000) 81 at para. 429.

•          Sierra Leone, CRC, CRC/C/94 (2000) 24 at paras. 136, 181, 182, 192 and 208.

Paragraph 136

In light of article 42, it is recommended that the State party make additional efforts in the dissemination of the Convention, provide training on its provisions for professionals, inter alia law officials, teachers and health workers, and provide teaching on its provisions to the adult population. The State party should ensure that such training focuses on, and contributes to, practical implementation of the Convention’s provisions and principles. The State party should make every effort to develop a culture of knowledge and respect for human rights in all sectors of the population.

Paragraph 181

With a view to assuring a better quality of education, the State party is urged to encourage trained teachers who have left the State party to return. The State party should strengthen teacher training courses so as to increase the number and standard of teachers, and invest sufficient resources in the education system to provide adequate school facilities, materials and salaries for teachers.

Paragraph 182

The State party’s efforts to integrate peace education, civil education and human rights into its teacher training programmes and school curricula is encouraged. The State party should continue this process and expand it to include child rights.

Paragraph 192

The State party is urged to make every effort to support unaccompanied children through, inter alia, family tracing activities and assistance in gaining access to health services, schools or vocational training activities, as appropriate.

Paragraph 208

Personnel involved with the juvenile justice process should be trained in child psychology and development and relevant human rights law.

•          Costa Rica, CRC, CRC/C/94 (2000) 37 at para. 233.

With regard to education, the State party’s budget allocation to education is one of the highest among developing countries. However, concern remains that there is an increase in drop-out rates between primary and secondary school, due to the limited relevance of the school curricula, as well as to economic and social factors, such as the early insertion of children in the informal labour market. The State party should continue with its efforts in the field of education by strengthening its educational policies and system in order to reduce regional disparities in access to education and to establish retention programmes and vocational training for drop-out students. The State party should conduct continuous training programmes for teachers on human rights, including children’s rights.

See also:

•          Armenia, CRC, CRC/C/94 (2000) 53 at para. 339.

•          Peru, CRC, CRC/C/94 (2000) 64 at para. 378.

•          Jordan, CRC, CRC/C/97 (2000) 31 at para. 200.

•          The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, CRC, CRC/C/94 (2000) 45 at paras. 266 and 280-283.

Paragraph 266

The State party should conduct training for the police and the staff of the Centres for Social Work on the detection of child abuse and domestic violence, and on suitable responses.

Paragraph 280

Recent increases in the enrolment of children in primary schools and other increases in secondary and university enrolment are noted. However, a significant proportion of school-aged children do not attend primary and, notably, secondary school. Specifically, the low proportion of girls in general, and children from the Roma minority in particular, who enrol in educational establishments at all levels is a concern. Concern is also expressed about the low numbers of children from all minority groups who enrol at the secondary school level. The extremely high drop-out rates of girls from primary and secondary education is a concern.

Paragraph 281

It is recommended that the State party pursue its efforts to increase the enrolment levels of all children from minorities in primary and secondary schools, with special attention to girls in general and children from the Roma minority in particular.

Paragraph 282

Concern is expressed that many primary and secondary schools are under-resourced and, in particular, that primary and secondary school education available in minority languages is of a lower standard than that available in the Macedonian language. The Committee notes, further, the inevitable effect of poor primary and secondary education in discouraging enrolment, raising the number of children who drop out and in limiting the numbers of children from minorities who are able to pass examinations leading to university education.

Paragraph 283

With reference to articles 2 and 28 of the Convention, and with a view to ensuring an equal standard of educational services in all schools, to encouraging increased enrolment, to discouraging children from dropping out and to increasing the numbers of children from minorities who follow higher education, it is recommended that the State party review the allocation of financial and other resources to all primary and secondary schools, with particular attention to raising the quality of education in minority language schools. The State party should consider increasing the numbers of hours of teaching of the Macedonian language in minority language schools, on a voluntary basis, with a view to ensuring that children who are minority language speakers are able to participate on a more equal level with Macedonian-speaking children at higher education levels at which entrance examinations and teaching are conducted primarily in the Macedonian language. The curricula in all schools should include a greater focus on the personal development and vocational training of students and on inter-ethnic tolerance.

