Committee on the Rights of the Child

Seventy -fifth session

Summary record of the 2202nd meeting

Held at the Palais Wilson, Geneva, on Friday, 19 May 2017, at 10 a.m.

Chair :Ms. Winter

Contents

Consideration of reports of States parties submitted under article 44 of the Convention (continued)

Combined fourth and fifth periodic reports of Lebanon (continued)

The meeting was called to order at 10.05 a.m.

Consideration of reports of States parties (continued)

Combined fourth and fifth periodic reports of Lebanon (continued) (CRC/C/LBN/4-5; CRC/C/LBN/Q/4-5 and Add.1)

At the invitation of the Chair, the delegation of Lebanon took places at the Committee table.

Ms. Sonia El Khoury (Lebanon) said that the present curricula had been adopted over 15 years previously. The current review of the curricula would make them more flexible in order to respond to recent developments and individual students’ needs, particularly those with learning difficulties or special needs. The review process was expected to take three to five years and would bring the curricula at all levels of education into line with international agreements, including the Convention.

Official school textbooks were published in Arabic, although English and French versions were used in subjects such as mathematics and science from the sixth year of primary education onwards. There had been attempts to introduce textbooks in Arabic after the sixth year; however, the idea had been rejected by schools since children were expected to be able to work with foreign languages and the teacher would be able to provide explanations in Arabic where necessary. Syrian children did not have difficulties learning since their mother tongue was also Arabic. Furthermore, Syrian pupils had expressed their desire to learn another language. Simplified French and English were thus taught during the early stages of education, and mathematics and science were taught in those languages from the third year of primary schooling onwards. Translations were available when required.

The compulsory education system covered the ages 6 to 15 and was divided into three cycles of three years. However, given that early education was key to children’s development, the age for starting school had been lowered from 4 to 3 and efforts were being made to make early education compulsory. Kindergartens had been equipped with teaching assistance technology and teachers had received training on the new curriculum introduced in 2014.

Palestinian children had access to United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) schools or were otherwise taught in public schools. Syrian children were accepted in morning sessions in all public schools. They could attend in the afternoon where morning sessions were full. There were problems with overcrowding in schools owing to insufficient financial resources, since the large number of refugees and displaced persons put a heavy burden on the State; the Government spent 15 million dollars on teachers’ salaries alone. All children, including undocumented children, were entitled to education in Lebanese public schools regardless of nationality. There were approximately 33,000 Palestinian children in private and UNRWA schools, and 10,000 in Lebanese public schools.

School dropout was also an issue because the last cycle of education was not compulsory and, in view of the difficult economic situation, many children had to work while studying. In some instances, children left school completely to find employment or take vocational training courses.

There was a health programme in place for the first cycle of school, consisting initially of a general medical and dental check-up by accredited practitioners. Students would be referred for treatment where required. The Ministry of Health was informed where there was thought to be a danger of an epidemic. There was also an immunization programme whereby checks were conducted to ensure students were properly vaccinated and awareness was raised among families in order to detect potential diseases.

School premises were inspected to ensure that they met international standards. Children received teaching from an early age on the environment, which included conservation of water and energy, respect for biodiversity and waste management, and health, covering education on drugs and reproductive health. Those topics were included as part of the school curriculum as well as an independent project run by specialists. For displaced Syrian children, there was a person responsible for health education to discuss such issues and encourage the children to play an active role in matters that affected their lives.

Civic education was taught from the third to the ninth year of schooling. The curriculum was divided into core issues, which in turn contained lessons with principles from international conventions, notably the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The issues covered included children’s rights, such as healthy food, as well as obligations, such as showing respect for others and tolerance. Furthermore, in the fourth to the sixth years of school, children learned about families, living in society and economic life, as well as national and international politics and diplomacy. Subjects were often repeated at different stages but the content adapted to the children’s age.

The quality education for development plan for the pre-university curriculum had been established for 2010/15. Although not all of the plan’s aims had been achieved due to a shortage of financial and human resources, significant progress had been made in primary and junior education. Investment had been increased in schools to improve teaching of information technology.

Special support units had been set up, in conjunction with civil society and the relevant specialists, in over 250 state schools to assist teachers and pupils to address challenges faced by children with disabilities, learning difficulties or special needs. Schools responded to the needs of the children, rather than the other way round; hence, the curricula were adapted, and shadow teachers were trained to give individual support to children throughout their school lives. Teachers could refer children to a doctor or other qualified professional where required.

