UNITED NATIONS

CRC

Convention on the Rights of the Child

Distr.

GENERAL

CRC/C/VEN/Q/2/Add.1

29 August 2007

ENGLISHOriginal: SPANISH

COMMITTEE ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILDForty‑sixth session 17 September‑5 October 2007

WRITTEN REPLIES BY THE GOVERNMENT OF VENEZUELA CONCERNING THE LIST OF ISSUES (CRC/C/VEN/Q/2) PREPARED BY THE COMMITTEE RELATING TO THE CONSIDERATION OF THE SECOND PERIODIC REPORT OF VENEZUELA (CRC/C/VEN/2) *

[Received on 3 August 2007]

I. Data and statistics

1. Children and adolescents aged under 18 living in Venezuela

Venezuela sets out below the data disaggregated by federal district, sex and urban and rural population for 2004, 2005 and 2006, for children and adolescents aged under 18 living in the country.

Table 1

Urban‑rural population aged under 19 by sex and federal district2004

Federal district/sex

Total population

Urban population

Rural population

Total

Boys

Girls

Total

Boys

Girls

Total

Boys

Girls

Distrito Capital

677 054

342 683

334 371

676 948

342 632

334 316

106

51

55

Amazonas

64 188

32 911

31 277

38 737

20 008

18 729

25 451

12 903

12 548

Anzoátegui

572 280

291 336

280 944

502 942

255 593

247 349

69 338

35 743

33 595

Apure

218 204

112 069

106 135

140 631

71 834

68 797

77 573

40 235

37 338

Aragua

587 865

298 561

289 304

551 778

280 263

271 515

36 087

18 298

17 789

Barinas

323 891

165 397

158 494

217 346

110 183

107 163

106 545

55 214

51 331

Bolívar

611 974

311 434

300 540

541 746

274 593

267 153

70 228

36 841

33 387

Carabobo

804 003

409 596

394 407

790 417

402 659

387 758

13 586

6 937

6 649

Cojedes

122 873

63 027

59 846

97 804

50 129

47 675

25 069

12 898

12 171

Delta Amacuro

71 342

36 413

34 929

45 306

23 135

22 171

26 036

13 278

12 758

Falcón

350 020

178 398

171 622

258 979

131 990

126 989

91 041

46 408

44 633

Guarico

305 985

156 762

149 223

233 398

119 071

114 327

72 587

37 691

34 896

Lara

677 098

346 477

330 621

558 824

285 310

273 514

118 274

61 167

57 107

Mérida

324 752

165 516

159 236

255 633

129 547

126 086

69 119

35 969

33 150

Miranda

949 780

482 983

466 797

902 744

459 194

443 550

47 036

23 789

23 247

Monagas

350 095

178 155

171 940

292 341

148 429

143 912

57 754

29 726

28 028

Nueva Esparta

157 097

80 366

76 731

151 210

77 325

73 885

5 887

3 041

2 846

Portuguesa

368 963

189 050

179 913

267 430

137 012

130 418

101 533

52 038

49 495

Sucre

377 557

194 818

182 739

298 685

153 884

144 801

78 872

40 934

37 938

Táchira

445 804

228 430

217 374

359 669

183 715

175 954

86 135

44 715

41 420

Trujillo

277 352

141 989

135 363

208 716

106 830

101 886

68 636

35 159

33 477

Vargas

117 047

59 804

57 243

104 569

53 527

51 042

12 478

6 277

6 201

Yaracuy

242 423

124 871

117 552

193 380

99 967

93 413

49 043

24 904

24 139

Zulia

1 423 623

727 460

696 163

1 284 957

656 052

628 905

138 666

71 408

67 258

Total

10 421 270

5 318 506

5 102 764

8 974 190

4 572 882

4 401 308

1 447 080

745 624

701 456

Table 2

Urban‑rural population aged under 19 by sex and federal district2005

Federal district/ sex

Total population

Urban population

Rural population

Total

Boys

Girls

Total

Boys

Girls

Total

Boys

Girls

Distrito Capital

668 008

338 416

329 592

667 903

338 366

329 537

105

50

55

Amazonas

65 343

33 518

31 825

39 850

20 588

19 262

25 493

12 930

12 563

Anzoátegui

574 108

292 373

281 735

503 023

255 729

247 294

71 085

36 644

34 441

Apure

221 518

113 634

107 884

143 498

73 268

70 230

78 020

40 366

37 654

Aragua

586 208

297 758

288 450

550 042

279 440

270 602

36 166

18 318

17 848

Barinas

328 596

167 603

160 993

220 872

111 912

108 960

107 724

55 691

52 033

Bolívar

613 797

312 472

301 325

543 500

275 594

267 906

70 297

36 878

33 419

Carabobo

803 306

409 562

393 744

790 088

402 815

387 273

13 218

6 747

6 471

Cojedes

124 649

63 922

60 727

99 397

50 940

48 457

25 252

12 982

12 270

Delta Amacuro

73 041

37 280

35 761

46 778

23 888

22 890

26 263

13 392

12 871

Falcón

352 950

179 813

173 137

261 784

133 399

128 385

91 166

46 414

44 752

Guarico

309 447

158 371

151 076

236 246

120 456

115 790

73 201

37 915

35 286

Lara

679 141

347 704

331 437

561 195

286 700

274 495

117 946

61 004

56 942

Mérida

328 993

167 763

161 230

259 353

131 503

127 850

69 640

36 260

33 380

Miranda

949 743

483 774

465 969

902 493

459 846

442 647

47 250

23 928

23 322

Monagas

355 826

181 023

174 803

297 580

151 072

146 508

58 246

29 951

28 295

Nueva Esparta

157 333

80 487

76 846

151 460

77 455

74 005

5 873

3 032

2 841

Portuguesa

372 999

191 060

181 939

270 977

138 821

132 156

102 022

52 239

49 783

Sucre

380 651

196 066

184 585

301 525

155 151

146 374

79 126

40 915

38 211

Táchira

450 919

230 958

219 961

364 474

186 139

178 335

86 445

44 819

41 626

Trujillo

280 689

143 601

137 088

211 953

108 453

103 500

68 736

35 148

33 588

Vargas

116 138

59 284

56 854

103 746

53 067

50 679

12 392

6 217

6 175

Yaracuy

245 530

126 341

119 189

196 024

101 266

94 758

49 506

25 075

24 431

Zulia

1 436 158

733 766

702 392

1 296 752

662 087

634 665

139 406

71 679

67 727

Total

10 475 091

5 346 549

5 128 542

9 020 513

4 597 955

4 422 558

1 454 578

748 594

705 984

The figures provided in the above table and in those for 2005 and 2006 have been established on the basis of an official population forecast using as a basis the census held in 2001, as evaluated and corrected, and the geographical trends as recorded and evaluated.

The component method was applied to these data, in which, in addition to the assumption relating to the evolution of mortality and migration, three assumptions were made for fertility, producing different estimates of the total population for each of the years in the forecast.

Table 3

Urban‑rural population aged under 19 by sex and federal district2006

Federal district/sex

Total population

Urban population

Rural population

Total

Boys

Girls

Total

Boys

Girls

Total

Boys

Girls

Distrito Capital

659 733

334 476

325 257

659 628

334 427

325 201

105

49

56

Amazonas

66 292

34 005

32 287

40 838

21 104

19 734

25 454

12 901

12 553

Anzoátegui

575 613

293 243

282 370

502 803

255 727

247 076

72 810

37 516

35 294

Apure

223 907

114 784

109 123

145 781

74 435

71 346

78 126

40 349

37 777

Aragua

583 698

296 538

287 160

547 497

278 227

269 270

36 201

18 311

17 890

Barinas

332 117

169 422

162 695

223 572

113 308

110 264

108 545

56 114

52 431

Bolívar

613 499

312 476

301 023

543 335

275 672

267 663

70 164

36 804

33 360

Carabobo

800 714

408 365

392 349

787 879

401 825

386 054

12 835

6 540

6 295

Cojedes

125 978

64 575

61 403

100 634

51 565

49 069

25 344

13 010

12 334

Delta Amacuro

74 558

38 052

36 506

48 127

24 577

23 550

26 431

13 475

12 956

Falcón

355 059

180 938

174 121

263 947

134 555

129 392

91 112

46 383

44 729

Guarico

312 106

159 629

152 477

238 461

121 557

116 904

73 645

38 072

35 573

Lara

680 693

348 525

332 168

563 131

287 774

275 357

117 562

60 751

56 811

Mérida

332 848

169 750

163 098

262 762

133 268

129 494

70 086

36 482

33 604

Miranda

945 682

482 025

463 657

898 389

458 094

440 295

47 293

23 931

23 362

Monagas

361 101

183 766

177 335

302 436

153 606

148 830

58 665

30 160

28 505

Nueva Esparta

157 055

80 366

76 689

151 216

77 352

73 864

5 839

3 014

2 825

Portuguesa

375 571

192 369

183 202

273 403

140 088

133 315

102 168

52 281

49 887

Sucre

383 474

197 363

186 111

304 123

156 411

147 712

79 351

40 952

38 399

Táchira

455 416

233 129

222 287

368 749

188 281

180 468

86 667

44 848

41 819

Trujillo

283 593

145 099

138 494

214 830

109 947

104 883

68 763

35 152

33 611

Vargas

115 336

58 863

56 473

103 013

52 693

50 320

12 323

6 170

6 153

Yaracuy

247 838

127 428

120 410

198 017

102 249

95 768

49 821

25 179

24 642

Zulia

1 446 317

738 830

707 487

1 306 383

667 024

639 359

139 934

71 806

68 128

Total

10 508 198

5 364 016

5 144 182

9 048 954

4 613 766

4 435 188

1 459 244

750 250

708 994

2. Budget allocations for children and adolescents

The comprehensive protection of children and adolescents is assigned absolute priority in the Constitution. The Protection of Children and Adolescents (Organization) Act lays down the absolute obligation of the State to take all necessary and appropriate administrative, legislative, judicial and other steps to ensure that all children and adolescents fully and effectively enjoy their rights and safeguards.

