COMMITTEE ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD

Fiftieth Session

12 – 30 January 2009

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CONVENTION

ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD

List of issues to be taken up in connection with the consideration of the third and fourth periodic report of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (CRC/C/PRK/4)

PART I

Under this section the State party is requested to submit in written form additional and updated information, if possible, before 24 November 2008.

The Committee would appreciate receiving information on actions taken in response to recommendations made in its previous concluding observations on the second periodic report of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (CRC/C/15/Add.239) which have not yet been fully implemented, in particular in relation to: age of majority, cooperation with civil society; civil rights and freedoms; parental responsibilities and childcare services; children with disabilities; returnee children.

Please indicate the issues affecting children that the State party considers to be priorities requiring the most urgent attention with regard to the implementation of the Convention.

Please indicate whether steps have been taken to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the National Programme of Action for the Well-being of Children (2001-2010).

Please indicate to what extent non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have been involved in the implementation of child-related programmes. Please also indicate to what extent NGOs and inter-governmental agencies are involved in the drafting of

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legislation, regulations and policies. Please inform the Committee what restrictions apply to NGOs and inter-governmental agencies, if any.

Please clarify how existing laws cover domestic violence and child abuse. Please also inform the Committee of prevention measures taken to protect children from abuse and neglect in the home and in care institutions, as well as any relevant actions and policies in this regard.

PART II

Under this section, the State party is to briefly (three pages maximum) update the information provided in its report with regard to:

New bills or enacted legislation;

New institutions;

Newly implemented policies;

Newly implemented programmes and projects and their scope.

PART III

Data and statistics, if available

In the light of article 4 of the Convention, please provide data for the years 2006, 2007 and 2008 on budget allocations and trends (in absolute figures and in percentages of the national budget or GDP) allocated to the implementation of the Convention throughout the country in the areas of education and health.

With reference to children deprived of a family environment and separated from parents, please provided disaggregated data (by sex, age groups, urban and rural areas) for the years 2005, 2006 and 2007 on the number of children:

(a)Separated from their parents;

(b)Placed in institutions, and the number of institutions in the country;

(c)Placed with foster families; and

(d)Adopted domestically or through inter-country adoptions.

Please provide the most recent statistical data (disaggregated by sex, age, urban/rural areas) on the rates of malnutrition.

With reference to child abuse, please provide disaggregated data (by age, sex, and types of violation reported) for the years 2005, 2006 and 2007 on the following:

Number of reported cases of child abuse;

Number and percentage of reports that resulted in either a court decision or other types of follow-up, including prosecution; and

Number and proportion of child victims who received counseling and assistance in recovery.

With reference to special protection measures, please provide disaggregated data (including by sex, age, urban and rural area) for the years 2005, 2006 and 2007 on the number of children who are:

Victims of sexual exploitation, including prostitution, pornography and trafficking (including children in transit), and the number of those who received recovery and/or reintegration support;

Involved in substance abuse, and the number of those who received treatment, recovery and reintegration assistance;

Involved in child labour (indicating the type of work);

Living and/or working in the street; and

Repatriated to DPRK after having sought refuge to neighbouring countries, accompanied or unaccompanied.

PART IV

The following is a preliminary list of major issues (that does not contain issues already covered in Part I) that the Committee may take up during the dialogue with the State Party. They do not require written answers . This list is not exhaustive as other issues might be raised in the course of the dialogue.

Budget allocations for children;

Civil rights and freedoms (freedom of expression, thought, conscience and religion);

Children without parental care;

Abuse and neglect (data collection, legislation and penalties);

Health (including mental health and adolescent health);

Nutrition (malnutrition of children and their mothers;

Education (adequate facilities, quality of education);

Economic exploitation, including child labour;

Administration of juvenile justice;

International cooperation.

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