Objective 8: To promote and protect the rights of children I. Summary of the CSAR 431. Mozambique has ratified the UNCRC, its Optional Protocol, and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, and has adopted the Declaration of the Rights of Mozambican Children. Children’s rights are also enshrined in the Constitution. A National Plan of Action for Children, as well as a National Plan of Action for Orphans and Vulnerable Children, has been instituted for the implementation of children’s rights. 432. Despite the abundance of good intentions, children and young people in Mozambique face severe problems in the economic and social sphere, such as sexual abuse, low levels of education, child prostitution, child labour, early orphanage, lack of employment and lack of housing. Particularly vulnerable children, including children in the workforce, the girl-child, stateless children and children with disabilities, face multiple forms of marginalisation and abuse. II. Findings of the CRM 433. In 1994, the government ratified the UNCRC with no reservations and the country’s initial report was considered by the CRC in January 2002. The ratification of the convention demonstrated the government’s commitment to put in place institutional and social transformations to meet the challenges of the survival, development, protection and participation of children. In 2003 and 2004 respectively, the government acceded to the two Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, and on the involvement of children in armed conflict. 434. Mozambique is also a party to the following conventions relating specifically to the rights of children: • • 435. OAU African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, which came into force on 29 November 1999 and was ratified on 15 July 1998; and ILO Convention Concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour, which was ratified on 16 June 2003. The Constitution provides for the rights of children, particularly in Article 47. The country also enacted the new Family Law No. 10/2004, which contributes to improving the legal and institutional framework for child protection. For example, Article 282 of the Law defines parents’ duty of child custody as including the duty to protect, assist, educate and follow up their children’s physical and emotional development, while Article 291 relates specifically to children with 150 A P R M COU N T RY R EV IEW R EP ORT NO. 11