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Summary: Joint statement delivered at the 2nd Session of the Human Rights Council by World Organisation Against Torture, Save the Children Alliance, International Alliance of Women, Plan International, World Movement of Mothers, Defence for Children International, Women's World Summit Federation, International Federation of Social Workers, World Vision International, ECPAT International, World Union of Catholic Women's Organisations and the Bureau International Catholique pour l'Enfance (BICE).
Mr. Chairman, Members of the Council, We, NGOs dealing with children's rights, look forward to working alongside the Council to strengthen human rights and child rights standards worldwide. Whilst conscious of the need to mainstream children's rights into the entire human rihgts system, we feel that children have specific needs and concerns that necessitate the adoption of an explicit children's rights focus by the Council. The World Conference on Human Rights, in its 1993 Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, reiterated the principle of "first call for children" and stated that "the rights of the child should be a priority in the United Nations system-wide action on human rights". Thus the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) should be highlighted in the work of the Council. We very much hope that the Council will assert its commitment to child rights in its future sessions by ensuring that the agenda includes a separate point dealing with child rights. This statement is our call for action by the Council on four specific child rights issues: 1) violence against children, 2) sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, 3) children affected by armed conflict and displacement and 4) children in conflict with the law. We trust that the Human Rights Council will ensure meaningful and substantive participation of children's rights NGOs and other independent human rights institutions for children's rights in the work of the Council including consultations during the universal periodic review. We also look forward to the innovative creation of a specific space to allow children themselves to participate in the work of the HRC. We finally feel it is vital that the special procedures are maintained and strengthened and include the CRC and its Optional Protocols in their mandates. The Child Rights Information Network shares the view contained in this statement. Thank you Mr. Chairman