Mr. B ou A ssi (Lebanon) said that comprehensive state education was provided to all children in Lebanon, regardless of nationality. That policy was very costly but was based on humanitarian principles. Lebanese hospitals were also open to everyone regardless of citizenship, including undocumented children.

Ms. Zoughaib Mansour (Lebanon) said that the Government had adopted a dedicated mechanism based on a bottom-up approach. Through that mechanism, councils for young people had been established throughout the country and the resolutions of those councils had then been taken up at political level, resulting in a five-point policy for young people’s health. The Government was working in coordination with civil society and international organizations to implement the policy. Furthermore, the Ministry of Health was working in conjunction with the World Health Organization (WHO) to protect the health of young people through the school health programme, which was based on three areas of focus: a medical examination for all children in all schools; an appropriate school environment fostered by teachers, and proper training and guidance for teachers. Furthermore, a national strategy for school health had been launched, accompanied by an action and implementation plan for state schools.

A school truancy observatory, which monitored school attendance and truancy rates, had been set up. A census had been conducted as part of the periodic global health survey, in coordination with the WHO. The results were currently under analysis and would be published shortly.

Data from the 2011 Global School-based Student Health Survey showed that 15.2 per cent of students had seriously considered attempting suicide; 11.6 per cent had made a plan about how to do so, and 13.7 per cent had attempted suicide on one or more occasions. Other research indicated that over 12 per cent of children aged 13 to 15 had taken drugs, and over 18 per cent had tried alcohol before their tenth birthdays. Over 17 per cent of students had needed to miss school owing to the harmful effects of alcohol.

In 2015 the Ministry of Health, in cooperation with the United Nations Children’s Fund and the World Health Organization, had established a prevention and treatment plan to address mental health and drug addiction in Lebanon with the aim of providing universal access to high-quality psychiatric treatment. Another strategy to combat addiction had been developed by the Ministry of Health and the unit for addiction treatment for the period 2016 to 2021 in cooperation with the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Education and civil society stakeholders. Ministries received input from the public on the requirements of the strategy and how to align it with their practical needs. The National Observatory on Drugs and Drug Addiction had also been established.

According to the 2015 census, there were 213 HIV-positive people in Lebanon, of whom none were aged between 0 and 4 years of age, and 36 were aged between 15 and 29. HIV-positive people received antiretroviral therapy free of charge under the Ministry of Health HIV action plan.

The primary health-care network was universally accessible and composed of 230 centres, of which 68 per cent were state-run, with over 20 per cent operating under local councils, 7 per cent under the Ministry of Health and 5 per cent under the Ministry of Social Affairs. Centres in the primary health-care network were subject to a specific accreditation system, but not all centres were part of the network. Some centres had been converted into spaces where young people could spend time and ask questions relating to such topics as their sex lives. Work had started on drafting the necessary guidelines for the proper functioning of centres, which provided services including child vaccinations and maternal health protection. Centres were provided with medicines and vaccines by the Ministry of Health, and employees were given appropriate training. Public health campaigns were conducted under the vaccination programme and provided regular monitoring and follow-up care. For children with Lebanese citizenship, vaccination rates currently stood at 90.3 per cent for polio and 92 per cent for measles.

In 2015, over 1,900,000 people had used the centres, including refugees, who comprised one third of the population of Lebanon. The high number of refugees had affected public hospitals, and had overstretched the country’s medical facilities and infrastructure, although the numbers of refugees and Lebanese citizens using the services were comparable. Positive discrimination in favour of Syrian refugees, who received additional support from international organizations, had caused tensions between refugees and Lebanese citizens. Accordingly, in 2015, a strategy had been established to reduce conflict between citizens and refugees in the health-care sector by ensuring that both groups received the same services, while enhancing the capacities of health-care workers. The child mortality rate among babies born to Syrian parents in Lebanon was 7 per 1,000.

Although national law did not normally provide for medical services for undocumented children, the Ministry of Health was responsible for examining all cases individually and ensuring that undocumented children in need of treatment were able to receive it. Negotiations had begun between the National Commission for Undocumented Persons and the Government to address challenges faced by undocumented children.

