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COMMITTEE ON RIGHTS OF CHILD TO HOLD FORTY-FOURTH SESSION IN GENEVA FROM 15 JANUARY TO 2 FEBRUARY 2007
11 January 2007
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BACKGROUND RELEASE
Committee on the Rights of the Child
11 January 2007
Situation of Child Rights in Kenya, Mali, Honduras, Marshall Islands, Suriname, Malaysia and Chile to be Reviewed
The Committee on the Rights of the Child will meet at the Palais Wilson in Geneva from 15 January to 2 February to review the promotion and protection of children's rights under the Convention on the Rights of the Child in Kenya, Mali, Honduras, the Marshall Islands, Suriname, Malaysia and Chile.
The Committee will also consider the situation in Costa Rica and Kyrgyzstan with regard to the promotion and protection of children's rights under the two Optional Protocols to the Convention – on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography; and on the involvement of children in armed conflict.
The Committee was formed in 1991 to monitor the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which gives a comprehensive collection of children's rights the force of international law. The countries scheduled to come before the Committee at this session are among the 193 to have ratified or acceded to the Convention. The treaty is the most widely accepted international human rights instrument. Only Somalia and the United States have not ratified it. States parties to the Convention are expected to send representatives to the Committee to present periodic reports on national efforts to give effect to children's rights.
At the Committee's forty-fourth session, Malaysia will be presenting its initial report; Kenya, Mali, the Marshall Islands and Suriname will present their second periodic reports; and Honduras and Chile are presenting their third periodic reports. Costa Rica and Kyrgyzstan will be presenting their initial reports under both of the Convention's Optional Protocols: on the involvement of children in armed conflict; and on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.
Also during the session, the Committee will pursue the elaboration of general comments based on the various principles and provisions of the Convention, and members will discuss the outline for the day of general discussion to be held during the Committee's forty-sixth session, in September 2007. The Committee will also continue its discussion of ways and areas in which existing cooperation with various relevant bodies could be further strengthened to enhance the promotion and protection of the rights of the child. The Committee will pursue its discussion concerning the organization of its future work, as well as the procedure to be followed in the consideration of reports by States parties and their follow-up, including where necessary areas identified for technical assistance. Other matters related to the work of the Committee will be discussed as necessary.
The Committee took up the initial report of Kenya on 26 September 2001, and the final conclusions on it can be found in document CRC/C/15/Add.160; the initial report of Mali was taken up on 28 and 29 September 1999, and the Committee's final conclusions on it can be found in document CRC/C/15/Add.113; the second periodic report of Honduras was taken up on 25 May 1999, and the Committee's final conclusions on it can be found in document CRC/C/15/Add.105; the initial report of Marshall Islands was taken up on 29 September 2000, and the Committee's final conclusions on it can be found in document CRC/C/15/Add.139; the initial report of Suriname was taken up on 29 May 2000, and the Committee's final conclusions on it can be found in document CRC/C/15/Add.130; and the second periodic report of Chile was taken up on 23 January 2002, and the Committee's final conclusions on it can be found in document CRC/C/15/Add.173.
Convention on the Rights of the Child
The General Assembly adopted the Convention unanimously on 20 November 1989, 30 years after the adoption of the Declaration on the Rights of the Child. The Convention renders States parties legally accountable for their actions towards children. Work on drafting the Convention began in 1979 – the International Year of the Child – at the Commission on Human Rights.
The Convention was opened for signature on 26 January 1990. That day, 61 countries signed it, a record first-day response. It entered into force just seven months later, on 2 September 1990.
Ratifying the Convention entails reviewing national legislation to make sure it is in line with the provisions of the treaty. The Convention stipulates, among other things, that every child has the right to life, and that States shall ensure the maximum child survival and development; that every child has the right to a name and nationality from birth; and that when courts, welfare institutions or administrative authorities deal with children, the child's best interests shall be a primary consideration. The Convention also recognizes the right of children to be heard.
