The Committee was concerned that some legal provisions restrict civil, political and socio-economic rights to citizens only. It also raised concern that some legislation may have discriminatory effects on LGBT adolescents. It recommended that Kazakhstan ensure that all children enjoy their rights to freedom of association, peaceful assembly, access to social benefits and protection on an equal basis. It also asked the State Party to provide accessible complaint mechanisms for child victims of discrimination and repeal all legislative provisions that directly or indirectly discriminate against children.
The Committee was seriously concerned about reports of torture and ill-treatment of children in police custody, care institutions and schools. It highlighted the insufficient investigation of several cases, including the alleged torture of children in police custody in Uralsk in June 2024, the deaths of children at the Ayagoz special services centre in April 2020, and alleged ill-treatment by teachers in Pavlodar. It was also concerned that most reports of torture and ill-treatment are dismissed for lack of evidence, limiting victims' access to remedies and rehabilitation. The Committee urged Kazakhstan to promptly investigate all allegations, prosecute and appropriately punish perpetrators, ensure effective remedies and rehabilitation for child victims, establish confidential and child-friendly complaint mechanisms, and strengthen independent monitoring of institutions where children are placed.
Lesotho
The Committee remained seriously concerned about continued reports of killings of children involving the mutilation of body parts for ritualistic or medicinal purposes. It also expressed concern about ineffective investigations, the near absence of successful prosecutions and weak public awareness efforts, which contribute to a perception of impunity. The Committee urged Lesotho to take urgent measures to prevent such killings involving the mutilation of body parts, work closely with traditional and religious leaders and local authorities, and ensure timely and effective investigations and prosecutions.
The Committee was alarmed that food insecurity is driving children out of school and increasing their vulnerability to trafficking, child labour and child marriage. It also highlighted concern that many children continue to face acute food insecurity following the declaration of a National Food Insecurity Disaster in July 2024, particularly in rural areas. The Committee recommended that Lesotho expedite food and nutrition assistance to affected children and families, particularly in the most severely affected rural and mountainous districts, and strengthen social protection and early warning systems so that food-insecure households with children can be identified and supported rapidly.
Slovenia
Regarding mental health, the Committee highlighted the long and unequal waiting times for children seeking mental health care, including reports that children with urgent referrals wait nearly one year in some regions for a first appointment with a child psychiatrist. It also raised concerns about shortages of specialised mental health professionals and insufficient crisis services for children experiencing suicidal thoughts, self-harm, trauma or acute psychological distress. The Committee recommended that Slovenia increase the number of child mental health specialists, reduce waiting times, and ensure accessible crisis support and treatment for children, including outside normal service hours.
The Committee was seriously concerned that many unaccompanied and separated children leave reception arrangements or discontinue the asylum process shortly after being identified. As a result, their vulnerabilities, protection needs and best interests may not be properly assessed, exposing them to heightened risks of disappearance, trafficking, exploitation and abuse. It also noted barriers faced by asylum-seeking children in accessing child protection, health care, education and other services. The Committee called for the prompt appointment of a qualified legal guardian or representative from the moment the child is identified, and suitable safe accommodation and care for unaccompanied and separated children. It also asked Slovenia to establish clear procedures for tracing missing children and to ensure timely access to child protection, health care, including mental health support, and other essential services.
Tajikistan
The Committee was concerned about the limited availability of early detection and intervention services for children with disabilities. It also highlighted shortages in specialised health care, rehabilitation, assistive technologies and community-based support, as well as barriers to inclusive education in mainstream schools. The Committee called upon the State Party to expand access to these services, accelerate deinstitutionalisation, and give priority to inclusive education with trained teachers, accessible infrastructure and appropriate learning materials.
The Committee raised serious concerns about a significant rise, particularly since July 2025, in the arbitrary detention, deportation and expulsion of asylum-seeking and refugee children without due process, legal representation or access to their families. It urged Tajikistan to end immigration-related detention, mass pushbacks and forced returns of children without procedural safeguards, ensure that the best interests of the child guide all transfer decisions, and protect family unity throughout asylum and migration proceedings.
Timor-Leste
The Committee underscored its concern about the high levels of child poverty and stunting, particularly in remote areas, and the limited reach of measures taken by the State to address malnutrition. It also highlighted gaps in access to water, sanitation and hygiene, especially in rural areas and schools. The Committee recommended that Timor-Leste strengthen social protection for children living in poverty, significantly increase resources for its 2024-2030 nutrition plan, and expand existing measures to tackle stunting and improve access to water and sanitation.
The Committee was deeply concerned about low birth registration, noting estimates that just over 60 per cent of children under five are registered and only around 31 per cent have birth certificates. It also raised concern about the widespread practice of requiring baptism certificates as a basis for identity documents, which can exclude children of other religions and those living with single mothers. The Committee called upon Timor-Leste to issue birth certificates to all children immediately after birth, expand registration services in rural and remote areas, and ensure that children of unmarried parents are properly registered.
Uganda
The Committee was concerned that the birth registration laws are not effectively enforced when births take place outside hospitals, in rural areas, and in asylum-seeking and refugee communities. It noted with concern that most children under five do not possess birth certificates. The Committee urged Uganda to expand mobile registration teams in rural areas and refugee settlements, abolish birth registration fees, including for late registration, and simplify procedures so that all children can obtain birth certificates.
The Committee remained concerned about high levels of poverty among children, particularly in the northern regions. It raised the alarm that a large number of children suffer from stunting and malnutrition, with irreversible effects on their health and development. It also noted the absence of a national school feeding policy and persistent disparities in access to safe drinking water and sanitation, especially in rural areas. The Committee recommended that Uganda strengthen child-focused social protection, address malnutrition and stunting through effective implementation of nutrition policies, and adopt a properly funded national school feeding policy.
United Republic of Tanzania
The Committee was deeply concerned about Tanzania's low age of criminal responsibility, the high number of children in detention and the extensive use of prolonged pre-trial detention, including detention with adults. It also warned that low birth registration and inadequate age safeguards can result in the death penalty being imposed on people who were under 18 at the time of the offence. The Committee urged Tanzania to raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility to at least 14, use detention only as a last resort and for the shortest possible period, ensure children are held separately from adults, and strengthen age-registration safeguards to prevent children from being wrongly prosecuted as adults.
The Committee raised serious concerns about persistent discrimination against children with albinism, children with disabilities, indigenous children, children living in rural areas and children living in poverty. It also raised concerns about the non-recognition of the right to identity of LGBTI children and discrimination against girls in access to services and education, as well as in inheritance and property rights. The Committee called on Tanzania to address discrimination in law and practice, implement its National Action Plan on Albinism, remove discriminatory barriers affecting girls, and strengthen measures to protect children from discrimination and ensure access to remedies.
The above findings, officially named Concluding Observations, are now available on the session page.