In the light of this guidance, substantial amounts are earmarked under the national budget for the formulation of policies and the implementation of programmes and projects which promote the progressive development of, and care for, children and adolescents.

Public investment for the child and adolescent sector in the years 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005 is indicated below.

Table 4

Total investment for children and adolescents, 2002‑2005

Year

Amount (Bs)

2002

507 700 000

2003

500 562 400 000

2004

300 504 620 000

2005

200 217 000 000

Total

1 001 791 720 000

(a)Budget allocations for education of children and adolescents

The table and figure below show the total of and trend in national public investment designed to guarantee the right of children and adolescents to education in 2005, 2006 and 2007.

Table 5

National public investment in education, 2005‑2007 (millions of bolivares)

2005

%

2006

%

2007

%

Education

12 449 396 . 1

14 . 4

19 900 203 . 8

15 . 5

21 869 802 . 6

17 . 8

Figure A

Trend in national public investment in education

The table and figure below reflect the total of and trend in investment by federal districts in fulfilling the right to education.

Figure B

Trend in regional public investment in education

Table 6

Regional public investment in education, 2005‑2006(millions of bolivares)

Federal districts

2005

%

2006

%

Amazonas

52 996 576.2

19.4

80 033 102.6

22.3

Anzoátegui

65 440 832.5

9.6

93 890 957.8

9.6

Apure

37 247 518.3

14.7

68 357 615.9

14.9

Aragua

92 806 030.5

16.5

124 857 485.9

16.4

Barinas

73 139 583.5

21.8

103 445 542.1

22.2

Bolívar

99 579 646.3

15.5

126 858 659.3

13.9

Carabobo

153 050 369.5

15.5

193 183 171.3

13.2

Cojedes

44 414 143.0

20.7

59 222 544.0

19.8

Delta Amacuro

37 063 448.0

19.1

45 879 006.6

16.7

Falcón

79 549 628.0

20.7

148 291 067.0

19.0

Guárico

48 697 443.2

14.6

55 145 024.6

11.8

Lara

90 095 666.6

25.5

232 686 001.5

24.3

Mérida

38 844 745.4

11.3

47 976 192.0

10.0

Miranda

147 953 915.3

12.5

211 374 517.0

13.8

Monagas

42 085 727.2

6.6

42 481 236.7

4.0

Nueva Esparta

70 129 512.1

25.5

88 716 436.0

25.8

Portuguesa

38 478 354.7

10.1

Not available

Not available

Sucre

69 728 276.0

19.6

108 185 899.8

22.1

Táchira

60 451 156.8

12.1

60 409 186.1

8.6

Trujillo

69 625 065.5

20.2

83 287 036.8

19.1

Yaracuy

45 622 637.8

13.9

22 613 872.7

4.9

Zulia

79 162 942.2

5.8

95 554 204.2

5.0

Vargas

27 452 892.5

10.7

39 972 914.0

13.0

District Capital

63 519 169.3

5.5

88 702 427.0

4.9

District de l’Alto Apure

2 740 290.6

2.9

4 566 429.6

4.3

Total

1 629 875 571.0

14.8

2 225 690 530.5

14.1

(b)Budget allocations for health care

It is vital to point out that most of the projects and programmes implemented by Venezuela in the health sector include and encompass all strata of the population, so that it is not possible to give a sectoral breakdown of the budget allocations for children and adolescents.

The table and figure below indicate the total of and trend in national public investment designed to guarantee the right of Venezuelans to health in 2005, 2006 and 2007.

Table 7

National public investment in health 2005‑2007(millions of bolivares)

2005

%

2006

%

2007

%

Health

4 966 347.5

5.8

7 245 023.1

5.6

8 080 172.2

6.6

Figure C

National public investment in healthTrend, 2005‑2007

The table and figure below reflect the total of and trend in investment by the various federal bodies to fulfil the right to health in 2005 and 2006. Also shown are the percentages of each body’s budget earmarked for the health sector.

Figure D

Regional public investment in healthTrend, 2005‑2006

Table 8

Regional public investment in health, 2005‑2006(millions of bolivares)

Federal district

2005

%

2006

%

Amazonas

3 429 858.6

1.2

4 191 575.3

1.1

Anzoátegui

30 357 642.7

4.8

45 857 387.7

4.7

Apure

64 910 386.2

25.7

92 441 227.1

20.2

Aragua

22 540 000.0

4.0

32 136 295.2

4.2

Barinas

9 981 703.3

2.9

15 097 641.2

3.2

Bolívar

132 315 531.9

20.6

169 358 113.8

18.5

Carabobo

175 219 582.7

17.7

263 286 748.4

18.0

Cojedes

7 519 824.0

3.3

8 840 748.0

2.9

Delta Amacuro

5 949 887.0

3.0

8 306 298.2

3.0

Falcón

30 939 712.0

8.0

44 842 550.0

5.7

Guárico

15 366 502.4

4.6

21 985 483.5

4.6

Lara

96 588 096.8

27.4

211 642 737.5

22.1

Mérida

34 148 458.9

10.0

45 323 871.9

9.5

Miranda

128 644 796.3

10.9

210 529 597.1

13.8

Monagas

93 344 511.2

14.8

137 703 580.8

13.1

Nueva Esparta

9 280 258.0

3.3

13 821 542.0

4.0

Portuguesa

16 878 198.3

4.4

Not available

Not available

Sucre

27 660 858.8

7.8

36 197 486.4

7.4

Táchira

101 756 508.4

20.3

135 811 981.4

19.3

Trujillo

12 389 446.6

3.6

13 212 613.8

3.0

Yaracuy

72 878 781.5

22.2

Not available

Not available

Zulia

36 476 481.4

2.7

52 271 419.5

2.7

Vargas

30 367 721.4

11.8

37 606 498.9

12.3

Distrito Capital

319 803 148.7

28.0

427 095 039.8

24.0

District de l’Alto Apure

2 486 908.3

2.6

297 206.1

0.2

Total

1 481 234 805.4

10.6

2 027 857 643.6

9.4

(c) Budget allocations for programmes and services for children with disabilities, indigenous children and afrodescendants, children in need of alternative care, children in institutions and children living on the streets

Care for children and adolescents in special circumstances is a priority for Venezuela, which devotes specific plans and resources to this area so as to ensure that these citizens effectively enjoy their rights.

In order to deal with these cases, the National Council for Children’s and Adolescents’ Rights has implemented various programmes and services which ensure protection for children and adolescents with disabilities, those in need of alternative care and street children and adolescents.

The table below reflects the number of programmes and services provided in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 for these children and adolescents in special circumstances.

Table 9

Programmes and services for children with disabilities, children in need of alternative care and street children,2002‑2006

Programmes or services

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

Total per programme

Shelter

24

25

1

1

0

51

Placement in foster families

1

6

4

0

0

11

Street children and adolescents

2

9

2

0

0

13

Disability

3

4

4

1

0

12

Overall total

30

44

11

2

0

87

Where children with disabilities are concerned, the programmes and services provided benefited 3,607 children and adolescents at a total cost of 182,474,741.56 bolivares.

As for street children or children suffering from exclusion, the programmes and services covered 2,793 children and adolescents by means of 11 programmes involving total investment of 205,864,895.88 bolivares.

The following tables show investment effected and numbers covered by programmes and services destined for street children and adolescents in 2003, 2004 and 2005.

These tables indicate investment by the National Child and Adolescent Protection Fund and the different governors’ offices and local authorities in the country.

Table 11

Programmes to protect and care for street children and adolescents2003

Year 2003 programmes

Programme or project title

Target population

Total cost

Total

Children and adolescents

National Child and Adolescent Protection Fund

Local authorities

Governors ’ offices

Assistance to provide care for children and adolescents experiencing poverty

30

572 550.00

0 00

0.00

572 550.00

Help a Street Child

25

6 051 683.54

0.00

0.00

6 051 683.54

Meeting the needs of children and adolescents experiencing poverty

200

8 600 000.00

0.00

0.00

8 600 000.00

Programme of care for abandoned children and adolescents aged under 15

30

52 800 000.00

0.00

0.00

52 800 000.00

Dealing with street children and adolescents, including their families

175

4 000 000.00

0.00

0.00

4 000 000.00

Links with street children at risk

35

11 735 845.48

0.00

0.00

11 735 845.48

Programme of training and reconstruction of life projects for adolescents suffering from exclusion

50

15 000 000.00

0.00

0.00

15 000 000.00

Children and adolescents in need of protection

74

47 229 452.00

0.00

0.00

47 229 452.00

Comprehensive care for street children and adolescents

40

20 296 377.66

0.00

0.00

20 296 377.66

Total

659

166 285 908.68

0.00

0.00

166 285 908.68

Table 12

Programmes to protect and care for street children and adolescents2004

Programmes/year 2004

Programme or project title

Target population

Total cost

Total

Children and adolescents

National Child and Adolescent Protection Fund

Local authorities

Governors ’ offices

Programme of comprehensive care for children and adolescents at risk

1 954

8 638 464.38

25 915 393.00

0.00

34 553 857.38

Total

1 954

8 638 464.38

25 915 393.00

0.00

34 553 857.38

Table 13

Programmes to protect and care for street children and adolescents2005

Programmes/year 2005

Programme or project title

Target population

Total cost

Total

Children and adolescents

National Child and Adolescent Protection Fund

Local authorities

Governors ’ offices

Programme of comprehensive care for children and adolescents at risk

180

5 025 129.82

0.00

0 00

5 025 129.82

Total

180

5 025 129.82

0.00

0 00

5 025 129.82

The Constitution acknowledges the right of all persons with disabilities or special needs to enjoy the full and independent exercise of their capabilities and to be integrated in the family and the community.