Ms. Fawaz El Khoury (Lebanon) said that children considered to be at risk or experiencing legal difficulties remained with their families for as long as possible, but were placed in specialized institutions on the basis of their needs and circumstances if taken from their parents. The Adolescent Code could confer guardianship to judges if it was in the best interests of the child. Children could be placed in the care of foster parents, following tests to assess their suitability and examination. Foster families could launch adoption processes to be reviewed by the court, unless the child remained in the custody of the court. Alternative arrangements could be made in situations where a child’s father was unknown and the mother did not want custody. Cases of child abduction were addressed with the participation of all relevant authorities and the use of appropriate legal procedures.

Illegitimate children born out of wedlock or as a result of adultery were included in the birth registry as though born in wedlock. Passports and identity cards did not make reference to persons having been born out of wedlock, or indicate that their mother or father was unknown. Unless required to be revealed by a court order, information about illegitimate children should remain confidential.

There was no distinction between the registration of births of children with Lebanese citizenship and those without. Children must be registered within one year of their birth. The manner of their delivery must be indicated and documentation must be provided for the children of non-Lebanese parents. Procedures had been established to facilitate the granting of citizenship to the children of Lebanese mothers and non-Lebanese fathers until the children turned 18, although subsequent citizenship could not be guaranteed.

Regarding the 147 non-Lebanese children in detention centres, all children benefited equally from the provisions of Lebanese law, irrespective of their nationality or gender. Questioning of children took place in the presence of their parents or guardians and the social worker or other individual assigned to the case. Lawyers were required to be present in criminal proceedings, and could be appointed by the court if necessary.

No attacks had been reported on adolescents in Roumieh prison. In the event of conflict between adolescents in detention centres, the party initiating the conflict would be moved to another facility and an inquiry would be launched to identify those involved. If an adolescent was attacked prior to his or her placement in a detention centre, a social worker would inform the Ministry of Justice of those responsible and ensure that appropriate measures were taken.

A 2011 law on trafficking in persons was applicable to all children found in Lebanon, and provided for sentences of up to 10 years in prison for offenders. Competitive examinations had been conducted to increase the number of judges and magistrates operating in the area. Conferences and seminars were periodically held on trafficking in persons.

Ms. Hanineh (Lebanon) said that the Ministry for Social Affairs had overseen the creation of different disability categories, in line with World Health Organization guidelines. An official disability card was available to allow card carriers, including over 3,000 children, to benefit from special services. Cards were issued on the basis of age, place of residence and type of disability.

A number of institutions had been established to assist children with learning disabilities and allocate places for them in public and private schools. In addition, a department in the Ministry of Education organized regular training for teachers and teaching assistants in order to follow up on contracts signed between those institutions and the Ministry.

Outreach and awareness-raising campaigns had been launched to promote acceptance of children with disabilities, and provide training for professionals to help the parents of autistic children. Printed material had supplemented media outreach efforts to increase national recognition of autism. As of 2017, 137 trainers and 165 nurses had been trained as part of efforts to systematize all relevant information, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education.

Ms. Karam (Lebanon) said that a plan had been adopted in collaboration with the American University of Beirut to develop additional legislation and a national strategy on alcohol by identifying alcohol-related problems and making help available to families in order to reduce rates of alcohol addiction and drinking and driving. Moreover, Law 174 of 2011 had been enacted to reduce tobacco use and tobacco advertising. It was forbidden to distribute free samples of tobacco. In association with community groups, the Ministry of Health had organized a programme to raise awareness of the dangers of tobacco use among young people. Other awareness-raising activities included the celebration of World No Tobacco Day, as well as national prevention programmes targeting parents, teachers and students.

Ms. Ayoubi Idrissi enquired about action to raise awareness of children’s right to leisure and recreation, which was of great importance for personality development, regardless of the environment in which they lived. She asked whether the authorities, when reviewing measures taken against children in conflict with the law, took the children’s own views into account. She further wished to know whether detoxification services or centres existed for children who were addicted to drugs or alcohol.

Mr. Cardona Llorens noted that a plan to integrate students with disabilities into mainstream education had been launched. However, according to the statistics for the period from 2014 to 2016, 587 children in the 6 to 14 age group had never attended school. He asked whether any action had been taken on their behalf. The proportion of children with disabilities living in specialized institutions had dropped, but it was still quite high. He enquired about the State party’s deinstitutionalization policy. Measures on behalf of refugee children with disabilities, many of whom had fled from areas of armed conflict, were particularly important. Did the State party intend to ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities?