•          Armenia, CRC, CRC/C/94 (2000) 53 at paras. 321, 323, 336 and 337.

Paragraph 321

The State party is encouraged to promote and facilitate within the family, the school, care institutions and the courts respect for the views of children and their participation in all matters affecting them, in accordance with article 12 of the Convention. The State party should develop training programmes in community settings for teachers, social workers and local officials in assisting children to make and express informed decisions, and to have their views taken into consideration.

Paragraph 323

the State party should formulate and implement a national policy of deinstitutionalization of children. In the event of the closure of institutions, consideration needs to be given to the planning and provision of substitute services for children who could be displaced by such closures. Further training of personnel in institutions is recommended.

Paragraph 336

The situation of children living and/or working on the streets, who are amongst the most marginalized groups of children in Armenia, is a concern.

Paragraph 337

The State party should ensure that these children have access to health care; rehabilitation services for physical, sexual and substance abuse; services for reconciliation with families; comprehensive education, including vocational and life-skills training; and access to legal aid.

See also:

•          India, CRC, CRC/C/94 (2000) 10 at paras. 67, 86 and 87.

•          Islamic Republic of Iran, CRC, CRC/C/97 (2000) 8 at para. 53.

•          Georgia, CRC, CRC/C/97 (2000) 18 at para. 139.

•          Jordan, CRC, CRC/C/97 (2000) 31 at paras. 186 and 198.

•          Kyrgyzstan, CRC, CRC/C/97 (2000) 51 at para. 295.

•          Slovakia, CRC, CRC/C/100 (2000) 100 at para. 561.

•          South Africa, CRC, CRC/C/94 (2000) 81 at paras. 432 and 455.

Paragraph 432

Concern is expressed that traditional practices and attitudes still limit the full implementation of article 12 of the Convention, particularly in the provinces and at the local level. The State party is encouraged to continue promoting public awareness of the participatory rights of children and encouraging respect for the views of the child within schools, families, social institutions, and the care and judicial systems. It is recommended that the State party train teachers to enable students to express their views, particularly in the provinces and at the local level.

Paragraph 455

Concern is expressed about the holding of minors in adult detention and prison facilities, the lack of adequate facilities for children in conflict with the law, and the limited numbers of trained personnel to work with children in this regard. The State party should introduce training programmes on relevant international standards for all professionals involved with the system of juvenile justice.

See also:

•          Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, CRC, CRC/C/73 (1998) 9 at para. 59.

•          Peru, CRC, CRC/C/94 (2000) 64 at para. 381.

•          Grenada, CRC, CRC/C/94 (2000) 72 at para. 412.

•          Georgia, CRC, CRC/C/97 (2000) 18 at para. 145.

•          Suriname, CRC, CRC/C/97 (2000) 84 at para. 508.

•          Islamic Republic of Iran, CRC, CRC/C/97 (2000) 8 at para. 61.

Legislative measures should be taken to prohibit all forms of physical and mental violence against children, including corporal punishment and sexual abuse, in the family and in the schools. The training of teachers, law enforcement officials, care workers, judges and health professionals in identifying, reporting and managing cases of ill-treatment is recommended.

See also:

•          Armenia, CRC, CRC/C/94 (2000) 53 at para. 327.

•          Jordan, CRC, CRC/C/97 (2000) 31 at para. 188.

•          Egypt, CRC, CRC/C/103 (2001) 36 at para. 233.

•          Jordan, CRC, CRC/C/97 (2000) 31 at para. 208.

Rehabilitation programmes and shelters should be established for child victims of sexual abuse and exploitation. There is a need to train personnel working with child victims adequately.

See also:

•          Kyrgyzstan, CRC, CRC/C/97 (2000) 51 at para. 327.