On the basis of this principle, Venezuela, with the assistance and solidarity of families and society, has an obligation to guarantee respect for their human dignity, equal opportunity and satisfactory working conditions, and to foster their training and access to employment in accordance with their circumstances.

Reflecting this commitment by the State, the following tables show the investment effected and numbers covered by programmes and services destined for children and adolescents with disabilities in 2003 and 2004.

Table 14

Programmes to protect and care for children and adolescents with disabilities2003

Programmes/year 2003

Programme or project title

Target population

Total cost

Total

Children and adolescents

National Child and Adolescent Protection Fund

Local authorities

Governors ’ offices

Programme of training and special care

300

6 000 000.00

1 200 000.00

0.00

7 200 000.00

Strengthening of food and comprehensive education programmes for children and adolescents with disabilities in the municipality of Guanipa

89

4 945 230.00

4 596 378.40

0.00

9 541 608.40

Table 14 (continued)

Programmes/year 2003

Programme or project title

Target population

Total cost

Total

Children and adolescents

National Child and Adolescent Protection Fund

Local authorities

Governors ’ offices

Assistance and rehabilitation programmes for children and adolescents with special needs

120

26 400 000.00

0.00

0.00

26 400 000.00

Provision of multidisciplinary equipment for care for special children

755

9 553 960.36

0.00

0.00

9 553 960.36

Activities involving motor skills

1 065

14 772 172.80

0.00

0.00

14 772 172.80

Total

2 329

61 671 363.16

5 796 378.40

0.00

67 467 741.56

Table 15

Programmes to protect and care for children and adolescents with disabilities2004

Programmes/year 2004

Programme or project title

Target population

Total cost

Total

Children and adolescents

National Child and Adolescent Protection Fund

Local authorities

Governors ’ offices

Strengthening of interdisciplinary teams to provide comprehensive care for persons with disabilities

380

27 007 000.00

0.00

0.00

27 007 000.00

Care for and stimulation of children with disabilities

20

5 000 000.00

0.00

5 000 000.00

10 000 000.00

Comprehensive training programme aimed at parents and representatives of children and adolescents with disabilities and special needs

390

14 250 000.00

0.00

10 750 000.00

25 000 000.00

Programme of care for children and adolescents with disabilities

123

14 250 000.00

0.00

10 750 000.00

25 000 000.00

Total

913

60 507 000.00

0.00

26 500 000.00

87 007 000.00

(d)Budget allocations for programmes and activities for the prevention of and protection from sexual exploitation and child pornography

During the period 2003‑2004, care was provided for a total of 7,297 children and adolescents by means of 11 programmes aimed at providing care for children and adolescents and protecting them from sexual exploitation and child pornography, involving budgetary investment of 96,684,363.44 bolivares.

The tables below show the investment effected, the programme or project implemented and the target population for activities carried out in 2003 and 2004 to provide care for children and adolescents and protect them from sexual abuse, with funding from the National Child and Adolescent Protection Fund.

Table 16

Programmes to provide care for children and adolescents and protect them from sexualabuse with funding from the National Child and Adolescent Protection Fund,2003

Programmes/year 2003

Programme or project title

Target population

Total cost

Total

Children and adolescents

National Child and Adolescent Protection Fund

Local authorities

Governors’ offices

Funding of programmes to provide care for children and adolescents involved in prostitution

15

1 895 323.00

0.00

0.00

1 895 323.00

Education for sexual and reproductive health

200

2 000 000.00

0.00

0.00

2 000 000.00

Psycho‑sexual and reproductive guidance

3 000

2 500 000.00

0.00

0.00

2 500 000.00

Sexual and reproductive education

1 500

6 650 000.00

0.00

0.00

6 650 000.00

Programme of sexual abuse and ill‑treatment in children and adolescents

521

4 899 063.44

0.00

0.00

4 899 063.44

Total

5 236

17 944 386.44

0.00

0.00

17 944 386.44

Table 17

Programmes to provide care for children and adolescents and protect them from sexual abuse with funding from the National Child and Adolescent Protection Fund

Programmes/year 2004

Programme or project title

Target population

Total cost

Total

Children and adolescents

National Child and Adolescent Protection Fund

Local authorities

Governors ’ offices

Creation of awareness and provision of information on prevention of sexual abuse among children and adolescents

10

3 000 000.00

3 000 000.00

3 000 000.00

9 000 000.00

Programme of sexual and reproductive health education

715

8 000 000.00

0.00

0.00

8 000 000.00

Comprehensive training of communities with a view to healthy and responsible sexuality

11

11 407 353.00

4 124 543.00

1 072 381.00

16 604 277.00

Programme of sexual prevention and guidance and reproductive health aimed at adolescents

1 110

17 100 000.00

0.00

12 900 000.00

30 000 000.00

Sexual and reproductive health education ‑ “ Learning the values governing my sexuality in adolescence ”

170

8 985 700.00

0.00

0.00

8 985 700.00

Comprehensive care for victims of sexual abuse among children and adolescents

45

2 050 000.00

2 050 000.00

2 050 000.00

6 150 000.00

Total

2 061

50 543 053.00

9 174 543.00

19 022 381.00

78 739 977.00

In addition to these programmes, the National Council for Children’s and Adolescents’ Rights has carried out a number of actions aimed at providing care for children and adolescents and protecting them from sexual abuse and commercial sexual exploitation. They include:

Coordination of the Commission against Sexual Abuse and Commercial Sexual Exploitation (CICAES);

Preparation of the National Plan of Action against Sexual Abuse and Commercial Sexual Exploitation, published in Official Gazette No. 38.631 of 23 February 2007;

Drafting of the General Guidelines for the Protection of Children and Adolescents from Sexual Abuse and Commercial Sexual Exploitation, published in Official Gazette No. 37815 of 11 November 2003;

Preparation of a training course for care and prevention of sexual abuse in childhood and adolescence and development of educational software for the prevention of sexual abuse among adolescents, under the Cuba‑Venezuela cooperation agreement;

Development of the Binational Plan of Action for the Comprehensive Protection of Children and the Family on the Colombia‑Venezuela border and of the Binational Programme for the Comprehensive Protection of Children and Adolescents on the Colombia‑Venezuela border, in pursuance of the commitments made by the Presidential Commissions on Integration and Border Matters (COPIAF);

Inclusion of care and protection from sexual abuse and commercial sexual exploitation in the proposal for an inter‑agency plan of action aimed at the comprehensive protection of children and adolescents against violence;

Preparation and approval of guidelines for the protection of children and adolescents who are victims of child pornography, as a form of commercial sexual exploitation;

Consultations between the agencies in the Protection System relating to the “Rights Violation Recording Form” in pursuance of the above‑mentioned Plan against Sexual Abuse and Commercial Sexual Exploitation, with cooperation from the National Statistical Institute and UNICEF.

(e)Budget allocations for the administration of justice and programmes of alternative measures

The table and figure below show the total of and trend in national public investment for the administration of justice in 2005, 2006 and 2007.

Table 18

National public investment in the administration of justice,2005‑2007 (millions of bolivares)

2005

%

2006

%

2007

%

Administration of justice

1 666 072.5

1.9

2 369 490.7

1.8

2 744 553.6

2.2

Figure E

National public investment in the administration of justiceTrend, 2005‑2007

(f)Use of budgetary resources and mechanisms for monitoring expenditure

The budgetary resources allocated for education, health, care for children with special needs and the administration of justice have been spent by the various institutions and administrative units at the national, regional and municipal level, in keeping with their specific areas of competence.

Concerning the spending of budgetary resources from the National Treasury, the National Budget Office exercised advance monitoring through the Integrated System for the Management and Monitoring of the Public Finances. This system guarantees the use of financial resources for the approved budgetary objectives, in accordance with the applicable laws.

In addition, the Office of the Controller‑General of the Republic, an integral part of the national monitoring system, monitors, supervises and inspects income, expenditure, public and national assets and related operations.

3. Funding of the “missions” and their impact on children and adolescents

Through its missions, the Government of Venezuela ensures the all‑round development and protection of children and adolescents.

The Madres del Barrio mission makes it possible, by involving mothers in productive activities and temporary economic opportunities, to increase family incomes and thereby meet the needs of families in terms of services and consumption, raising the standard of living of children and adolescents.

Through the Negra Hipólita mission direct care is provided for children and adolescents who have been abandoned and those living in extreme poverty. The goals of this mission include relocating children and adolescents who live in the streets in their family nuclei or in foster families.

The Barrio Adentro mission makes it possible to raise the quality of life of children and adolescents in less well‑off communities, ensuring free medical care is available close to their homes. This mission guarantees primary care through a comprehensive system which is linked to social security.

With the Alimentación mission the State guarantees the exercise of children’s and adolescents’ right to food. The Casas de Alimentación, which are a key part of this mission, are houses equipped for the preparation of food which are made available free of charge to the less well‑off. The Suplemento Nutricional is an entirely free programme by means of which food supplements are provided to those experiencing extreme poverty.

