Committee on the Rights of the Child

List of issues in relation to the report submitted by Senegal under article 8 (1) of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict *

1.The State party is requested to submit in writing additional, updated information (10,700 words maximum), if possible before 15 October 2023. The Committee may take up all aspects of children’s rights set out in the Optional Protocol during the dialogue with the State party.

2.Please provide information on which government agency is primarily responsible for implementing the Optional Protocol and how it coordinates with the relevant regional and local authorities. Please also provide information about the resources specifically allocated for the implementation of the Optional Protocol.

3.Please provide information on measures taken to disseminate the provisions of the Optional Protocol to the general public, and especially to children, and indicate whether training on the Optional Protocol has been provided to professionals working for or with children, in particular members of the armed forces, including United Nations peacekeepers, police officers, immigration officials, lawyers, judges, civil society actors, medical personnel and social workers.

4.Please provide information on steps taken to establish a comprehensive system for the collection and analysis of disaggregated data on matters dealt with in the Optional Protocol, including the recruitment of children into the armed forces and the enrolment of children in military schools.

5.Since birth registration is not yet widespread, please provide information on how, and how often, proof of age is obtained if the official documents referred to in paragraph 57 of the State party’s report are not available, as well as on the safeguards in place to prevent the recruitment of persons under the age of 18 years and the effectiveness of these measures.

6.Please provide information on the measures taken by the State party to prevent the recruitment of children by non-State armed groups operating on its territory or in neighbouring States.

7.Please provide information on existing criminal laws and regulations that specifically criminalize the recruitment of persons under the age of 18 years and their use in hostilities by non-State armed groups, in accordance with article 4 of the Optional Protocol. Please also provide information on the number of prosecutions and convictions for such offences.

8.In the light of the information provided in paragraph 49 of the State party’s report, please indicate whether the State party intends to repeal the provisions of Amnesty Act No. 2004-20 of 21 July 2004 which prevent the prosecution of the offences referred to in the Optional Protocol committed during a particular time period. Please also indicate whether provisions covering such offences are being considered for inclusion in transitional justice measures, such as war crimes tribunals or truth commissions, as part of the peace process.

9.Please indicate whether the State party’s extraterritorial jurisdiction under article 664 of the Code of Criminal Procedure applies to the offences covered by the Optional Protocol, and provide information on cases involving such offences. Please also indicate whether all of the offences covered by the Optional Protocol are considered extraditable offences, and whether the State party intends to abolish the dual criminal liability principle provided for in article 4 of Act No. 71-77 of 28 December 1971 on extradition.

10.Please provide information on the methods used to identify children at risk of being recruited or used in violation of the Optional Protocol, in particular among refugee, asylum-seeking and Indigenous children. Please indicate the means of redress and support available to child victims of such recruitment or use.

11.Please provide information on training activities, in particular legal, psychological or other training, in addition to training on trafficking in persons, that are organized for persons working with victims of offences covered by the Optional Protocol.

12.Please indicate whether there is any national legislation prohibiting the trade and export of arms, including small arms and light weapons, and the provision of military assistance to countries where children are involved in armed conflict.

13.Please provide information on measures taken to strengthen international cooperation, including with international jurisdictions, with regard to the implementation of the Optional Protocol, in particular with regard to the prevention of any activity contrary thereto, the initiation of investigations and the rehabilitation and reintegration of child victims of acts contrary to the Optional Protocol.