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(g)
Sexual abuse and exploitation (art. 34). Young children, especially girls, are
vulnerable to early sexual abuse and exploitation within and outside families. Young children in
difficult circumstances are at particular risk, for example girl children employed as domestic
workers. Young children may also be victims of producers of pornography; this is covered by
the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child
prostitution and child pornography of 2002;
(h)
Sale, trafficking and abduction of children (art. 35). The Committee has
frequently expressed concern about evidence of the sale and trafficking of abandoned and
separated children for various purposes. As far as the youngest age groups are concerned, these
purposes can include adoption, particularly (though not solely) by foreigners. In addition to the
Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, the 1993
Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Intercountry
Adoption provides a framework and mechanism for preventing abuses in this sphere, and the
Committee has therefore always consistently and strongly urged all States parties that recognize
and/or permit adoption to ratify or accede to this treaty. Universal birth registration, in addition
to international cooperation, can help to combat this violation of rights;
(i)
Deviant behaviour and lawbreaking (art. 40). Under no circumstances should
young children (defined as under 8 years old; see paragraph 4) be included in legal definitions of
minimum age of criminal responsibility. Young children who misbehave or violate laws require
sympathetic help and understanding, with the goal of increasing their capacities for personal
control, social empathy and conflict resolution. States parties should ensure that
parents/caregivers are provided adequate support and training to fulfil their responsibilities
(art. 18) and that young children have access to quality early childhood education and care, and
(where appropriate) specialist guidance/therapies.
37.
In each of these circumstances, and in the case of all other forms of exploitation (art. 36),
the Committee urges States parties to incorporate the particular situation of young children into
all legislation, policies and interventions to promote physical and psychological recovery and
social reintegration within an environment that promotes dignity and self-respect (art. 39).
VII. CAPACITY-BUILDING FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD
38.
Resource allocation for early childhood. In order to ensure that young children’s rights
are fully realized during this crucial phase of their lives (and bearing in mind the impact of early
childhood experiences on their long-term prospects), States parties are urged to adopt
comprehensive, strategic and time-bound plans for early childhood within a rights-based
framework. This requires an increase in human and financial resource allocations for early
childhood services and programmes (art. 4). The Committee acknowledges that States parties
implementing child rights in early childhood do so from very different starting points, in terms of
existing infrastructures for early childhood policies, services and professional training, as well as
levels of resources potentially available to allocate to early childhood. The Committee also
acknowledges that States parties may be faced with competing priorities to implement rights
throughout childhood, for example where universal health services and primary education have
still not been achieved. It is nonetheless important that there be sufficient public investment in