A/HRC/16/8
78.
With regard to the Committee’s concern about the enlistment of minors — a
situation that was difficult to envisage in Andorra, although an Andorran might enlist
children in a foreign country — article 8 of the Criminal Code stipulated that Andorran
criminal law was applicable to offences committed abroad by an Andorran if they were
defined as offences in the Andorran Criminal Code or an international treaty. The system
provided an open-ended list that would cover the enlistment of child soldiers. Such an
approach was in line with the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the
Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict, which Andorra had signed on 7
September 2000.
79.
Ms. Ubach, Director of Multilateral Affairs and Cooperation, replied to the last
questions raised, regarding the Andorran Government’s preference for regularly involving
NGOs in the drafting of reports to the treaty-monitoring bodies. It had even invited
representatives of one NGO to take part in the presentation of such reports to, for example,
the Committee on the Rights of the Child and the Committee on the Elimination of
Discrimination against Women. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had organized a briefing
for Andorran NGOs on the universal periodic review procedure and had invited them to
send their reports to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human
Rights. The Government planned to make the recommendations resulting from its first
universal periodic review available to NGOs to ensure effective follow-up.
80.
Andorra had been a contributor to the United Nations Voluntary Fund on Disability
since 2008.
81.
Andorra had never faced the kinds of situation envisaged in the International
Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. The
Government gave priority to the ratification of other international conventions that had a
direct impact on Andorra. Nevertheless, Andorra regularly co-sponsored resolutions on that
convention.
82.
To conclude, the Government of Andorra reaffirmed its commitment to the defence
of human rights and took careful note of all the recommendations, which would be
forwarded to the Council of Ministers for a reply in the next few months.
II.
Conclusions and/or recommendations
83.
The recommendations formulated during the interactive dialogue/listed below
have been examined by Andorra and enjoy its support:
83.1 Carefully monitor the impact of legislation, policies and programmes to
eliminate inequality between women and men, and take steps to ensure that
equal rights are enjoyed de facto (Azerbaijan);
83.2 Enact and implement legislation that unambiguously prohibits all
corporal punishment in the home (Netherlands);
83.3 Consider withdrawing its declaration made upon ratification of the
Convention on the Rights of the Child, and continue and complete its review of
legislation to ensure full compliance with the Convention (Brazil);
83.4 Continue to develop legislation and policies to ensure effective gender
equality and to combat gender violence (Spain);
83.5 Take the gender perspective into consideration in the design of future
policies and programmes (Hungary);
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