F. Disability, basic health and welfare (arts. 6, 18 (3), 23, 24, 26, 27 (1–3) and 33)
Adolescent health
46. The Committee notes the efforts undertaken by the State party to prevent and reduce alcohol consumption and smoking among adolescents. However, the Committee is concerned that laws are not respected or enforced, resulting in the easy availability of alcohol, especially non-registered alcohol, for adolescents and an increase in drinking, including binge drinking, among young people, especially girls, as well as an increase in the use of psycho-active drugs. The Committee is further concerned about the lack of long-term, systematic health education, including on sexuality, responsible sexual behaviour and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS.
47. In the light of its general comments No. 4 (2003) on adolescent health and No. 3 (2003) on HIV/AIDS and the rights of the child, the Committee recommends that the State party strengthen measures to address alcohol and drug consumption and abuse, in general, as well as alcohol use by children and adolescents, through education programmes and campaigns to promote healthy lifestyles, and ensure enforcement of regulations on the sale and advertising of alcohol and tobacco products to children. The Committee also recommends that the State party strengthen measures to raise awareness on sexual and reproductive health, with special attention to sexually transmitted infections, and ensure systematic health education.
Link to full text of the report: Concluding Observations-CRC-Croatia-2014-eng
