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P.O. Box 2100, Route de Ferney 150,CH-1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland Tel +41/22-791 61 11Fax +41/22-791 66 30, E-mail psc@lutheranworld.org
CHILD RIGHTS IN THE KINGDOM OF THENETHERLANDS
Examination by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child of theReport of the State Party (Netherlands) on the Optional Protocol on Saleof Children at its 50
th
session (12 - 30 January 2009, Geneva)
 
On 15 and 16 January 2008, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child considered theinitial periodic report of the Kingdom of the Netherlands on the implementation of theOptional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, childprostitution and child pornography
SUMMARY OF THE COMMITTEE’S CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS
Allocation of resources
The Committee is
concerned 
about the lack of resources available to the police for theinvestigation of complaints of sexual exploitation.
The Committee
 recommends
that the State party strengthen the capacity of the police toreceive and investigate complaints of sexual exploitation by increasing human and financialresources.Independent monitoringThe Committee
 recommends
the swift passage of the draft bill on the creation of aChildren’s Ombudsman within the office of the Netherlands Ombudsman. The Committeerecommends that this office be accessible to children and their representatives at thenational and local levels. Furthermore, the Committee recommends that in addition toinvestigating complaints, the Children’s Ombudsman have the responsibility to monitor theimplementation of and promote the Convention and the Optional Protocol.Sex tourism
The Committee is
concerned 
about the existence of child sex tourism involving Dutch nationals,and the lack of an adequate response.
The Committee
 recommends
that the State party undertake measures to prevent child sextourism. This can be done by:
-
 
earmarking additional funds for public campaigns. These campaigns shouldinclude the participation of children;
 
-
 
strengthen cooperation with the tourism industry, NGOs and civil societyorganizations in order to promote responsible tourism (e.g. by the disseminationof the Code of Conduct of the World Tourist Organisation.)
 
Legislation
 The Committee is concerned that the State party’s legislation does not criminalise the productionor dissemination of materials advertising the sale of children, child prostitution or childpornography.
The Committee
 recommends
that the State party take further measures to criminalise theproduction or dissemination of such materials.
 
Protection of the rights and interests of child victims
The Committee
welcomes
that the State party provides permanent residency permits to childvictims of sale and trafficking and that it will only repatriate victims if, after investigation, it isdetermined to be in their best interests. However, the Committee
is concerned 
about the reception,supervision and provision of care to child victims of offences prohibited under the OptionalProtocol.
The Committee
 recommends
that the State partyI.
 
Ensure specific shelter and care facilities for child victims;II.
 
Improve the safety of the reception centres for unaccompanied foreignchildren;III.
 
Ensure special attention to the children in a manner appropriate for their age,and provide support services when hearing victims;IV.
 
Enhance child rights knowledge and skills of professionals in shelters and carefacilities dealing with children who are victims;Law enforcement through international cooperationThe Committee
encourages
the State party to continue its efforts to strengthen internationalcooperation by multilateral, regional and bilateral arrangements for the prevention,investigation, prosecution and punishment of those responsible for acts involving the sale of children, child prostitution, child pornography and child sex tourism.
***
The full text of the Committee’s concluding observations available from the LWF Officeof International Affairs & Human Rights on request, or online at:
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/crc/docs/co/CRC-C-OPSC-NLD-CO1.pdf  ***
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