The Identidad mission makes it possible to give practical effect to the right of children and adolescents to possess a document which facilitates their identification. Issuing identity documents rapidly, securely and free of charge is the principal goal of this mission.

Table 19

Financial resources allocated to the missions

Mission

2005

2006

2007

Mission Robinson

325 000.0

412 716.3

462 424.3

Mission Sucre

128 802.3

663 158.3

744 850.9

Mission Barrio Adentro

667 564.2

341 774.2

105 420.0

Mission Piar

1 589.7

5 187.9

2 058.8

Mission Identitad

49 679.7

27 232.3

14 004.0

Mission Alimentac í on

439 036.3

778 472.9

1 196 997.0

Mission Negra Hipólita

Not available

41 657.1

116 881.1

Mission Madres del Barrio

Not available

548 989.3

394 531.7

Total

1 611 672.2

2 855 688.3

3 073 167.8

4.Children deprived of a family environment andseparated from their parents

The Constitution recognizes and protects the right of children and adolescents to life, to an upbringing and to develop within their original family. However, when they are unable to live in the family group, owing to exceptional circumstances, the State, in their best interests, organizes comprehensive protection for them by placing them in special care institutions or foster families (family placement) or arranging domestic or intercountry adoption.

(a)Children and adolescents placed in institutions

Data on children deprived of a family environment who were placed in institutions in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006, broken down by federal district and age group, are set out below.

Table 20

Children and adolescents in care institutions(2002‑2006)

Federal District

2002 ‑ 2004

2005

2006

Care institutions

Children

Adolescents

Care institutions

Children

Adolescents

Care institutions

Children

Adolescents

Anzoátegui

6

58

25

8

77

57

8

77

57

Amazonas

Aragua

55

41

55

41

Barinas

4

24

22

5

5

41

13

Lara

5

52

Bolívar

8

45

25

8

69

36

8

207

51

Carabobo

13

152

59

15

115

32

15

83

32

Cojedes

3

4

13

2

15

3

3

4

13

Delta Amacuro

1

6

1

5

1

5

Distri to metropolitano

3

170

11

540

Guárico

Falcón

7

26

3

19

5

2

22

Monagas

3

55

12

4

43

64

Nueva Esparta

6

72

31

4

4

Sucre

4

24

15

4

31

26

Táchira

7

30

0

30

Trujillo

1

85

70

1

49

68

1

25

46

Vargas

1

3

Yaracuy

3

11

21

3

11

21

Zulia

6

156

78

7

59

16

9

201

Total

68

853

335

61

528

294

84

1 544

364

(b)Children and adolescents placed with foster families

Data for 2004, 2005 and 2006 on children and adolescents placed with foster families, broken down by sex, are given below.

Table 21

Family placements2004‑2006

Year

Family placement

Boys

Girls

2004

111

2005

92

2006

61

70

T otal

264

316

(c)Children and adolescents adopted domestically or through intercountry adoptions

The tables below show the number of cases of domestic and intercountry adoptions processed.

Table 22

Cases of adoption handled and adoption orders2002‑2006

Year

Total number of cases

Total number of cases with adoption orders

Total

2002-2004

2 093

1 852

3 945

2005

907

697

1 604

2006

983

249

1 232

Total

3 983

2 798

6 781

Table 23

Intercountry adoptions2004-2006

Year

Intercountry adoption

Boys

Girls

2004

1

1

2005

1

3

2006

0

0

Total

2

4

5. Children and adolescents with disabilities

Under the Protection of Children and Adolescents (Organization) Act, children and adolescents with special needs are acknowledged to have all the rights and safeguards set out in the Act, as well as those inherent in their specific circumstances.

(a)Children and adolescents with disabilities living in Venezuela

The following table shows the total number of children and adolescents living in Venezuela.

Table 24

Persons aged 0‑17 with disabilities, broken down by sex and type of disability

Disability

Boys

Girls

Total

Totally blind

848

693

1 541

Totally deaf

2 833

2 447

5 280

Mentally retarded

14 205

10 383

24 588

Upper limb

2 044

1 281

3 325

Lower limb

3 111

2 404

5 515

Other

57 875

47 455

105 330

Total

80 916

64 663

145 579

(b)Children and adolescents with disabilities placed in institutions and foster homes

Table 25

Children and adolescents with disabilities placed in care institutions and foster homes, broken down by sex, age group and federal district

Federal district

Boys

Girls

Adolescents

Total

Anzoátegui

7

2

1

10

Barinas

1

0

0

1

Carabobo

5

7

0

12

Cojedes

2

2

0

4

Delta Amacuro

1

0

0

1

Falcón

2

1

3

6

Lara

5

4

0

9

Monagas

5

3

0

8

Total

28

19

4

51

(c)Children and adolescents with disabilities attending special schools

The tables below show figures for enrolment in public and private institutions of special education, broken down by sex and federal district.

Table 26

Fixed enrolment in special education

School year 2004‑2005

Federal district

Sex

Official establishments

Private establishments

Boys

Girls

National

State

Municipal

Independent

Amazonas

83

65

148

0

0

0

0

Anzoátegui

979

697

1 676

0

0

0

0

Apure

430

329

759

0

0

0

0

Aragua

1 299

950

2 074

145

0

30

0

Barinas

397

288

645

40

0

0

0

Bolívar

566

371

797

140

0

0

0

Carabobo

1 386

880

1 556

0

0

185

525

Cojedes

368

295

663

0

0

0

0

Delta Amacuro

83

68

151

0

0

0

0

Distrito Capital

1 988

1 245

1 861

0

0

218

1 154

Falcón

427

327

611

0

0

0

143

Guárico

488

399

812

75

0

0

0

Lara

796

530

1326

0

0

0

0

Mérida

507

380

819

18

0

0

50

Miranda

1 632

1 188

1 595

309

44

0

872

Monagas

234

195

429

0

0

0

0

Nueva Esparta

228

194

422

0

0

0

0

Portuguesa

453

378

670

161

0

0

0

Sucre

745

506

1 077

0

0

39

135

Táchira

918

655

1 573

0

0

0

0

Trujillo

437

279

716

0

0

0

0

Vargas

215

149

364

0

0

0

0

Yaracuy

585

389

974

0

0

0

0

Zulia

1 896

1 341

2 487

593

0

71

86

Total

17 140

12 098

24 205

1 481

44

543

2 965

Table 27

Overall enrolment in special education2004‑2006

2004

2005

2006

Overall enrolment in special education

140 797

167 267

174 300

6. The right of children and adolescents to health

(a)Rates of infant and child mortality

Table 28

Infant, neonatal and post‑neonatal mortality rates(per 1,000 live births)

Year

Infant mortality

Neonatal mortality

Post‑neonatal mortality

Deaths

Rate

Deaths

Rate

Deaths

Rate

2000

9 649

17.7

6 269

11.5

3 380

6.2

2001

9 353

17.7

5 846

11.0

3 507

6.6

2002

8 949

18.2

5 871

11.9

3 078

6.2

2003

10 276

18.5

6 242

11.2

4 034

7.3

2004

9 272

15.9

6 163

10.6

3 109

5.3

2005

9 093

15.5

6 319

10.8

2 774

4.7

Table 29

Infant mortality rates by federal district(per 1,000 live births)

