United Nations CRC/C/SYC/2-4 Convention on the Distr.: General 27 April 2011 Rights of the Child Original: English Committee on the Rights of the Child Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under article 44 of the Convention Combined second, third and fourth periodic reports of States parties due in 2007 Seychelles* [6 July 2009] * In accordance with the information transmitted to States parties regarding the processing of their reports, the present document was not formally edited before being sent to the United Nations translation services. GE.11-42420 (E) 100511 CRC/C/SYC/2-4 Contents Paragraphs Page Executive summary.......................................................................................................................... 4 I. Background to the combined second, third and fourth periodic reports ................. 1–12 5 II. General measures of implementation...................................................................... 13–55 6 A. Measures taken to implement the provisions of the Convention.................... 13–46 6 B. Measures to promote public awareness of the Convention ............................ 47–54 12 C. Concluding remarks and recommendations ................................................... 55 13 III. Definition of the child............................................................................................. 56–65 13 A. Definition of the child under Seychelles law.................................................. 56 13 B. The age of majority ........................................................................................ 57 13 C. Other legal minimum ages.............................................................................. 58–64 13 D. Concluding remarks and recommendations.................................................... 65 14 IV. General principles ................................................................................................... 66–89 15 A. Non-discrimination (art. 2)............................................................................. 66–74 15 B. Best interests of the child (art. 3).................................................................... 75–80 16 C. The right to life, survival and development (art. 6) ........................................ 81 17 D. Respect for the views of the child (art. 12)..................................................... 82–87 17 E. Concluding remarks and recommendations.................................................... 88–89 18 V. Civil rights and freedoms........................................................................................ 90–113 18 A. Right to a name, nationality and identity (art. 7)............................................ 90 18 B. Preservation of the child’s identity (art. 8) ..................................................... 91 19 C. Freedom of expression (art. 13)...................................................................... 92–100 19 D. Freedom of thought, conscience and religion (art. 14) ................................... 101 20 E. Freedom of association and of peaceful assembly (art. 15)............................ 102–103 20 F. Protection of privacy (art. 16)......................................................................... 104 20 G. The right not to be subjected to torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (art. 37 (a))............................................. 105 20 H. Access to appropriate information (art. 17).................................................... 106–109 21 I. Concluding remarks and recommendations.................................................... 110–113 21 VI. Family environment and alternative care................................................................ 114–225 21 A. Parental guidance (art. 5)................................................................................ 117–118 22 B. The right to family life ................................................................................... 119–158 22 C. Separation from parents (art. 9)...................................................................... 159–161 27 D. Family reunification (art. 10).......................................................................... 162 27 E. Recovery of maintenance for the child (art. 27) ............................................. 163–164 27 2 GE.11-42420 CRC/C/SYC/2-4 F. Children unable to live with their families (art. 20)........................................ 165–183 27 G. Adoption (art. 21) ........................................................................................... 184–187 30 H. Illicit transfer and non-return (art. 11)............................................................ 188 30 I. Abuse and neglect (art. 19) including physical and psychological recovery and social integration (art. 39)......................................................... 189–220 30 J. Concluding remarks and recommendations.................................................... 221–225 34 VII. Health and welfare (art. 24) .................................................................................... 226–338 35 A. Health and health services .............................................................................. 226–243 35 B. Health education and preventive health-care services (art. 24, para. 2 (f)) ......................................................................................... 244–289 37 C. Other health-related provisions in the Convention ......................................... 290–294 44 D. An adequate standard of living (art. 27) ......................................................... 295–316 44 E. The environment............................................................................................. 317–331 46 F. Concluding remarks and recommendations.................................................... 332–338 48 VIII. Education, leisure and cultural activities................................................................. 339–388 49 A. Education, including vocational training and guidance (art. 28) .................... 339–344 49 B. Aims of education........................................................................................... 345–346 50 C. Compliance with the Convention (art. 28) ..................................................... 347–370 50 D. Leisure, recreational and cultural activities (art. 31) ...................................... 371–386 53 E. Concluding remarks and recommendations.................................................... 387–388 54 IX. Special protection measures.................................................................................... 389–420 55 A. Children in conflict with the law (arts. 37, 39 and 40) ................................... 389–399 55 B. Children in situations of exploitation ............................................................. 400–415 56 C. Children of minority or indigenous populations (art. 30)............................... 416 58 D. Concluding remarks and recommendations.................................................... 417–420 58 Annexes I. Vital statistics in Seychelles, 2001–2006......................................................................................... 59 II. Tables and charts.............................................................................................................................. 60 Bibliography .................................................................................................................................... 79 GE.11-42420 3 CRC/C/SYC/2-4 Executive summary This document constitutes the combined second, third and fourth periodic reports submitted by the Republic of Seychelles as a State party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, in accordance with article 44, paragraph 1 (a) of the Convention and it covers the period 1997–2007. The report contains details of legislative and policy measures taken by the Member State to implement the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, with due regard to the local context, the existing legislative framework and the financial and human resources constraints which the country as a small island developing state faces. It also reflects the cultural context of the country, as Seychelles is unique in its multi ethnic make up devoid of any indigenous people and a high level of racial harmony and integration. The cooperation of NGOs and the civil society in general who continues to make a social investment in our children is also acknowledged in the report. The present report comprises of plans and projects for the future to be undertaken both by the Government and NGOs. This is balanced by shortcomings, possible solutions and recommendations for the future. 4 GE.11-42420 CRC/C/SYC/2-4 I. Background to the combined second, third and fourth periodic reports 1. This is the Seychelles combined second, third and fourth periodic reports to the Committee on the Rights of the Child (the Committee) submitted under article 44, paragraph 1 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. 2. The Seychelles was one of the first countries to ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1990. The initial report on the implementation of the Convention in Seychelles discussed implementation over a five-year period, from 1990 to 1995. 3. The Committee considered the initial report of Seychelles (CRC/C/3/Add.64), submitted on 7 February 2001, at its 815th and 816th meetings (see CRC/C/SR.815 and 816), held on 23 September 2002. 4. In order to help the State party