CRINMAIL 25:
In this issue:
To view this CRINMAIL online, click here.
Session 56 Recommendations
The 56th Session of the Committee on the Rights of the Child took place from January 17th to February 4th. The Committee's Concluding Observations on the CRC and the two Optional Protocols (OPAC / OPSC) are detailed below, together with reports compiled by the NGO Group for the CRC summarising the reviews.
The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)
The following States were reviewed under the CRC:
The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography (OPSC)
The following States were reviewed under the OPSC:
The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict (OPAC)
The following States were reviewed under the OPAC:
How to use this information
The Committee's Concluding Observations highlight their concerns over the way in which the Convention is being implemented by the State under review and issue a series of recommendations.
These recommendations are important for NGOs to incorporate into their advocacy plans. The States will be questioned in their next review by the Committee on the measures they have taken to implement the recommendations.
For guidance on following up the Concluding Observations, contact the NGO Group for the CRC at [email protected]. Alternatively, you can visit the Committee's page.
General Comment on Article 19
During the 56th Session, the Committee adopted a General Comment on Article 19 on the right of the child to freedom from all forms of violence (Article 19).
This General Comment builds on the existing guidance provided by the Committee in its review of States Parties' reports and the respective Concluding Observations, the recommendations of two days of general discussion on violence against children held in 2000 and 2001, General Comment No. 8 (2006) on The right of the child to protection from corporal punishment and other cruel or degrading forms of punishment, and references in other General Comments on the topic of violence.
- Read the General Comment on Article 19, here.
- Read all General Comments on the CRC, here.
- Visit CRIN's page on CRC General Comments, here
Guide to OPAC / OPSC Reporting
The NGO Group for the CRC has produced a guide to promote the understanding of, and effective reporting on, the two Optional Protocols (OPAC / OPSC), by NGOs.
The reporting processes on the Optional Protocols provide an opportunity for national and international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to monitor States’ efforts in implementing the provisions of both these treaties, which cover some of the worst violations of child rights.
CRC Complaints Mechanism: Update from drafting meeting
The third and final working group meeting to draft the communications procedure under the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) concluded last week in Geneva.
Both NGOs and the Committee on the Rights of the Child were left disappointed with the outcome of the meeting. The Chair of the Committee, Ms Yanghee Lee, said she had no choice but to apologise to children for what she viewed as a truly missed opportunity for children's rights.
A draft text was adopted by the meeting with oral amendments, but some issues still need to be agreed between now and the June session of the Human Rights Council when the treaty is expected to be adopted. We will keep you updated on developments.
New CRC Committee Members elected
Nine new members were elected to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in December. The newcomers will take office in May 2011.
You can read more about the newly elected members in their interviews with CRIN below.
Ms Agnes Akosua Aidoo (Ghana): Interview / CV
Ms Aseil Al-Shehail (Saudi Arabia): Interview / CV
Mr Jorge Cardona Llorens (Spain): Interview [English/ Español] / CV [English] / [Español]
Mr Bernard Gastaud (Monaco): Interview / CV
Ms Maria Herczog (Hungary): Interview / CV
Mr Hatem Kotrane (Tunisia): Interview / CV
Mr Gehad Madi (Egypt): Interview / CV
Ms Kirsten Sandberg (Norway): Interview / CV /
Ms Hiranthi Wijemanne (Sri Lanka): Interview / CV
We will be sure to bring you news of their progress when their terms begin!
Upcoming CRC Session 57
The 57th Session of the CRC will take place from 30 May to 17 June this year.
The following States will be reviewed under the CRC:
Bahrain Cambodia Costa Rica Cuba
Czech Republic Egypt Finland
The following States will be reviewed under the OPSC:
Egypt
The following States will be reviewed under the OPAC:
Egypt
How can NGOs participate?
Organisations can send their alternative reports to:
You can access the alternative reports already submitted by NGOs by clicking on the countries listed above in the Alternative Reports database.
Further Information
THE LAST WORD
"I am afraid that we have affirmed that children are mini humans with mini rights and the current draft fits this idea of children".
Ms Yanghee Lee, Chair of the Committee on the Rights of the Child, commenting on the outcome of the Complaints Mechanism negotiations.
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