COMMITTEE ON RIGHTS OF CHILD TO HOLD THIRTY-SIXTH SESSION IN GENEVA, FROM 17 MAY TO 4 JUNE 2004

Background Release                                         

COMMITTEE ON RIGHTS OF CHILD TO HOLD THIRTY-SIXTH SESSION

IN GENEVA, FROM 17 MAY TO 4 JUNE 2004

Reports from El Salvador, Panama, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Liberia,

Myanmar, Dominica, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, France to Be Considered

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 13 May (UN Information Service) -- The Committee on the Rights of the Child will meet at the Palais Wilson in Geneva from 17 May to 4 June 2004 to review the promotion and protection of children's rights in El Salvador, Panama, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Liberia, Myanmar, Dominica, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and France.

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 192 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’s 18 experts will start the session by approving their agenda and programme of work.

Sao Tome and Principe, Liberia, and Dominica are presenting initial reports.  The rest of the countries are presenting second periodic reports.

The initial report of El Salvador was reviewed in 1993 and the Committee’s conclusions and observations on it can be found in document CRC/C/15/Add.9.

The initial report of Panama was considered in 1997 and the Committee’s conclusions on it can be found in document CRC/C/15/Add.68.

The initial report of Rwanda was taken up in 1993 and the Committee’s final recommendations on it can be found in document CRC/C/15/Add.12.

The initial report of Myanmar was reviewed in 1997 and the Committee’s conclusions on it can be found in document CRC/C/15/Add.69.

The initial report of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea was considered in 1998 and the Committee’s final observations on it can be found in document CRC/C/15/Add.88.

And the initial report of France was considered in 1994 and the Committee’s conclusions on it can be found in document CRC/C/15/Add.20.

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 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 distinction 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 entered into force in 2002.

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), Joyce Aluoch (Kenya), Saisuree Chutikul (Thailand), Luigi Citarella (Italy), Jacob Egbert Doek (Netherlands), Kamel Filali (Algeria), Moushira Khattab (Egypt), Hatem Kotrane (Tunisia), Lothar Friedrich Krappmann (Germany), Yanghee Lee (Republic of Korea), Norberto Liwski (Argentina), Rosa Maria Ortiz (Paraguay), Awa N'Deye Ouedraogo (Burkina Faso), Marilia Sardenberg (Brazil), Lucy Smith (Norway); Marjorie Taylor (Jamaica), and Nevena Vuckovic-Sahovic (Serbia and Montenegro).

Mr. Doek is the Chairperson.  Ms. Aluoch, Ms. Chutikul and Ms. Sardenberg are Vice Chairpersons, and Ms. Khattab is the Rapporteur.

Tentative Timetable for Consideration of Reports

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

Tuesday, 18 May     10 a.m.-1 p.m.  El Salvador (CRC/C/65/Add.25)

                    3 p.m.-6 p.m.

Wednesday, 19 May   10 a.m.-1 p.m.  Panama (CRC/C/70/Add.20)

                    3 p.m.-6 p.m.

Friday, 21 May      10 a.m.-1 p.m.  Rwanda (CRC/C/70/Add.22)

                    3 p.m.-6 p.m.

Monday, 24 May      10 a.m.-1 p.m.  Sao Tome and Principe (CRC/C/8/Add.49)

                    3 p.m.-6 p.m.

Tuesday, 25 May     10 a.m.-1 p.m.  Liberia (CRC/C/28/Add.21)

                    3 p.m.-6 p.m.

Wednesday, 26 May   10 a.m.-1 p.m.  Myanmar (CRC/C/70/Add.21)

                    3 p.m.-6 p.m.

Friday, 28 May      10 a.m.-1 p.m.  Dominica (CRC/C/8/Add.48)

                    3 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Tuesday, 1 June     10 a.m.-1 p.m.  Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

                    3 p.m.-6 p.m.   (CRC/C/65/Add.24)

Wednesday, 2 June   10 a.m.-1 p.m.  France (CRC/C/65/Add.26)

                    3 p.m.-6 p.m.

* *** *