COMMITTEE ON RIGHTS OF CHILD TAKES UP PORTUGAL'S REPORT
Press Release
HR/4217
COMMITTEE ON RIGHTS OF CHILD TAKES UP PORTUGAL'S REPORT
19951110 GENEVA, 9 November (UN Information Service) -- Portugal was building a healthy atmosphere in which children could grow up "all different, all equals", with emphasis on tolerance and respect for others, the Committee on the Rights of the Child was told this afternoon as it took up that country's initial report.The delegation of Portugal also briefed the Committee on the reforms and the social changes undertaken in order to meet the requirements of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The theme, "education for all", had achieved reasonable results in preventing discrimination, the delegation said. At the same time, it allowed for positive discrimination in favour of the disadvantaged.
The delegation was led by Goncalo de Santa Clara Gomes, Permanent Representative of Portugal in Geneva; and included Eliana Gersao, from the Centre for Judiciary Studies, Ministry of Justice; Jorge Manuel Abreu de Lemos, Assistant to the State Secretary of Education and Renovation; Rosa Clemente and Baptista Lopes, both from the Institute of Social Reinsertion, Ministry of Justice; Joao Gomes Pedro, from the Ministry of Health; Maria Virginia Bras Gomes, from the General Directorate of Social Action, Ministry of Solidarity and Social Security; and Luis Barreira de Sousa, of the Permanent Mission, Geneva.
Portugal's Report Considered
GONCALO DE SANTA CLARA GOMES (Portugal), introducing the initial report (CRC/C/3/Add.30), said that Portugal had transformed itself from an agrarian society to the present industrial structure with rapid economic growth accompanied by social changes. The transformation had been marked by an increase in services available in education, health and welfare. Citizens were able to take part in the affairs of the State through a democratic plebiscite. The new Government which was recently sworn in had begun its term by announcing programmes of action based on solidarity.
Addressing the list of issues to be taken up in connection with the consideration of Portugal's initial report on its implementation of the Convention, the delegation said that the judiciary was invoking the Convention's provisions in dealing with matters relating to the rights of the
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child. So far, there was no mechanism or special coordinating body to see to the effective implementation of the provisions. The Convention was not subject to specific study in areas of professional training regarding the child. However, it was frequently used as an element of reference vis-à-vis matters having a certain relationship with the norms of the Convention.
"All different, all equals" was the public theme designed to fight against any discrimination, the delegation said. Portugal was seeking to create a healthy environment in which the child could grow up with respect for others. Its efforts included training and teaching in the context of human rights and civic education directed towards tolerance and peace. Already in schools, concrete objectives were established to prevent discrimination against a child based on any criteria whatsoever. The theme, "education for all", had achieved reasonable results in preventing discrimination. At the same time, it allowed for the application of positive discrimination in favour of the disadvantaged.
Moreover, the delegation said, during the last decades, Portuguese society had been transformed by the democratization of its institutions in general. That evolution had been felt directly by the child, in particular in the family and the school. The tendency was to listen to the child and respect his opinions and aspirations according to his degree of maturity.
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