CRINMAIL 1188
In this issue:
- UN Committee on the Rights of the Child: session 55
- Stateless Roma: no documents - no rights
- Slovakia commits to ending segregation in education
- Contribute to UN report on human rights and HIV and AIDS
- Malaysia's reservations to UN disability rights convention
- Germany takes action to promote right to play
- The International Year of Youth
- Southern Africa Youth Conference on Climate Change
To view this edition of CRINMAIL online, visit: http://www.crin.org/email/crinmail_detail_popup.asp?crinmailID=3381
Un Committee on the Rights of the Child: session 55
The 55th session of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child will take place in Geneva, Switzerland from 13 September - 1 October 2010.
The Committee will examine reports from Angola, Burundi, Guatemala, Montenegro, Nicaragua, Spain, Sri Lanka and Sudan on measures they have taken to implement the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).
The Committee will also review State party reports on the Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography (OPSC) for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Nicaragua, Sierra Leone and reports on the Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict (OPAC) for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Nicaragua, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka and Sudan.
Alternative reports submitted so far for this session are listed below. More reports will be posted as they become available at http://www.crin.org/NGOGroupforCRC/search.asp
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UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
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Angola
Burundi
Guatemala
Montenegro
Nicaragua
Spain
Sri Lanka
Sudan
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Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography
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Bosnia and Herzegovina
Nicaragua
Sierra Leone
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Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict
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Sri Lanka
Sierra Leone
Further information
For more information, contact:
NGO Group for the Convention on the Rights of the Child
1 rue Varembé, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland
Tel: + 41 22 740 47 30; Fax: + 41 22 740 1145
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.childrightsnet.org
Visit: http://www.crin.org/resources/infoDetail.asp?ID=23086
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Roma rights: mixed outlook
Europe: Tens of thousands of Roma people live in Europe without a nationality, explains Thomas Hammarberg, Commissioner for Human Rights at the Council of Europe, in his latest Human Rights Comment.
While the problem is particularly acute in the Western Balkans, other Western European States contribute to the situation by deporting Roma people, he says, exacerbating the exclusion and marginalisation they already face.
The Commissioner calls for particular attention to be paid to the situation of Roma children, concluding: "The Convention on the Rights of the Child clearly stipulates that children have the right to acquire a nationality – in other words, the host country has an obligation to ensure that children do have a nationality. The fact that their parents are stateless is no excuse." Full comment.
Also read Commissioner Hammarberg's comment: "The key to the promotion of Roma rights: early and inclusive education" and CRIN's briefing on Children and Statelessness.
On the bright side, Slovakia's new coalition government has committed itself to taking measures to eliminate segregation in education along ethnic lines, reports Amnesty International. The measures could particularly benefit Roma children, many of whom have been channelled into schools for children with learning disabilities or classes which provide sub-standard education. Full story.
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NGOs' chance to influence the UN on HIV and AIDS
The UN Secretary General is inviting civil society organisations to give their input on "steps taken to promote and implement programmes to address HIV/AIDS-related human rights" for his upcoming report in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 12/27.
Have your say by filling out the questionnaire available at the following link: http://www.crin.org/resources/infodetail.asp?id=23081
Send your responses by 15 September 2010, in Word-format to: HR&[email protected]
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Discrimination: the rough with the smooth
Malaysia: Human Rights Watch has welcomed Malaysia's ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, but says its reservations to the treaty will undermine its efforts to protect and promote those rights.
Malaysia has entered formal reservations to the Disability Rights Convention concerning the prohibition of torture and other ill-treatment (article 15) and the right to liberty of movement and nationality (article 18). It also made a declaration limiting the government's legal application of the principles of non-discrimination and equality. Full story.
Germany: A law is being amended to allow kindergartens and playgrounds to be set up in residential areas without special permission, reports The Guardian this week.
The decision, which follows a long battle between children's rights campaigners, local authorities and residents, means local councils will no longer have to apply for an exemption from a law that categorised kindergartens and playgrounds on a level with drunkeness or pneumatic drills.
Hermann Kues, parliamentary state secretary for the family ministry, said: "Tolerance and acceptance towards the laughing, screeching, singing and cries of children must be considered an absolute normality." Full story.
Also read CRIN's global report on laws protecting children from age discrimination.
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Follow-up on corporal punishment
Bangladesh: Last week we reported that the government of Bangladesh had banned corporal punishment in educational institutions, including madrassas, in line with a high court directive. The judge who issued the directive has kindly sent us a copy of the government circular on the matter. Read the circular.
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Young people take centre stage
The International Year of Youth, which kicked off on 12 August 2010, presents an opportunity to highlight the contributions that youth are making to society, and to advance their participation.
To guide its efforts during the Year, the UN is focusing on three overarching objectives: to increase commitment and investment in youth; increase youth participation and partnerships and; increase intercultural understanding among youth. Full details.
Malawi: The Southern Africa Youth Conference on Climate Change (SAYCCC) will be staged in Lilongwe, Malawi from 3-5 November 2010.
This conference will focus on three thematic areas: adaptation, mitigation, and lobbying and advocacy. The aim of the conference is to lead to a three-year climate change programme in Southern Africa that will be carried out through a regional climate change youth network.
The conference is organised by: Sustainable Rural Growth and Development Initiative (SRGDI), a consortium of non-governmental organisations, the private sector, research and academic institutions, and the government of Malawi, the Southern Africa Youth Movement (SYM) and Africa Youth Initiative on Climate Change (AYICC).
Click here for full details and information about registering.
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Employment: Children's Legal Centre / UNICEF
Children's Legal Centre: Head of Research and Policy
The Children's Legal Centre is seeking a new Head of Research and Policy. The role includes developing, undertaking and/or managing research projects on children's rights issues both in the UK and abroad, developing policy positions and papers, and providing technical input in drafting and updating the Centre's publications and website.
For more information, visit: www.childrenslegalcentre.com or contact Amy Winter at [email protected].
Application deadline: 10 September 2010
UNICEF: Senior Adviser, Child Protection (In Emergencies)
Under the guidance of the Associate Director, Child Protection, you will provide programme guidance and technical support to enhance UNICEF's policy and programming on child protection.
Register at www.unicef.org/about/employ, quoting E-VN-2010-001858.
Application deadline: 3 September 2010
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