Background Release

COMMITTEE ON RIGHTS OF CHILD TO HOLD THIRTIETH SESSION

IN GENEVA, 21 MAY - 7 JUNE

Will Review Reports from Guinea Bissau, Belgium, United Arab Emirates, Netherlands

Antilles, Switzerland, Niger, Belarus, Tunisia, Saint Vincent and Grenadines, Spain

GENEVA, 16 May (UN Information Service) -- The promotion and protection of children's rights in Guinea Bissau, Belgium, Niger, Belarus, Tunisia, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Spain and the Netherlands Antilles will be reviewed, as the Committee on the Rights of the Child meets in Geneva from 21 May to 7 June 2002.

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 191 to have ratified or acceded to the Convention, a number that makes the treaty the most widely accepted human rights instrument ever.  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 and defend reports on how they give effect to children's rights.

During this three-week session, the Committee may also pursue the elaboration of general comments based on various principles and provisions of the Convention.  It is expected to consider, as well, 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 panel will also discuss 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, technical assistance.

The Committee is composed of 10 independent experts, although States parties have adopted an amendment to the Convention that would increase the membership to

18 in order to enable the Committee to face a rapidly growing workload.  The amendment will enter into force upon acceptance by a two-thirds majority of States parties.

Committee expert Amina Hamza El Guindi (Egypt) resigned in March, and her successor will be nominated during the session.

The Committee will start its work by approving its agenda and programme of work.

Concluding Remarks on Reports of States Parties Previously Reviewed

Of the 10 countries whose reports are being considered this session, four have had reports previously reviewed.  The other six countries are presenting initial reports.

In its concluding remarks on the initial report of Belgium, considered in May and June 1995, the Committee welcomed the adoption of a comprehensive legal framework to ensure full conformity with the Convention and the adoption of a recent law which extended the national jurisdiction in cases of child prostitution and pornography and allowed the State to prosecute any person accused of "sex tourism".  The Committee recommended that the State party envisage the establishment of a permanent mechanism of coordination, evaluation, monitoring and follow-up for policies aiming at the protection of the child to ensure that the Convention on the Rights of the Child was fully respected and implemented, at the federal and communities levels; and that Belgium envisage the creation of a permanent mechanism of data collection at the national level, in order to have an overall assessment of the situation of children in the country.

Concerning the initial report of Belarus, which was taken up in January 1994, the Committee considered as a positive aspect the State party's willingness to seek advice and technical assistance in developing appropriate mechanisms to implement the rights of the child.  The Committee recommended that the State party prepare, as a matter of priority, a national plan of action for children; that it give a stronger emphasis to primary health care activities; and that it evaluate the adequacy of the measures it has taken to provide social security for the benefit of children.  In view of the significant risk of the exploitation of children through labour, particularly in the light of recent changes to national legislation, the Committee suggested that this matter be urgently addressed.  The Committee also encouraged international support for measures to cope with the aftermath of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.

With regards to the initial report of Tunisia, reviewed in June 1995, the Committee welcomed the efforts made by the Government in bringing domestic law into line with the Convention, through the enactment of the draft Code for the Protection of the Child.  It recommended that the State party systemize and amplify data collection on matters relating to the Convention; that it pursue legislative reforms and adopt measures translating into practice the general principles of the Convention, in particular the principle of non-discrimination against children born out of wedlock; that it give further thought to possible ratification of ILO Convention 138 on the minimum age for admission to employment; and that the social preventive approach for protection from ill-treatment be strengthened.

And in its conclusions on the initial report of Spain, reviewed in October 1994, the Committee considered as positive factors the open and self-critical approach taken by the Government of Spain in preparing its report.  The Committee recommended that the State party strengthen the coordination mechanisms existing in its constitutional and legislative framework and develop evaluation and monitoring at all levels of the administration, central, regional and local (including the comunidades autónomas), to ensure that the Convention on the Rights of the Child was fully respected and implemented; that it pay particular attention to the implementation of article 4 of the Convention and ensure a balanced distribution of resources at the central, regional and local levels; and that Spanish authorities pursue law reform to ensure full compliance of the domestic legislation with the provisions of the Convention.

Timetable for Consideration of Reports

The following is the timetable for consideration of reports from States parties to the Convention during this session:

Wednesday, 22 May       10 a.m.-1 p.m.          Guinea-Bissau (CRC/C/3/Add.63)

3 p.m.-6 p.m.                       "

Thursday, 23 May        10 a.m.-1 p.m.          Belgium (CRC/C/83/Add.2)

3 p.m.-6 p.m.     

Friday, 24 May          10 a.m.-1 p.m.          Niger (CRC/C/3/Add.29.Rev.1)

3 p.m.-6 p.m.                       "

Monday, 27 May          10 a.m.-1 p.m.          Belarus (CRC/C/65/Add.15)

3 p.m.-6 p.m.                       "

Tuesday, 28 May         10 a.m.-1 p.m.          Tunisia (CRC/C/83/Add.1)

3 p.m.-6 p.m.                       "

Wednesday, 29 May     10 a.m.-1 p.m.          Switzerland (CRC/C/78/Add.3)

3 p.m.-6 p.m.                       "

Friday, 31 May          10 a.m.-1 p.m.          United Arab Emirates (CRC/C/78/Add.2)

                        3 p.m.-6 p.m.                       "

Monday, 3 June          10 a.m.-1 p.m.          Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

                                     (CRC/C/28/Add.18)

                        3 p.m.-6 p.m.                       "

Tuesday, 4 June         10 a.m.-1 p.m.          Spain (CRC/C/70/Add.9)

                        3 p.m.-6 p.m.                       "

Wednesday, 5 June       10 a.m.-1 p.m.          Netherlands Antilles(CRC/C/107/Add.1)

                        3 p.m.-6 p.m.                       "

Convention on Rights of 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 makes States which accept it legally accountable for their actions towards children.  Work on its drafting 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 States shall ensure to the maximum child survival and development; every child has the right to a name and nationality from birth; and, when courts, welfare institutions or administrative authorities deal with children, the child's best interests shall be a primary consideration.  The Convention recognizes the right of children to be heard.

Furthermore, States shall ensure that each child enjoys full rights without discrimination or distinctions of any kind; that children should not be separated from their parents, unless by competent authorities for their well-being; States should 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 culture, religion and language.

In May 2000, the General Assembly adopted by consensus 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 have entered into force.

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 State parties to serve in their personal capacity, have been elected to the Committee:  Ibrahim Abdul Aziz Al-Sheddi (Saudi Arabia), Ghalia Mohd Bin Hamad Al-Thani (Qatar), Jacob Egbert Doek (Netherlands), Saisuree Chutikul (Thailand), Luigi Citarella (Italy), Judith Karp (Israel), Awa N'Deye Ouedraogo (Burkina Faso), Marilia Sardenberg (Brazil), and Elizabeth Tigerstedt-Tahtela (Finland).

The Chairperson is Mr. Doek.  Vice chairpersons are Mrs. Ouedraogo and

Mrs. Sardenberg.  Mrs. Karp is Rapporteur.

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