During its 59th session (16 January – 3 February 2012), the Committee on the Rights of the Child decided to devote its 2012 day of general discussion to the rights of all children in the context of international migration. The discussion took place on Friday 28 September 2012 during the 61st session of the Committee in Geneva (Palais des Nations).

Overall objective of the 2012 DGD

To promote, at the international and national levels, the rights of all children in the context of international migration.

Specific objectives of the 2012 DGD

• Help identify specific child rights issues in the normative, policy and programme areas in relation to all children in international migration situations, regardless of their status (regular or irregular).
• Identify principles and examples of good policies and practices in relation to children in international migration situations.
• Address international standards protecting the rights of the child in the context of international migration and identify how these international standards take or should take into account the guiding principles in the Convention on the Rights of the Child (non-discrimination, best interests of the child, respect for the views of the child and the right to life, survival and development).
• Provide further substantive information for facilitating the Committee’s dialogue with and recommendations to States parties on issues relating to the rights of children in international migration situations.
• Raise awareness and promote exchange of information and collaboration among actors/stakeholders dealing with the rights of children in the context of international migration.

Documentation

• OHCHR Study on protection of the rights of the child in the context of migration
• Report and recommendations of the 2012 day of general discussion
• Background Paper (English)
• Annex I (English)
• Annex II (English)
• Programme (English)
• Outline (English)
• Guidelines (English)

Inputs received

The views expressed are those of the submission authors and do not necessarily represent those of the Committee on the Rights of the Child.

• Africans United Against Child Abuse
• Alexandra VIÉ
  Jeune diplômée de l’Institut des Hautes Études d’Amérique Latine
• Alexandra VIÉ
  Jeune diplômée de l’Institut des Hautes Études d’Amérique Latine
• Alianza por los Derechos de Niñas, niños y adolescentes en México
• Alice Rossi
  Doctoral Student – University of Milan - 1 | 2
• Apprentis D’Auteuil
• Association Al Khaima
• Associazione Comunità Papa Giovanni XXIII
• Associazione 21 Luglio - 1 | 2
• Michaela Byers (UTS) and Bao-Er (U of Sydney)
• Beam Education Foundation
• Bureau International Catholique de l’Enfance & Child’s Rights Information Center
• Bureau International Catholique de l’Enfance Università degli Studi di Torino Organizzazione di Aiuto Fraterno – Italia
  Centro Studi e Ricerche Fenix
• Bruce Abramson and Ross Oke
• Caritas & US Conference of Catholic Bishops Migration and Refugee Services
• Centre de Contact Suisses-Immigrés
• Coram
• De Kinderrechtencoalitie & La CODE
• Defence for Children International – the Netherlands
• Défenseur des droits, France
• European Network of Ombudspersons for Children
• European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights - 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5
• Fédération Européenne d’Associations Nationales Travaillant avec les Sans-Abri
• France Terre d’Asile
• Greek Council for Refugees
• Gruppo di lavoro per la convenzione suit Diritti Dell’Infanzia e dell’Adolenscenza - 1 | 2
• Hotline for Migrant Workers
• Human Rights Watch
• Immigration Council of Ireland
• International Association of Refugee Law Judges
• International Detention Coalition - 1 | 2
• International Disability Alliance
• International Forum for Child Welfare
• International Labour Office - 1 | 2
• International Organization for Migration - 1 | 2
• Italian Committee for UNICEF - 1 | 2
• Jesuit Refugee Service & Aditus
• La Marmite aux Idées
• Médecins du monde - Doctors of the World International Network
• Migrant Forum in Asia
  (Philippines and Lebanon)
• Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants
• Plan International
• Save the Children - 1 | 2
• Sonia Valzquez and Alan Dettlaff
• Sonia Ben Ali
• SOS Children’s Villages International
• Terre des Hommes International Federation
• The Flemish Children’s Rights Commissioner’s Office
• The Irish Immigrant Support Centre
• The Smile of the Child
• UNHCR
• Uniao Marista do Brasil
• UNICEF HQ, Division for Policy and Strategy - 1 | 2
• Kate Smith & Adele Jones
  (University of Huddersfield)
• Nando Sigona and Vanessa Hughes
  (University of Oxford)