•          Tajikistan, CRC, CRC/C/100 (2000) 53 at para. 318.

•          Egypt, CRC, CRC/C/103 (2001) 36 at para. 247.

•          Norway, CRC, CRC/C/97 (2000) 43 at paras. 227, 228 and 265.

Paragraph 227

It is noted that the training of professionals whose work may involve children is not systematic and that many professionals do not receive such training.

Paragraph 228

Guidelines should be developed for child rights training with regard to the appropriate roles of different professional groups, including teachers, lawyers and police officers, and placing emphasis, where relevant, on the concerns raised by the Committee. In particular, attention should be given to providing municipal board members and authorities with training in the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child as a whole.

Paragraph 265

Efforts should be continued to prevent and address cases of sexual abuse by increasing the resources available, including for an appropriate review of the employment of adult staff working with children, by monitoring, through the legal processes of responding to accusations of child abuse, by training of legal and other relevant professionals, and by the timely provision of care to the victims of such acts.

•          Kyrgyzstan, CRC, CRC/C/97 (2000) 51 at para. 309.

Awareness campaigns which focus on prevention, inclusive education, family care and the promotion of the rights of children with disabilities need to be undertaken. Adequate support, supervision and training should be given to persons working with these children.

See also:

•          India, CRC, CRC/C/94 (2000) 10 at para. 79.

•          Armenia, CRC, CRC/C/94 (2000) 53 at para. 329.

•          Georgia, CRC, CRC/C/97 (2000) 18 at para. 125.

•          Cambodia, CRC, CRC/C/97 (2000) 64 at para. 379.

•          Cambodia, CRC, CRC/C/97 (2000) 64 at paras. 385 and 392.

Paragraph 385

The State party should continue to take measures to improve its education system by increasing budget allocations for the education sector; providing training to upgrade teachers’ skills; making the school curricula more relevant to children’s needs; expanding opportunities for vocational training and non-formal education, including at pre-school and secondary levels; and establishing an evaluation system to measure the effectiveness of the education system.

Paragraph 392

The provisions of the Labour Law regarding the minimum age for access to employment should be enforced; labour inspectors should be trained and provided with the means to monitor child labour; and appropriate sanctions be applied to violators.

•          Malta, CRC, CRC/C/97 (2000) 75 at para. 439.

The State party should conduct continuous training programmes for teachers on human rights, including children’s rights.

•          Djibouti, CRC, CRC/C/97 (2000) 96 at paras. 532 and 533.

Paragraph 532

Concern is expressed about the fact that the text of the Convention has not yet been translated into all national languages, and that professionals working with and for children, parents, children, and the public at large are generally not aware of the Convention and of the human rights it enshrines.

Paragraph 533

An ongoing programme should be developed for the dissemination of information regarding the Convention among children and parents, civil society and all sectors and levels of government, including through the use of traditional information channels and working through community leaders. The State party is encouraged to pursue efforts to promote children’s rights education in the country, including initiatives targeting the most vulnerable groups. Moreover, the Committee recommends the reinforcement of adequate and systematic training and/or sensitization of traditional and religious leaders as well as professional groups, including those working with and for children (e.g. judges, lawyers, law enforcement officials, parliamentarians, civil servants, local government officials, personnel working in institutions and places of detention for children, teachers, health personnel, including psychologists, and social workers).

See also:

•          Comoros, CRC, CRC/C/100 (2000) 110 at paras. 616 and 617.

•          Palau, CRC, CRC/C/103 (2001) 79 at para. 445.

•          Finland, CRC, CRC/C/100 (2000) 8 at paras. 76 and 84.

Paragraph 76

It is recommended that the State party ensure adequate resources for the training of officials who

receive refugee children, in particular in child-interviewing techniques, and of the representatives

of unaccompanied minors applying for asylum.

Paragraph 84

Note is taken of the measures undertaken by the State party to develop special education and prevent social exclusion, such as strengthening the status of the Roma language in school teaching, developing teaching material in the Roma language and training teachers. These measures should be implemented. The State party should continue its efforts in this area.

