eng - World Organisation Against Torture

CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS SUBMITTED BY STATES PARTIESUNDER ARTICLE 44 OF THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD1. The Committee considered the secondperiodic report of Philippines (CRC/C/65/Add.31) at its 1028th and 1029 thmeetings (see CRC/C/SR.1028 and1029) held on 18 May 2005, andadopted at the 1052nd meeting, held on3 June 2005, the following concludingobservations.A. Introduction2. The Committee welcomes the second periodicreport, which followed the establishedreporting guidelines, submittedby the State party, as well as the writtenreplies to its list of issues. TheCommittee is encouraged by the constructivedialogue it had with the Stateparty and acknowledges that the presenceof an inter-ministerial delegationinvolved in the implementation of theConvention allowed for a fuller assessmentof the situation of the rights of childrenin the State party.B. Follow-up measures undertakenand progress achieved by the Stateparty3. The Committee takes note of the adoptionduring recent years of several lawsaimed at protecting and promoting therights of children, inter alia:(a) The adoption, in 2003, of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act (Republic Act9208), which institutes policies to eliminatetrafficking in persons, in particularwomen and children, establishesinstitutional mechanisms for the protectionand support of trafficked persons,provides penalties for traffickers and alsoprohibits the recruitment, transport oradoption of children for engagement inarmed activities in the Philippines orabroad;(b) The adoption, in 2003, of theRepublic Act No. 9231, which amendsthe Special Protection of Childrenagainst Child Abuse, Exploitation and57