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26 June 2000
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26 June 2000
The Principality of Monaco today joined countries uniting to strengthen international action against the participation of children in armed conflict and child trafficking.
In a ceremony held at the Palais des Nations in Geneva this afternoon, HRH Prince Albert of Monaco signed 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. Norway and San Marino have also signed both protocols, while Argentina, Canada and Sweden have signed the instrument on children in armed conflict. Tomorrow, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Cambodia is scheduled to sign both protocols, while Chile’s Minister for Planning and Cooperation, Alejandra Krauss, will add her signature to the one on children in armed conflict. Both representatives are attending the United Nations General Assembly Session on the Implementation of the Outcome of the World Summit for Social Development and Further Initiatives United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson welcomed Monaco’s signing of the two instruments and encouraged other countries to "get on board and make the commitments in the optional protocols a reality for the sake of our children and of future generations".
The UN General Assembly adopted the protocols last May after years of negotiation. The optional protocol on children in armed conflict prohibits the recruitment of persons under 18 years of age by non-State actors and. imposes an obligation on States to raise the minimum age of recruitment to government armed forces above the standard of 15 years of age contained in the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The protocol on the sale of children sets new standards for the prosecution of offenders, even when the crimes have been committed abroad.
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The Principality of Monaco today joined countries uniting to strengthen international action against the participation of children in armed conflict and child trafficking.
In a ceremony held at the Palais des Nations in Geneva this afternoon, HRH Prince Albert of Monaco signed 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. Norway and San Marino have also signed both protocols, while Argentina, Canada and Sweden have signed the instrument on children in armed conflict. Tomorrow, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Cambodia is scheduled to sign both protocols, while Chile’s Minister for Planning and Cooperation, Alejandra Krauss, will add her signature to the one on children in armed conflict. Both representatives are attending the United Nations General Assembly Session on the Implementation of the Outcome of the World Summit for Social Development and Further Initiatives United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson welcomed Monaco’s signing of the two instruments and encouraged other countries to "get on board and make the commitments in the optional protocols a reality for the sake of our children and of future generations".
The UN General Assembly adopted the protocols last May after years of negotiation. The optional protocol on children in armed conflict prohibits the recruitment of persons under 18 years of age by non-State actors and. imposes an obligation on States to raise the minimum age of recruitment to government armed forces above the standard of 15 years of age contained in the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The protocol on the sale of children sets new standards for the prosecution of offenders, even when the crimes have been committed abroad.
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