The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) - adopted in 1989 - Under the Convention, every child is recognized as a subject of rights, with the right

The Convention on the The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)Rights of the Child (CRC)

- adopted in 1989 -- adopted in 1989 -

Under the Convention, every child is recognized as a subject of rights, with

the right to special protection.

Equal and inalienable human rights are to be enjoyed by all children.

.

Office of the UN High CommissioneOffice of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)r for Human Rights (OHCHR)

Universal Ratification (almost)Universal Ratification (almost)

0

50

100

150

200

1990 1995 2009

193 Ratifications


General Principles of the General Principles of the ConventionConvention

The right to life, survival and The right to life, survival and

development (art. 6)development (art. 6)

The best interest of the child (art.3)The best interest of the child (art.3)

Non-discrimination (art. 2)Non-discrimination (art. 2)

The right to express his or her views freelyThe right to express his or her views freely

and be heard (art. 12)and be heard (art. 12)


8 main clusters of provisions8 main clusters of provisions::

• General measures of implementation (arts. 4, 42, General measures of implementation (arts. 4, 42, 44.6)44.6)

• Definition of the child (art.1)Definition of the child (art.1)• General principles (arts. 2, 3, 6 and 12)General principles (arts. 2, 3, 6 and 12)• Civil rights and freedoms (arts. 7-8, 13-17 and 37.a)Civil rights and freedoms (arts. 7-8, 13-17 and 37.a)• Family environment and alternative care (arts. 5, Family environment and alternative care (arts. 5,

18.1&2, 9-11, 27.4, 20-21, 19, 25 and 39)18.1&2, 9-11, 27.4, 20-21, 19, 25 and 39)• Basic health and welfare (arts. 6.2, 23-24, 26 and Basic health and welfare (arts. 6.2, 23-24, 26 and

18.3, 27.1&2&3)18.3, 27.1&2&3)• Education, leisure and cultural activities (arts. 28-31)Education, leisure and cultural activities (arts. 28-31)• Special protection measures (arts. 22, 30, 32-39)Special protection measures (arts. 22, 30, 32-39)


Provisions of the ConventionProvisions of the Conventionsome concrete examples…some concrete examples…

- Right to be registered at birth- Right to be registered at birth

- Right to a name and nationality- Right to a name and nationality

- Right to education- Right to education

- Right to health- Right to health

- Protection from abuse in the family- Protection from abuse in the family


The Committee on the Rights The Committee on the Rights of the Child of the Child

Article 43: Article 43: For the purpose of For the purpose of examining the progress examining the progress made by States Partiesmade by States Parties in achieving the realization of the in achieving the realization of the obligations undertaken in the present Convention, there obligations undertaken in the present Convention, there shall be established a Committee on the Rights of the Child, shall be established a Committee on the Rights of the Child, which shall carry out the functions hereinafter provided. which shall carry out the functions hereinafter provided.

The Committee shall consist of eighteen experts of high The Committee shall consist of eighteen experts of high moral standing and moral standing and recognized competencerecognized competence in the field in the field covered by this Convention. The members of the covered by this Convention. The members of the Committee shall be elected by States Parties from among Committee shall be elected by States Parties from among their nationals and their nationals and shall serve in their personal capacity, shall serve in their personal capacity, consideration being given to equitable geographical consideration being given to equitable geographical distribution, as well as to the principal legal systemsdistribution, as well as to the principal legal systems (….)(….)

Members are elected for a period of four years.Members are elected for a period of four years.


The reporting systemThe reporting system Under article 44:Under article 44:1. States Parties undertake 1. States Parties undertake to submitto submit to the to the

Committee, through the Secretary-General of the Committee, through the Secretary-General of the United Nations, United Nations, reportsreports on the measures they on the measures they have adopted which give effect to the rights have adopted which give effect to the rights recognized herein and on the progress made on recognized herein and on the progress made on the enjoyment of those rightsthe enjoyment of those rights

(a) (a) Within two years of the entry into forceWithin two years of the entry into force of the of the Convention for the State Party concerned; Convention for the State Party concerned;

(b) (b) Thereafter every five yearsThereafter every five years. . 2. Reports made under the present article shall 2. Reports made under the present article shall

indicate factors and difficulties, if any, affecting indicate factors and difficulties, if any, affecting the degree of fulfilment of the obligations under the degree of fulfilment of the obligations under the present Convention. the present Convention. (…)(…)


Reporting process, sources of information:Reporting process, sources of information:On the basis of the State party report and information from other sources, a On the basis of the State party report and information from other sources, a dialogue takes place between a State party delegation and the Committeedialogue takes place between a State party delegation and the Committee

CRC Committee

State Party

UN

NGOs

NHRI

others

Concluding observations


Main outcomesMain outcomes

Concluding observations and Concluding observations and recommendations adopted by the CRC in recommendations adopted by the CRC in respect of individual States partiesrespect of individual States parties

