COMMITTEE ON RIGHTS OF CHILD EXAMINES REPORT OF FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA (SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO)
Press Release
HR/4275
COMMITTEE ON RIGHTS OF CHILD EXAMINES REPORT OF FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA (SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO)
19960115 GENEVA, 15 January (UN Information Service) -- The Committee on the Rights of the Child this morning examined the initial report of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) on how that State party was complying with the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.The Committee decided to examine the report in the absence of a delegation from that State party, which had also failed to send a representative during previous sessions. In a letter dated 3 January, the Government reiterated its position not to participate because of "denial of its right to participation on equal footing in the deliberations of the States parties to the Convention". It also pointed out that "in October 1994 and February 1995, it had been suspended of its rights to participate at the meeting of the States parties to the Convention on the Rights of the Child".
The Chairperson of the Committee, Akila Balembaogo, stated that despite the failure of the State party to send a representative to introduce the report and respond to oral questions by experts, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro), as a signatory to the Convention, was duty-bound to respect the principles of the rights of the child. She also stressed that the State party had the obligation to cooperate with the Committee and submit its report on how it was implementing the provisions of the Convention.
Thomas Hammarberg, expert from Sweden, said that the breakdown of Yugoslavia had had detrimental effects on the rights of the child in several areas, including education, health, psychology and other fundamental social needs. There was also a disparity in distribution of health-care facilities among regions and minorities. There was also discrimination against minorities, particularly the Albanian and Bulgarian minorities. Police abuse of teachers and students was also observed. There were 600,000 refugees in that country and the contribution of the international community was not generous enough to support them.
Youri Kolosov, expert from the Russian Federation, recalled that the intellectual development of the child was affected by the recurrence of war and civil disorders during the past years. The lack of pluralism in the mass
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media did not allow children to receive diversified information to widen their world outlook. He suggested that a series of amendments should be undertaken at the legislative level to reflect the spirit and the best interest of the rights of the child. According to the expert, the Albanian language was not used by the mass media, which was a violation of a minority right. Children of minorities were not encouraged to use their own languages. Legislation should be introduced to eliminate statelessness of children and measures should be adopted to address such situations.
Flora Eufemio, expert from the Philippines, said that a State mechanism to protect children from domestic violence left unchecked the dominance of parental rights over children. Up to 60 per cent of children under specialized institutions were also being neglected in terms of health and education. The economic situation did not permit children to return to family care. The system of guardianship authority should be reviewed.
Hoda Badran, expert from Egypt, underlined that malnutrition was the direct effect of the war, which had also resulted in a dramatic increase in the number of undernourished children. Mild and serious mental disorders of children were frequent, particularly with refugee children. Aggressive behaviour was also manifested among children following the trauma of the war. She referred to the discrimination committed against the Albanian minority and the disparity of health care facilities between various regions.
Judith Karp, expert from Israel, recalled that the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) had had a huge influx of refugees from neighbouring States. Family reunification of unaccompanied refugee children became impossible because of the economic situation. There was also a danger of losing refugee status with the consequence of denial of social assistance by the host State. Only a very narrow segment of refugee children received preschool education. Placing children with a host family had become problematic because of the precarious economic situation of families. She called for psychological rehabilitation of children who were suffering from the effects of the war.
Sandra Prunella Mason, expert from Barbados, noted that the absence of legislation in labour matters had left a vacuum concerning social benefits in case of illness. Drug abuse had become a serious concern to the State. However, there were no official figures or data available to the Committee. Concerning sexual exploitation of children, there was reluctance on the part of the Government to accept that such a tendency could exist. The actual minimum age for sexual consent was contradictory because of the existence of two kinds of provisions, one in Serbia and the other in Montenegro.
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Preliminary Concluding Observations
The Committee regretted the absence of a delegation of the State party which otherwise would have enriched the dialogue in favour of the rights of the child; the absence of a delegation was not in the spirit of the Convention. It underlined that the State party was duty-bound to fulfil its obligations under the Convention.
The Committee urged the State party to extend its well-intentioned cooperation to all international organizations endeavouring to promote human rights in the region. It also urged the Government to recognize the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and cooperate with its activities. The Committee called for the opening of a human rights office in Belgrade through which human rights, particularly the rights of the child, could be monitored.
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