Federal district

2004

2005

2006

Deaths

Rate

%

Deaths

Rate

%

Deaths

Rate

%

Amazonas

82

11.66

0.88

80

7.91

0.88

50

8.33

8.00

Anzoátegui

146

2.78

1.57

437

8.61

4.81

481

17.22

0.61

Apure

247

10.36

2.66

220

8.06

2.42

170

10.46

5.89

Aragua

462

8.78

4.98

323

5.50

3.55

430

14.05

2.08

Barinas

291

10.20

3.14

272

8.75

2.99

243

13.67

5.27

Bolívar

823

15.08

8.88

732

12.30

8.05

704

20.53

2.98

Carabobo

624

8.72

6.73

581

7.93

6.39

130

2.88

8.63

Cojedes

116

9.51

1.25

91

8.62

1.00

90

13.80

1.59

Delta Amacuro

91

11.17

0.98

116

9.86

1.28

116

16.02

1.10

Falcón

272

9.34

2.93

270

7.43

2.97

263

12.84

1.42

Guárico

298

11.25

3.21

269

7.21

2.96

240

12.20

3.22

Lara

647

11.11

6.98

610

9.88

6.71

559

16.57

2.94

Mérida

326

10.41

3.52

270

8.54

2.97

246

13.55

6.85

Miranda

519

6.45

5.60

546

6.12

6.00

412

8.07

3.01

Monagas

335

13.33

3.61

327

10.14

3.60

273

13.29

5.05

Nueva Esparta

174

11.35

1.88

226

16.38

2.49

157

20.24

3.35

Portuguesa

387

11.31

4.17

345

9.96

3.79

302

14.80

1.92

Sucre

339

10.03

3.66

320

6.64

3.52

241

8.48

3.70

Táchira

405

13.13

4.37

407

8.81

4.48

330

12.68

2.95

Trujillo

309

11.81

3.33

262

8.95

2.88

229

13.12

4.04

Vargas

67

6.05

0.72

47

4.64

0.52

74

11.50

2.81

Yaracuy

247

12.29

2.66

215

9.39

2.36

208

15.48

0.91

Zulia

1 551

11.47

16.73

1 502

11.44

16.52

1 559

20.92

2.55

Distrito Capital

514

8.91

5.54

625

9.42

6.87

653

16.91

19.11

Total

9 272

100

9 093

100

8 160

100

(b)Rates of immunization

Table 30

Immunization coverage2004‑2006

Year

Polio

Measles

DPT

BCG

Dose

Coverage

Dose

Coverage

Dose

Coverage

Dose

Coverage

2004

423 493

82.73

455 931

94.43

439 030

85.76

493 643

96.43

2005

433 535

80.47

408 121

75.88

408 121

75.88

510 881

94.83

2006

428 981

73.03

315 665

54.70

315 665

54.70

488 787

83.21

Total

1 286 009

1 179 717

1 162 816

1 493 311

(c)Rates of malnutrition

Table 31

Rates of infant malnutrition by federal district2003‑2005

Federal district

2003

2004

2005

Rate

Rate

Rate

Amazonas

12.37

13.62

14.17

Anzoátegui

17.63

17.45

15.32

Apure

17.45

19.06

17.58

Aragua

14.38

13.18

12.76

Barinas

16.28

13.35

14.28

Bolívar

17.51

17.10

17.58

Carabobo

10.57

14.39

12.68

Cojedes

15.37

13.82

13.18

Delta Amacuro

17.59

17.48

16.16

Falcón

13.08

13.34

12.22

Guárico

18.25

17.60

15.71

Lara

11.59

14.21

12.00

Mérida

10.79

11.08

10.66

Miranda

14.47

20.04

14.74

Monagas

11.75

12.68

15.45

Nueva Esparta

11.83

10.80

10.61

Portuguesa

16.82

15.80

15.09

Sucre

16.24

15.42

13.90

Táchira

10.06

11.07

10.81

Trujillo

10.24

9.64

10.32

Vargas

12.34

12.73

10.50

Yaracuy

15.20

15.07

14.26

Zulia

14.34

13.27

12.08

Distrito Capital

9.22

9.20

8.23

Total

13.97

14.20

13.34

(d)Cases of children infected with and/or affected by HIV/AIDS

Table 32

HIV/AIDS cases (B20‑B24) among children by age group2005‑2006

Age

2005

2006

Cases

Cases

Under 1

37

24

1 to 4

27

32

5 to 9

13

18

10 to 14

16

10

Total

93

84

(e)Cases of children infected with dengue

Table 33

Cases of dengue among children by age group2005‑2006

Age

2005

2006

Cases

Cases

Under 1

5 564

1 096

1 to 4

7 774

3 686

5 to 9

8 095

6 436

10 to 14

694

6 517

Total

22 127

17 735

(f)Rates of early pregnancy

The Protection of Children and Adolescents (Organization) Act lays down the right of children and adolescents to be informed and educated, in keeping with their stage of development, in matters of sexual and reproductive health with a view to sexual behaviour and parenthood which are responsible, healthy, freely chosen and risk‑free.

With the active involvement of society, the State must provide sexual and reproductive health‑care services and programmes for all children and adolescents.

The tables below provide information on the total number of births between 2000 and 2006 to mothers aged under 20, broken down by federal district, and estimated numbers of teenage pregnancies in 2005.

Table 34

Live births registered to mothers aged under 20, by federal district

Federal district

Year of registration

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

Distrito Capital

7 017

5 805

5 370

7 173

8 308

8 428

8 752

Amazonas

739

996

1 017

831

840

1 200

1 256

Anzoátegui

7 076

6 316

6 261

7 095

7 328

9 025

8 468

Apure

3 330

3 842

3 183

3 841

4 150

5 221

4 550

Aragua

5 191

5 520

5 770

6 034

6 376

6 328

6 720

Barinas

4 392

4 137

4 334

4 420

6 050

5 621

5 454

Bolívar

7 831

6 756

6 148

7 331

8 675

9 611

9 745

Carabobo

8 279

9 241

7 682

9 437

11 005

10 503

10 983

Cojedes

1 819

1 583

1 573

1 494

1 794

1 199

1 014

Delta Amacuro

938

866

853

1 512

1 579

1 811

1 416

Falcón

3 430

3 200

2 947

3 375

3 930

3 971

3 553

Guarico

3 859

3 631

3 843

4 112

5 400

5 333

4 927

Lara

7 066

6 902

4 947

8 992

8 598

8 088

7 772

Mérida

4 275

3 382

3 335

3 545

3 900

3 956

3 722

Miranda

9 875

8 724

8 143

9 184

8 794

10 552

12 595

Monagas

3 973

3 875

3 680

4 163

5 541

5 210

5 088

Nueva Esparta

1 609

1 498

1 606

1 703

2 069

2 375

1 943

Portuguesa

4 640

3 794

4 884

5 032

6 019

7 117

5 837

Sucre

5 500

4 380

4 098

4 344

4 869

5 500

4 635

Táchira

4 609

4 168

2 833

3 442

4 550

4 419

4 667

Trujillo

3 013

3 059

2 869

2 413

2 690

4 431

3 349

Vargas

1 386

1 583

1 536

1 530

1 340

1 591

1 650

Yaracuy

2 774

2 692

2 536

2 939

3 151

3 788

3 386

Zulia

13 895

15 819

15 762

16 279

21 480

24 815

24 905

Total

116 516

111 769

105 210

120 221

138 436

150 093

146 387

Table 35

Teenage pregnancies

Estimates for 2005

2005

Live births registered

547 628

Fertility rate, age 15‑19

91.30

Estimated population aged 15‑19

1 324 442

Estimated number of pregnancies

117 875

Percentage of total number of live births registered

21.52

(g)Cases of suicide among adolescents

Table 36

Suicide rate among adolescents by federal district, 2004‑2005

Federal district

2004

2005

Cases

Rate

%

Cases

Rate

%

Amazonas

0

0.000

0.00

0

0.000

0.00

Anzoátegui

5

0.110

13.16

0

0.000

0.00

Apure

1

0.056

2.63

1

0.011

3.13

Aragua

0

0.000

0.00

1

0.006

3.13

Barinas

1

0.038

2.63

2

0.004

6.25

Bolívar

2

0.041

5.26

2

0.004

6.25

Carabobo

2

0.032

5.26

3

0.003

9.38

Cojedes

0

0.000

0.00

0

0.000

0.00

Delta Amacuro

0

0.000

0.00

0

0.000

0.00

Falcón

0

0.000

0.00

0

0.000

0.00

Guárico

2

0.081

5.26

5

0.008

15.63

Lara

2

0.037

5.26

2

0.004

6.25

Mérida

4

0.154

10.53

1

0.015

3.13

Miranda

1

0.013

2.63

0

0.000

0.00

Monagas

1

0.035

2.63

0

0.000

0.00

Nueva Esparta

0

0.000

0.00

1

0.001

3.13

Portuguesa

4

0.134

10.53

0

0.000

0.00

Sucre

1

0.033

2.63

0

0.000

0.00

Táchira

1

0.028

2.63

0

0.000

0.00

Trujillo

0

0.000

0.00

0

0.000

0.00

Vargas

0

0.000

0.00

1

0.003

3.13

Yaracuy

1

0.051

2.63

1

0.005

3.13

Zulia

10

0.088

26.32

12

0.009

37.50

Distrito Capital

0

0.000

0.00

0

0.000

0.00

Total

38

100

32

100

7. Abuse and sexual exploitation of children and adolescents

Reports of abuse of children and adolescents

Table 37

Reports of abuse of children and adolescents 2004‑2006

Offence

2004

2005

2006

Boys

Girls

Boys

Girls

Boys

Girls

Child abuse

26

26

106

79

138

137

8.Criteria for “poverty” and number of children and adolescents living below the poverty line

Measuring the “poverty line” highlights the effect of household income on the acquisition of goods and services which indicate a minimum standard of living, namely food, clothing, footwear, health care and education.

For the purposes of measurement, per capita household income is compared with two poverty lines ‑ the per capita value of the food basket, and the per capita value of the basic basket (food plus services). After this comparison, the following definitions are adopted:

Non‑poor household: any household whose per capita income is equal to or greater than the cost of the per capita basic basket;

Poor household: any household whose per capita income is lower than the cost of the per capita basic basket;

Household in extreme poverty: any household whose per capita income is lower than the cost of the per capita food basket.

