CRINMAIL 28:
57th Session: Concluding Observations
In this issue:
To read this CRINMAIL online, click here
57th Session
The 57th Session of the Committee on the Rights of the Child took place from 30 May to 17 June in Geneva, Switzerland, with six new Committee members participating for the first time.
Session Outcomes
Below you can read the Concluding Observations issued by the Committee for each of the States reviewed under the CRC and the two Optional Protocols, together with a summary of the review compiled by the NGO Group for the CRC.
OHCHR have also briefly documented the Committee's key concerns and recommendations for each State. Read the overview.
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:
Further Information:
What you can do
The period following the review of a State by the Committee is of critical importance and, to date, is an area that NGOs have failed to adequately address.
During the reviews, the Committee highlights areas of concern regarding States' application of the various articles in the CRC and Optional Protocols, and then present a set of recommendations for the State to implement in the period following the review.
As an NGO, read the Concluding Observations issued for the country you are working on and follow the government's progress in implementing the recommendations through legislative and practical measures.
As we mentioned in our previous CRC CRINMAIL, the NGO Group for the CRC has drawn up a survey to assess the ways in which NGOs follow-up on the Concluding Observations issued by the Committee. These findings will be shared in due course. Read more about follow-up, here.
Or
- For general guidance on follow-up, contact the NGO Group for the CRC at [email protected].
Other Activities of the Committee
During the 57th session, the Committee also held a number of meetings, including:
- The CRC Thematic group working on the General Comment on Business and Child Rights had its first meeting and was briefed by a representative of the International Commission of Jurists.
- The new members of the Committee were briefed by a number of NGOs working on children's rights.
- The Committee held a private meeting with the Committee against Torture.
- A meeting took place with Dr. Flavia Bustreo, Assistant Director-General for Family and Community Health, World Health Organisation (WHO), and discussed ways of improving the cooperation between the Committee and WHO.
- Finally, the Committee met with a child delegation from Egypt.
Members of the Committee will also be participating in the Inter-Committee meeting of UN Treaty Bodies, taking place in Geneva from 27 - 29 June.
OTHER NEWS / EVENTS
58th CRC Session
The Committee's next session will be held from 19 September to 7 October 2011 in Geneva.
Greece Iceland Italy Madagascar Panama
Republic of Korea Seychelles Syria
Sweden
Democratic Republic of Congo Greece
What you can do
Complaints Mechanism Adopted
The Council adopted the final draft Optional Protocol on a communications procedure for children's rights violations. The new protocol will enable the Committee on the Rights of the Child to examine communications from children and their representatives alleging violations of their rights.
General Day of Discussion 2011
Every year, the Committee holds a Day of General Discussion (GDG) on a particular issue concerning children's rights. This year's theme is "children of incarcerated parents".
The meeting will be held at the Palais Wilson in Geneva, Switzerland, on Friday 30 September 2011, from 10:00-18:00.
For further information on the event, how to make a submission (deadline 5 August), and to register, click here.
Treaty Body Reform
In 2009, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms Navanethem Pillay, appealed to States Parties to human rights treaties, Treaty Body members and other stakeholders, such as civil society organisations and National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), to reflect on proposals which would enable the Treaty Body system to be more coherent, coordinated and effective.
On 19 and 20 April 2011, a meeting co-hosted by the National Human Rights Commission of Korea and the Korea Foundation brought together a group of international and national NGOs. Four treaty body members and OHCHR respresentatives also attended as observers.
The NGOs present at the meeting adopted the Seoul Statement, which builds on the joint NGO response to the Dublin Statement and is open to endorsement by other NGOs who were not present at the meeting.
General Comment on Harmful Practices
The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) have decided to elaborate a joint General Recommendation/Comment on harmful practices.
Civil society are invited to submit information before August 31st.
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