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Placing the Rights of the Child on the Human Rights Agenda Second Call for Action, Geneva, 24 November 2006 The Human Rights Council has an opportunity to place the rights of the child high on the political agenda: an opportunity that is not to be missed. Whilst the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) has achieved almost universal ratification (193 States Parties - all countries except Somalia and USA), CRC obligations have not been translated into significant change at national level. The rights of the child are being violated worldwide. Millions of children are depending on the Council to play its part to end this culture of impunity. In order to be credible as the principal human rights body within the United Nations, the Human Rights Council must consider all human rights instruments in its work and that includes instruments relating to children. We are calling for action: 1. To put the rights of the child on the agenda of the Human Rights Council for at least two days a year. 2. To ensure a rights of the child perspective is adopted throughout the work of the Human Rights Council, and in particular in the Special Procedures and Universal Periodic Review (UPR). 3. To implement a process for meaningful child participation in the work of the Council.
Following the First Call for Action, April 2006