COMMITTEE ON RIGHTS OF CHILD TO HOLD THIRTY-SECOND SESSION IN GENEVA, 13 - 31 JANUARY

Background Release

COMMITTEE ON RIGHTS OF CHILD TO HOLD THIRTY-SECOND SESSION

IN GENEVA, 13 - 31 JANUARY

Reports from Estonia, Republic of Korea, Italy, Romania,

Solomon Islands, Viet Nam, Czech Republic, Haiti and Iceland to Be Reviewed

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 9 January (UN Information Service) -- The promotion and protection of children's rights in Estonia, Republic of Korea, Italy, Romania, Solomon Islands, Viet Nam, Czech Republic, Haiti, and Iceland will be reviewed as the Committee on the Rights of the Child meets in Geneva from 13 to 31 January 2003.

The Committee was formed in 1991 to monitor 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.  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.

The Committee is composed of 10 independent experts, although States parties have adopted an amendment to the Convention that will increase the membership to 18 to enable the Committee to face a rapidly growing workload.  The amendment entered into force on 18 November 2002, and the new members will be appointed following elections to be held on 10 February 2003, in New York.

The Committee will start its session by approving its agenda and programme of work.  During the three weeks of meetings, in addition to reviewing country reports, the Committee will hold an informal meeting with States parties to discuss various issues, including working methods and the consequences of the increase in membership (29 January); will continue work on three general comments, on HIV/AIDS, adolescent health, and the minimum age for criminal responsibility; and will adopt an outline for its September 2003 discussion day on "the rights of indigenous children".

Concluding Remarks on Reports of States Parties Previously Reviewed

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

In its concluding remarks on the initial report of Romania, considered in January 1994, the Committee welcomed the establishment of a Central Committee for the Orientation and Coordination of Activities on Behalf of Minors, a Committee for the Support of Child-Care Institutions and a Romanian Adoption Committee.  The Committee said it was concerned at the occurrence of child abuse and neglect within the family and at disruption of family values, which, in some cases, had led to children being abandoned or running away.  The Committee suggested that the Government regularly monitor the impact of structural adjustment programmes on children and take adequate measures for their protection.  The Committee also called, among other things, for greater efforts to provide family education, to develop awareness of the equal responsibilities of parents, and to disseminate widely knowledge about modern methods of family planning.

Responding to the initial report of the Republic of Korea, considered in January 1996, the Committee welcomed the development of a national plan of action for children and its incorporation into the country's Seventh Five-Year Social-Economic Development Plan for 1992-1996, as well as the establishment of a National Committee on the Rights of the Child.  The Committee said it was concerned about insufficient measures adopted to ensure a permanent and effective coordinating and monitoring mechanism related to child rights; and about insufficient measures taken to ensure that the principles and provisions of the Convention were widely known to children and adults.  Among other things, the Committee recommended that the Government strengthen its efforts aimed at promoting advocacy and creating awareness and understanding of the principles and provisions of the Convention.  The Committee said greater efforts should be made to promote the participation of children in the family, in school and in social life, and that more should be done to promote children's effective enjoyment of their fundamental freedoms.

In concluding remarks on the initial report of Italy, considered in November 1995, the Committee welcomed the setting up of various institutions and mechanisms for the protection and monitoring of the rights of the child, in particular a Special Committee on Child Issues, established within the Parliament, and a Department of the Family and Social Affairs created within the Prime Minister’s Office.  The Committee said it was concerned at the lack of an overall integrated mechanism for monitoring activities designed to promote and protect the rights of the child.  It cited concern about persistent and significant economic and social disparities between the northern and southern parts of the country which it said had a negative impact on the situation of children.  The Committee recommended, among other things, that further measures be taken to prevent a rise in discriminatory attitudes and prejudices towards particularly vulnerable children such as children living in poverty, children from the southern region, Roma children and foreign children.

