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Summary: The high-level segments have taken center stage during the first week of the 19th session. CRIN takes a look at which States are addressing children's rights.
The following States referred to children's rights during their addresses in the first week of the Human Rights Council's 19th session: Austria Wolfgang Waldner, State Secretary for European and International Affairs, said that children's rights were a major focus during their membership of the Council. In their statement, the delegate explained the reason they are focusing on the issue of juvenile justice. "Whilst it is in the administration of justice where States have a particularly clear duty, its in this area where human rights are often violated. Children are particularly vulnerable." The delegate further said it would present its first ever candidate to the Committee on the Rights of the Child, Justice Renate Winter.
Ashot Hovakimian, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Armenia, said human rights education was one of the important tools for the prevention of mass atrocities. It was important to recall painful lessons from the past, widely disseminate information about human tragedies and make sure contemporary school curricula adequately reflected information on the crime of genocide and other crimes against humanity. It was necessary to exclude and forbid hate and intolerant attitudes found in school textbooks and propaganda
Cyprus
Erato Kozakou Marcoullis, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus, said achieving full respect for the human rights of internally displaced persons and finding durable solutions to their displacement was an issue of high priority. He said that in Cyprus, women and children outnumbered men in internally displaced people figures.
Yemen
Huriah Mashhoor, Minister of Human Rights of Yemen, said the political settlement in the country, based on the Gulf Cooperation and United Nations resolutions had succeeded, and had involved all Yemenis, including youth and women.
Brazil
Maria Do Rosario Nunes, Minister and Head of the Human Rights Secretariat of Brazil,said one of Brazil’s biggest challenges was strengthening the quality of education and access to health care, fighting against child labour, sexual exploitation, and extreme poverty, and protecting early childhood.
Slovakia
Iveta Radicova, Prime Minister of Slovakia, said that the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child was a hallmark event as it provided for a communication procedure for the only international instrument that was without it. Violence against children, including sexual violence, and involvement of children in armed conflict were some of examples where the help and assistance of the international community was needed. Slovakia was encouraged by already 20 countries signing this Optional Protocol.
N.B Several States signalled their intention to sign the new Optional Protocol during the signing ceremony. These have not been included in this news item but you can see which States signed and read about the ceremony, here.
Ireland
Lucina Creighton, Minister for European Affairs of Ireland, said that empowerment of women and gender equality was regarded as crucial by Ireland, which strongly rejected all practices that risked the lives, health and well-being of girls and women.
Angola
Rui Jorge Carneiro, Secretary of State for External Relations of Angola, said the government reaffirmed its commitment to tackling sexual violence against women and girls and refuted the grave allegations of sexual violence committed by its security forces against illegal immigrants during repatriations.
Belgium
Didier Reyners, Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belgium, said Belgium's commitment to human rights was shown by its fight to abolish the death penalty and support for the rights of children and women.
Albania
The representative said Albania attached particular importance to unconditional respect for the rights of children.
To read all statements made by States, click on the press releases below:
Further Information