UN Rights committee lauds Guyana’s child care policies

TIMES INT'L
Human Services and Social Security Minister Jenifer Webster
Human Services and Social Security Minister Jenifer Webster

Guyana was the first country to be reviewed at the 62nd session of the Committee on the Rights of the Child (ROC) at the Office of the High Commission on the Human Rights (OHCHR) in Geneva, Switzerland, on January 15.
This review was represented by Human Services and Social Security Minister Jenifer Webster, Presidential Advisor on Governance Gail Teixeira and National Commission on the Rights of the Child (ROC) Chairperson Aleema Nasir.
Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS) Dr Roger Luncheon explained that the committee in Geneva noted and welcomed Guyana’s commitment to the welfare of children, and expressed its approval with regards to the pieces of legislation that have been put in place to cater to the needs and protection of children.
However, the committee pointed to the need for improvement in the areas of juvenile justice and the position on corporal punishment.
The committee is expected to issue its concluding remarks and observation in the first week in February. This document will guide the government of Guyana over the next three years of its compliance with treaty obligations.
The proceedings in Geneva were publicly aired on the UN webcast and a number of entities including non-governmental organisations from Guyana were also present in Geneva.
Guyana has submitted its second, third and fourth periodic reports on the country’s implementation of the United Nations (UN) Convention on the ROC, in April 2010. Subsequently, responses to follow up issues were also submitted in early January.
The ROC is one of five rights commissions, established by a constitutional amendment with the aim of promoting programmes, policies and other actions that reflect and improve the well-being of children.

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