•          Burundi, CRC, CRC/C/100 (2000) 17 at paras. 107, 108, 148-150 and 155.

Paragraph 107

The efforts made by the State party to promote the Convention and to provide training on its provisions for civil servants are recognized. Concern is expressed that training on the practical application of the Convention, particularly in the context of the developing network of provincial and communal child rights committees, is insufficient.

Paragraph 108

The State party should continue and strengthen its efforts to promote the Convention and to conduct training on its provisions for particular professional groups including teachers, health professionals, including psychological care specialists, social workers, law enforcement officials, provincial and communal administrative officials, the members of provincial child rights committees and national ministerial officials with responsibility for children’s rights, and the military.

Paragraph 148

Efforts should be increased to make psychological assistance available to those children who have experienced trauma and to increase human resources in the area of psychological care by providing specialized mental health training for existing health professionals.

Paragraph 149

The Committee is very concerned at the dramatic fall in the number of children attending primary and secondary school, at the insufficient number of qualified teachers working in rural communities and in camps, at the lack of adequate teaching equipment and at repeated attacks by armed persons on schools. Concern is also expressed about the limited access of children with disabilities to formal or vocational educational opportunities and at the proportionally low number of girls attending primary or secondary school.

Paragraph 150

The State party is urged to continue and strengthen its efforts to rebuild and reopen schools, recruit qualified teachers in those areas where they are needed, make available adequate teaching equipment and ensure that all children, including indigent and displaced children, have equal access to education opportunities. A clear programme of action for increasing children’s access to formal education should be developed. The State party should ensure that children with disabilities have access to formal and vocational educational opportunities and every effort should be made to ensure that girls and boys have equal access to educational opportunities.

Paragraph 155

It is recommended that current efforts be reinforced on behalf of street and “hill” children and it should be ensured that these children are protected and have access to health and education services. Taking into consideration the limited availability of social workers and the scarcity of resources, greater support should be given to the work of NGOs in this domain and the police services should be provided with training on children’s rights so that the police can contribute to the protection of children from acts of violence or other abuse while on the street. Special attention should be given to improving the situation of girls.

•          United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Isle of Man), CRC, CRC/C/100 (2000) 31 at paras. 198 and 199.

Paragraph 198

Note is taken that efforts to include the National Council for Vocational Qualifications (NCVQ) courses in the school curriculum for students between the ages of 14 and 16 years have regrettably been unsuccessful.

Paragraph 199

The Isle of Man is encouraged to continue its efforts to develop vocational options for children between the ages of 14 and 16 years.

•          United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Overseas Territories), CRC, CRC/C/100 (2000) 40 at para. 251.

The increasing incidence of truancy and the number of drop-outs from school in some of the Territories, especially the Turks and Caicos Islands and Montserrat is of concern. With regard to access to education, it is noted with concern that the travelling teacher service in the Falkland Islands does not include secondary schools and that children from Camp must attend secondary school in Stanley, where they are accommodated in government hostels for which their parents must pay. The academic under-achievement of boys in some of the Overseas Territories, including the Falkland Islands and the Caribbean Territories is noted. It is also of concern that while the new nationality policy of the United Kingdom provides full citizenship to nationals of the Overseas Territories, students from these Territories who wish to pursue further studies in the United Kingdom continue to pay more in tuition fees than students from the United Kingdom.

•          Tajikistan, CRC, CRC/C/100 (2000) 53 at para. 296.

All necessary and effective steps should be taken to prevent incidents of ill-treatment by law enforcement officials. The State party should provide the militia with training on how to deal with persons under the age of 18; ensure that persons are adquately infomed of their right when they are detained; ensure that complaints procedures are simplified so that responses are appropriate, timely, child-friendly and sensitive to victims; and provide rehabilitative support to victims.

See also:

•          Kyrgyzstan, CRC, CRC/C/97 (2000) 51 at para. 301.

•          Colombia, CRC, CRC/C/100 (2000) 64 at para. 375.