Furthermore, States shall ensure that each child enjoys full rights without discrimination or distinction of any kind, and shall ensure that children not be separated from their parents, unless by competent authorities for their well-being. In addition, States shall facilitate reunification of families by permitting travel into, or out of, their territories; and States shall protect children from physical or mental harm and neglect, including sexual abuse or exploitation.
Also according to the Convention, disabled children shall have the right to special treatment, education and care; primary education shall be free and compulsory and discipline in school should respect the child's dignity; capital punishment or life imprisonment shall not be imposed for crimes committed before the age of 18; no child under 15 should take any part in hostilities and children exposed to armed conflict shall receive special protection; and children of minority and indigenous populations shall freely enjoy their own cultures, religions and languages.
In May 2000, the General Assembly adopted the two Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict and on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. The Optional Protocols entered into force in 2002. Currently, 110 countries have ratified the Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict; 115 have ratified the Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.
Committee Membership
The Convention requires that the members of the Committee have a high moral standing and recognized competence in the field of children's rights. The following Experts, nominated by the States parties to serve in their personal capacity, have been elected to the Committee: Ghalia Mohd Bin Hamad Al-Thani (Qatar), Joyce Aluoch (Kenya), Mary Alison Anderson (Jamaica); Jacob Egbert Doek (the Netherlands), Kamel Filali (Algeria), Moushira Khattab (Egypt), Hatem Kotrane (Tunisia), Lothar Friedrich Krappmann (Germany), Yanghee Lee (Republic of Korea), Norberto Liwski (Argentina), Rosa María Ortiz (Paraguay), Awa N'Deye Ouedraogo (Burkina Faso), David Brent Parfitt (Canada), Awich Pollar (Uganda), Kamal Siddiqui (Bangladesh), Lucy Smith (Norway), Nevena Vuckovic-Sahovic (Republic of Serbia) and Jean Zermatten (Switzerland).
Mr. Doek is the Chairperson. Ms. Aluoch, Ms. Khattab, Ms. Lee, and Mr. Liwski are Vice Chairpersons, and Ms. Vuckovic-Sahovic is the Rapporteur.
Tentative Timetable for Consideration of Reports
Following is a tentative timetable for the consideration of reports from States parties to the Convention during this session:
Monday, 15 January
11 a.m. Costa Rica: initial reports on OPAC
Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict. (CRC/C/OPAC/CRI/1) and OPSC‡ ‡Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. (CRC/C/OPSC/CRI/1)
3 p.m. Costa Rica (continued)
Tuesday, 16 January
10 a.m. Kenya: second periodic report (CRC/C/KEN/2)
3 p.m. Kenya (continued)
Thursday, 18 January
10 a.m. Mali: second periodic report (CRC/C/MLI/2)
3 p.m. Mali (continued)
Friday, 19 January
10 a.m. Honduras: third periodic report (CRC/C/HND/3)
3 p.m. Honduras (continued)
Monday, 22 January
10 a.m. Marshall Islands: second periodic report (CRC/C/93/Add.8)
3 p.m. Marshall Islands (continued)
Wednesday, 24 January
10 a.m. Suriname: second periodic report (CRC/C/SUR/2)
3 p.m. Suriname (continued)
Thursday, 25 January
10 a.m. Malaysia: initial report (CRC/C/MYS/1)
3 p.m. Malaysia (continued)
Friday, 26 January
10 a.m. Chile: third periodic report (CRC/C/CHL/3)
3 p.m. Chile (continued)
Monday, 29 January
10 a.m. Kyrgyzstan OPAC*/OPSC‡ (CRC/C/OPAC/KGZ/1; CRC/C/OPSC/KGZ/1)
3 p.m. Kyrgyzstan (continued)
Thursday, 1 February
3 p.m. Fourth informal meeting with States parties
Friday, 2 February
12.30 p.m. Adoption of the report; closing of the session
* Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict.