Mr. Nelson (Country Task Force) said that the rates of birth registration for Palestinian and Syrian refugee children were low and those for Dom and Bedouin children almost non-existent. He asked whether any measures were being taken to promote their registration. He also wished to know whether awareness-raising programmes on tobacco and drug use were organized in the country’s schools.

Mr. Kotrane (Coordinator, Country Task Force) asked how long it would take for the State party to enact the unified law on the rights of the child. He also enquired about plans to establish an independent children’s ombudsperson. Article 562 of the Criminal Code, which had mitigated sentences imposed for honour crimes, had been annulled. He asked how the judiciary currently dealt with cases involving honour crimes. He enquired about action to investigate and prosecute persons involved in the illicit drug trade. He asked whether the Ministry of Social Affairs withdrew licences from institutions in which children had been subjected to sexual abuse. The State party claimed that the only violence that occurred in Roumieh and other juvenile detention centres was among the minor detainees themselves. He asked whether there was an independent fact-finding mechanism to investigate complaints. He also queried the legitimacy of placing children charged with terrorist offences in military institutions.

Ms. Aldoseri (Country Task Force) enquired about the practical impact of the annulment of article 562 of the Criminal Code concerning mitigating circumstances for honour crimes. Had the number of so-called honour crimes decreased? She asked whether action had been taken, for instance through school curricula, to raise awareness, to condemn all forms of violence against women, and to highlight the role of women as equal partners in the family and in society.

Ms. Aho Assouma enquired about budgetary allocations for health care, the existence of anti-obesity programmes and measures to encourage breastfeeding. She asked whether support was provided for children born as a result of rape or incest. She asked whether the national strategy on child marriages had been formulated and, if so, whether measures had been taken to implement it, particularly in refugee camps. No data were available concerning victims of child trafficking. As many NGOs were engaged in combating the phenomenon, she asked whether the State party supported their work. As there were reportedly very few judges who specialized in juvenile justice, she asked whether courses in juvenile justice were being provided under the current training programme.

The meeting was suspended at 11.35 a.m. and resumed at 11.55 a.m.

Mr. Raad (Lebanon) said that Act No. 62/16 establishing the Human Rights Commission had not specified the rights that it should address, apart from providing for the creation of a Committee on the Prevention of Torture. The Commission was basically mandated to address all human rights, including the rights of the child. The Act had been adopted by the Chamber of Deputies in October 2016 as a matter of urgency, since more than 300 legislative proposals or bills were pending before Parliament at the time.

Articles 17 and 18 of the Act specified the procedure for receiving communications and complaints of human rights violations. Article 17 stated that the Commission could receive communications and complaints from any Lebanese or non-Lebanese natural person or legal entity, investigate the supporting evidence and participate in addressing them. Article 18 required the Commission to specify the procedures for verifying the reliability of complaints and of the persons filing them and to guarantee confidentiality. The Commission could not reveal the complainant’s name without the written consent of the person concerned, even after it was transmitted to the judiciary or disciplinary bodies. Article 23 of the Act dealt with complaints to the Committee on the Prevention of Torture.

The allocations for children in the 2017 budget were distributed among the Ministry for Social Affairs, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education and the Ministry of Public Health, and accounted for 1.34 per cent of the budget.

Mr. Bou Assi (Lebanon) said that 70 per cent of the budget earmarked for the Ministry for Social Affairs was allocated to children and persons with disabilities.

Ms. Challita (Lebanon) said that the National Action Plan to Eliminate the Worst Forms of Child Labour had been drawn up by the National Steering Committee against Child Labour in the Ministry of Labour. The Committee had also adopted a number of decisions concerning the challenges stemming from the Syrian crisis, which exposed displaced Syrian children to the risk of being subjected to the worst forms of child labour. A number of legislative initiatives and activities had been launched in support of the displaced children. The resulting strategies focused on ensuring comprehensive protection of the children concerned and application of the new child-friendly arrangements for their accommodation, including coverage of costs and issuance of the requisite documents. The legal provisions applicable to the agricultural sector had also been amended in line with Decree No. 8987 prohibiting the worst forms of child labour, and steps had been taken to enhance the effectiveness of inspections aimed at ensuring compliance with labour legislation.

