CRC/C/DOM/CO/3-5

Dominican Republic (CRC 06-03-2015)

The Committee considered the combined third to fifth periodic reports of the Dominican Republic (CRC/C/DOM/3-5) at its 1932nd and 1934th meetings (see CRC/C/SR.1932 and 1934), held on 12 and 13 January 2015, and at its 1983rd meeting, held on 30 January 2015, adopted the following concluding observations.

Concluding observations

B. General principles (arts. 2, 3, 6 and 12)

Non-discrimination

17. While noting as positive the criminalization of discrimination and the adoption of some relevant policies, such as the National Gender Equality and Equity Plan (2007-2017), the Committee remains concerned about:

(a) The low rate of implementation of relevant policies and the lack of strategies targeting particular groups of children;

(b) Persistent discrimination against and gender stereotyping of women and girls, often perpetuated in the media and in campaigns for promoting tourism, which contribute to the high prevalence of gender-based violence, particularly against girls of Haitian origin;

(c) The prevalence of discrimination against children of Haitian origin, especially with regard to their right to education;

(d) Continuous discrimination and/or violence against children with disabilities, children living with HIV/AIDS, children in marginalized urban and rural areas, children in street situations, lesbian, gay bisexual, transgender and intersex children and children from disadvantaged and marginalized communities.

18. The Committee recommends that the State party:

(a) Urgently address discrimination against children, including by allocating adequate resources to implementing existing policies, adopting further strategies and devising indicators, and setting up a monitoring mechanism;

(b) Provide child-friendly complaint mechanisms in educational establishments, health centres, juvenile detention centres, alternative care institutions and any other settings and ensure that all discriminatory acts are sanctioned in accordance with the Criminal Code;

(c) Increase efforts to eliminate patriarchal attitudes and gender stereotypes that discriminate against women and girls. The media and the tourism sector should be particularly targeted;

(d) Ensure that professionals working with and for children, students, the media and the general public are sensitized to the negative impact of such stereotypes and discriminatory attitudes on children’s enjoyment of their rights.