In the light of articles 28, 29 and other related articles of the Convention, efforts to strengthen educational policies and system should be continued, in order to improve ongoing retention programmes and vocational training for drop-out students; to extend coverage and to improve the quality of education, respecting geographical and cultural diversity; and to improve the relevance of bilingual education programmes for children belonging to indigenous and Afro-Colombian groups. Furthermore, in view of the ongoing armed conflict, the State party should strengthen its programmes on human rights education, including on the rights of the child, in its teacher training programmes and school curricula, and ensure that every child receives such an education.

•          Central African Republic, CRC, CRC/C/100 (2000) 77 at paras. 442, 468 and 474.

Paragraph 442

All acts of violence against children should be ended, including corporal punishment, committed by, among others, members of the police forces. The State party should provide child rights training programmes for police and detention officials.

Paragraph 468

The State party should make every effort to raise the level of educational achievement among children through, inter alia, increasing the number of available schools and classes, providing for the initial and ongoing training of more teachers and school inspectors, developing standard national textbooks, increasing the rates of enrolment and providing assistance with school fees, uniforms and other equipment for poor families.

Paragraph 474

The State party should pursue its efforts to train judges in juvenile justice and such training should be extended to other law enforcement officials, including police and prison personnel.

•          Marshall Islands, CRC, CRC/C/100 (2000) 89 at paras. 504, 535 and 536.

Paragraph 504

The State party should develop more creative methods to promote the Convention, including through visual aids such as picture books and posters, along with traditional methods of communication. The Committee also recommends adequate and systematic training and/or sensitization of professional groups working with and for children, such as judges, lawyers, law enforcement personnel, teachers, school administrators and health personnel. Efforts should be made to sensitize civil society, including community leaders, NGOs and the media, about children’s rights with a view to changing negative traditional public attitudes and to facilitate broad participation in the dissemination and promotion of the Convention. The State party is encouraged to fully integrate the Convention into the curricula at all levels of the educational system.

Paragraph 535

Concern is expressed about the low enrolment rate in elementary and secondary schools; the high drop-out rate of students in high schools; the insufficient numbers and low standard of trained/qualified teachers and schools available, in particular in the outer islands; the poor quality of education and the lack of vocational training in schools.

Paragraph 536

In light of article 28 of the Convention, it is recommended that appropriate measures be undertaken to ensure regular attendance at schools, the reduction of drop-out rates and the incorporation of vocational education in school curricula. The State party is urged to continue to strengthen the teacher training programme in order to increase the number of trained teachers and improve the quality of teaching.

•          Slovakia, CRC, CRC/C/100 (2000) 100 at para. 591.

The State party should examine to what extent the current situation of the Roma language in the education system, with respect to both law and practice, meets the demands of the Roma population and their children and consider, as appropriate, further measures aimed at ensuring education or instruction in the Roma language, with reference to article 29 of the Convention. Teacher training in this language should be strengthened.

•          Latvia, CRC, CRC/C/103 (2001) 9 at paras. 78 and 79.

Paragraph 78

It is of concern that the Education Law of 1998 foresees that, as of 2004, all State-funded schools will provide secondary education in Latvian only, while bilingual education will be available only until 9th grade.

Paragraph 79

The State party is encouraged to ensure that children belonging to minorities can also use their own language in secondary education, in accordance with articles 29 and 30 of the Convention.

•          Ethiopia, CRC, CRC/C/103 (2001) 24 at paras. 155, 166, 167, and 193.

Paragraph 155

In the light of article 28(2) of the Convention, the State party should permanently prohibit all forms of corporal punishment, including in the context of school and the family, inter alia, through the enforcement of appropriate legislation, through awareness raising activities for parents, teachers and other relevant groups and through the training of teachers in alternative disciplinary sanctions which are not harmful to children.

Paragraph 166

Concern is expressed at the predominant use of institutional responses to provide assistance to children in difficulty and that children who are cared for in institutions for many years, and until the age of 18, are not given the educational and vocational skills necessary for them to make an independent living once they leave the institution.

