COMMITTEE ON RIGHTS OF CHILD TAKES UP REPORT OF SENEGAL

9 November 1995

Press Release
HR/4212

COMMITTEE ON RIGHTS OF CHILD TAKES UP REPORT OF SENEGAL

19951109 GENEVA, 8 November (UN Information Service) -- Harmful traditional practices and early marriage of girls, the satisfaction of the essential needs of the child, the impact of structural adjustment, and the national parliament of children were the focus of discussion as the Committee of the Rights of the Child took up the initial report of Senegal. The Committee was examining the effective implementation by that State party of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The head of the delegation, Aminata Mbingue Ndiaye, Minister for Woman, Child and Family, told the members of the Committee that her country was fully aware of the need to promote and protect the rights of the child through the implementation of the provisions of the Convention.

The delegation also included Nancy Ngom, Director of "education surveillée", and Ibou Ndiay and Abdoul Aziz Ndiay, both from the Permanent Mission of Senegal, Geneva.

Introduction of Report

Ms. NDIAYE, introducing the initial report of Senegal, underlined that the cultural heritage and the positive laws of her country had affirmed that the "child was a king". That position was further strengthened by the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child into the national legislation. Beyond the formal juridical aspect, Senegal was endeavouring to satisfy the essential needs of children in general. No one could imagine the rights of the child if there were no access to health care or education, or if the child was the first victim of exclusion arising from poverty.

Furthermore, the permanent search for the satisfaction of the essential needs of the child had persuaded the Government of Senegal to give priority to economic and social developments in favour of children, she said. With regard to the implementation of the Convention, the Government had created a ministry which promoted and protected the rights and the best interests of the child. A national committee on the child had also been formed with the representation of several ministries, non-governmental organizations and knowledgeable and eminent personalities working for the well-being of children. Her Government had also undertaken professional programmes to train social workers to deal with children. In 1993, a national parliament of children and 10 regional ones were created in order to encourage their participation in the expression of opinions.

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Discussion of Report

Responding to questions posed by members of the Committee and to the list of issues to be taken up in connection with the consideration of the report, the delegation stated that the national committee on children had an important role in promoting, coordinating and evaluating implementation of the Convention. That committee comprised several commissions and task forces to tackle sectoral problems pertaining to children. The Convention had so far been translated into three of the national languages. A judge had the right of recourse directly to the provisions of the Convention in case of shortcomings in the domestic legislation.

With respect to the consequences of the structural adjustment, the delegation said that the impact was greater on the poor segment of the population. The effect had obliged the Government to curtail certain programmes having social dimensions. The recent devaluation of the CFA francs had also badly affected the social aspects of certain developments. However, the Government had spared no efforts to promote social development involving women and children.

The questions of harmful traditional practices and early marriage of girls were also raised by Committee members, to which the delegation responded that a large campaign was being launched to make the general public aware of the risks and harm of early marriage and traditional practices. In the southern and northern regions of Senegal, such practices had persisted despite some efforts in the past. Attitudes towards girls were changing.

Children had obligations and tasks within the family, despite their being "kings", the delegation said. In recent years some parents even discussed openly with their children issues relating to sexuality and the consequences of sexually transmitted diseases.

On violence against children, the delegation told the experts that children were protected against any form of physical, moral or sexual violence. No child was subjected to any discrimination whatever her or his social status. The child was also protected from economic exploitation, abandonment and trafficking.

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