General Comments on pertinent thematic General Comments on pertinent thematic subjects of general interest (e.g. on aims subjects of general interest (e.g. on aims of education)of education)

Recommendations adopted following days Recommendations adopted following days of general discussion (e.g. on violence of general discussion (e.g. on violence against children)against children)


General Comments adopted by the CommitteeGeneral Comments adopted by the Committee

No. 12 No. 12 The right of the child to be heardThe right of the child to be heard (2009) (2009) No. 11 No. 11 Indigenous children and their rights Indigenous children and their rights (2009) (2009) No. 10 No. 10 Children’s rights in Juvenile JusticeChildren’s rights in Juvenile Justice (2007) (2007) No. 9 No. 9 The rights of children with disabilitiesThe rights of children with disabilities (2006) (2006) No. 8 No. 8

The right of the child to protection from corporal punishment and The right of the child to protection from corporal punishment and other degrading forms of punishmentother degrading forms of punishment (2006) (2006)

No. 7/Rev.1 Implementing child rights in early childhood (2005)No. 7/Rev.1 Implementing child rights in early childhood (2005) No. 6 Treatment of unaccompanied and separated children No. 6 Treatment of unaccompanied and separated children

outside their country of origin (2005)outside their country of origin (2005) No. 5 General measures of implementation for the Convention on No. 5 General measures of implementation for the Convention on

the Rights of the Child (2003)the Rights of the Child (2003) No. 4 Adolescent Health (2003)No. 4 Adolescent Health (2003) No. 3 HIV/AIDS and the rights of the child (2003)No. 3 HIV/AIDS and the rights of the child (2003) No. 2 The role of independent human rights institutions (2002)No. 2 The role of independent human rights institutions (2002) No. 1 The aims of education (2001)No. 1 The aims of education (2001)


The Optional Protocols to the The Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the ChildConvention on the Rights of the Child

In May 2000, the General Assembly adopted two optional In May 2000, the General Assembly adopted two optional protocols to the CRC (entry into force in 2002):protocols to the CRC (entry into force in 2002):

on the sale of children, child prostitution and child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography (132 Parties), andpornography (132 Parties), and

on the involvement of children in armed conflict (130 on the involvement of children in armed conflict (130 States parties).States parties).

The Protocols are subject to the standards and principles of The Protocols are subject to the standards and principles of the Convention, such as «the best interests of the child».the Convention, such as «the best interests of the child».

In the same way as under the Convention, there is an In the same way as under the Convention, there is an obligation for States parties to report periodically to the obligation for States parties to report periodically to the Committee on the Rights of the Child.Committee on the Rights of the Child.


Celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Adoption Celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Childof the Convention on the Rights of the Child

On 20 November 2009, the international community will celebrate the 20th On 20 November 2009, the international community will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child by anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child by the General Assembly. the General Assembly.

To mark this anniversary, the Committee on the Rights of the Child, the Office To mark this anniversary, the Committee on the Rights of the Child, the Office of the High Commissioner (OHCHR) and other partners have organized a two-of the High Commissioner (OHCHR) and other partners have organized a two-day celebration, focusing on the theme “Dignity, Development and Dialogue”, day celebration, focusing on the theme “Dignity, Development and Dialogue”, to bring together States parties, United Nations bodies and other to bring together States parties, United Nations bodies and other intergovernmental organizations, national human rights institutions, non-intergovernmental organizations, national human rights institutions, non-governmental organizations, children’s and youth groups, academics and governmental organizations, children’s and youth groups, academics and others. In addition to celebrating the anniversary, the meeting has had as others. In addition to celebrating the anniversary, the meeting has had as main objectives: main objectives:

To highlight challenges facing the Convention, such as ensuring the dignity of To highlight challenges facing the Convention, such as ensuring the dignity of the child, providing the child with full possibilities for development and the child, providing the child with full possibilities for development and facilitating dialogue between adults and children in accordance with the facilitating dialogue between adults and children in accordance with the participatory approach of the Convention; participatory approach of the Convention;

To evaluate the status and implementation of the CRC, after 193 ratifications To evaluate the status and implementation of the CRC, after 193 ratifications and 17 years of reporting; and identify priorities for the future; and 17 years of reporting; and identify priorities for the future;

To identify achievements in implementation and examples of best practice as To identify achievements in implementation and examples of best practice as well as constraints; and well as constraints; and

To formulate priority recommendations to enhance implementation. To formulate priority recommendations to enhance implementation. Written submissions made on the occasion of this celebration are posted on Written submissions made on the occasion of this celebration are posted on

the website of the Child Rights Information Network (CRIN): the website of the Child Rights Information Network (CRIN): http://http://www.crin.org/resources/infoDetail.asp?IDwww.crin.org/resources/infoDetail.asp?ID=20614&flag=event=20614&flag=event . .

General information on the CRC can be found at: General information on the CRC can be found at: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/crc/index.htmhttp://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/crc/index.htm

Documents

The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) - adopted in 1989 - Under the Convention, every child is recognized as a subject of rights, with the right