‡ Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.
__________
For use of the information media; not an official record
Committee on the Rights of the Child
11 January 2007
Situation of Child Rights in Kenya, Mali, Honduras, Marshall Islands, Suriname, Malaysia and Chile to be Reviewed
The Committee on the Rights of the Child will meet at the Palais Wilson in Geneva from 15 January to 2 February to review the promotion and protection of children's rights under the Convention on the Rights of the Child in Kenya, Mali, Honduras, the Marshall Islands, Suriname, Malaysia and Chile.
The Committee will also consider the situation in Costa Rica and Kyrgyzstan with regard to the promotion and protection of children's rights under the two Optional Protocols to the Convention – on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography; and on the involvement of children in armed conflict.
The Committee was formed in 1991 to monitor the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which gives a comprehensive collection of children's rights the force of international law. The countries scheduled to come before the Committee at this session are among the 193 to have ratified or acceded to the Convention. The treaty is the most widely accepted international human rights instrument. Only Somalia and the United States have not ratified it. States parties to the Convention are expected to send representatives to the Committee to present periodic reports on national efforts to give effect to children's rights.
At the Committee's forty-fourth session, Malaysia will be presenting its initial report; Kenya, Mali, the Marshall Islands and Suriname will present their second periodic reports; and Honduras and Chile are presenting their third periodic reports. Costa Rica and Kyrgyzstan will be presenting their initial reports under both of the Convention's Optional Protocols: on the involvement of children in armed conflict; and on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.
Also during the session, the Committee will pursue the elaboration of general comments based on the various principles and provisions of the Convention, and members will discuss the outline for the day of general discussion to be held during the Committee's forty-sixth session, in September 2007. The Committee will also continue its discussion of ways and areas in which existing cooperation with various relevant bodies could be further strengthened to enhance the promotion and protection of the rights of the child. The Committee will pursue its discussion concerning the organization of its future work, as well as the procedure to be followed in the consideration of reports by States parties and their follow-up, including where necessary areas identified for technical assistance. Other matters related to the work of the Committee will be discussed as necessary.
The Committee took up the initial report of Kenya on 26 September 2001, and the final conclusions on it can be found in document CRC/C/15/Add.160; the initial report of Mali was taken up on 28 and 29 September 1999, and the Committee's final conclusions on it can be found in document CRC/C/15/Add.113; the second periodic report of Honduras was taken up on 25 May 1999, and the Committee's final conclusions on it can be found in document CRC/C/15/Add.105; the initial report of Marshall Islands was taken up on 29 September 2000, and the Committee's final conclusions on it can be found in document CRC/C/15/Add.139; the initial report of Suriname was taken up on 29 May 2000, and the Committee's final conclusions on it can be found in document CRC/C/15/Add.130; and the second periodic report of Chile was taken up on 23 January 2002, and the Committee's final conclusions on it can be found in document CRC/C/15/Add.173.
Convention on the Rights of the Child
The General Assembly adopted the Convention unanimously on 20 November 1989, 30 years after the adoption of the Declaration on the Rights of the Child. The Convention renders States parties legally accountable for their actions towards children. Work on drafting the Convention began in 1979 – the International Year of the Child – at the Commission on Human Rights.
The Convention was opened for signature on 26 January 1990. That day, 61 countries signed it, a record first-day response. It entered into force just seven months later, on 2 September 1990.
Ratifying the Convention entails reviewing national legislation to make sure it is in line with the provisions of the treaty. The Convention stipulates, among other things, that every child has the right to life, and that States shall ensure the maximum child survival and development; that every child has the right to a name and nationality from birth; and that when courts, welfare institutions or administrative authorities deal with children, the child's best interests shall be a primary consideration. The Convention also recognizes the right of children to be heard.
