COMMITTEE ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD
Forty-first session
CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS SUBMITTED BY STATES PARTIESUNDER ARTICLE 8 OF THE Optional Protocol to theConvention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict
Concluding observations: Andorra
1.The Committee considered the initial report of Andorra (CRC/C/OPAC/AND/1) at its 1095th meeting (see CRC/C/SR.1095), held on 16 January 2006, and adopted at the 1120th meeting, held on 27 January 2006 the following concluding observations.
A. Introduction
2.The Committee welcomes the submission of the State party’s comprehensive report, which gives information on the implementation of the Optional Protocol. The Committee appreciates the frank and constructive dialogue held with the high-level delegation.
3.The Committee reminds the State party that these concluding observations should be read in conjunction with its previous concluding observations adopted on the State party’s initial report on 2 February 2002 contained in CRC/C/15/Add.176.
B. Positive aspects
4.The Committee notes with appreciation the State party’s international and bilateral technical cooperation activities aimed at preventing the involvement of children in armed conflicts.
5.The Committee notes with appreciation the financial support provided by the State party to United Nations programmes and funds, including the programme of the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General on Children and Armed Conflicts. It also commends that resources have been allocated by the State party to non-governmental organizations directly or indirectly concerned with the involvement of children in armed conflicts and their rehabilitation.
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C. Principle areas of concern and recommendations
Recruitment
6.The Committee notes that the State party does not have armed forces and that consequently there is no legal regulation of voluntary or compulsory recruitment. The absence of armed forces does not however exclude the possibility of individuals or groups undertaking efforts to recruit children for foreign armed forces or groups and the Committee is concerned that the recruitment of children is not explicitly mentioned as crime in the State party’s criminal code.
7. The Committee recommends that the State party take the necessary legislative measures to criminalize recruitment of children and for the inclusion of this crime in article 8, paragraph 8 of its criminal code, which establishes extraterritorial jurisdiction.
Assistance for physical and psychological recovery
8.The Committee requests that the State party provide information in its next report on refugee and migrant children within its jurisdiction who may have been involved in hostilities in their home country as well as on the assistance provided for their physical and psychological recovery and their social reintegration.
Technical cooperation and financial assistance
9. The Committee, acknowledging the considerable efforts of the State party in this regard, recommends that the State party increase its activities and support for the implementation of the Optional Protocol in other State parties and to provide information on the results achieved in its next report.
Dissemination of documentation
10.In light of article 2, paragraph 2 of the Optional Protocol, the Committee recommends that the initial report and written replies submitted by the State party be made widely available to the public at large and consider publishing the report along with the relevant summary records and concluding observations adopted by the Committee. Such a document should be widely distributed in order to generate debate and awareness of the Optional Protocol, its implementation and monitoring within the Government, the General Council (Parliament) and the general public, including concerned non-governmental organizations.
Next report
11.In accordance with article 8, paragraph 2, the Committee requests the State party to include further information on the implementation of the Optional Protocol in its next periodic report under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, in accordance with article 44 of the Convention.
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