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Summary: Daily updates from the 61st Session of the UN
Commission on Human Rights in Geneva.
CHILDREN HAVE RIGHTS TOO - Child rights at the 61st Session of the UN
Commission on Human Rights
LATEST NEWS – Strengthening the human rights system
Louise Arbour, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, met with NGO
representatives today for a question and answer session. Much of the
discussion focused on the Secretary-General’s report for reform of the UN,
and his proposal for a Human Rights Council more specifically. She stated
that civil society participation in the proposed new body was not in
jeopardy, on the contrary, it is valued in the report. She explained that she
very much welcomes the request of the SG to submit a plan of action
within 60 days. She admitted that 60 days was not enough time for a fully
participatory consultation involving NGOs and civil society, however, herself
and her office very much welcome ideas, suggestions and comments
regarding the proposed new Human Rights Council and will endeavour to
be interactive and take these into account.
Website: www.ohchr.org ; E-mail: [email protected]
CHILDREN'S HUMAN RIGHTS CAUCUS – morning briefings
30 March, The Omnibus Resolution on the Rights of the Child
This morning’s meeting was an opportunity for NGO representatives and
others, to share their comments and views on the current draft resolution
with the sponsors of the resolution, in this case, Luxemburg. Luxemburg,
currently holding the EU presidency, is in the process of sharing the draft
resolution with their EU partners, and then they will present it to GRULAC
(Latin American Group) for further negotiations. Luxemburg emphasised
that they want to shorten the text, build on previous resolutions, but keep
the operational parts of the text, and also keep the centrality of the CRC.
Some of the key comments from NGOs were that special emphasis should
be given to very young children who are in prison with their mothers, as it
is an issue that concerns most countries, but few apply the CRC to these
children. Therefore, it needs a rights based focus.
With regards to education and education systems, it was noted that in
some countries these fall under specific traditions or cultures, and these
should therefore be preserved and be given a mention in the resolution.
With regards to disability, there was a request that a mention be given to
the draft Convention on Disability, including a reference to the
negotiations of this Convention. Concerns were also expressed with
regards to the fact that there was no mention of indigenous children in the
text.
Finally, the representatives of Luxemburg listed a few areas where NGOs
could lobby governments, namely: corporal punishment, as these touch
upon legal issues (e.g. in schools), the working methods of the Committee
on the Rights of the Child, and reference to the ICC. The last area where
NGOs may actually have an impact would be the mainstreaming of gender
issues in the resolution, and more specifically the girl child.
To read the Draft Resolution, go to:
http://www.crin.org/CHR/Alternative_Omnibus_Resolution2005.doc
Dates of negotiations and voting for this resolution will be announced as
soon as confirmed.
PLENARY SESSION - Tuesday, 29 March
Item 10: Economic, Social and Cultural rights
The Commission on Human Rights concluded its general debate on the
question of the violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms in any
part of the world, including the question of human rights in Cyprus, after
hearing presentations from its Special Rapporteurs on the situation of
human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Belarus and
Myanmar. During the afternoon session, the CHR heard presentations by
the Special Rapporteurs on the right to adequate housing, the right to
education, and the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and
mental health.
Mr Vernor Muñoz Villalobos, Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education,
stressed the need for education to move towards human rights. Education
is not a business, but a right, however, too many countries still charge
fees for primary education. He noted progress made my some countries
such as Afghanistan, Malawi and Uganda. He further emphasised that
attention be given to avoid discrimination against indigenous and other
minority groups in education provision. Finally, he recommended that
efforts be made by the World Bank, UNDP, UNESCO and UNICEF to work
hand in hand to guarantee this right.
Paul Hunt, Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of
the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, presented
his report which examines the right to health of people with mental
disabilities. In his report, he pointed out that more than 40 per cent of
countries have no mental health policy, and over 90 per cent have no
mental health policy that includes children and adolescents.
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For more information, visit : http://www.crin.org/chr/reports.htm
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This update has been produced by the Child Rights Information Network,
in collaboration with the NGO Group for the Convention on the Rights of
the Child, Subgroup for the Commission on Human Rights. These updates
are also available at the following link: www.crin.org/chr/news. You can
sign up to receive these by email. Send an email to: childrightscaucus_chr-
[email protected] . Further information about the 61st Session is
available on the CRIN website at: www.crin.org/chr. To submit information,
contact Veronica Yates on [email protected].
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