CRINMAIL 35:
CRC 60th Session
In this issue:
To view this CRINMAIL online, click here
Session 60 concludes
The Committee on the Rights of the Child concluded its 60th session on 15 June, adopting its report and issuing its recommendations on eleven country reports from seven countries.
During the session, Jean Zermatten, Chairperson of the Committee, presented an update on other areas of the Committee's work, including the drafting of General Comments, the treaty body strengthening process and the elaboration of the rules of procedure for the new Optional Protocol to the CRC that establishes a complaints procedure. Details of the above, and further news, can be found below.
State Reviews
The full list of Concluding Observations issued by the Committee can be found below. Also included are the alternative reports submitted by NGOs and CRIN's Children's Rights Wiki pages for each of the States reviewed. The Wiki report includes all recommendations issued by human rights bodies to a given country.
You can read more about the Wiki here. Please note that this is a work in progress. We welcome input, contributions and comments. Email us at [email protected]
The following States were examined on their compliance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC):
- Algeria
Concluding Observations / Alternative Reports / Wiki Page
- Australia
Concluding Observations / Alternative Reports / Wiki Page
- Cyprus
Concluding Observations / Alternative Reports / Wiki Page
- Greece
Concluding Observations / Alternative Reports / Wiki Page
- Turkey
Concluding Observations / Alternative Reports / Wiki Page
- Vietnam
Concluding Observations / Alternative Reports / Wiki Page
The following States were examined on their compliance with the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography (OPSC):
- Australia
Concluding Observations / Alternative Reports / Wiki Page
- Greece
Concluding Observations / Alternative Reports / Wiki Page
- Nepal
Concluding Observations / Alternative Reports / Wiki Page
The following States were examined on their compliance with the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict (OPAC):
- Australia
Concluding Observations / Alternative Reports / Wiki Page
- Greece
Concluding Observations / Alternative Reports / Wiki Page
Opportunities for NGOs
NGOs have an important role to play in monitoring the progress made by States in implementing the set of recommendations issued to them by the Committee.
Next up: CRC 61st Session
The Committee’s 61st session will be held in Geneva from 17 September to 5 October 2012, during which it will review the following countries:
- Albania, Austria, Namibia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Liberia and Canada under the main Convention
- Albania, Philippines and Canada on the Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography
- Albania on the Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict
Further information on the upcoming session, including alternative reports submitted by NGOs and details of how to report to the Committee, will be published on our 61st session page.
Other CRC News
Election time!
As elections for new members of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child draw near, now is the time for NGOs to do what they can to make sure that the next members measure up to the job and that no region is left unrepresented. Look out for our special CRINMAIL about what you can do! You can also read about the 2010 elections here.
Complaints mechanism
On 16 / 17 June, the Committee gathered for a two-day retreat in Sion, Switzerland, in order to discuss in depth the Draft Rules of Procedure for the Optional Protocol on a Communications Procedure. The outcomes of the retreat will be published in due course.
A new international coalition has been set up to campaign for ratification of the new Optional Protocol. More information about the coalition will be made available soon. You can read more about the establishment of the new Optional Protocol here.
Focus on strengthening not reform
Meanwhile, the consultation process for the strengthening of the treaty body system, which began in November 2009 with the Dublin meeting, has reached its conclusion with the release of the High Commissioner's report on 22 June.
Ms Pillay's report focuses on strengthening the system rather than reforming it. “Lessons learned from previous reform initiatives have led me to base this process on the premise that the legal parameters of the treaties should not be altered,” Pillay said.
The report presents a compilation of proposals received from State parties, National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), civil society and other stakeholders, in addition to a number of recommendations to States and to the treaty bodies themselves.
Migration on the agenda
The rights of children in the context of international migration will be on the agenda as representatives from governments, UN bodies, NGOs and national human rights institutions convene for the 2012 Day of General Discussion on 28 September. Details of the day have just been released. Find out more here.
Second chance to contribute
Back in March, the Committee issued a call for submissions on an annotated outline of a General Comment on Business and Children's Rights. Contributions received will form the basis for a second call to be issued in due course. Details will be posted on our CRC news section as soon as they are released.
The Committee has conducted two consultations in Argentina (with MERCOSUR States and civil society) and India in March and April of 2012 respectively. Further consultations will be taking place in Nairobi, Kenya, on 24 August 2012, and at the International Symposium on Child Rights from 14 to 17 October 2012 in Sion, Switzerland.
Further information is available via email at [email protected], and at the Committee’s website.
Call for contributions
1. The Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography is seeking contributions for her upcoming report focusing on sex tourism. More here.
2. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is also seeking contributions for its study on children's right to health. For details of the type of information required and the deadline for submission, click here.
The last word
“The Committee is deeply concerned that, since the beginning of protests in Syria in March 2011, hundreds of children have been killed, injured and detained, and that despite strong and repeated calls to the State and other parties to stop such grave violations, no action appears to have been taken. We are appalled by information that in the El Houleh area, civilians - including children - could have been deliberately targeted.”
The Committee on the Rights of the Child issues a press release after the recent massacre that took place in the El Houleh area of Homs in Syria. At least 108 people, including 49 children, were killed.
Back to top
|
