On 9 December 1997 the Nicaraguan Congress approved the new Codigo de la Niñez y la Adolescencia (Childhood and Adolescence or Juvenile Code), "which reflects the articles contained in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (Casa Alianza 14 Dec. 1997). The Convention addresses issues affecting children, "particularly children considered to be in specially difficult circumstances" (ibid. 15 Dec. 1997).

In addition to ratifying the Convention in 1990, the government established in 1994 the National Commission to Defend and Promote Children's Rights, chaired by the President and comprised of "representatives of social sector governmental institutions and civil society" (UNICEF 4 Feb. 1998). The Commission's initial work has been aimed at "developing an administrative structure to ensure and monitor children's rights" (ibid.); it also cooperated "with the Nicaraguan Coordinator of NGOs Working with Children—a consolidated body of 30 NGOs— in drafting a Child and Adolescent Code to bring national law in compliance with the Convention" (ibid.).

The government also published for dissemination among diverse sectors of Nicaraguan society a report titled Children's Rights in Nicaragua: Progress and Difficulties, and "launched a sex education campaign with the help of NGOs to acquaint children with their rights and responsibilities as parents" (ibid.).

The Nicaraguan government has also established the Nicaraguan Fund for Childhood and Family (Fondo Nicaraguense de la Niñez y la Familia, FONIF), "the Nicaraguan government department responsible for family counseling and the protection of children" (Hogar de Proteccion Rolando Carazo 10 Dec. 1997). FONIF also oversees the process of adoption in Nicaragua (Seedlings Inc. 4 Feb. 1998), and has sponsored centres that provide "skills-training workshops" where priority is given to children "who are considered most at risk" (UNICEF 4 Feb. 1998).

An orphanage located on the outskirts of Managua cares for "abandoned, abused and neglected children from birth through age 12" (Hogar de Proteccion Rolando Carazo 10 Dec. 1997). Children are taken to the orphanage "due to family poverty, dysfunctional families due to drug use, prostitution, sexual abuse and other perilous situations as well as children taken from their families by government entities and 'street children' who are unable to care for themselves" (ibid.). Although self-governed, the orphanage's monitors are by FONIF (ibid.).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

Casa Alianza [San Jose, Costa Rica]. 15 December 1997. "Casa Alianza Announces New Program For Nicaragua." [Internet] http://www.casa-alianza.org/news/shoot/ shoot21.htm [Accessed 4 Feb. 1998]

_____. 14 December 1997. "Nicaragua: New Juvenile Code Approved." [Internet] http://www.casa-alianza.org/news/shoot/shoot20.htm [Accessed 4 Feb. 1998]

Hogar de Proteccion "Rolando Carazo" [Managua]. 10 December 1997. "A Project for the Restoration of Kitchen Facilities." [Internet] http://www.wp.com/neighbor/ orphanage.html [Accessed 4 Feb. 1998]

Seedlings Inc. [n.p., n.d.]. "Adopting a Child in Nicaragua." [Internet] http://www. adopting.org/seed04.html [Accessed 4 Feb. 1998]

UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund), Geneva. n.d. "Nicaragua: Highest Indebted but Cares for Children." [Internet] http://www.igc.apc.org/aalm/crc/success/lac.htm [Accessed 4 Feb. 1998]

_____. Carolyn Watson. "Nicaragua's Teenagers Learn and Earn." [Internet] http:// www.unicef.org/features/feat180.htm [Accessed 4 Feb. 1998]