Home > NGO Group for the CRC > Thematic Subgroups > Commission on Human Rights

Subgroup on the Commission on Human Rights

The subgroup on the Commission on Human Rights brings together NGOs willing to promote the rights of the child at the United Nations Commission on Human Rights [html]. The subgroup aims to ensure that this important international human rights mechanism addresses the specific rights and situations of children worldwide in its regular work and annual sessions on human rights. By advocating for the inclusion of its concerns into the Commission's resolutions, the NGO community can further ensure better support and coherence between international politics and local realities affecting the realisation of children's rights.

Children's Human Rights Caucus Final Report

Core areas of work

The 2003 Annual Report of the subgroup is available here [word]

The subgroup coordinates the preparation and involvement of NGOs throughout the year to effectively make an impact on the Commission. To this end the subgroup:

Facilitate the preparation of NGO proposals to the text of the "Omnibus Resolution" on the Rights of the Child
Lobby with the government sponsors of the resolution on the Rights of the Child to include NGO proposals to the text
Lobby for children's rights issues to be reflected in other resolutions
Co-organise side events on children's issues during the Commission
Coordinate and organise the Children's Human Rights Caucus activities during the Commission
Provide the NGO community and wider public information on the Commission on children's rights and related issues

Information and documentation for the 61st Session of the Commission on Human Rights [html]

Partnerships

The subgroup on the UN Commission on Human Rights works in close partnership with all the thematic subgroups of the NGO Group for the CRC, to enable their participation in the plans and events of the subgroup during the Commission. The subgroup also has regular consultation with member States, special rapporteurs and the Committee on the Rights of the Child, to promote mutual information sharing and dialogue in support of promoting children's rights within the work of the Commission.

Objectives and Activities

Reinforcing the "omnibus resolution" on the rights of the child

The UN resolution on the rights of the child contains a fairly comprehensive list of issues currently affecting the realisation of children's rights. The subgroup regards this resolution as very important and devotes a significant percent of its work to:

Draft and gather contributions for the alternative NGO text for the resolution
Use the text in lobbying during the drafting and negotiations of members States on the resolution
Disseminate widely both the alternative NGO text and the final resolution, in particular to national child rights coalitions, in order to enhance the impact and implementation of the resolution at country level and identify potential areas to develop further the following year

Mainstreaming children's rights

The subgroup strongly believes that children's rights issues ought to be included in other human rights resolutions. With this position the subgroup:

Identify ways of fostering mainstreaming (using concluding observations of the Committee, existing international standards, additional information on targeted themes or countries, etc.)
Lobby member states sponsoring resolutions in which children's rights could be mainstreamed
Promote a child rights approach to any child related issue addressed by the Commission

Holding the Children's Human Rights Caucus during the Commission

The subgroup hosts a special interest group called the Children's Human Rights Caucus during the Commission. Being the only one of its kind, the Caucus serve as an important focal point for a range of participants in the Commission can meet on children's issues. The subgroup:

Plans and organises morning briefings on children's issues at the Commission and thematic presentations by NGOs, rapporteurs, Member States
Ensures daily information on children's issues at the Commission for Caucus members worldwide through e-mail and in-site announcements and reports
Liaises with other Caucuses, notably through CONGO, in order to develop joint NGO information and lobbying efforts

Organising side-events and information sharing

The Commission attracts some of the foremost human rights advocates from around the world. The subgroup facilitates the organisation of side-events whereby NGOs have a platform raising children's rights issues. Many people interested in the Commission also have the opportunity to be kept informed through the website and email. The subgroup:

Co-organises with other subgroups or members panels on issues of importance to children's rights NGOs
Participates in all side-events related to children and report through the Children's Human Rights Caucus
Produces weekly reports for CRIN mail and contribute to CRIN newsletter

Ensuring follow-up of the Commission's work on child related issues

After the Commission the subgroup has a review process that involves:

Conducting an evaluation session of the subgroup's work at the Commission with the aim of finding new areas for further improvements
Producing (e )and disseminating(e) an analytical and a reader-friendly versions of the Children's Human Rights Caucus activity report at the Commission
Attending the annual meetings of special procedures of the Commission and chairpersons of the treaty bodies to present the report and recommendations of the subgroup

Information and Membership

In order to receive information from the Children's Human Rights Caucus during the Commission, subscribe to [email protected]

If you want to become a member of the subgroup (if your organisation is a member of the NGO Group for the CRC) or an observer (others, NGO or not) in order to receive regular information on meetings and activities of the sub-group, please contact:

Julia Ekstedt, Convenor of the subgroup on the Commission on Human Rights
Save the Children Sweden - Email: [email protected]

Tools