An assessment had been conducted of the number of displaced children who were not enrolled in the education system and were employed in the worst forms of child labour. Special syllabuses on behalf of Syrian children had been introduced in public and private primary and secondary schools. Action was being taken to ensure that all relevant institutions were fully aware of the issue of child labour and capable of taking effective action to eliminate the phenomenon. The relatives of displaced children were acquainted with the available options. The Ministry of Labour collaborated with the Directorate General of Public Security in generating awareness among the relatives of displaced children along the Syrian border of the risks pertaining to the worst forms of child labour. Steps were being taken to build the capacity of the Union for the Protection of Juveniles in Lebanon and the internal security forces to address the situation of victims of child labour, including children working in the streets, adopting a child-friendly approach.

The objective was to ensure comprehensive social protection for all displaced children by the end of 2020. A portion of the household budget was allocated to action aimed at combating child labour. Financial, technical and human resources were made available to displaced families with a view to developing their skills and providing them with employment opportunities in line with the Labour Code. Financial support programmes were implemented on behalf of needy families, especially to support the rehabilitation of child victims of the worst forms of child labour. All measures were coordinated by the National Steering Committee against Child Labour in cooperation with the International Labour Organization (ILO).

Migrant workers of all ages were employed in accordance with the provisions of Lebanese law and of the memorandums of understanding and bilateral conventions signed with their countries of origin. They were subject to residential legislation and the kafalah (sponsorship) system. The Government had adopted special measures to protect domestic workers. The National Steering Committee on Women Migrant Domestic Workers had developed a standard contract based on the principle of equality and balance in terms of rights and duties between the employer and employee.

Civil society organizations assisted the Ministry of Labour in conducting labour inspections aimed, inter alia, at preventing child labour. Decree No. 8987 prohibited the recruitment of children under 18 years of age in cases where the work could adversely affect their health or physical or mental development. In particular, they should not be employed in agricultural activities that could jeopardize their health. The Ministry of Labour, in coordination with ILO and the Directorate General of Public Security, had established a subcommittee of the National Steering Committee against Child Labour to review and amend legislation concerning child labour in order to align it with relevant international legal instruments. Annex 10 to Decree No. 8987 had raised the minimum working age in safe agricultural employment to 16 years. Inspections were conducted to ensure compliance with the legislation.

Mr. Bou Assi (Lebanon) said that child begging was a major problem in Lebanon. In most cases the children formed part of an organized network. The children, who were aged between 10 and 15 years and were not enrolled in school, were placed by their employers in specific locations and picked up at the end of the day. It was difficult to decide on the best way to address the problem. Their placement in specialized institutions would be quite costly in financial terms. He urged international organizations to propose appropriate solutions.

Organ trafficking was another major problem in a country where 30 per cent of the population lived under the poverty line and there was a huge inflow of refugees. According to the regulations, no organ could be transplanted unless the source was known and consent had been secured from all parties involved.

Mr. Bou Daher (Lebanon) said that the military authorities attached high priority to respect for international humanitarian and human rights law, which had been incorporated in military academy training programmes in line with article 82 of Protocol 1 Additional to the Geneva Conventions relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts. A legal counsellor had been appointed for the purpose in the Ministry of Defence. The Parliament had voted in 2005 to abolish compulsory military service with effect from 2007, and article 30 of the National Defence Act established 18 years as the minimum age for voluntary enrolment.

Article 24 of the Code of Military Justice authorized military courts to institute criminal proceedings for the crimes of espionage and treason and offences relating to weapons and munitions. Act No. 553 of 20 October 2003 had added article 316 bis to the Criminal Code, which stipulated that any person who financed or contributed directly or indirectly to the financing of terrorism was punishable by fixed-term hard labour, and a later amendment to the Criminal Code had authorized the referral of such cases to the military courts. Articles 33 and 34 of Act No. 422 of 2002 on the protection of minors in conflict with the law concerned cases in which minors had been involved with adults in acts linked to terrorism. In such cases, the role of the military authorities consisted solely in determining the legal definition and seriousness of the offence. The competent juvenile court would then hear the case and hand down a judgment based on the Act on the protection of minors. In cases where no adults had been involved, the juvenile court assumed full responsibility. If a child was caught in flagrante delicto, the military authorities notified the child’s parents or guardian. The social workers responsible for accused minors oversaw the proceedings to ensure that no measure was taken against them until the proceedings had been formally concluded.

