eng - World Organisation Against Torture

to minorities fully enjoy all of their humanrights equally and without discrimination.In this respect theCommittee recommends that the Stateparty strengthen its efforts to implementthe Indigenous Peoples Rights Act(Republic Act No. 8371) and developand implement policies and programmesin order to ensure equal access for indigenousand minority children to culturallyappropriate services, includingsocial and health services and education.Furthermore, the Committee recommendsthat the State party strengthen itsmechanisms for data collection on minorityand indigenous children so as toidentify existing gaps and barriers to theenjoyment of their human rights and witha view to developing legislation, policiesand programmes to address such gapsand barriers.94. As regards the child’s right to use his/herown language, the Committee encouragesthe State party to continue its effortsto address the linguistic needs of indigenousand minority children. In addition,the Committee recommends thatthe State party seek, in close collaborationwith indigenous and minority communitiesand their respective leaders,effective measures to abolish traditionalpractices prejudicial to the health andwell-being of indigenous and minoritychildren, such as early marriage.8. Optional Protocols to theConvention on the Rights of the Child95. The Committee welcomes the ratificationin May 2002 of the Optional Protocol tothe Convention on the Rights of theChild on the sale of children, child prostitutionand child pornography and theratification in August 2003 of theOptional Protocol to the Convention onthe Rights of the Child on the involvementof children in armed conflict.96. In order to be able to examine theimplementation of the OptionalProtocols, the Committee underlinesthe importance of a regular and timelyreporting practice. The Committee recommendsthat the State party fully meetits reporting obligations under the reportingprovisions of the OptionalProtocols and the Convention.93