COMMITTEE ON RIGHTS OF CHILD CONTINUES DIALOGUE WITH DELEGATION OF GERMANY
Press Release
HR/4210
COMMITTEE ON RIGHTS OF CHILD CONTINUES DIALOGUE WITH DELEGATION OF GERMANY
19951108 GENEVA, 6 November (UN Information Service) -- The delegation of Germany assured the Committee on the Rights of the Child this afternoon that xenophobic violence against foreign youth had decreased because of the mobilization of the silent majority that expressed its determination to combat it. Before the Committee was a report by Germany on how it was fulfilling the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.Xenophobic incidents were considered shameful acts and the Government had done all it could to prevent any sort of violence based on discrimination. Germany estimated such violence as a major issue to be tackled as a priority, the delegation stated.
Responding to additional questions from Committee members, the delegation indicated that numerous measures aimed at fighting violence and discrimination had been undertaken by the 16 states. Right-wing extremist groups were banned; the police, trade unions and other public organizations had joined hands to prevent any form of discrimination. As a preventive programme, children were shown videos which taught them the effects of tolerance towards aliens in general. Courts did not hesitate to impose severe prison sentences on offenders and participants in any xenophobic violence.
Concerning sexual abuse and violence against children, the delegation stressed that such cases were mainly evident in and around the family itself. Sexual abuse or physical violence was limited to the family or to offenders related to the family. In the past, to reveal such abuses had been a taboo, but at present it had become a commonplace. Only last year, 16,000 cases of sexual abuse and 1,700 corporal violence were registered. The Government had taken the necessary measures to prevent the perpetration of crimes against children through the adoption of systems of assistance and counselling before punishment. On the whole, a long-term strategy to mobilize the population on that question was under way.
With regard to treatment of minors entering the territory of Germany, the delegation said that basically, minor asylum-seekers were subjected to the same laws and procedures applicable to adults. There was a possibility to
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assign curators to assist children up to sixteen years of age, to present their cases. Only 10 per cent of the total of asylum-seekers were accorded asylum status; the rest were rejected because of non-fulfilment of the requirements. Some young asylum-seekers coming from war-torn regions were allowed to stay on a temporary basis.
With respect to migrant workers, the German delegation told the Committee that migrants did not have the right to participate in any form of political plebiscite. Political votes and referendums were reserved for German citizens. However, they could participate in company and social security votes at any level, be it Länder or communal. Migrant workers having resident rights in Germany might bring their spouses and children to stay with them as long as the term of their stay was valid.
The delegation indicated that there was no difference in the equality of rights of inheritance between children born in or out of wedlock. Concerning imposition of religious education, there was debate on the teaching of religion in school.
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