_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________<\/p><\/div>\n
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Committee on the Rights of the Child <\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n\n
Consideration of the reports submitted by States parties under article 44 of the Convention <\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n\n
Combined second, third and fourth periodic reports of States parties due in 2008 <\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n\n
Israel*<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
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[11 June 2010]<\/p><\/div>\n
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______________<\/p><\/div>\n
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*In accordance with the information transmitted to the States parties regarding the processing of their reports, the present document was not edited. <\/span> <\/span> <\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\n
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I.\t<\/span>Introduction<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t1.
\t<\/span>This is the second periodic report of the State of Israel, submitted to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child in accordance with the requirements of article 44 of the International Convention on the Rights of the Child (hereinafter referred to as the “Convention. This report has been compiled by the Human Rights and Foreign Relations Department of the Ministry of Justice, in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other Israeli Government bodies. Israeli non-governmental organizations (NGOs) were also invited to submit comments prior to the compilation of the present report, both through direct application, and a general invitation to submit remarks, which was posted on the Ministry of Justice website. Their contributions were given substantial consideration.\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t2.
\t<\/span>Since the submission of the initial report (CRC\/C\/8\/Add.44), many legislative, administrative and judicial developments relevant to the implementation of the Convention have occurred. A brief summary of the most significant of these changes is set out below. This report provides a comprehensive account of these developments. It also addresses the comments made by the Committee in its concluding observations (CRC\/C\/15\/Add.195) dated 10 October 2002.\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\/…\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
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\t<\/span><\/strong><\/span>IV.\t<\/span>General principles<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\n
\t<\/span>A.\t<\/span>Article -6- The right to life, survival and development<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n\n
\t\t<\/span>\/…<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n\n
\t\t<\/span>The right to life, survival and development of children with disabilities<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t
General<\/strong>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t158.
\t<\/span>In 2007, 293,000 disabled or chronically ill children resided in Israel, amounting to 12.8 per cent of the total population of children in the country. Approximately 176,000 children (out of the 293,000) are disabled or suffer from a chronic illness. Of these, 7.7 per cent suffer from disabilities that impinge upon their daily functioning for a period of at least a year.\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t159.
\t<\/span>The percentage of children who suffer from at least one disability among the Bedouin population (in the southern Negev area) stands at 9.1 per cent, at 8.3 among the total population of Arab children, and at 7.6 per cent among Jewish children.\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t160.
\t<\/span>Between the years 2001–2005 there was a decrease in the percentage of children with disabilities who were either sexually assaulted or were victims of family violence (from 11.2 per cent to 9 per cent).\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t161.
\t<\/span>In comparison with western countries, Israel has a relatively high rate of children born at a very low weight. The rate of children born with low birth weights increased from 15.8 per cent (on average) between 1995 and 1998, and 18 per cent in 2005.\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t162.
\t<\/span>Approximately 25 per cent of children with disabilities live with two unemployed parents, who in many cases depend on an income support pension. Among the Bedouin population, 50 per cent of the children with disabilities’ fathers are unemployed.\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\/…\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
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Education<\/strong>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t164.
\t<\/span>In Israel there are approximately 46,000 pupils in the Special Education System; which includes kindergartens for disabled children, schools for disabled children, and classrooms in regular schools which are allocated to disabled children. Between the years 2002–2005 the rate of disabled pupils and classrooms assigned to disabled children in regular schools grew by 16 per cent. In the same period, the number of kindergartens for disabled children grew by 26 per cent. In 2005, approximately 72,164 children with disabilities were incorporated into the regular education system.\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\/…\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
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\t\t<\/span>Data on children and institutions <\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t167.
\t<\/span>As of 2009, 57,943 children with disabilities were placed in various educational facilities. This number represents 3.2 per cent of the total number of pupils (approximately 1.8 million) in Israel. 9,677 attend special education kindergartens, 27,592 study in special education classrooms within regular schools and 20,674 attend special education schools.\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t168.