In its concluding remarks on the initial report of Viet Nam, considered in January 1993, the Committee welcomed the adoption of a National Assembly of

Law on the Protection, Care and Education of Children and of a Law on the Universalization of Primary Education in August 1991, and it welcomed the proclamation of a "Year of Vietnamese Children".  The Committee expressed concern over negative effects of economic reforms under way in the country on the situation of children.  It also said it was concerned about the situation of children belonging to various minority groups, especially those living in the mountain areas of the country.  The Committee said it was particularly important for the Government to take all necessary steps, using both national resources and international assistance and cooperation, to minimize the negative impact that economic reforms might have on the most vulnerable groups of children.

Responding to the initial report of the Czech Republic, examined in September 1997, the Committee welcomed initiatives undertaken by the State party to further the protection of the family and children by drafting new legislation, such as a proposed Law on Social and Legal Protection of Children, and proposed amendments to existing legislation, including the Law on the Family, the Criminal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedures.  The Committee expressed concern at a rising incidence of gambling addiction, alcohol consumption and drug abuse among children and at insufficient preventive measures taken by the Government.  It also said it was concerned that corporal punishment was still used by parents and that internal school regulations did not contain provisions explicitly prohibiting corporal punishment.  The Committee encouraged the State party to pursue its consideration of the establishment of an independent mechanism to monitor the observance of child rights, such as an ombudsperson or a national commission for child rights.

In concluding remarks on the initial report of Iceland, considered in January 1996, the Committee welcomed the establishment of an Office of Children’s Ombudsman and its role of disseminating information on the rights of the child and of encouraging compliance with the international instruments ratified by Iceland concerning those rights.  The Committee also welcomed the establishment of a Government Agency for Child Protection in March 1995.  While noting steps taken to disseminate the text of the Convention among students at all school levels, the Committee noted that the inclusion of human rights, in general, and of children’s rights, in particular, as a subject in schools and universities was still pending.  The Committee encouraged Iceland to consider the possibility of withdrawing its declarations on the Convention; and recommended that steps be taken to have all the substantive provisions of the treaty reflected in national laws so that the full protection of the rights enshrined in the Convention was ensured.

Tentative Timetable for Consideration of Reports

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

Tuesday, 14 January     10 a.m.-1 p.m.          Estonia (CRC/C/8/Add.45)

3 p.m.-6 p.m.    

Wednesday, 15 January   10 a.m.-1 p.m.          Republic of Korea

3 p.m.-6 p.m.           (CRC/C/70/Add.14)

Thursday, 16 January    10 a.m.-1 p.m.          Italy (CRC/C/70/Add.13)

3 p.m.-6 p.m.

Monday, 20 January      10 a.m.-1 p.m.          Romania (CRC/C/65/Add.18)

3 p.m.-6 p.m.

Tuesday, 21 January     10 a.m.-1 p.m.          Solomon Islands (CRC/C/51/Add.6)

3 p.m.-6 p.m.

Wednesday, 22 January   10 a.m.-1 p.m.           Viet Nam (CRC/C/65/Add.20)

                        3 p.m.-6 p.m.     

Friday, 24 January      10 a.m.-1 p.m.           Czech Republic (CRC/C/83/Add.4)

                        3 p.m.-6 p.m.     

Monday, 27 January      10 a.m.-1 p.m.           Haiti (CRC/C/51/Add.7)

3 p.m.-6 p.m.

Tuesday, 28 January     10 a.m.-1 p.m.           Iceland (CRC/C/83/Add.5)

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 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 to 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 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, and shall ensure that children should 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 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), Saisuree Chutikul (Thailand), Luigi Citarella (Italy), Jacob Egbert Doek (Netherlands), Judith Karp (Israel), Moushira Khattab (Egypt), Awa N'Deye Ouedraogo (Burkina Faso), Marilia Sardenberg (Brazil), and Elizabeth Tigerstedt-Tahtela (Finland).

The Chairperson is Mr. Doek.  Vice-Chairpersons are Mrs. Ouedraogo,

Mrs. Sardenberg, and Ms. Chutikul.  Mrs. Karp is Rapporteur.

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