Furthermore, States shall ensure that each child enjoys full rights without discrimination or distinction of any kind, and shall ensure that children not be separated from their parents, unless by competent authorities for their well-being. In addition, States shall facilitate reunification of families by permitting travel into, or out of, their territories; and States shall protect children from physical or mental harm and neglect, including sexual abuse or exploitation.
Also according to the Convention, disabled children shall have the right to special treatment, education and care; primary education shall be free and compulsory and discipline in school should respect the child's dignity; capital punishment or life imprisonment shall not be imposed for crimes committed before the age of 18; no child under 15 should take any part in hostilities and children exposed to armed conflict shall receive special protection; and children of minority and indigenous populations shall freely enjoy their own cultures, religions and languages.
In May 2000, the General Assembly adopted the two Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict and on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. The Optional Protocols entered into force in 2002. Currently, 110 countries have ratified the Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict; 115 have ratified the Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.
Committee Membership
The Convention requires that the members of the Committee have a high moral standing and recognized competence in the field of children's rights. The following Experts, nominated by the States parties to serve in their personal capacity, have been elected to the Committee: Ghalia Mohd Bin Hamad Al-Thani (Qatar), Joyce Aluoch (Kenya), Mary Alison Anderson (Jamaica); Jacob Egbert Doek (the Netherlands), Kamel Filali (Algeria), Moushira Khattab (Egypt), Hatem Kotrane (Tunisia), Lothar Friedrich Krappmann (Germany), Yanghee Lee (Republic of Korea), Norberto Liwski (Argentina), Rosa María Ortiz (Paraguay), Awa N'Deye Ouedraogo (Burkina Faso), David Brent Parfitt (Canada), Awich Pollar (Uganda), Kamal Siddiqui (Bangladesh), Lucy Smith (Norway), Nevena Vuckovic-Sahovic (Republic of Serbia) and Jean Zermatten (Switzerland).
Mr. Doek is the Chairperson. Ms. Aluoch, Ms. Khattab, Ms. Lee, and Mr. Liwski are Vice Chairpersons, and Ms. Vuckovic-Sahovic is the Rapporteur.
Tentative Timetable for Consideration of Reports
Following is a tentative timetable for the consideration of reports from States parties to the Convention during this session:
Monday, 15 January
11 a.m. Costa Rica: initial reports on OPAC
Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict. (CRC/C/OPAC/CRI/1) and OPSC‡ ‡Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. (CRC/C/OPSC/CRI/1)
3 p.m. Costa Rica (continued)
Tuesday, 16 January
10 a.m. Kenya: second periodic report (CRC/C/KEN/2)
3 p.m. Kenya (continued)
Thursday, 18 January
10 a.m. Mali: second periodic report (CRC/C/MLI/2)
3 p.m. Mali (continued)
Friday, 19 January
10 a.m. Honduras: third periodic report (CRC/C/HND/3)
3 p.m. Honduras (continued)
Monday, 22 January
10 a.m. Marshall Islands: second periodic report (CRC/C/93/Add.8)
3 p.m. Marshall Islands (continued)
Wednesday, 24 January
10 a.m. Suriname: second periodic report (CRC/C/SUR/2)
3 p.m. Suriname (continued)
Thursday, 25 January
10 a.m. Malaysia: initial report (CRC/C/MYS/1)
3 p.m. Malaysia (continued)
Friday, 26 January
10 a.m. Chile: third periodic report (CRC/C/CHL/3)
3 p.m. Chile (continued)
Monday, 29 January
10 a.m. Kyrgyzstan OPAC*/OPSC‡ (CRC/C/OPAC/KGZ/1; CRC/C/OPSC/KGZ/1)
3 p.m. Kyrgyzstan (continued)
Thursday, 1 February
3 p.m. Fourth informal meeting with States parties
Friday, 2 February
12.30 p.m. Adoption of the report; closing of the session
* Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict.
‡ Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.
__________
For use of the information media; not an official record
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