\t<\/span>There are approximately 75,000 children with disabilities included in the regular educational system. Approximately 56,000 (75 per cent) are Jewish and the remaining 19,000 (25 per cent) are members of Israel’s Arab population. The Special Education Law applies to approximately 133,000 children, 103,000 of which study in regular education institutions (in regular classrooms or in special education classrooms) and 30,000 study in institutions designated for children with disabilities.\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tTable 1\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
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Number of pupils and classrooms in special education institutions, 2009<\/strong>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n
\n\n| \n Population groups <\/i><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n Classrooms<\/i><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n Pupils<\/i><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n| \n Jewish<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 5 077<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 45 145<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| \n Arab<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 1 000<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 9 416<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| \n Druze<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 161<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 1 343<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| \n Bedouin<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 215<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 2 039<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| \n Total<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n| \n 6 453<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n| \n 57 943<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n\n\t\t\t\t Source:<\/i> The Ministry of Education 2009.\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\/…\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n \n \t\t<\/span>Personal assistance <\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\/…\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n \n\t\t\t\t181. \t<\/span>In addition to the above the Rights of Pupils with Learning Disabilities in Secondary Education Facilities Law 5768-2008 was recently enacted. This law affirms the rights of pupils with learning disabilities to adjustments in the criteria for admission to secondary education facilities (academic technological rabbinical or professional) as well as in the exams and other assignments that they are required to sit and submit throughout school years.\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t182. \t<\/span>Moreover modifications of matriculation exams for children with Learning Disabilities were approved. In 2007 62 912 out of 281 511 pupils (22.3 per cent) requested modifications to their matriculation exams due to learning disabilities. The majority of the applications were approved. Among the Arab population 3 207 of the 46 579 pupils (6.9 per cent) requested that adjustments be made and these requests were approved. Among the Druze population 246 of the 5 689 pupils (4.3 per cent) requested that adjustments be made and their requests were approved.\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n \t\t<\/span>\/…<\/p><\/div>\n\n \t<\/span>B.\t<\/span>Article 2 – Non-discrimination and equal opportunity<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\/…\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n \n \t\t<\/span>Differences between Jewish and Arab children<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t197. \t<\/span>Gaps between the Arab and Jewish population with respect to child development services have considerably decreased in recent years. Eight child development centres which provide health services have been opened in close proximity to Arab populations in addition to the opening of the development institute located at the French Hospital in Nazareth. Recent years have witnessed an increase in the establishment of Child Development Centers in majority Arab areas.\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t198. \t<\/span>Currently there are 34 child development institutes and 65 units that are recognized by the Health Division of the Israeli Ministry of Health. These units primarily serve children who suffer from arrested development difficulties. In majority Arab areas there are six units that serve children with developmental difficulties and one development institute. The services provided at these facilities include access to preventive medical care tracking delays in development diagnostic services and support services (such as psychological and counselling services). This indicates significant progress in medical and therapeutic services for disabled Arab children and Arab children who suffer from arrested development.\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\/…\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n \n \t\t<\/span>Children’s television programmes<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\/…\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n \n\t\t\t\t294. \t<\/span>In accordance with the recommendation contained in paragraph 26 of the concluding observations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child, the right to non-discrimination must carry out comprehensive public education campaigns. Hence, the Israeli Broadcasting Authority devotes considerable efforts to encouraging tolerance and equality among children and youth. The Authority emphasizes the importance of impartiality and equivalence between dissimilar races, diverse skin colour, different ethnicities, origins and nationalities. The Broadcasting Authority — television and radio — transmits varied programmes on the subject of religious pluralism, co-existence between the Arab and the Jewish population, children and children with disabilities, children of immigrants, children of foreign workers and so on. These programmes aim to educate children, teach them about the various populations in the society and how to accept diverseness.\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t295. \t<\/span>Attention is paid to fighting racism and communal segregation among youth. Daily news covers social and legal racial discrimination and struggles in order to raise awareness of the issue among adults and children.\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\/…\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n <\/p>\n \n V. Family environment and alternative care<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n\n \t<\/span><\/strong>\t<\/span>\/…<\/p><\/div>\n\n \t\t<\/span>Family size<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t319. \t<\/span>As indicated in table No. 3 below, in 2008 the average number of children per family was 2.38, which is similar to the average reported in Israel’s initial report. Large families with four or more children comprise 16.43 per cent of all families, while approximately one-third of all families have only one child. The number of children in families varies greatly according to sub-population: Jewish families have an average of 2.24 children, while Arab families have an average of 2.95 children. Large families with four children or more comprise 12.7 per cent of Jewish families and 30.8 per cent of Arab families. The ultra-orthodox Jewish population is also characterized by large families.\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t320. \t<\/span>New immigrant families that came to Israel during the 1990’s tend to be smaller: In 2005, 50 per cent of these families had one child, compared with 33 per cent of the general population (in 2006). Between 1996 and 2008, the population of Jewish children decreased from 35.84 per cent to 33.11 per cent, while simultaneously, the number of Arab children decreased from 50.8 per cent to 49.63 per cent.