Paragraph 167

While urging the State party to avoid recourse to the institutionalization of children as a form of alternative care, the State party should ensure that children cared for by State or private institutions are given all the assistance they need, including an education and suitable vocational training, to enable them to establish a life for themselves after leaving the institution.

Paragraph 193

To the extent that adult criminal courts are used to try juveniles, judges and other relevant officials should be provided with juvenile justice training.

•          Egypt, CRC, CRC/C/103 (2001) 36 at para. 245.

The State party should continue its efforts to carry out campaigns to inform and sensitize the general public, especially parents and children, of work hazards and to involve and train employers, workers, members of civic organizations, government officials such as labour inspectors and law enforcement officials, and other relevant professionals.

See also:

•          India, CRC, CRC/C/94 (2000) 10 at para. 102.

•          Armenia, CRC, CRC/C/94 (2000) 53 at para. 345.

•          Denmark, CRC, CRC/C/108 (2001) 10 at paras. 56, 57, 74 and 75.

Paragraph 56

Efforts made to disseminate, including through the Internet, the principles and provisions of the Convention within schools and among professionals working with children, including teachers, school administrators and personnel are noted. However, concern remains that children and professionals working with and for children are not fully aware of the Convention and the principles enshrined therein.

Paragraph 57

Efforts to systematically and continuously disseminate the principles and provisions of the Convention should be reinforced. The Convention should be systematically incorporated into the school curriculum and the training activities of professional groups and administrative bodies, at all levels of society, working with and for children.

Paragraph 74

Concern is expressed about the lack of awareness about child abuse and exploitation and the inadequate efforts to address child pornography. The need for training for professionals working with and for child victims of abuse is noted, including police officers, lawyers and social workers.

Paragraph 75

In light of article 34 and other related articles of the Convention, it is recommended that the State party reinforce its efforts to strengthen current policies and measures, including care and rehabilitation, to prevent and combat these phenomena. All appropriate measures should be taken to introduce and/or reinforce training for professionals working with and for child victims of abuse and exploitation.

•          Turkey, CRC, CRC/C/108 (2001) 18 at paras. 135, 136, 138 and 144.

Paragraph 135

Of concern are the high drop-out rates among girls after the third grade, particularly in rural areas; the decline in the quality of education and the insufficiently participatory teaching methods; the lack of trained personnel and insufficient infrastructure, especially classrooms, in particular in large metropolitan areas and in the south-east.

Paragraph 136

Efforts should be continued to introduce pre-school education and to take further steps to ensure the enrolment of children in secondary schools. The State party should continue to strengthen the teacher training programme in order to increase the number of trained teachers, improve the quality of education and to direct education toward the aims mentioned in article 29(1) of the Convention and the Committee’s General Comments on the aims of education.

Paragraph 138

Adequate training should be provided to officials who deal with child asylum-seekers and refugees, in particular in child-interviewing techniques and on how to ensure family reunification.

Paragraph 144

Existing mechanisms should be supported in order to provide children living in the streets with adequate nutrition, clothing, housing, health care and educational opportunities, including vocational and life-skills training, in order to ensure their full development.

See also:

•          Guatemala, CRC, CRC/C/108 (2001) 47 at para. 282.

•          Côte d’Ivoire, CRC, CRC/C/108 (2001) 59 at para. 345.

•          United Republic of Tanzania, CRC, CRC/C/108 (2001) 71 at para. 407.

•          Democratic Republic of the Congo, CRC, CRC/C/108 (2001) 31 at para. 218.

Urgent measures should be taken to end the sale, trafficking and sexual exploitation of children through the adoption and implementation of appropriate legislation and the use of the criminal justice process to sanction those persons responsible for such practices. The police force and border officials should receive special training to help in combatting the sale, trafficking and sexual exploitation of children, and programmes should be established to provide assistance, including health care and rehabilitative and social reintegration assistance, to the child victims of sexual exploitation.

