COMMITTEE ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD

Forty-ninth session

15 September – 3 October 2008

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 Austria (CRC/C/OPSC/AUT/1)

The State party is requested to submit in written form additional and updated information, if possible, before 8 August 2008 .

Please provide, if available, statistical data (including by sex, age group, urban/rural area) 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, withdrawals and sanctions for perpetrators;

The number of reported cases of children trafficked to and from Austria, as well as trafficked within the country, for the purpose of sexual exploitation;

The number of reported cases of crimes related to child sex tourism involving Austrian citizens, with additional information on type of follow-up provided on the outcome of the cases, including prosecution, withdrawals and sanctions for perpetrators; and

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

GE.08-42654Please advise if the Optional Protocol has the force and effect of law and whether it has been applied by the courts.

The State party's report (paras. 74 -78) refers to: youth welfare institutions; child protection centres; the Child and Youth Advocate Offices (ombudsman services) and their counterparts in the federal provinces; child protection groups in all children’s hospitals; “Children’s Roundabout” (“Kinderdrehscheibe”). Please provide brief information on the respective role and activities of these bodies.

Please indicate whether the Child and Youth Advocate Offices (ombudsman services), or any other independent monitoring mechanism on child rights have the mandate to receive complaints from, or on behalf, of children on violations of the Optional Protocol.

Please indicate whether the State party has a specific plan of action in relation to the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, and if so, please provide information on the competent authorities responsible for its implementation and coordination.

Please provide information on the relevant legal framework on domestic and intercountry adoption procedures, including legislation criminalizing offences under article 3 (a)(ii).

Please provide information on initiatives taken by the State party to prevent child sex tourism by Austrian citizens abroad, including any legislative measures. What measures has the State party taken to disseminate the Code of Conduct set up by the World Tourism Organization on the protection of children from sexual exploitation in travel and tourism?

Please provide information on repatriation and deportation of children who may have been trafficked to Austria for the purpose of sale or sexual exploitation.

Please provide information on measures taken to strengthen international assistance in connection with investigative, criminal and extradition proceedings brought in respect of the offences covered by the Optional Protocol.

Please indicate whether special training, particularly social and psychological, is provided to persons working in the area of recovery and social reintegration of child victims of the offences under the Optional Protocol.

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