Comparative Study on the Political and Legal Status of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in Europe

Summary: The aim and purpose of this comparative
study is to examine and compare the
legal and political status of the UN
Convention on the Rights of the Child
(CRC) in the EU countries and Norway.

The aim and purpose of this comparative study is to examine and
compare the legal and political status of the UN Convention on the
Rights of the Child (CRC) in the EU countries and Norway.

Contents

Introduction
Radda Barnen and the Convention
The UN Convention and the UN committee

Legal status
Status in domestic law
Direct Applicability
Incorporation
Harmonisation
Can the UN Convention be Invoked in National Courts

Political status and political will
General declarations and debates
Political declarations in the State Reports
Debates held prior the ratification
Network within national parliaments
Some comments on political will by the UN Committee
Dissemination of the UN Convention
Allocation of resources
Implementing Article 4 nationally
Implementing Article 4 Internationally
Reservations
Examples of reservations
Extensive reservations
Withdrawal of reservations
National initiatives beyond the UN Convention
Children's Ombudsman (Politically Appointed)
Budget on children's expenditure

National Fora for discussion on children's rights
Co-ordiantive Governmental fora
NGO fora
Comments by the UN Committee
The Example of Norway

Other Endeavours in the field of children's rights
The New Hague Convention on the Protection of Children
Some Endeavours within the European Union
Resolutions on a European Charter of Rights of the Child
Intergovermental Conference 1996 Some Endeavours within the council
of Europe The European Convention on the Exercise of Children's Rights
A European Strategy for Children

Table 1 Overview of the Legal and Political status of the CRC in
Eleven Countries
Annex 1 Submitted State Reports by the EU countries and Norway plys
concluding observations made by the UN committee
Annex 11 The Stockholm declerations on the application in Europe of
the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child 30 May 1995
Annex 111 The Current Members of the UN committee on the Rights of
the Child
Annex 1V Reservations and Declarations made by the EU countries and
Norway towards the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

Countries

Please note that these reports are hosted by CRIN as a resource for Child Rights campaigners, researchers and other interested parties. Unless otherwise stated, they are not the work of CRIN and their inclusion in our database does not necessarily signify endorsement or agreement with their content by CRIN.