COMMITTEE ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILDFiftieth session

12-30 January 2009

OPTIONAL PROTOCOL ON THE SALE OF CHILDREN,

CHILD PROSTITUTION AND CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

List of issues to be taken up in connection with the consideration

of the initial report of the Republic of the Maldives (CRC/C/OPSC/MDV/1)

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

Please provide disaggregated data (including by sex, age, urban/rural areas) for the years 2005, 2006, and 2007 on:

The number of reported cases of sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, with additional information on type of follow-up provided on the outcome of the cases, including prosecution and sanctions for perpetrators;

The number of child victims provided with recovery assistance and compensation as defined in article 9, paragraphs 3 and 4 of the Optional Protocol.

Please update the Committee on measures taken to establish an effective system of data collection on violations of provisions of the Optional Protocol through a unified child abuse database.

Please inform the Committee whether the National Plan of Action for the Well being of the Maldivian Child 2001-2010 (CRC/C/MDV/CO/3, paras. 14-15) takes into account the Optional Protocol and which measures have been undertaken in this regard. Furthermore, the State party's report, in paragraph 105, indicates the intention of developing a specific action plan in relation to areas covered by the Optional Protocol. Please inform the Committee of progress made in this regard.

GE.08-44559

Please provide further details regarding the role played by the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives in monitoring implementation of the provisions of the Optional Protocol and whether the Commission has the mandate to receive complaints from, or on behalf, of children on violations of the Optional Protocol.

Please provide further information on initiatives taken by the State party to prevent child sex tourism. Has the State party taken any measures to disseminate the Code of Conduct developed by the World Tourism Organization on the protection of children from sexual exploitation in travel and tourism?

Please update the Committee on the process of amending Penal Code (State party's report, para. 25) in order to include the provisions of the Optional Protocol.

Please clarify whether under the current Penal Code allows for the criminalization of minors who have been victims of child prostitution.

Please inform the Committee of the social reintegration assistance as well as physical and psychosocial recovery measures available for victims of offences covered by the Optional Protocol and the State budget allocations ear-marked for this purpose.

Please indicate whether special training, particularly legal and psychological, is provided to professionals, such as judges, social workers and medical professionals, who may come into contact with child victims of the offences under the Optional Protocol.

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