Table 38

Number of children living below the poverty line

Age

Number of children living in poverty

Percentage of children living in poverty

0

247 927

5.27

1

278 814

5.93

2

279 993

5.95

3

293 127

6.23

4

289 423

6.15

5

275 656

5.86

6

275 178

5.85

7

273 792

5.82

8

273 646

5.82

9

288 072

6.12

10

245 536

5.22

11

254 820

5.42

12

262 708

5.58

13

251 936

5.36

14

240 848

5.12

15

235 858

5.01

16

224 808

4.78

17

212 318

4.51

Total

4 704 460

100.00

9. The right of children and adolescents to education

(a)Rates of literacy, below and over 18 years

Table 39

Literacy by age group

Age range

Literate

Yes

No

Total

3 to 10

2 378 061

1 789 420

4 167 481

11 to 30

8 459 545

255 362

8 714 907

31 to 50

5 435 836

309 918

5 745 754

51 to 80

2 251 805

492 308

2 744 113

Over 80

122 251

76 450

198 701

Total

18 647 498

2 923 458

21 570 956

(b) Enrolment in pre ‑ primary, primary , secondary and general schools and in vocational training

Table 40

Enrolment in pre‑primary schools, by federal district

Federal district

School year

2003/04

2004/05

2005/06

Distrito Capital

74 742

78 989

82 082

Amazonas

6 341

6 741

7 023

Anzoátegui

45 771

49 752

55 055

Apure

15 834

16 873

17 569

Aragua

44 809

46 974

47 218

Barinas

23 531

27 215

26 155

Bolívar

49 123

50 845

49 740

Carabobo

57 762

64 510

69 608

Cojedes

13 045

13 655

13 644

Delta Amacuro

9 582

10 052

10 039

Falcón

41 844

44 227

44 022

Guárico

23 729

25 402

25 563

Lara

62 832

65 337

70 945

Mérida

25 480

26 319

26 060

Miranda

92 910

96 061

100 835

Monagas

27 444

28 674

31 842

Nueva Esparta

19 707

20 733

21 452

Portuguesa

31 415

33 266

33 211

Sucre

30 643

32 402

33 135

Táchira

32 648

34 989

36 332

Trujillo

25 074

27 378

26 899

Vargas

11 059

11 828

12 172

Yaracuy

24 721

24 858

25 608

Zulia

124 874

137 878

144 737

Total

914 920

974 958

1 010 946

Table 41

Enrolment in primary and secondary schools, by federal district2003‑2006

Federal district

School year

2003/04

2004/05

2005/06

Distrito Capital

310 124

309 843

310 729

Amazonas

28 232

28 589

29 783

Anzoátegui

265 909

267 084

269 895

Apure

106 500

105 584

107 220

Aragua

292 583

289 385

284 798

Barinas

153 943

156 203

158 287

Bolívar

283 394

286 304

290 717

Carabobo

379 705

378 861

380 111

Cojedes

58 241

58 309

58 347

Delta Amacuro

31 889

32 554

33 516

Falcón

169 271

168 738

169 058

Guárico

139 144

140 650

139 010

Lara

312 061

313 161

312 716

Mérida

152 703

151 785

150 477

Miranda

433 244

432 295

444 654

Monagas

160 214

160 077

163 728

Nueva Esparta

76 639

76 894

76 650

Portuguesa

169 459

171 128

171 716

Sucre

180 701

182 949

183 867

Táchira

210 575

207 636

205 671

Trujillo

125 206

132 230

131 376

Vargas

58 529

58 822

58 315

Yaracuy

111 255

114 115

115 232

Zulia

623 949

634 584

639 906

Total

4 833 470

4 857 780

4 885 779

Figure F

Enrolment in primary and secondary schools

Table 42

Enrolment in secondary, general and vocational education,by federal district

Federal district

School year

2003/04

2004/05

2005/06

Distrito Capital

38 053

42 399

48 035

Amazonas

3 041

3 022

3 283

Anzoátegui

27 375

31 099

33 300

Apure

9 548

10 756

11 780

Aragua

40 651

43 724

47 207

Barinas

14 875

16 250

18 195

Bolívar

32 311

35 399

38 525

Carabobo

50 231

54 028

57 784

Cojedes

6 671

6 809

7 444

Delta Amacuro

2 412

2 654

2 899

Falcón

20 740

22 544

23 814

Guárico

14 884

15 911

17 789

Lara

38 310

41 440

43 602

Mérida

21 354

22 641

23 901

Miranda

52 481

56 280

62 338

Monagas

17 741

19 494

21 049

Nueva Esparta

8 461

9 429

10 347

Portuguesa

16 722

18 921

19 729

Sucre

19 923

21 639

22 993

Táchira

28 158

30 531

33 009

Trujillo

14 753

17 151

18 241

Vargas

7 529

7 424

7 901

Yaracuy

12 493

13 538

14 799

Zulia

70 898

76 815

83 176

Total

569 615

619 898

1 189 513

(c)Attendance in primary, secondary and general schools

Table 43

Primary school attendance from first to ninth grade,by grade and school year

Schoolyear

Total

School grade

First

Second

Third

Fourth

Fifth

Sixth

Seventh

Eighth

Ninth

2002/03

4 179 610

542 724

549 502

544 336

512 361

490 752

489 900

406 538

348 006

295 491

2003/04

4 261 168

545 876

543 594

543 922

531 887

500 572

493 772

412 773

366 835

321 937

2004/05

4 331 737

539 584

545 293

538 449

533 655

522 535

503 718

428 888

377 629

341 986

Table 44

Attendance during the first year of secondary school, by type of education and years of study

School year

Total

Type of education

General

Vocational

Year of study

Year of study

First

%

First

%

First

%

2002/03

238 082

85.7

216 125

85.6

21 957

87.3

2003/04

259 512

83.4

234 601

83.9

24 911

79.5

2004/05

287 132

85.1

258 599

85.4

28 533

82.9

(d)Dropouts and repetitions among pupils

Table 45

Repetition rate in primary education from firstto ninth grade

Schoolyear

Total

School grade

First

Second

Third

Fourth

Fifth

Sixth

Seventh

Eighth

Ninth

2003/04

393 214

75 145

56 449

52 560

36 607

23 589

9 417

75 332

37 913

26 202

2004/05

368 810

68 968

50 929

48 842

34 196

21 985

8 780

70 557

38 322

26 231

2005/06

334 589

61 912

46 263

44 155

31 487

19 898

7 392

63 139

35 270

25 073

Table 46

Repetition rates in secondary, general and vocational education, by year of study

School year

Type of education

General

Vocational

Total

Years of study

Total

Years of study

First

Second

Third

First

Second

Third

2003/04

18 398

14 195

4 190

13

2 291

1 329

748

214

2004/05

17 830

13 874

3 948

8

2 560

1 462

792

306

2005/06

17 225

13 078

4 141

6

2 732

1 688

789

255

Table 47

Dropout rate in primary education from first to ninth grade,by grade and school year

School year

Total

School grade

First

Second

Third

Fourth

Fifth

Sixth

Seventh

Eighth

Ninth

2002/03

213 621

21 339

5 550

9 851

13 807

11 053

‑ 1 095

86 119

39 913

27 084

2003/04

203 492

16 438

4 650

9 298

14 860

13 393

‑ 2 383

81 902

39 294

26 040

2004/05

191 454

17 211

5 249

9 832

12 976

11 439

‑ 1 758

72 302

38 196

26 007

Table 48

Dropout rate in the first year of secondary school, by federal district

Federal district

2002/03

2003/04

2004/05

Distrito Capital

2 317

1 843

1 727

Amazonas

361

526

331

Anzoátegui

1 759

1 724

2 784

Apure

329

693

631

Aragua

2 545

2 107

2 371

Barinas

614

1 020

695

Bolívar

2 115

1 829

2 014

Carabobo

3 005

3 448

2 914

Cojedes

‑ 87

531

304

Delta Amacuro

312

291

286

Falcón

878

1 001

961

Guárico

626

1 995

2 136

Lara

‑ 1 236

2 035

2 183

Mérida

589

1 024

985

Miranda

‑ 2 630

4 238

2 404

Monagas

1 252

1 252

1 461

Nueva Esparta

468

575

636

Portuguesa

586

1 171

1 433

Sucre

1 221

1 286

1 513

Táchira

1 520

1 417

1 097

Trujillo

1 714

918

1 569

Vargas

192

523

237

Yaracuy

859

439

647

Zulia

4 795

4 281

4 056

Total

24 104

36 167

35 375

(e)Ratio of teachers to children and number of children per class

Table 49

Primary education: Current facilities in the subsystem

Type of establishment

Number of centres

Number of classrooms

Teachers

Average number of pupils per classroom

Average number of teachers per pupil

National

7 963

21 027

29 236

27

19

State

4 750

9 048

12 407

24

18

Municipal

214

518

761

25

17

Independent

798

1 480

1 487

28

27

Private

3 177

8 286

17 192

24

12

Total

16 902

40 359

61 083

10. Administration of justice for children and adolescents

(a)Persons below 18 who have allegedly committed a crime reported to the police

Table 50

Offences allegedly committed by persons aged under 18

Offences

2004

2005

2006

Boys

Girls

Boys

Girls

Boys

Girls

Against the person

183

19

197

16

241

22

Against property

653

27

548

43

764

35

Against decency

144

13

173

15

282

15

Against children and adolescents

0

1

2

1

1

0

Against the public interest

17

1

25

5

47

1

Fraud

2

0

0

0

4

5

Against public order

179

5

183

7

320

9

Against the administration of justice

3

0

1

2

8

0

Other offences

2

0

5

1

33

0

Total

1 183

66 

1 134

90 

1 700

87 

(b)Persons below 18 who have been convicted, and type of punishment or sanction

Table 51

Adolescents convicted and type of punishment imposed2004

Type of offence

2004

Cases

Boys

Girls

Type of punishment

Cases

Against the person

469

1 290

208

Deprivation of liberty

198

Against property

615

Probation

809

Against the community

252

Partial release

129

Against the administration of justice

14

Binding over

307

Against public order

62

Warning

5

Fraud

5

Community service

50

Computer‑related offences

0

Against decency

81

Total

1 498

1 498

Table 52

Adolescents convicted and type of punishment imposed2005

Type of offence

2005

Cases

Boys

Girls

Type of punishment

Cases

Against the person

334

1 066

162

Deprivation of liberty

97

Against property

569

Probation

514

Against the community

179

Partial release

217

Against the administration of justice

12

Binding over

256

Against public order

71

Warning

5

Fraud

4

Community service

139

Computer‑related offences

0

Against decency

59

Total

1 228

1 228

Table 53

Adolescents convicted and type of punishment imposed2006

Type of offence

2006

Cases

Boys

Girls

Type of punishment

Cases

Against the person

308

1 059

41

Deprivation of liberty

85

Against property

461

Probation

652

Against the community

173

Partial release

181

Against the administration of justice

5

Binding over

64

Against public order

82

Warning

3

Fraud

5

Community service

115

Computer ‑ related offences

0

Against decency

66

Total

1 100

1 100

(c)Persons below 18 kept in pretrial detention and the average length of this detention

