COMMITTEE ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILDFifty first session25 May -12 June 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 OMAN (CRC/C/OPSC/OMN/1)

The State party is requested to submit in written form additional and updated information, if possible, before 6 April 2009

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 the 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 indicate which government department or body has primary responsibility for the implementation of the Optional Protocol.

Please inform 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.

With reference to paragraphs 12 and 13 of the concluding observations on the second periodic report (CRC/C/OMN/CO/2), please inform the Committee whether a national strategy or plan of action for children has been adopted and whether it refers to the areas covered by the Optional Protocol, please inform the Committee of progress made in this regard.

GE.09-40980

Please inform the Committee of awareness-raising on the specific provisions of the Optional Protocol (in addition to the activities on the Convention as indicated in the State party's report).

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.

Please provide further details on progress made towards the establishment of an independent national human rights institution with a mandate to monitor the implementation of the Optional Protocol and also to receive complaints from, or on behalf, of children on violations.

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 inform the Committee whether the Penal Code is being revised in order to include all the provisions of the Optional Protocol.

Please clarify whether child victims are guaranteed and provided with free legal aid.

Please clarify whether jurisdiction can be established for all offences under the Optional Protocol on the basis of the nationality of the victim.

Please clarify whether the current Penal Code allows for the criminalization of children 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 inform the Committee of bilateral agreements that the State party has entered into with other countries in order to prevent and prosecute crimes under the Optional Protocol.

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