Download Report - UNDP Asia-Pacific Regional Centre - United ...

Annexure ICountry Treaty Concluding Observations, Comments Sourceunder the age of five years remain at unsatisfactory levels.The Committee is also concerned that patriarchal andstereotypical attitudes have a negative impact on women’shealth and nutrition.Women, Twenty-fourthsession, A/56/38,paras.114–146 (15January–2 ebruary 2001)MaldivesCRCDespite the State party’s efforts in reducing the infantmortality rate and increasing child immunisation, theCommittee is concerned at the prevalence of malnutrition(stunting and iron deficiency) and high maternal mortality rate,as well as the limited access to safe water and adequatesanitation … The Committee is also concerned regardingproblems of adolescent health, in particular the high andincreasing rate of early pregnancies, the lack of access byteenagers to reproductive-health education and services, andthe insufficient preventive measures against HIV/AIDS …urthermore, the Committee expresses its concern at theinsufficient measures to promote breast-feeding of children,especially in health facilities. The Committee recommendsthat the State party promote adolescent health policies andprogrammes by, inter alia, strengthening reproductive-healtheducation and counselling services as well as improvingpreventive measures to combat HIV/AIDS … The Committeefurther suggests that a comprehensive and multi-disciplinarystudy be undertaken to understand the scope of thephenomenon of adolescent health problems, including thenegative impact of early marriages … The Committee alsorecommends that further efforts, both financial and human,such as the development of counselling services for bothyoung people and their families, be undertaken for theprevention and care of adolescents’ health problems and forthe rehabilitation of victims.Committee on the Rights ofthe Child, CRC/C/15/Add.91 (5 June 1998)NepalCEDAWThe Committee urges the Government to launch gendersensitisation and advocacy programmes aimed at the civilservice and opinion leaders, political decision makers, healthprofessionals and law enforcement officials so as to ensurethat a clear understanding of the obligations under theConvention is achieved. The Committee expresses concern atthe current law, which criminalises abortion, including incases of pregnancy through rape or incest. The Committeeconsiders that the current law on abortion contributes both tothe high maternal mortality rate in Nepal and the highernumber of women prisoners in that State. It is also concernedthat the proposed amendments to the current law continue tobe restrictive, allowing abortion only when the mother’shealth is in danger. The Committee urges the Government torevise existing legislation and to reconsider the proposedamendments so as to provide services for safe abortions. TheCommittee recommends that the Government prioritiseprevention of unwanted pregnancy through family planningservices and sex education. In these efforts, the Committeesuggests that the Government take account of generalrecommendation 24 on article 12, “Women and health”.Committee on theElimination of All forms ofDiscrimination againstWomen, Twenty-firstsession, A/54/38,paras.117–160(7–25 June 1999)Regional Human Development Report160 HIV/AIDS and Development in South Asia 2003