CRC/C/BHR/2-3 Convention on the Rights of the Child
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United Nations CRC/C/BHR/2-3 Convention on the Distr.: General 25 March 2010 Rights of the Child English Original: Arabic Committee on the Rights of the Child Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under article 44 of the Convention Second and third periodic reports of States parties due in 1999 Bahrain*, ** [12 February 2009] * In accordance with the information transmitted to States parties regarding the processing of their reports, the present document was not edited before being sent to the United Nations translation services. ** Annexes can be consulted in the files of the Secretariat. GE.10-41344 (E) 260810 300910 CRC/C/BHR/2-3 Contents Paragraphs Page I. Introduction............................................................................................................. 1–11 4 II. Basic information.................................................................................................... 12–41 5 A. Land and people ............................................................................................. 13–26 6 B. General political structure .............................................................................. 27–41 8 III. Thematic information.............................................................................................. 42–108 10 A. General measures of implementation (arts. 4, 42 and 44, para. 6).................. 42–84 10 B. Definition of the child (art. 1)......................................................................... 85–108 20 IV. General principles (arts. 2, 3, 6 and 12) .................................................................. 109–150 23 A. Non-discrimination (art. 2)............................................................................. 111–128 24 B. Best interests of the child (art. 3).................................................................... 129–138 26 C. The right to life, survival and development (art. 6) ........................................ 139–143 27 D. Respect for the views of the child (art. 12)..................................................... 144–150 28 V. Civil rights and freedoms (arts. 7, 8, 13–17 and 37 (a)).......................................... 151–190 30 A. Name and nationality (art. 7).......................................................................... 155–157 31 B. Preservation of identity (art. 8)....................................................................... 158–159 31 C. Freedom of expression (art. 13)...................................................................... 160–161 31 D. Freedom of thought, conscience and religion (art. 14) ................................... 162–164 32 E. Freedom of association and of peaceful assembly (art. 15)............................ 165–175 32 F. Protection of privacy (art. 16)......................................................................... 176 34 G. Access to appropriate information (art. 17).................................................... 177–184 34 H. The right not to be subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or Degrading treatment or punishment (art. 37 (a))..................................................... 185–190 36 VI. Family environment and alternative care................................................................ 191–249 37 A. Parental guidance (art. 5)................................................................................ 205–208 39 B. Parental responsibilities (art. 18, paras. 1 and 2)............................................ 209–213 40 C. Separation from parents (art. 9)...................................................................... 214–216 41 D. Family reunification (art. 10).......................................................................... 217–219 42 E. Recovery of maintenance for the child (art. 27, para. 4) ................................ 220 42 F. Children deprived of a family environment (art. 20)...................................... 221–237 42 G. Adoption (art. 21) ........................................................................................... 238 44 H. Illicit transfer and non-return (art. 11)............................................................ 239 45 I. Abuse and neglect (art. 19), including physical and psychological recovery and social reintegration (art. 39)...................................................... 240 45 J. Periodic review of placement (art. 25) ........................................................... 241–249 45 2 GE.10-41344 CRC/C/BHR/2-3 VII. Basic health and welfare ......................................................................................... 250–353 46 A. Survival and development (art. 6) .................................................................. 250 46 B. Children with disabilities (art. 23).................................................................. 251–292 46 C. Health and health services (art. 24) ................................................................ 293–324 53 D. Social security and child care services and facilities (arts. 18, para. 3, and 26)............................................................................................................ 325–336 60 E. Standard of living (art. 27, paras. 1–3) ........................................................... 337–353 62 VIII. Education, leisure and cultural activities (arts. 28, 29 and 31)................................ 354–452 65 A. Education, including vocational training and guidance (art. 28) .................... 354–413 65 B. Aims of education (art. 29)/quality of education............................................ 414–419 73 C. Rest, leisure, recreation and cultural activities (art. 31) ................................. 420–452 77 IX. Special protection measures. Situations of emergency (art. 6) ............................... 453–514 86 A. Refugee children (art. 22)............................................................................... 453 86 B. Children in armed conflicts (art. 38), including physical and psychological recovery and social reintegration (art. 39)............................... 454–456 86 C. Children in conflict with the law (art. 40) ...................................................... 457–498 86 D. Physical and psychological recovery and social reintegration (art. 39).......... 499–501 94 E. Economic exploitation, including child labour (art. 32)................................. 502–504 94 F. Drug abuse (art. 33)........................................................................................ 505 95 G. Sexual exploitation and sexual abuse (art. 34) ............................................... 506–509 95 H. Sale of, traffic in, and abduction of, children (art. 35).................................... 510 96 I. Other forms of exploitation (art. 36)............................................................... 511 96 J. Children belonging to a minority or an indigenous group (art. 30) ................ 512 96 K. Children living or working on the street......................................................... 513–514 96 Conclusion............................................................................................................... 515 97 GE.10-41344 3 CRC/C/BHR/2-3 I. Introduction 1. The Kingdom of Bahrain is determined to provide a comprehensive and sustainable childcare services and to safeguard children’s rights, since, as Don Herold said, “Babies are such a nice way to start people”. The National Committee on Childhood was thus established in 1999, and was restructured pursuant to Cabinet Decree No. 46 of 2007. This decree provides for the Committee’s members to be appointed from ministries, government institutions and civil associations concerned with children’s issues, and places the Committee under the authority of the Ministry of Social Development. Bahrain’s periodic report was prepared by the National Committee on Childhood, in coordination with other stakeholders. 2. This report follows on from the initial report (CRC/C/11/Add.24) which Bahrain submitted to the Committee on the Rights of the Child on 3 July 2000 and which was considered by the Committee at its 769th and 770th meetings held on 28 January 2002 and, lastly, on 1 February 2002. This report will detail the achievements scored by Bahrain with regard to children through its government and civil society institutions – achievements of which it is justly proud. Bahrain has worked on many levels to implement the recommendations contained in the concluding observations adopted by the Committee following the two aforementioned meetings, the foremost of these recommendations being to raise awareness by various means in order to build an effective partnership within society. 3. In accordance with the guidelines issued by the United Nations Secretariat on the form and contents of periodic reports and adopted by the Committee at its thirty-ninth session, held on 3 June 2005, this report endeavours to avoid repeating the contents of the initial report, to which it refers only when necessary. The Committee’s concluding observations on Bahrain’s initial report will be discussed under the relevant headings. This report also contains new annexes. These include, inter alia, the text of the Constitution of Bahrain, as amended in 2002, as well as relevant new statistical and legislative information and other important material. 4. Since it became a signatory to the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1991 and the Convention entered into force in March 1992, Bahrain has striven to create a secure environment by