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CRINMAIL 1202
In this issue:
To read this CRINMAIL online, go to: http://www.crin.org/email/crinmail_detail_popup.asp?crinmailID=3424
Top story
New recommendations on child victims in the EU
Full Report l Executive Summary l Recommendations
Child victims in the Union – Rights and Empowerment (CURE) has released its long-awaited recommendations on improving the situation of child victims in the European Union.
The situation of child victims is largely dealt with in the context of crime reduction and juvenile justice both in policy design and in practice. However, the situation of child victims should also be recognised as a separate issue that deserves special attention.
The CURE project concludes that criminal justice policies do not provide sufficient holistic support for child victims as called for in the UN Guidelines on Justice in Matters involving Child Victims and Witnesses of Crime. Improving the circumstances of child victims in the justice system requires binding legislation and mechanisms which cater to the specific needs of children.
CURE invites the European Commission and Member States to draw on the recommendations to:
- develop national strategies to protect child victims in the criminal justice system;
- develop child-friendly information for children who are victims of crime;
- share research and best practices on the situation of child victims in the European Union;
- further the development of European guidelines on interviewing child victims;
- include issues related to the situation of child victims in the criminal justice process in training for criminal justice professionals at the level of the European Union.
The CURE project was set up by the Crime Victim Compensation and Support Authority in Sweden in 2009-2010.
Look out for a special editorial on child-friendly justice in our Strategic Litigation CRINMAIL coming soon. Subscribe here.
Further Information:
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LATEST NEWS AND REPORTS
Coming out in protest
Africa: Eighteen human rights organisations across the continent have expressed anger over the refusal of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights to grant observer status to The Coalition of African Lesbians (CAL). The decision, they say, is particularly disturbing in light of moves by a number of African countries to enforce ever harsher laws criminalising homosexuality. In an editorial published earlier this year, CRIN reported on the implications of some of these laws for children's rights.
National human rights institutions from Burkina Faso and Kenya also voiced concerns to the Commission, with Burkina Faso urging the body to produce guidelines for Member States on protecting people whose rights have been violated because of their real or perceived sexual orientation. Pambazuka News has compiled a special bulletin on the debacle.
Meanwhile, a new Toolkit on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity has been developed to allow those working in the area of sexual orientation and gender identity to show how other activists have used the Yogyakarta Principles to further their work. The toolkit was prepared by ARC International KPH (Campaign Against Homophobia), Transgender Network Netherlands, CREA, ABGLT and SASOD.
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Breaking with tradition
FGM: UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre has released a study examining the social dynamics of the declining use of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) in five countries - Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Senegal and the Sudan. The study seeks to inform policies and programmes aimed at ending the practice. The Download the report.
Elsewhere, in Ireland, a new Criminal Justice Bill on Female Genital Mutilation is being finalised, according to the Minister of Health. (Irish Medical Times, 4 November 2010). Full story.
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An unlikely hero
Enforced disappearance: Iraq has paved the way for the entry into force of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance after becoming the 20th State to ratify the instrument. The Convention, which will come into effect on 23 December 2010, contains specific provisions for children's rights in Article 25.
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Getting down to business
Business and Human Rights: John Ruggie, UN Special Representative on business and human rights, has issued draft "Guiding Principles for the Implementation of the UN 'Protect, Respect and Remedy' Framework".
The Guiding Principles detail steps for companies, States and others to address the impact of business on human rights.
The Principles are open for public review and comment until 31 January 2011. Comments can be sent via Professor Ruggie's online consultation forum, http://www.srsgconsultation.org.
In the pipeline: A set of Children's Rights Principles for Business is also being developed by UNICEF, Save the Children and the UN Global Compact. Look out for these in 2011.
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Regional rendezvous
Africa: The theme of the Fourth International Policy Conference on the African Child will be "Budgeting for Children."
The conference, which will take place from 7-8 December 2010 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, will be organised by the African Child Policy Forum, Save the Children, Plan International, UNICEF and UNECA. Read more.
In 2007 the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child held its Day of General Discusion on "Resources for the Rights of the Child – Responsibility of States". Read a report from the day.
Budgeting for Children also took centre stage on this year's Day of the African Child.
Asia Pacific: A high level regional meeting on children's rights was hosted by the Chinese government this month, with support from UNICEF. The meeting brought together representatives from 28 governments from across the Asia Pacific region to discuss and explore opportunities for mutual cooperation in the promotion of children's rights. Issues covered included child protection and welfare systems, disaster risk reduction and the Millennium Development Goals. Read the Beijing Declaration on South-South Cooperation for Child Rights in the Asia and Pacific Region
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Internships
NGO Group for the Convention on the Rights of the Child: Child Rights Assistants (internships)
The NGO Group for the Convention on the Rights of the Child is looking for 12 interns: six from January to June 2011 and six from July - December 2011.
The posts will involve:
- Monitoring sessions of the Committee on the Rights of the Child and preparing analytical reports.
- Providing assistance to prepare for the pre-sessional working group meeting of the Committee, including logistical, organisational and hosting responsibilities.
- Following relevant sessions and events of the Human Rights Council and reporting accordingly.
- Providing administrative and logistical assistance, including for member organisations, thematic sub-groups, and the Executive Committee (writing minutes, arranging meetings, visas, flights and filing).
- Mapping child rights national coalitions around the world and updating database accordingly.
Deadline for January - June placements: 26 November 2011
Deadline for July - December placements: 13 May 2011
For more information, go here and here or email Roísin Fegan at: [email protected]
Jargon of the week
**Modality**
The word 'modality' has been popularised in the human rights world by that famous jargon generator otherwise known as the UN Human Rights Council.
'Modality' has many legitimate uses in fields from linguistics and medicine to science and technology. However, in human rights work it is an unnecessarily complicated way of saying 'procedure' or 'method', depending on the context.
Try to avoid using the word "modality" and be more precise about what you mean to say.
For example, instead of saying: “ The modalities and functions of the Universal Periodic Review", try "The procedures and functions of the Universal Periodic Review".
Instead of saying: "Recommendations on some modalities for promoting human rights", try "Recommendations on some methods for promoting human rights".
Send contributions to our 'Jargon of the week' column to [email protected]
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