13 February 2009 - CRINMAIL CRC 19
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To view this CRINMAIL online, visit: http://www.crin.org/email/crinmail_detail.asp?crinmailID=3096
This list provides specific information on the work of the Committee on the Rights of the Child and the NGO Group for the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Updates are sent during CRC sessions and on an ad hoc basis. Please feel free to forward these updates to others who may be interested. To contribute, email us at [email protected].
If you do not receive this email in html format, you will not be able to see some hyperlinks in the text. At the end of each item we have therefore provided a full URL linking to a web page where further information is available.
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NGO GROUP for the CRC: Country reports from the Committee's 50th Session [news]
The country session summary reports for the 50th Session of the Committee on the Rights of the Child:
CRC: Chad | DPRK | DRC | Malawi | Moldova | Netherlands
OPAC: Maldives | Moldova | Tunisia
OPSC: Maldives | Netherlands
For more information, contact:
NGO Group for the Convention on the Rights of the Child
1 rue Varembé, 1202 Geneva
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=19614
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CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS: Committee on the Rights of the Child issues recommendations to States Parties [news]
The following Concluding Observations to the States Parties reports considered at the 50th Session of the Committee on the Rights of the Child are available (in English) on CRIN's website.
CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD
Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Malawi
Republic of Moldova
Netherlands
Republic of Chad
OPTIONAL PROTOCOLS
Maldives - OPSC - OPAC
Netherlands - OPSC
Republic of Moldova - OPAC
Tunisia - OPAC
To see Concluding Observations from previous sessions, visit: http://www.crin.org/docs/resources/treaties/crc.25/annex-vi-crin.asp
For more information, contact:
Committee on the Rights of the Child
Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
8-14 Avenue de la Paix, CH 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Tel: + 41 22 917 9000; Fax: + 41 22 917 9022
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CAMPAIGN: Complaints Mechanism lobbying documents [publication]
As of today, over 450 organisations from around the world have signed the petition to establish a communications (complaints) procedure under the UN CRC.
In order to establish a new Optional Protocol for the CRC, the Human Rights Council (HRC) must first issue a resolution to create an open-ended Working Group to draft the procedure.
In commemoration of the CRC’s 20th anniversary this year, the HRC will devote a full day to the topic of children’s rights at its session in March; this would be an auspicious moment to pass a resolution to establish the open-ended Working Group.
We need your help
We would like to request that you write to your Foreign Ministries at home to inform them about the campaign and request their support.
We have produced a sample letter you can download [Word format and copy and past the text below] and send to your Ministry/Department of Foreign Affairs. You can send this from your own organisation, or contact other appropriate organisations and send a joint letter, preferably before the end of February.
What else can you do
1. If you have not yet signed the petition please consider doing so by going here: http://www.crin.org/petitions/petition.asp?petID=1007 and encourage others to sign as well;
2. You could also consider requesting a meeting with relevant government departments to discuss the proposal. 3. Please also keep us informed of any response/reaction to the campaign by emailing us at: [email protected]
Further information
You may wish to attach some of these documents with your letter:
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Communications Procedure, updated draft and commentary
It includes a draft text of an Optional Protocol to the CRC, with a commentary. The commentary indicates that many of the provisions are drawn from, or adapted from, the instruments establishing existing communications procedures. The text has been developed from various detailed papers prepared over the last few years. Please note that this paper is being circulated as a basis for discussion, not as a finalised proposal.
Visit the Campaign website for more information and regular updates: http://www.crin.org/law/CRC_complaints/
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Dear INSERT NAME
There is a strong and growing international campaign to strengthen the enforcement of the Convention on the Rights of the Child through the drafting and adoption of an Optional Protocol to establish a communications/complaints procedure. Over 450 non-governmental organisations, human rights institutions and other bodies from all regions support this campaign. The Committee on the Rights of the Child has adopted a position in favour of such a procedure, and a number of State parties to the CRC are also supportive. Information about the proposed Optional Protocol is enclosed for your reference.
In order to establish a new Optional Protocol for the CRC, the Human Rights Council (HRC) must first issue a resolution to create an open-ended Working Group to draft the procedure. In commemoration of the CRC’s 20th anniversary this year, the HRC will devote a full day to the topic of children’s rights at its session in March; this would be an auspicious moment to pass a resolution to establish the open-ended Working Group. The support of INSERT NAME OF STATE is critical to achieve this goal.
We would like to encourage INSERT NAME OF STATE to adopt a position in support of the establishment of an Optional Protocol for a communications procedure for the CRC, and to consider what role you might play in mobilizing support amongst members of the HRC.
Children have waited nearly 20 years for this essential mechanism to reinforce full implementation of their Convention. There should be no further delay. A representative of NAME OF NGO will be in contact with you shortly to arrange a time to meet to discuss this further.
Sincerely,
INSERT NAME
For more information, contact:
NGO Group for CRC Complaints Mechanism Working Group
Peter Newell on [email protected] or Sara Austin on [email protected].
Visit: http://www.crin.org/resources/infoDetail.asp?ID=19598
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CRC: General Comment no 11: Indigenous Children and their Rights under the Convention [news]
On 30 January 2009, the Committee adopted a General Comment (GC) on indigenous children and their rights under the Convention. The eleventh GC of the Committee is looking at the issues associated with these children who “continue to experience serious discrimination in a range of areas”, including in their access to health care and education.
Low incidences of birth registration for such children and particularly high incidences of mortality and vulnerability in armed conflict are among issues addressed in the GC.
You can find past general comments here
CRIN information page on the Committee on the Rights of the Child
For more information, contact:
UN OHCHR - Committee on the Rights of the Child
8-14 Avenue de la Paix
CH 1211 Geneva 10
Tel: +41 22 917 9000 ; Fax: +41 22 917 9022
Website: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/crc/index.htm
Visit: http://www.crin.org/resources/infoDetail.asp?ID=19552
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DISCUSSION DAY: Plans for the 20th anniversary of the CRC [event]
Instead of a Day of General Discussion, the Committee on the Rights of the Child this year plans to hold a two-day commemorative celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. More details of this event will be posted in due course.
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