CRINMAIL 78:
In this issue:
To view this CRINMAIL online, click here.
HRC 19th Session
The 19th Session of the Human Rights Council opens on 27 February in Geneva, closing four weeks later on 23 March. The first week will have a focus on children's rights as the high level session hosts a signing ceremony for the new Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) creating a complaints mechanism for children.
Children's rights are also set to feature in a number of discussions held during the second week, most notably on 8 March where the annual discussion on children's rights is on 'Children and the administration of justice'. Other discussions include violence against children, the sale of children, sexual orientation and human rights defenders.
Finally, 17 States will have their Universal Periodic Review reports adopted and a number of Resolutions will be negotiated and adopted during the session.
Key discussions on children's rights
- Annual discussion on children's rights
This year's theme is on "Children and the administration of justice." More information on the day will be posted on our 19th session page as soon as it becomes available.
The Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children will present her annual report in a joint panel discussion with the Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, whose report focuses on the protection of children from sale and sexual exploitation following humanitarian crisis due to natural disasters.
Other discussions set to feature children's rights
- Interactive discussion with the Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders (with a focus on student and youth defenders).
- Panel discussion to give voice to people living with, and affected by HIV and AIDS, including young people.
- Discrimination and violence based on sexual orientation. Read the UN report, here.
- Freedom of expression on the internet.
How can you contribute?
Only NGOs with ECOSOC status can attend the discussions in Geneva. However, in addition to following CRIN's coverage on our website or through this list, you can watch the sessions live on the UN webcast. For more information on how to contribute, contact the OHCHR civil society unit at [email protected].
Opportunities for NGOs
As well as focusing on the child-specific discussions, advocates should ensure that children's rights are addressed throughout all discussions. In light of this, CRIN has extracted mentions of children's rights from a range of reports set to be presented.
Resolutions
A series of Resolutions will be negotiated and adopted at the 19th session, including one on children's rights. Resolutions include:
- RES / 16 / 12: Rights of the child and the administration of justice. (Sponsors: GRULAC and EU)
- RES / 17 / 19: Human Rights, sexual orientation and gender identity (Sponsors: South Africa and Brazil)
- RES / 18 / 19: Freedom of expression on the internet
(Sponsor: Sweden)
View the full list of resolutions to be tabled at the 19th session, here.
How can you contribute?
For further information on how to contribute to the process, contact the Working Group for the HRC.
Side Events / Statements
Details of side events and oral and written submissions will be posted on our website as soon as they become available. Once again, only those with ECOSOC status will be able to attend the side events, although CRIN will be providing some coverage.
Find out how to submit statements and book rooms here. Organisations without ECOSOC status are able to sign joint statements, contact the Working Group for the HRC for more information.
Stay informed
CRIN will be reporting on discussions in Geneva. Visit our 19th session page for the latest updates. You can also:
Special Procedures (what are these?)
In addition to the discussions taking place at the 19th session as detailed above, several other Special Procedure reports have been submitted ahead of the session.
Is an Expert visiting your country?
Since our last CRINMAIL, a host of country visits have been announced. Visit the confirmed visits for 2012, here.
A number of visits have already taken place this year, including the Special Rapporteur on Myanmar's recent country visit where he praised recent reforms but warned of "risk of backtracking". Read about the visit, here. Read all recent press releases, here.
Opportunity for NGOs
Special Procedure visits present advocates with the opportunity to highlight issues that need addressing.
Call for contributions
Finally, the Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers has issued a call for information on the practices of human rights education and continuing training of judges, prosecutors, public defenders and lawyers. Deadline 17 February.
Universal Periodic Review (UPR) (what is this?)
Seventeen States, reviewed in the 12th session in October last year will have their reports adopted during the 19th session (14 - 16 March). Find out which States, here. This will officially mark the completion of the first cycle of reviews.
The second cycle of the UPR opens this year, with the 13th session taking place from 21 May - 4 June. Amongst the 14 States due to be examined, is the United Kingdom. The deadline to submit reports to the 14th session is coming up. Read more, here.
Monitoring progress
With States and NGOs alike agreeing that the success of the new mechanism depends on the implementation of recommendations, CRIN is compiling information on the follow-up process, in particular highlighting efforts by NGOs to monitor implementation.
Further information on advocacy
CRIN's "Guide to using the UPR" highlights NGOs' experiences of using the mechanism at all stages of the process. You can also read the NGO Group's fact sheets or visit CRIN's page on information and advocacy opportunities.
For NGOs new to the UPR or those who don't have the capacity to engage directly, look and see which coalitions exist, here.
Share examples
Finally, CRIN's 2011 Survey findings revealed an increasing appetite for examples of good and bad practice, particularly on lobbying and advocacy strategies towards new mechanisms like the UPR.
- Contact CRIN with any examples
Other UN news
Further to a day of discussions on "Children living and / or working on the street," and a subsequent expert meeting, the UN High Commissioner published her report. The report concludes that the actual number of children who depend on the streets for their survival and development is unknown, and includes a number of recommendations for States. Read the report.
The UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights held its first session from 16 - 20 December. The five members stated their desire to consult and cooperate with civil society in their work. Read about the outcomes, here. You can also read about the Working Group's introductory exchange with NGOs, here.
{THE LAST WORD}
Reference: C.N.79.2012.TREATIES-1 (Depositary Notification)
OPTIONAL PROTOCOL TO THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD ON A COMMUNICATIONS PROCEDURE NEW YORK, 19 DECEMBER 2011
The Secretary-General of the United Nations, acting in his capacity as depositary, communicates the following:
The above Protocol, which was adopted at the sixty-sixth session of the General Assembly of the United Nations by resolution 66/138 of 19 December 2011, will be open for signature at a signing ceremony to be held in Geneva, Switzerland on 28 February 2012 and thereafter at United Nations Headquarters in New York.
In accordance with its article 18 (1), the Protocol shall be open for signature by any State that has signed, ratified or acceded to the Convention on the Rights of the Child or either of the two Optional Protocols thereto on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography and on the involvement of children in armed conflict.
[...]
The Secretary-General takes this opportunity to recall that, under established international practice, only Heads of State, Heads of Government or Ministers for Foreign Affairs are empowered, by virtue of their functions, to sign treaties on behalf of States without having to produce full powers to that effect. Other representatives wishing to sign the Protocol must be in possession of appropriate full powers emanating from one of these authorities.
[...]
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