Table 54

Persons below 18 kept in pretrial detention and the average length of this detention

Year

Persons aged under 18

Length of detention

2004

27

2 months

2005

15

2 months

2006

11

2 months

(d)Persons under 18 with social educational measures applied as an alternative to deprivation of liberty

Table 55

Adolescents sentenced to alternative punishments

Year

Persons aged under 18

Boys

Girls

2004

179

4

2005

204

18

2006

155

9

Total

538

31

(e)Persons under 18 deprived of liberty including length of this deprivation of liberty

Table 56

Adolescents deprived of liberty and maximum length of detention

Year

Persons aged under 18

Length of detention

Boys

Girls

2004

43

2

Up to 5 years

2005

34

2

Up to 5 years

2006

42

1

Up to 5 years

Total

119

5

(f)Detention facilities for persons below 18 in conflict with the law and their capacity

Table 57

Detention centres and capacity for persons aged under 18 Caracas Metropolitan Area

Centre

Capacity

Boys

Girls

Carolina Uslar

28

0

José Gregorio Hernández

0

20

Ciudad Caracas

60

0

Coche

34

0

Total

122

20

(g) Persons under 18 detained in facilities alongside adults

No children or adolescents are detained alongside adults in Venezuela.

The Protection of Children and Adolescents (Organization) Act provides that adolescents must always be kept separate from adults when in pretrial detention or serving custodial sentences.

(h)Persons under 18 tried and sentenced as adults

No children or adolescents are tried and sentenced as adults in Venezuela.

In accordance with the Protection of Children and Adolescents (Organization) Act, the minimum age of criminal responsibility is 12. The Adolescent Criminal Responsibility System established under the Act applies to all persons aged between 12 and 18 at the time the offence is committed, even if they reach the age of 18 during the proceedings or are adult at the time they are indicted.

(i)Number of children under 16 involved in labour, indicating the type of work

Table 58

Population aged between 10 and 16 involved in labour, by sex and branch of economic activity

Branch of economic activity

2004

2005

2006

First half`

Second half

First half

Second half

First half

Second half

Boys

222 488

241 799

173 311

203 827

176 362

201 280

Farming

80 172

85 112

77 454

69 701

62 314

69 588

Non ‑ farming activities

141 871

154 566

94 598

132 106

114 048

131 511

Manufacturing

19 017

22 798

18 202

20 129

16 261

17 511

Construction

14 105

14 229

12 647

18 484

14 844

21 262

Trade

60 994

63 929

49 013

48 564

44 108

41 603

Services

32 904

39 514

2 257

35 517

28 383

35 935

Other non ‑ farming activities

14 851

14 096

12 479

9 412

10 452

15 200

Non ‑ specified activities

445

2 121

1 259

2 020

0

181

Girls

84 829

92 965

72 282

75 411

60 059

68 321

Farming

5 104

7 825

7 837

6 312

4 470

5 726

Non ‑ farming activities

79 525

83 578

64 004

68 675

55 589

62 595

Manufacturing

7 310

8 198

6 235

6 215

3 985

6 200

Construction

161

0

111

634

112

634

Trade

42 861

46 207

33 093

34 294

30 114

31 791

Services

27 219

25 575

22 683

25 893

19 208

22 440

Other non ‑ farming activities

1 974

3 598

1 882

1 639

2 170

1 530

Non ‑ specified activities

200

1 562

441

424

0

0

II.General measures of implementation

1.Coordination of the implementation of the Convention and steps taken to elaborate a national plan for children

The National Council for Children’s and Adolescents’ Rights, as the highest authority in the national umbrella system for the comprehensive protection of children and adolescents, is drawing up and articulating the national plan and policy for the comprehensive protection of children and adolescents for 2000‑2006. This plan directs action towards:

The role of the State in public administration and in the institutional changes required by the new regulatory framework.

The role of citizens in their proactive steps to determine, demand and watch over approaches involving joint responsibility for the rights of children and adolescents.

The role of families as natural contexts for growth and human development.

The channelling of physical and financial investment in order to guarantee rights.

The regions of protection as an instrument for development which is conducive to work, education, science and technology for the new territorial equilibrium formulated as a development policy for the country.

Nevertheless, there are other government bodies which are competent in this area, in particular the Ministry for Participation and Social Welfare.

2.Programmes developed by the National Council for Children’s and Adolescents’ Rights

Under the provisions of articles 133 and 137 of the Protection of Children and Adolescents (Organization) Act, the National Council for Children’s and Adolescents’ Rights is a consultative, deliberative and umbrella body whose functions are, on the one hand, to draw up policies, national plans, guidelines and principles, to acquaint itself with and follow up national intersectoral plans, policies and national public actions relating to children and adolescents, the registration of programmes of collective coverage implemented by national and international organizations, and, on the other, to receive complaints of violations or threatened violations of collective and individual rights of children and adolescents, to take protective action on its own initiative or following a complaint, to seek the setting aside of administrative acts which violate or threaten the rights of children and adolescents and to report the failure to provide or improper provision of public services when they threaten the rights of children and adolescents.

In this context, it is not the Council’s function to implement plans of action and implementation submitted by the State and Municipal Councils for Children’s and Adolescents’ Rights, or national programmes or projects of collective coverage.

3. Coordination of sectoral and local plans of action, specifically with regard to children

In accordance with article 143 of the Protection of Children and Adolescents (Organization) Act, the State Councils formulate at the State level, in coordination with the Municipal Councils operating within their areas, the State policy and plans of action for the protection of children and adolescents, in keeping with the national policies and the general guidelines of the National Council. In addition, this same article lays down that the State Councils shall bring these plans before the National Council, so as to integrate them in the national policy for children and adolescents.

It is important to point out that the plans of action drawn up by the State and Municipal Councils for Children’s and Adolescents’ Rights are coordinated through their communities, i.e. by all those in the community who are involved with the situation of children and adolescents, in order to respond to an identified problem area, based on the analysis or diagnosis of the situation.

4.Role of non‑governmental organizations in the implementation of the Convention and the national protection system for children

In pursuance of the constitutional principles of joint responsibility, participation and intersectorality in relation to the rights of children, adolescents and the family, the Councils for Rights at the different national, State and municipal levels may be regarded as one of the first experiments in forging an alliance between State and society. Articles 140 and 141 of the Protection of Children and Adolescents (Organization) Act stipulate joint representation of the executive (representatives of the Minister’s office, appointed by the Minister in question) and society, where its members are elected by their own forum, represented by private or joint organizations providing direct care for children and adolescents, individuals or organizations responsible for agencies or programmes which are devoted to protecting, promoting, investigating or upholding children’s and adolescents’ rights and guarantees or which participate within their communities in providing care for and protection of children, adolescents or families.

In addition, there exists in the country a network of non‑governmental organizations which contribute to the comprehensive protection of children, notable among which is the Community Apprenticeship Centre (CECODAP), the Federation of Private Child Welfare Agencies (FIPAN), the Red de Apoyo por la Justicia y la Paz, Acción Ciudadana contra el SIDA, Banco del Libro, Caritas, Fundación Luz y Vida and, in particular, the Venezuelan Association for Alternative Sex Education (AVESA), which was granted funding of 46,635,646 bolivares through the National Child and Adolescent Protection Fund for the preparation of the Programme of Psychological Care for Victims of Sexual Abuse and the Venezuelan Association of Catholic Education (AVEC), which have been receiving advice and technical assistance for the preparation of protection and care programmes for children and adolescents.

5. Results of the efforts made at all levels of the National System for the Protection and Integral Development of Children and Adolescents

Among the results of efforts made at all levels we can mention the establishment of the National Protection System composed of a National Council for Children’s and Adolescents’ Rights (CNDNA), an inter‑country adoption office, a National Child and Adolescent Protection Fund, 24 State Councils for Children’s and Adolescents’ Rights, 2 Metropolitan Councils for Children’s and Adolescents’ Rights, 299 Municipal Councils for Children’s and Adolescents’ Rights, 316 Children’s and Adolescents’ Rights Protection Councils, 240 Children’s and Adolescents’ Ombudsmen’s offices, 24 domestic adoption offices, 23 State Funds for the Protection of Children’s and Adolescents’ Rights, 228 Municipal Funds for the Protection of Children’s and Adolescents’ Rights, 71 prosecutors’ offices for the protection of the rights of children, adolescents and the family, 35 prosecutors’ offices in the Adolescent Criminal Responsibility System at the national level, 125 Courts of Protection and 145 Adolescent Criminal Responsibility Courts.

Another major achievement to be highlighted was the preparation and presentation of the State and municipal plans of action, based on the situational analysis or diagnosis which threw light on the problem area which should be tackled at the State and municipal level by the plans of action, the programmes and projects, in order to guarantee or restore the violated rights of children and adolescents.

