GENEVA (6 January 2016) – The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child is meeting in Geneva from 12-29 January to review the record of 14 countries: Senegal, Iran, Latvia, Oman, France, Ireland, Peru, Haiti, Zimbabwe, Maldives, Zambia, Benin, Brunei and Kenya.

The Committee, composed of 18 independent international experts, monitors how States that have ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child are complying with its obligations. The Committee also reviews how States are doing in two specific areas covered by additions to the Convention known as optional protocols. These concern the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, and the involvement of children in armed conflict.

States that are party to the Convention and the Optional Protocols must submit regular written reports to the Committee. During the meetings in Geneva, Committee members hold question and answer sessions with the respective government delegations. The sessions are webcast live here: http://www.treatybodywebcast.org/.

The Committee will meet at Palais des Nations in Geneva in Rooms XXIV and XXV:
Chamber A:  Senegal (11-12 Jan); Latvia (12-13 Jan); Ireland (14 Jan); Haiti (15 Jan); Zimbabwe (19 Jan); Zambia (20 Jan); Brunei (21 Jan)

Chamber B:  Iran (11-12 Jan); Oman (12-13 Jan); France (13-14 Jan) please note this will be in Room XVI; Peru (15 Jan); Maldives (19 Jan); Benin (20 Jan); Kenya (21 Jan)

More information is available at: http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/treatybodyexternal/SessionDetails1.aspx?SessionID=924&Lang=en  The CRC will publish its findings, known as concluding observations, here on Wednesday 3 February. A news conference is scheduled at 12:00 on Thursday 4 February at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

ENDS

For more information and media requests, please contact Liz Throssell (+41 (0) 22 917 9466/ +41 79 752 0488 ethrossell@ohchr.org
Media accreditation for the Palais des Nations:   http://unog.ch/80256EDD006B9C2E/(httpPages)/70991F6887C73B2280256EE700379C58?OpenDocument

BACKGROUND:

The Committee on the Rights of the Child: 
http://www.ohchr.org/en/treaty-bodies/crc

Convention on the Rights of the Child (ratified to date by 196 States):
http://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/convention-rights-child

Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography (ratified to date by 171 States):  http://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/optional-protocol-convention-rights-child-sale-children-child

Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict (ratified to date by 162 States): http://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/optional-protocol-convention-rights-child-involvement-children 

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