CRINMAIL 29:

Day of General Discussion 2011

In this issue:

To view this CRINMAIL online, click here

Children of Incarcerated Parents

On 30 September, the Committee on the Rights of the Child will hold the 2011 Day of General Discussion (DGD) on the theme:  "children of incarcerated parents" (related rights set out in article 9 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child).

The purpose of the Days of General Discussion is to foster a deeper understanding of the contents and implications of the Convention as they relate to specific articles or topics. After the discussion the Committee adopts recommendations, taking into account the issues raised.

Agenda

In addition to introductory remarks by representatives from the fields of child development, legal affairs, youth and prison services, two Working Groups will focus on the following issues: 

- Working Group 1: Babies and children living with or visiting a parent in prison 

- Working Group 2: Children left ‘outside’ when their parent is incarcerated

Further Information: 

• View the full outline.
• View the programme for the day
• Read about past Days of General Discussion

Submissions

The Committee encouraged contributions from civil society to add to the discussions, with the following submissions received:

N.B You can find annexes to the statements below in the links provided.

• Action for Children and Youth Aotearoa
  Submission to the Committee
• Action for Prisoners' Families
  Submission to the Committee
• African Women Corrections Association
  Submission to the Committee
• Associazione Comunità Papa Giovanni XXIII
  "An alternative solution to prison for children of incarcerated
• Circle
  "Providing a Scottish Perspective on Supporting Children and Families Affected by Imprisonment"
  
• Comisión de Derechos Humanos del Distrito Federal
  "Desarrollo infantil en prisión. El caso de la Ciudad de México"
• Coordination des ONG pour les droits de l’enfant, Belgique
  "Recommandations des ONG pour la journée de débat général sur les droits de l'enfant"
• Defence for Children International
  Submission to the Committee
• Early Childhood Development Center of Kathmandu, Nepal
  "An Introduction to Imprisoned Children in Nepal and the Mission to Provide a Safe, Nurturing Environment for Children of Incarcerated Parents"
• European Network for Children of Imprisoned parents (EUROCHIPS)
  "Soutenir les relations enfants-parents compromises par l’incarcération : un enjeu de santé publique"
• Families Outside
  "Children with Imprisoned Parents"
• HAQ: Centre for Child Rights
  "Children of Imprisoned Parents"
• Howard League for Penal Reform
  "The Voice of a Child"
• Human Rights Watch
  Submission to the Committee
• International Catholic Child Bureau
  La situation des enfants de mères détenues au Mali
• National Prison Pastoral Ministry in Brazil
  "The importance of contact between children and incarcerated parents through visits and / or telephone access"
• National Resource Center on Children and Families of the Incarcerated
  "Children and Families of the Incarcerated Pathways to Change: Policy Into Practice"
• Osborne Association
  Submission to the Committee
• Parc Supporting Families
  "The Work of Parc Supporting Families at HMP & YOI Parc – WALES UK"
• Partners of Prisoners and Families Support Group
  Submission to the Committee
• Penal Reform International
  "Protecting Children in Prison with a Parent – Implement and Develop the Bangkok Rules"
• Prison Fellowship International
  "Children of Incarcerated Parents: They are in our midst and in need of our help"
• Quaker United Nations Office
  "Babies and Children Living in Prison: Policy and Practice in UN Member States"
• Scotland's Commissioner for Children and Young People
  Submission to the Committee
• SOS Children's Villages International
  "Individualised responses to promote quality care and support child development"
• Submission by S. Vega (Argentina)
  Submission to the Committee
• Submission by G. Boswell, P. Wedge
  "Support for prisoner-child relationships: a reflection on two decades of research evidence"
• Submission by M.C. Calle and F.Giannotta
  "Madres detenidas con niños en Italia: cual futuro para los niños?" 
• Submission by D. Dallaire, J. Poehlmann and A. Loper
  "Issues and Recommendations Related to Children’s Visitation and Contact with Incarcerated Parents"
• The Federation of Mother and Child Homes and Shelters
  "An infant or a small child in a prison with a parent: Could a prison be a good place to raise a child?" 
• Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore
  "Children left ‘outside’ when their parent is imprisoned”

CRIN will be covering the discussions in Geneva and a report will be released.

The Committee on the Rights of the Child will hold its 58th Session from 19 September to 7 October 2011.

• Visit the Committee's webpage

States under Review

The following States will be reviewed on the progress they are making in implementing the provisions of the CRC:

• Iceland   Italy   Syrian Arab Republic   Panama 
• Republic of Korea   Greece   Seychelles

The following States will be reviewed under the OPSC:

• Sweden

The following States will be reviewed under the OPAC:

• Greece

For the timetable of reviews and the reports submitted by States, visit the 58th session page.

Alternative Reports

Below are the Alternative Reports submitted for the 58th Session:

CRC reporting

Iceland

• International Disability Alliance
  "Suggestions for disability-relevant questions to be included in the list of issues for pre-sessional working group"

Italy

• European Roma Rights Centre & Associazione 21 Luglio
  Submission to the Committee
• International Baby Food Action Network
  "The Situation of Infant and Young Child Feeding in Italy"
• Pidida - Italian Coalition on the Rights of the Child and the Adolescent
   "The Italy We Live In. The Italy We Want. 10-13 Years".
• Pidida - Italian Coalition on the Rights of the Child and the Adolescent
   "The Italy We Live In. The Italy We Want. 14-17 Years".
• International Disability Alliance
  "Suggestions for disability-relevant questions to be included in the list of issues for pre-sessional working group"

Syrian Arab Republic

• No reports submitted

Panama

• La RED Nacional de Apoyo a la Niñez y Adolecencia en Panamá
  Submission to the Committee in Spanish  (click here for English version)

• Comité de América Latina y el Caribe para la defensa de los derechos de la mujer
  "Listado de cuestiones de urgencia al Comité de los Derechos del Niño de cara al examen del Estado panameño durante la sesión N°58"

• Harvard University
  "Preventable Tragedy in Panama—Unnecessary Deaths and Rights Violations in Juvenile Detention Centers" (also available in Spanish here)

• International Disability Alliance
  "Suggestions for disability-relevant questions to be included in the list of issues for pre-sessional working group"

Republic of Korea

• Korea NPO Coalition for Un Convention on the Rights of the Child
  Submission to the Committee
• Save the Children, Korea
  Children's Voices

Greece

• International Baby Food Action Network
  "The Situation of Infant and Young Child Feeding in Greece"
• International Disability Alliance
  Suggestions for disability-relevant questions to be included in the list of issues for pre-sessional working group
• Greek NGO Network for Child Rights
  Submission to the Committee
• Greek Helsinki Monitor (joint submission)
  Submission to the Committee
• European Roma Rights Centre
  Submission to the Committee

Seychelles

• Coalition of Children and Youth NGOs
  "Together we can do better for the children of Seychelles"

OPSC - Sweden

• ECPAT Sweden
  Submission to the Committee

OPAC - Greece

• TRIAL (Swiss Association Against Impunity)
  "Greece: Failure to properly prosecute those responsible for war crime of involving children in armed conflict on basis of universal jurisdiction"

Last call for submissions on General Comment

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.

• Read more about the process

Back to top