During its 69th session, the Committee on the Rights of the Child decided to devote its 2016 general discussion day to the issue of children’s rights and the environment. It took place on Friday, 23 September 2016, during the 73rd session of the Committee at the United Nations Office in Geneva.

Overall objective of the 2016 DGD

To promote understanding of the relationship between children’s rights and the environment; identify what needs to be done for child rights-related laws, policies and practices to take adequate account of environmental issues; and for environment-related laws, policies and practices to be child-sensitive.

Specific objectives of the 2016 DGD

• Address key aspects of the relationship between children’s rights and the environment by examining (a) how damage to the environment negatively affects children’s rights, including the rights of children in vulnerable situations, and (b) how children of different ages, gender and social backgrounds can participate in decisions and actions to prevent, respond and adapt to environmental harm.
• Clarify the obligations of States and other actors, particularly the business sector, regarding the rights of the child in relation to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment, including access to justice when harm has been caused, and how to prevent harm in the long term;
• Assess the current status of environmental issues in child rights–related laws, policies and practices, and, vice versa, of children’s rights in laws, policies and practices related to the environment, including by identifying gaps and good examples;
• Provide guidance on how to integrate a comprehensive child rights-based approach into environment-related laws, policies and practices (e.g. environmental impact assessments);
• Provide substantive information to facilitate the Committee’s dialogue with and recommendations to States parties on issues relating to children’s rights and the environment;
• Offer a platform for dialogue between participants and promote exchange of knowledge and experience, and collaboration between relevant actors dealing with children’s rights and environmental protection, thereby complementing recent developments related to human rights and the environment in other forums.

Documentation

• Outline (Arabic | English | Français)
• Guidelines on participation and submissions (English)
• Working methods for the participation of children in DGDs (CRC/C/155)
• Programme of work (English)
• Concept note (English)
• Side event 1 ‘Under the same sky’: (English)
• Side event 2 ‘The unsound management of chemicals’: (English)
• Report of the DGD and Recommendations (English: Word - PDF)

DGD videos

• Opening plenary
• Working Group 1, morning session
• Working Group 1, afternoon session
• Working Group 2, morning session
• Working Group 2, afternoon session
• Concluding plenary

Presentations

• Nicholas Rees, UNICEF: “Breath-Less: The impact of air pollution on children”.
• Caleb Mulenga: “Impact of lead contamination on children in Kabwe, Zambia”.
• Brianna Fruean: “Children at the forefront of climate change”.
• Rekha Dhillon-Richardson & Kelly Matheson, Our Children’s Trust: “Climate change and youth involvement” - 1 | 2 | 3 | 4
• Daniel Limpitlaw, Synergy Global Consulting: “Assessing impact children in the mining sector”.
• Yina Marcela Parra Chiquillo: “Conversación con Yina Marcela Parra Chiquillo. Representante del grupo de creadores culturales, Voces del Haltillo - 1 | 2
• Ignacio Packer, Terre des Hommes International Federation: “Introductory statement: UN CRC Day of General Discussion on Children’s Right and the Environment”.
• John Knox, The United Nations Mandate on Human Rights and the Environment: “United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment”.
• Joni Pegram, UNICEF UK: “Children’s rights and climate change. For every child in danger”- 1 | 2
• Juliane Kippenberg, Human Rights Watch: “Children’s exposure to environmental toxicants: Strategies to protect child rights” - 1 | 2 | 3
• Lilian Corra, International Society of Doctors for the Environment: “Working Group 1: Children’s exposure to environmental toxicants” - 1 | 2
• Maria Neira: “Committee on the Rights of the Child Day of General Discussion”.
• Nicholas Rees: “Verbatim: WG1 – Children’s exposure to environmental toxicants”.
• Priscila Bribiesca Rodrigues, Earth Defenders: “Effective remedies for violations of children’s rights related to ecosystems, biodiversity and natural resources” - 1 | 2
• Tom Weerachat, Mekong Youth Assembly: “You do not inherit the river from ancestors, you borrow it from your children” - 1 | 2
• Ritu, Ankur Society for Alternatives in Education: “Breathing with walls, breathing with trees: Children’s exposure to toxics” - 1 | 2
• OHCHR: “Statement of the Special Rapporteur on the implications for human rights of the environmentally sound management and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes at the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child”.
• International Youth Network of terre des hommes: “Opening statement by children of the International Youth Network of terre des hommes”

Inputs received

• Alex Tennant
• Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development
• Baskut Tuncak, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Hazardous Substances and Wastes
• Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL)
• Centro de Políticas Públicas y Derechos Humanos, Perú EQUIDAD- 1 | 2
• Child Health and Environment Program (CHEP)
• Child Rights International Network (CRIN)
• Children and Young People’s Commissioner, Scotland
• Children’s Play Advisory Service
• Crude Accountability - 1 | 2
• Dhaatri – A Resource Centre for Women and Children’s Rights
• Federación Coordinadora Nicaragüense de Organismos No Gubernamentales que trabajan con la Niñez y la Adolescencia
• FIAN International
• Green Asia Network
• Human Rights Watch
• International Baby Food Action Network
• International Development Law Organization
• International Disability Alliance
• International Health LMU BaliFokus Foundation
• International Play Association and Annex
• International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Annex
• Instituto de Promocion Economico y Social del Uruguay and Annexes 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6
• Ivana Savić
• Just Planet
• Karen Makuch
• Kinderrechtencoalitie (Child Rights Coalition of Flanders, Belgium)
• Lea Maitre, IS Global
• Maggie Ibrahim – Children in a Changing Climate Coalition (World Vision) and Annexes 1 | 2
• Mary Robinson Foundation
• National Coalition Germany
• OPCIÓN
• OraTaiao: The New Zealand Climate and Health Council
• Our Children’s Trust - 1 | 2
• Parent and Play Street organizer
• Pesticide Action Network
• Plan International - 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6
• Pure Earth
• Rethinking Childhood
• Secretariat of the BRS Conventions, United Nations Environment Programme - 1 | 2
• SHOKEI GAKUIN
• SieNi, Education à la protection de l’eau en Colombie and Annex
• Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment, John Knox and Annex
• Terre des Hommes Suisse
• The Center for the Human Rights of Children
• Together (Scottish Alliance for Children’s Rights)
• UNICEF
• WHO European Centre for Environment and Health, WHO Regional Office for Europe
• World Future Council and Annex