Committee on the Rights of the Child

Three years after its 84^th Extraordinary Session in Apia, Samoa, the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC Committee) is returning to the Pacific to meet with Pacific Island Countries to take stock of their efforts to advance children’s rights.  

The 10-day mission will see members of the CRC Committee first visit the three countries reviewed in 2020, namely the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia and Tuvalu to meet with children, communities, governments and civil society, from 13 to 15 November 2023. Throughout the visit, they will listen to the progress made in protecting children’s rights in Pacific Island Countries, and understand firsthand the issues impacting children, including protection from all types of violence, child justice, health and wellbeing. They will also hear about the impact of climate change: children are uniquely and disproportionately vulnerable to pollution, diseases and extreme weather conditions, yet children’s rights, unique needs for special protection and their perspectives are not sufficiently taken into consideration in climate policies, action and investment.

Then the Committee delegations will convene for a workshop in Apia, Samoa to meet with government delegations from all Pacific Island Countries from 20 to 22 November 2023. “The Regional Experience Sharing Workshop on Implementation of Recommendations” in Apia will bring Pacific Island Country governments and the CRC Committee together to discuss children’s rights issues, including protection from violence and exploitation, protection in the administration of justice system, and protection and promotion of children’s rights in the context of environment and climate change. The CRC Committee will listen to opportunities to improve children’s rights and good practice stories from the Pacific, as well as challenges and difficulties faced by governments, civil society, and children.

The first day of the regional workshop in Apia, Samoa, will host the Pacific Launch of the Committee’s general comment no. 26 on Children's Rights and the Environment with a Special Focus on Climate Change on the occasion of World Children’s Day (20 November). On this day, the Committee Members will meet with school children to discuss children’s rights and celebrate World Children’s Day and the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

#ChildRightsPacific

Documentation

• Programme
• Concept note
• Outcome document

Press releases

Pacific leaders commit to championing children’s rights and give children the best World Children’s Day gift - United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child Celebrates Positive Outcomes in the Pacific
Apia, Samoa - 24 November, 2023

General Comment 26 launched in the Pacific - UN Child Rights Committee meets with Pacific children and governments to share new guidance on children and environment
Apia, 20 November 2023

CRC Committee Returns to the Pacific to take stock of children’s rights
Suva, 10 November 2023

Photos