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Summary: The Committee on the Rights of the Child this morning opened its fortieth session by hearing an address by Maria Francisca Ize-Charrin, Chief of the Treaties and Commission Branch of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. It also adopted its agenda and programme of work. The Committee on the Rights of the Child this morning opened its fortieth session by hearing an address by Maria Francisca Ize-Charrin, Chief of the Treaties and Commission Branch of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. It also adopted its agenda and programme of work.
In her opening address, Ms. Ize-Charrin said in the progress made in the past 15 years, including the near-universal ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the entry into force of the two Optional Protocols to the Convention, it could be seen that child rights had gained recognition in the international human rights system. The High Commissioner saw the human rights treaty body system as the framework for the implementation of human rights, and recognised its positive impact, but was also aware of the current challenges the system was facing, which covered a wide range.
It was the link between normative human rights work and the reality experienced by rights-holders on the ground that the High Commissioner intended to prioritise in the current period of United Nations reform, Ms. Ize-Charrin said. The Committee was addressing some of them in a very innovative way, and the High Commissioner looked forward to discussing these as well as reform when she would meet with the Committee during the session.
At the beginning of the meeting, Committee Chairperson Jacob Egbert Doek said it was the last time that the Committee would meet in full, as from the next meeting it would be meeting in two parallel bodies in order to be able to decrease its backlog of reports to be considered.
During its three-week session, the Committee will consider reports from Australia, Algeria, Uganda, China, Finland, Denmark, and the Russian Federation on their efforts to implement the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The Committee had been scheduled to consider the report of Trinidad and Tobago today, but the State party advised that due to unexpected logistical problems, no delegation would be present. The Committee decided to keep the option of considering the report later in the session, possibly on 27 September.
When the Committee reconvenes at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, 13 September, it is scheduled to take up the second periodic report of Australia (CRC/C/129/Add.4). (For further information, please refer to the background release (CRC/05/26)
Statement by Chief of the Treaties and Commission Branch
MARIA FRANCISCA IZE-CHARRIN, Chief of the Treaties and Commission Branch of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, said it was her pleasure to welcome all the members of the Committee. The High Commissioner was in New York, and therefore intended to meet with the Committee later in the session. Everyone was waiting for the outcome of the World Summit in New York, which would bring together over 170 Heads of State and Government to take decisions with regard to United Nations and human rights reform. Turning to the Convention on the Rights of the Child which guided the Committee’s work, it was an honour to commemorate the recent fifteenth anniversary of the Convention’s entry into force on 2 September 1990.
In the progress made in the past 15 years, including the near-universal ratification of the Convention and the entry into force of the two Optional Protocols, it could be seen that child rights had gained recognition in the international human rights system, Ms. Ize-Charrin said. However, a lot of work remained to be done, in particular by the members of the Committee. It was the link between normative human rights work and the reality experienced by rights-holders on the ground that the High Commissioner intended to prioritise in the current period of United Nations reform. The Plan of Action set out a strategy to deal with the key challenge of implementation, and focused on two goals - protecting human rights and empowering people to assert and claim their rights - and the proposals included within points on reforming the treaty body system aimed at improving their effectiveness.
Ms. Ize-Charrin said the High Commissioner saw the human rights treaty body system as the framework for the implementation of human rights, and recognised its positive impact, but was also aware of the current challenges the system was facing, which covered a wide range. The Committee was addressing some of them in a very innovative way by working in two chambers. The High Commissioner was very supportive of the work, as she believed that streamlined reporting would strengthen the system and allow all seven Committees to function in a manner benefiting all human rights holders. The role of the seven treaty bodies was key to the entire process of reform and development, and wanted the contribution of all Committee members. For the moment, no decision had been made with regard to the modalities of a unified standing treaty body. It was the experience, expertise and ideas of the Committee members which would allow progress, and their role in the process was essential.
The Secretary-General’s study on the impact of violence against children was under progress, and the progress report of the Independent Expert would be submitted to the General Assembly at the next session, Ms. Ize-Charrin said. The process of analysing Governmental responses to the questionnaire had started. A very challenging session was before the Committee. Many within the human rights community were closely observing the Committee’s unique innovation, and the Committee had once again taken a unique initiative to improve its working methods.
Jacob Egbert Doek, Chairman, responding, said if the Committee wanted to be effective and efficient, it required input, and there was a lot which could be discussed with the High Commissioner in the context of reform and the changes it would be entering into with regards to its own methods of work. It was hoped the new system would be in place in time to allow the Committee to address the growing backlog of reports to be considered.
CRC05027E