\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\tTable 3\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n \n\t\t\t\t Number of children per family, by sub-population (average and percentage)<\/strong>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n \n\n| \n 2001<\/i><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 2008<\/i><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n| \n Number of children<\/i><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n Total population<\/i><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n Number of children<\/i><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n Total population<\/i><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n| \n Average <\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 2.35<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n Average <\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 2.38<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| \n Percentage<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n –<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n Percentage<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n –<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| \n 1 child<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 34.20<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 1 child<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 31.4<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| \n 2 children<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 29.90<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 2 children<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 32.23<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| \n 3 children<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 18.90<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 3 children<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 19.95<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| \n 4 or more children<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 16.80<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 4 or more children<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 16.43<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n \n\t\t\t\t Source:<\/i> The Central Bureau of Statistics, Statistical Abstract of Israel, 2009.\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n \t\t<\/span><\/strong>\/…<\/p><\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t321. \t<\/span>In Israel, most families (90 per cent) with children are headed by two parents; the remainder (10 per cent) are single-parent families. There are fewer single-parent families in the Arab population (5.5 per cent), and significantly more such families among the new immigrant population (29.56 per cent). Most (57.6 per cent) single parents are divorced, 13.2 per cent of single parents are married but live separately, 18.8 per cent are widowed and 10.4 per cent were never married.\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\/…\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n \n \t\t<\/span>Social services support<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n\n \t\t<\/span>Social welfare departments<\/i><\/p><\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t350. \t<\/span>Social welfare departments assist with the placement of children in day care centres so as to assist working mothers. In some cases, particularly in families that are unable to adequately care for their children, the Social Welfare Departments will refer the children to a centre and finance their care. As of May 2009, 14,000 children were placed in day care centres or family day care by the Social Welfare Department. Six various day care facilities operate within municipalities with an Arab majority, among them are 280 infants and 250 children that were placed in day-care facilities by the Social Welfare Departments.\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\/…\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n \n \t\t<\/span>The Counseling and Psychological Services Department<\/i><\/p><\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t352. \t<\/span>The Counseling and Psychological Services (“Shefi”) Department is a department within the Ministry of Education responsible for providing counselling and psychological Services, as well as educational counselling for pupils, parents and educators.\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t353. \t<\/span>Resource distribution is as follows: “Shefi” currently allocates a total of 1,302 educational psychologists to kindergartens and schools in every local authority in Israel. 1,023 psychologists are allocated to the Jewish population and 159 are assigned to the Arab population. Among these, 71 are specialized in educational counselling and psychological services, fourteen are allocated to work with the Bedouin population and five are assigned to work with the Druze population.\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t354. \t<\/span>With respect to kindergartens, “Shefi” operates an educational advisory service for kindergartners composed of children aged 3 to 6. The guidance is given by M.A. graduate educational advisors who are trained to deal with infants.\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t355. \t<\/span>With respect to schools, “Shefi” currently allocates approximately 4,300 educational advisors to all official educational institutions (440 of which work with the Arab population, 70 with the Druze population and 37 with the Bedouin population).\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t356. \t<\/span>Shefi plays a major role in the process of assimilation and implementation of the new Directive 5770\/1(A) (September 2009) of the Director General of the Ministry of Education, which was concerned with the creation of a safe environment, and treatment against violence in educational institutions. The Directive comprises policy for the prevention of violence and the creation of a safe environment. The scope of the policy includes the advancement of schools’ cultural environments, inter-personal communications, emotional and social studies, environmental studies, the importance of accepting children with disabilities and cooperation with parents. The Directive includes specific rules regarding violent behaviour while presenting a positive model of behavioural norms in accordance with the recommendations of the State Comptroller.\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t357. \t<\/span>Since 2005, “Shefi” annually updates its website regarding the HIV virus and the Ministry of Education’s website (prior to World AIDS Day). The websites includes theoretical and preventive information, surveys, and educational job offers for HIV infected youth.\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\/…\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n \n \t<\/span><\/strong><\/span>E.\t<\/span>Articles 20 and 25– Children deprived of a family environment<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\n \t\t<\/span><\/strong>\/…<\/p><\/div>\n\n \t\t<\/span>Residential facilities<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n\n \t\t<\/span>Residential settings and boarding schools<\/i><\/p><\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t393. \t<\/span>In recent years the State has accelerated the development of new residential-care models. For instance, community-based residential settings and group homes have been established in collaboration with Non-Government organizations. The residences located in the child’s home community encourage her\/his parents to participate in her\/his daily activities and in decisions concerning her\/him. In addition, family units are being built for twelve to fourteen member families. Some of the units are part of larger residential settings whereas others function as individual Group Homes scattered throughout the community. Some residential facilities provide a “Day-Care” programme where the children arrive in the morning and return to their family homes mid- afternoon.\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n \t\t<\/span>Children and youth in residential facilities<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\tTable 6\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n \n\t\t\t\t Presents status of placement in boarding schools by social services<\/strong>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n \n\n| \n Distribution by age <\/i><\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n Number of children<\/i><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n| \n (iii)\t<\/span>0–5<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n (iv)\t<\/span>62 (0.9%)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n| \n (v)\t<\/span>6–12<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n (vi)\t<\/span>2 400 (36.6%)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n| \n (vii)\t<\/span>13–18<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n (viii)\t<\/span>3 899 (59.5%)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n| \n (ix)\t<\/span>19 +<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n (x)\t<\/span>196 (3%)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n| \n | | | | | | | | | | | | |