In the process of training on the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the doctrine of comprehensive protection, the Protection System provided a substantial amount of training, as follows:

Table 59

Training provided in the doctrine of protection

Year

Number of bodies trained

Number of persons trained

Workshops held

2001

279

2 130

42

2002

781

3 000

111

2003

120

90

1 500

2004

1 053

1 053

38

2005

2 000

2 000

54

2006

543

543

10

Total

4 776

8 816

1 755

6.Results of efforts and programmes to combat economic and sexual exploitation

The National Council for Children’s and Adolescents’ Rights has drawn up various plans of action, guidelines and guiding principles designed to provide care for children and adolescents and protect them against violence, as follows:

Proposed inter‑agency plan of action for the comprehensive protection of children and adolescents against violence, in keeping with the Grand National Agreement against Crime and Violence being promoted by the National Assembly;

National Plan of Action against Sexual Abuse and Commercial Sexual Exploitation, published in Official Gazette No. 38.631 of 23 February 2007;

The Binational Plan of Action for the Comprehensive Protection of Children and the Family on the Colombia‑Venezuela border and a Binational Programme for the Comprehensive Protection of Children and Adolescents on the Colombia‑Venezuela border were drawn up;

Participation in the drafting of the National Plan of Action to Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially women and children;

Drafting of the “General Guidelines for the Protection of Children and Adolescents from Sexual Abuse and Commercial Sexual Exploitation”, published in Official Gazette No. 37815 of 11 November 2003, and the “Guidelines for the Protection of Children and Adolescents Who are Victims of Child Pornography, as a Form of Commercial Sexual Exploitation”, which will shortly be published in the Official Gazette;

Drafting of the “Rights Violation Recording Form” in pursuance of the above‑mentioned Plan against Sexual Abuse and Commercial Sexual Exploitation.

7.Reform of the Organic Law for the Protection of Children and Adolescents (LOPNA)

The partial reform of the Protection of Children and Adolescents (Organization) Act (LOPNA) is a response to the need to bring this Act, which was adopted in October 1998, into line with the 1999 Constitution, which expressly grants constitutional status to the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the doctrine of comprehensive protection. From this standpoint, the reform of this Act focuses on four areas: the rights of children and adolescents; family relations and institutions; the national umbrella system for the comprehensive protection of children and adolescents; and judicial processes and the system of justice.

The process of reforming the Act, which is in its fourth year, has stretched over a series of different legislative periods, under the responsibility of the National Assembly’s Standing Commission on the Family, Women and Youth. The proposed reform incorporates three separate initiatives ‑ one presented by the deputies in the National Assembly, one by the representatives of the executive, and one by the Supreme Court.

During this time, the reform has been extensively discussed in public. The National Assembly created forums for periodic consultation and participation, in which the members of the System for the Protection of Children and Adolescents, as well as interested citizens, made major contributions. Also invited to participate directly were academic institutions, public and private, care agencies, organizations promoting and upholding the rights of children and adolescents, the Councils for Rights, the National Association of Protection Advisers and UNICEF. On some occasions, these stakeholders exercised their right to speak in meetings of the Commission entrusted with the reform.

The Supreme Court also set up forums for participation and consultation for the reform of procedural aspects and of the system of justice. In this way, consultations were held with judges, the Public Prosecutor’s office, the Independent Public Defender’s Service, the office of the Procurator‑General, the National Council for Rights and the organizations promoting and upholding the rights of children and adolescents which play a role in judicial proceedings. The Supreme Court also benefited from technical cooperation from UNICEF in this process of drafting its proposed reform.

As can be seen, this is a proposed reform which, in addition to being designed to bring the Act into line with the new Constitution, is a response to a broad process of participation and consultation, in which obstacles and gaps in this Act were studied thoroughly, while a variety of alternatives, which in many cases were clearly irreconcilable, were explored. In this way, the LOPNA Partial Reform (Organization) Actis the result of a long‑term effort in which the deputies in the National Assembly pursued a comprehensive vision, from different viewpoints, interests and paradigms, in order to adopt the sovereign decisions incumbent on them as legitimate representatives of the people.

Some general considerations on the fundamental aspects of the reform of the Act are set out below.

Children’s and adolescents’ rights

In this area guarantees of the right of children and adolescents to life, to an upbringing and to develop within their original family or among blood relatives are being broadened and strengthened. It has been laid down that action taken to separate children or adolescents from their original family is exceptional and must be of the shortest possible duration, with a view to reintegrating them in their original families, whether nuclear or extended. Along the same lines, there is an explicit ban on separation of children and adolescents on grounds of poverty or the social exclusion of their families.

In addition, the right of children and adolescents to be well treated is recognized, and the right to respect on the part of those raising them is being extended, to complement the right to personal integrity. In this regard, emphasis should be placed on plans to explicitly ban the disciplining of children and adolescents by means of methods involving the use of physical violence of any kind, nature of degree.

In addition, the manner in which the right to health is expressed is being modified in order to eliminate the abhorrent discrimination prescribed in the existing Act, which provides that the State should guarantee free medicines and prostheses only to children and adolescents who have no economic resources, ignoring the fact that the right to health must be guaranteed free of charge irrespective of a person’s social or economic situation. Similarly, the rights of indigenous peoples and communities are recognized, laying down that their traditional medicine should be taken into account, valued and safeguarded.

Family institutions and relations

In this area a number of modifications are incorporated which are designed to guarantee equality among children and adolescents, particularly with respect to the principle of equal treatment of all children in a family. It is laid down that the manner in which parental authority is attributed and exercised is the same for sons and daughters born within the marriage as for those born outside it or in stable de facto unions, since the existing Act establishes differentiated regulations which affect the equal treatment of children and adolescents depending on the civil status of their mothers or fathers.

In addition, new rules are included to guarantee equal rights and duties between the father and mother, with the aim of elaborating on the principle of joint parenthood in raising children and adolescents, which forms part of the right of children and adolescents to be raised by both parents, i.e. by their father and mother. In this regard, explicit mention is made of the joint exercise of responsibility for upbringing (custody) in the event of divorce, separation or separate residence by the father and mother, which in the existing Act is granted exclusively to one of the parents in these cases.

Our legislation also recognizes for the first time that work in the home is an activity which generates wealth and social welfare, and hence should be taken into account when setting the level of the father’s and mother’s contributions to meeting the maintenance obligation.

The National Umbrella System for the Comprehensive Protection of Children and Adolescents

The Constitution explicitly provides for the establishment of a National Umbrella System for the Comprehensive Protection of Children and Adolescents, for which governance is provided by the authorities at the national level and services at the municipal level.

From this standpoint, the reform lays down that the governance of this System is a matter for the national executive branch in the shape of the Ministry which has competence for the comprehensive protection of children and adolescents, that its management at the national level is a matter for the National Council for Children’s and Adolescents’ Rights, as the agency for the implementation of government policies in this sector, and that at the municipal level it is a matter for the Municipal Councils for Children’s and Adolescents’ Rights. Under this proposal the State Councils for Rights are eliminated, on the grounds that they were not in keeping with constitutional guidelines, and their functions were taken on by the National Council for Rights.

In addition, with the aim of boosting the functions of the municipal authorities in this area, an explicit obligation was conferred on all local authorities to appoint an ombudsman for children and adolescents as the primary unit in the System of Protection.

Similarly, the Councils of Protection are being strengthened as local bodies with competence to order protection measures in cases where the rights of individual children and adolescents are breached or threatened. In this regard, it should be emphasized that scope has been established for broadening the number of their members in the light of the number of inhabitants in the municipality, the establishment of a multidisciplinary team is planned to support them in the performance of their duties, the rights of their members arising from their public office are guaranteed, and their powers to order immediate protection measures have been extended.

Judicial processes and the system of justice

In this area, the reform brings judicial processes into line with the new principles laid down in the Constitution in relation to the right to due process and to an effective judicial remedy, as well as the new structure of the system of justice. In this way, oral proceedings are established which observe the principles of concentration, free and universal access, simplicity, expeditiousness and uniformity and the strengthening of alternative means of conflict resolution.

The reform assigns special importance to mediation as an appropriate means of settling family conflicts. In this regard, it prescribes the holding of a hearing, under the responsibility of a judge, with the mandatory personal presence of the parties, to address the most important aspects of family relations, i.e. responsibility for raising the children, arrangements for living together (visits) and the obligation to provide maintenance.

Another aspect to be highlighted is that in the court hearing, where the real procedural debate takes place, the judge has an obligation to hand down an oral judgement immediately, and then make it public within five days, except in especially complex cases. Failure to comply with this obligation constitutes serious misconduct by the judge, warranting dismissal. This is a rule which already has positive precedents in our country in the employment field, and has enabled proceedings to be speeded up.

Lastly, it is necessary to highlight the fact that the reform regulates with precision the organization and operation of the multidisciplinary teams of the Courts of Protection for Children and Adolescents as auxiliary services of the system of justice, which are of fundamental importance in the field of family relations. In this regard, it is stipulated that these teams must be composed of professionals in psychology, psychiatry and social work and, when appropriate, specialists in indigenous languages and culture. At the same time, their functions have been broadened by authorizing them to support the judges in the process of mediation and in the implementation of their decisions.

8.Indicators for monitoring the implementation of policies and programmes for children

Following the evaluation of the plans of action and implementation drawn up by the State and Municipal Councils for Children’s and Adolescents’ Rights, based on the situational diagnoses or analyses on which these plans were based, the National Council for Rights drew up for 2005 a preliminary list of simple indicators citing the most frequent violations of rights in each State, such as undernutrition, ill‑treatment, teenage pregnancy, consumption of psychotropic drugs, disability and street children.

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

The studies and diagnoses prepared by the State and Municipal Councils for Rights and the reports drawn up by CNDNA indicate that the issues requiring most attention are:

Malnutrition/undernutrition

Ill‑treatment of children

Teenage pregnancy

Consumption of psychotropic drugs

Disability

Street children

Strengthening of the family.

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