REPUBLIC OF GUINEA-BISSAU MINISTRY OF SOCIAL SOLIDARIETY, FAMILY AND FIGHT AGAINST POVERTY WOMEN AND CHILDREN’S INSTITUTE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR STUDIES AND RESEARCH (INEP) CENTER FOR SOCIO-ECONOMIC STUDIES UNICEF REPORT ON THE APPLICABILITY OF THE CONVENTION ON CHILDREN’S RIGHTS IN GUINEA-BISSAU Consultants Fodé Abulai Mane (Jurist)- Coordinator Paulina Mendes (Sociologist) Report December 2008 Table of Contents Introduction..............................................................................................................7 1. Country.......................................................................................................……..8 i. Geographic and demographic context ........................................................................................8 ii.Economic and political context ..................................................................................................9 2. Definition of a Child ............................................................................................9 i. Full legal age/Adult - Legal and Customary Base....................................................................10 ii. Employment/ Child Labour ....................................................................................................10 iii. Militarization/Draft (Minimm age of recruitment).................................................................12 iv. Marriage and Sexual Practices................................................................................................12 v. Adoption, guardianship or custody..........................................................................................13 vi. Child/Human trafficking ........................................................................................................13 vii. Child’s Criminal Responsibility ...........................................................................................14 viii. Alcohol and drug consumption ............................................................................................14 ix. Right to education...................................................................................................................14 x. Preventing cruel treatment against children ............................................................................16 xi. Participation in the political life..............................................................................................16 3. General measures of implementation .........................................................…17 i. Implementation Proceedures and Political/Legislative Harmonization of National Rights with the CDC .......................................................................................................................................17 ii. Policy coordination, network and mechanisms for the monitoring of measures expected by the CDC .......................................................................................................................................19 iii. Participation of children in the implementation of CDC........................................................20 iv. Dissemination of CDC............................................................................................................20 v. Cooperation with NGOs ..........................................................................................................24 vi. Decentralization of measures related to children’s protection ...............................................26 4. General Principles ............................................................................................27 i. Principle of Non-discrimination ...............................................................................................27 ii. Children’s Best Interest ...........................................................................................................28 iii. The right to life, survival and development............................................................................29 iv. Respect to children’s opinions................................................................................................29 5. Civil Rights and Liberties .................................................................................32 i. Birth Registration/Certification ................................................................................................32 ii. Freedom of Speech .................................................................................................................33 iii. Freedom of Association..........................................................................................................34 Cult, Conscienciouness and Religion ..........................................................................................34 v. Acess to appropriate information/right to privacy...................................................................35 vi. Prevention against torture, inhumane and degrading treatment .............................................35 1 6. Family environment and alternative guardianship .......................................36 i. Parental responsabilities, rights and obligations.......................................................................36 ii. Security an social reinsertion of children ................................................................................36 iii. Institutionalization of children in fostercare shelters: Reabilitation, reeducation, reitegration of vulnerable children and youth in conflict with the law ...........................................................37 7. Basic Health and Well-Being............................................................................37 i. Children’s survival and development .......................................................................................37 ii. Incapacity and deficiency .......................................................................................................38 iii. Mother-Child’s health ............................................................................................................39 iii. Family planning, regulation of harmful traditional and cultural practices (Femal Genital Mutilation, early/forced Marriage) and traficking.......................................................................41 v. HIV/AIDS, and other STDs: Prevention, controle e treatment ...............................................44 vii. Services that guarantee children’s care .................................................................................47 8. Education, Leasure and cultural activities .....................................................47 i. National Policy/Strategy for Education ...................................................................................47 ii. Challenges and Perspectives....................................................................................................48 iii. Promotion of recreational activities, leasure and cutural activities ........................................49 9. Especial Measures to Protect/Children in Emergency Situations ................49 i. Disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of children incorporated in the defense and security forces ..............................................................................................................................49 ii. Reitegration and reinsertion of displaced and returned children iii.. Protection of children victms of kidnap or sexual abuse.......................................................50 10. Children in Conflict with the Law .................................................................50 i. Political actions, legal reforms and concrete actions................................................................50 ii. Expectations/follow-up and legal support for children ..........................................................51 iii. Reform, reabilitation and institucionalization of the protection of affected children ...........51 iv. Alternative Legal Mechanisms/Institutions............................................................................51 11. Environmental Protection...............................................................................52 i. The right to a safe and healthy environment ............................................................................52 ii. Protection of street children and vendors ...............................................................................52 Conclusion .............................................................................................................52 Challenges and Perspectives.................................................................................54 Bibliography...........................................................................................................56 Attachments ...........................................................Error! Bookmark not defined. 2 List of Graphs Graph 1- Demographic distribution by region…………………………………………………9 Graph II. Correlation between the socio-professional situation of the parent/guardian and the amount of time children spend undertaking other chores ………………………………………11 Graph III. Children who are students and workers.....………………………………………...12 Graph IV- Children from age 6 who attend school…..................................................................15 Graph V- Parity between sexes in the education system ……………………………………….16 Graph VI- Correlation between the parent/guardian’s level of education