Summary: This workshop will be based on research studies mainly in Lebanon, Palestine, Yemen, Jordan and Syria in addition to other Arab Countries. This workshop aims to strengthen the capacities of NGOs on Alternative Reporting and follow-up on Concluding Observations through exchange of experiences and lessons learnt in the region.
Report of the workshop: English / Arabic ------------------------------------------------------- Towards a regional workshop: Concept paper CRC and Alternative Reporting in Arab Countries Arab Resource Collective (ARC) Background: In context with the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Although, the mobilisation of NGOs in supporting the implementation of the NGOs contribution to the reporting process aim to provide the civil society’s In this framework, Save the Children Sweden (SCS) and Save the Children General Objective Strengthening NGO alternative reporting and following up on concluding Methodology The workshop process will consist of interactive mixture of presentations Furthermore, the workshop will bring about concrete outputs on which Participants Criteria:
Executive summary: English / Arabic
Save the Children Sweden (SCS, MENA)
Save the Children Denmark (SCD, MENA)
Child, the reporting process has evolved into a vibrant national process,
encompassing diverse actors within government, civil society, and amongst
inter-governmental organisations. For State parties, the process of
reporting progress is not meant to be viewed by States as fulfillment of an
isolated bureaucratic requirement. Instead, it is intended as a tool for
policy development and planning and enhancing the implementation of the
obligations undertaken by states by ratifying human rights treaties.
provisions of the treaties has had a strong influence on governments to
respect their obligations, and has increased their willingness to submit
high-quality and transparent reports, Alternative Reports submitted to CRC
committee by national NGOs are considered as analytical supplements to
State’s parties reports ,which provide alternative information to the State
party report on the implementation of each of the substantive provisions of
the treaty under consideration . Moreover, these reports aim to enable the
dissemination and follow-up on the Committee’s Concluding Observations,
which form the basis for NGOs contribution to the national system of
monitoring, as a reference for analysing their countries progress over the
reporting period, in addition to advocating for legislative and policy reforms
as well.
critical view on the state’s representation of the child rights situation, with
independent information on violations of children human rights , and
highlighting shortcomings in government policy and practice. In addition to
their efficient role in reporting processes, NGOs can also play a major role
in raising public awareness about CRC content and mechanisms, they can
integrate respect for the standards set out in the CRC into their own
policies, programmes and planning documents, and advocate for the
necessary measures to be taken by relevant authorities to ensure that the
standards of the CRC are respected in practice.
Denmark (SCD) in collaboration with the Arab Resource Collective (ARC) aim
to organise a workshop with stakeholders from the civil society working on
children’s rights, some of whom are already involved in Alternative
Reporting. This workshop will be based on research studies in Arab
Countries which focus on compiling lessons learnt from the process of
alternative reporting and compiling experiences on how to follow up the
concluding observations made by the Committee on the Rights of the Child
in Geneva.
observations through exchange of experiences in the region.
by Resource Persons, brainstorming sessions, working groups and case
studies.
The workshop will be bilingual (Arabic/English).
The workshop programme intends to meet with the following expected
objectives:
1. Promoting the follow up of NGO’s on concluding observations.
2. Advancing the Reporting Procedures to the CRC based on lesson
learned.
3. Improving networking and coalition building between attending NGOs
toward further develop the reporting practices in the region.
4. Enhancing the knowledge of stakeholders about legislations, practices
&lessons learned.
5. Raising the capacity of stakeholders in report writing, monitoring and
advocacy.
further actions might take place in the future:
- Comprehensive Report (in English with a summary report in Arabic)
covering NGOs achievements, needs and challenges faced in reporting
process; in addition to lessons learnt and follow-up on concluding
observations.
- Research Studies on CRC and Alternative Reporting in Arab Countries.
- Literature review and compilation of relevant resources and materials.
- Good knowledge of the state and alternative reports from their own
countries.
- Ability to come forward with representative remarks on how to further
develop the reporting process.
- Capability of making presentations (in writing: English and Arabic) on the
relevant work of their organizations.
Number of participants: Estimated 25 persons from different Arab
Countries, SCS, SCD, NGO group/CRC Committee Geneva, CRIN, UN
agencies (UNICEF).
Regional Workshop on CRC and Alternative Reporting in Arab Countries
Countries
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