The military authorities gave high priority to protection against unexploded ordnance, cluster bombs and landmines. The National Demining Office acted in coordination with international, regional and local bodies. Public awareness-raising campaigns had been conducted, and training courses had been organized in public and private educational establishments. Brochures, guidelines and photographs had been circulated throughout the affected areas. Since 2006 the Lebanese army, with the assistance of regional and international organizations, had removed some 3 million unexploded ordnances. About 1 million remained, particularly along the border with Israel.

Ms. Karam (Lebanon) said that, with a view to promoting the National Plan to Protect Children Associated with Armed Violence, which was being implemented by the Higher Council for Childhood in cooperation with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), a training workshop had been held in coordination with the General Directorate of the Internal Security Forces concerning procedures for safeguarding children in police stations and during military court proceedings.

Ministry teams and relevant civil society associations had cooperated with a view to raising awareness of the Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict. The Higher Council for Childhood, in cooperation with UNICEF, was developing a plan to generate awareness of the importance of protecting children associated with armed violence. The plan targeted parliamentary committees, political parties, civil society, academics, religious leaders and of course children.

The organization Doctors Without Borders was implementing a programme in the Palestinian refugee camps aimed at assisting young people who were addicted to drugs and raising awareness among parents, community associations, municipalities and the administrative authorities. The situation had deteriorated since the Syrian crisis and vigorous action was being taken by the Ministry of Social Affairs to address the phenomenon. The Ministry was also working with a large number of civil society organizations to prevent the recruitment of child soldiers in the Palestinian camps by promoting awareness-raising campaigns and by organizing training courses to persuade children to lay down their arms.

The Higher Council for Childhood was finalizing the national strategy on early childhood development, which contained 10 strategic goals. It had already organized training courses for 70 nursery staff. The Higher Council was also developing a national strategy comprising three key targets for children with special needs. In addition, it was preparing a national strategy, in cooperation with UNICEF, to prevent child marriage. Lebanon had played a pioneering role in implementing an Internet awareness-raising campaign called Keeping Children Safe Online in 2009.

Ms. Hanineh (Lebanon) said that the Ministry of Social Affairs had forged links with a wide range of institutions with a view to protecting vulnerable children without removing them from their families. Reports were prepared after on-site visits, and eight centres had been established to hear and analyse complaints from women and children concerning diverse forms of gender-based violence and ill-treatment and to respond with appropriate services.

The increase in the number of children who were dependent on Ministry funding was due not only to poverty but also to the decease of one of the parents, the recent increase in chronic illnesses such as cancer, and abandonment of children by displaced persons.

With regard to child witnesses, the Ministry of Justice had collaborated with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in establishing a special chamber in the Palace of Justice in Beirut to hear the testimony of children who had been exposed to abuse in full confidentiality and security.

Ms. Sonia El Khoury (Lebanon) said that, in addition to the formal curriculum, educational establishments encouraged children to learn games, keep pets, prepare meals and familiarize themselves with the environment. Adolescents were alerted to the risks of addiction by trained teams of teachers, who collaborated with civil society organizations and the Ministry of the Interior.

Ms. Fawaz El Khoury (Lebanon), referring to a question as to whether children’s opinions were taken in to account when decisions concerning alternative care were reviewed, said that article 46 of Act No. 422 of 2002 on the protection of minors in conflict with the law stated that protective measures could be reviewed at any time in response to an initiative on the part of the judge or a request from the parties involved, including the child, the parents or the guardian. Violent honour crimes against women had not been properly criminalized in the past, but there were now clear-cut legal provisions prohibiting such crimes, and harsh penalties, including life imprisonment, could be imposed.

The Ministry of Justice had introduced oversight procedures, with the assistance of UNODC, to improve conditions of detention. The Directorate General of the Internal Security Forces had installed complaint boxes in prisons, and the assistance of social experts, psychologists or psychiatrists could be sought in investigating complaints submitted by detainees. All forms of violence against inmates, particularly minors, were absolutely prohibited. Four cases of child victims of trafficking had been recorded in both 2014 and 2015. Three criminal court judges specialized in legal affairs involving minors.

The meeting rose at 1 p.m.