•          Guatemala, CRC, CRC/C/108 (2001) 47 at paras. 246 and 274.

Paragraph 246

Efforts should be increased to translate informative material into the main indigenous languages and more creative methods should be developed to promote the Convention, including through audio-visual aids such as picture books and posters, in particular at the local level. Adequate and systematic training and/or sensitization of professional groups working with and for children is also recommended, including for judges, lawyers, law enforcement personnel, teachers, school administrators and health personnel. The State party is encouraged to fully integrate the Convention into the curricula at all levels of the educational system. The State party could seek technical assistance from, among others, UNICEF, UNESCO and OHCHR.

Paragraph 274

Appropriate measures should be taken to increase budgetary allocations for education, ensure regular attendance at schools and the reduction of drop-out rates, and strengthen the quality of education. The State party should continue to strengthen the teacher training programme in order to increase the number of trained teachers and improve the quality of teaching and the bilingual education programme. In this respect, the State party is encouraged to seek additional technical cooperation from, among others, UNESCO and UNICEF.

•          Côte d’Ivoire, CRC, CRC/C/108 (2001) 59 at paras. 305, 306, 337, 338 and 350.

Paragraph 305

While aware of the measures undertaken to promote widespread awareness of the principles and provisions of the Convention, these measures need to be strengthened and systematized. In this respect, there is concern about the lack of a systematic plan to introduce training and awareness among professional groups working for and with children.

Paragraph 306

Efforts should be increased to disseminate the principles and provisions of the Convention as a measure to sensitize society about children’s rights through social mobilization. The Convention should be translated into all national languages in order to reach the whole population. Moreover, systematic education and training on the provisions of the Convention should be undertaken for all professional groups working for and with children, in particular parliamentarians, judges, lawyers, law enforcement officials, civil servants, municipal workers, personnel working in institutions and places of detention for children, teachers, health personnel, including psychologists, and social workers. Technical assistance from, among others, OHCHR and UNICEF could be requested in this regard.

Paragraph 337

Of concern are the low education levels among children in the State party, gender and rural-urban disparities in school attendance, the limited access of children with disabilities to formal or vocational educational opportunities, the number of children who are several years behind in their primary education, and the high drop-out rate of children who do attend school.

Paragraph 338

The level of educational achievement among children should be raised through increasing the number of available schools and classes, providing for the initial and ongoing training of more teachers and school inspectors, developing standard national textbooks, increasing the rates of enrolment and providing assistance with school fees, uniforms and other equipment for poor families. The State party is urged to seek international assistance in this regard, including from UNICEF. In addition, it should be ensured that children with disabilities have access to formal and vocational educational opportunities and every effort should be made to ensure that girls and boys, as well as children from urban and rural areas, have equal access to educational opportunities. In this regard, assistance should be sought from UNICEF and UNESCO.

Paragraph 350

The State party should introduce training programmes on relevant international standards for all professionals involved with the system of juvenile justice.

See also:

•          Bhutan, CRC, CRC/C/108 (2001) 85 at para. 446 and 447.

•          Gabon, CRC, CRC/C/114 (2002) 47 at paras. 194 and 195.

•          United Republic of Tanzania, CRC, CRC/C/108 (2001) 71 at paras. 373 and 405.

Paragraph 373

The State party should strengthen its efforts to ensure that the principles and provisions of the Convention are widely known and understood by adults and children alike. Adequate and systematic training and/or sensitization of professional groups working with and for children should be reinforced, including for judges, lawyers, law enforcement personnel, teachers, school administrators, health personnel, including psychologists and social workers, personnel of child-care institutions, and traditional or community leaders. Human rights, especially the Convention on the Rights of the Child, should be incorporated into the school curricula at all levels. The State party is encouraged to continue to promote the principles of the Convention through the use of multi-media and traditional methods of communication. In this regard, technical assistance should be sought from, among others, UNCHR and UNICEF.

Paragraph 405

The State party should take effective measures to ensure adequate training for teachers working with children with disabilities.