COMMITTEE ON RIGHTS OF CHILD TO HOLD NINETEENTH SESSION AT GENEVA FROM 21 SEP - 9 OCT 98, EXPERTS TO EXAMINE REPORTS OF ECUADOR, IRAQ, BOLIVIA, KUWAIT AND THAILAND

BACKGROUND RELEASE

HR/CRC/98/38
15 September 1998




The promotion and protection of children's rights in Ecuador, Iraq, Bolivia, Kuwait and Thailand will be at the top of the agenda as the Committee on the Rights of the Child meets in Geneva From 21 September to 9 October 1998.

The Committee was formed in 1991 to monitor the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the most complete statement of children's rights ever made and the first to give these 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, a number that makes the treaty the most widely accepted human rights instrument ever. Only Somalia and the United States have not yet ratified it. The States parties to the Convention are expected to send representatives to the Committee to present and defend reports on how they give effect to children's rights.

During this three-week session, the Committee may also pursue the elaboration of general comments based on the various principles and provisions of the Convention. It is expected to pursue its discussion of ways and areas in which existing cooperation with various relevant bodies could be further strengthened to enhance the promotion and protection of the rights of the child. The panel will also discuss the organization of its future work, as well as the procedure to be followed in the consideration of reports by States parties and their follow-up, including where necessary areas identified for technical assistance.

On Monday, 5 October, the Committee will have a General Discussion on the question of "children living in a world with HIV/AIDS". Interested relevant organizations and individuals have been invited to participate in the discussion.

The Committee is composed of 10 independent experts, although States parties have adopted an amendment to the Convention that would increase the membership to 18 in order to enable the Committee to face a rapidly growing workload. The amendment will enter into force upon its acceptance by a two-thirds majority of States parties.

Timetable for Consideration of Reports

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


Tuesday, 22 September
10 a.m.- 1 p.m. Ecuador (CRC/C/3/Add.44)
3 p.m.- 6 p.m. Ecuador (CRC/C/3/Add.44)

Wednesday, 23 September
10 a.m.- 1 p.m. Ecuador (CRC/C/3/Add.44)
3 p.m.- 6 p.m. Iraq (CRC/C/41/Add.3)

Thursday, 24 September
10 a.m.-1 p.m. Iraq (CRC/C/41/Add.3)
3 p.m.-6 p.m. Iraq (CRC/C/41/Add.3)

Friday, 25 September
10 a.m.- 1 p.m. Bolivia (CRC/C/65/Add.1)
3 p.m.- 6 p.m. Bolivia (CRC/C/65/Add.1)

Monday, 28 September
10 a.m.- 1 p.m. Kuwait (CRC/C/8/Add. 35)
3 p.m.- 6 p.m. Kuwait (CRC/C/8/Add. 35)

Tuesday, 29 September
10 a.m.-1 p.m. Kuwait (CRC/C/8/Add. 35)

Thursday, 1 October
10 a.m.- 1 p.m. Thailand (CRC/C/11/Add.19)
3 p.m.- 6 p.m. Thailand (CRC/C/11/Add.19)

Friday, 2 October
10 a.m.- 1 p.m. Thailand (CRC/C/11/Add.19)



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 its drafting 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 States shall ensure to the maximum child survival and development; every child has the right to a name and nationality from birth; and, 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; that children should not be separated from their parents, unless by competent authorities for their well-being; States should 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 culture, religion and language.

A conference of States parties has endorsed efforts to amend the Convention in order to increase the membership of the Committee, while the General Assembly has expressed support for the working group of the Commission on Human Rights on a draft optional protocol to the treaty related to the involvement of children in armed conflict.

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 States parties to serve in their personal capacity, have been elected to the Committee: Francesco Paolo Fulci (Italy), Judith Karp (Israel), Youri Kolosov (Russian Federation), Sandra P. Mason (Barbados), Nafsiah Mboi (Indonesia), Esther Margaret Queen Mokhuane (South Africa), Awa N'deye Ouedraogo (Burkina Faso), Lisbet Palme (Sweden), Ghassan Salim Rabah (Lebanon), and Marilia Sardenberg Gonçalves (Brazil).

Mrs. Mason is the Committee’s Chairperson. The three Vice-Chairpersons are Mrs. Karp, Mr.Kolosov and Mr. Rabah. Mrs. Mboi is the Rapporteur.