HIGH COMMISSIONER TELLS COMMITTEE ON RIGHTS OF CHILD THAT RATIFICATION OF OPTIONAL PROTOCOLS IS SLOWER THAN EXPECTED

CRC
27th session
25 May 2001
Afternoon



The Committee on the Rights of the Child this afternoon heard a statement by High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson who said that the ratification process of the two optional protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child had been slightly slower than expected.

She told the Committee that as of today, the optional protocol on children in armed conflicts had been ratified by 4 States parties and signed by 79 States; and the one on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography had been ratified by 3 States parties and signed by 72 States.

Mrs. Robinson also briefed Committee Experts about developments of relevance to their work which had taken place since their last session.

Following her statement, the High Commissioner exchanged views with members of the Committee who raised issues related to the rights of children. She said, among other things, that rights-based activities on child issues should be encouraged. She said that States parties to the Convention on the Rights of the Child should be encouraged to ratify the two optional protocols to the Convention.

Asked about her visit to the Middle East, she said that children on both sides of the conflict were suffering from the violence which was still going on. She particularly remembered children in a Gaza hospital who were suffering from the consequences of the violence.

When the Committee reconvenes at 10 a.m. on Monday, 28 May, it will take up the initial report of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Statement by High Commissioner for Human Rights

MARY ROBINSON, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, recalled that the Commission on Human Rights, during its fifty-seventh session, had adopted a resolution on the rights of the child which had noted with interest the recent adoption by the Committee of a general comment on the aims of education and had noted with appreciation the initiative of the Committee on State violence against children. In addition, it had welcomed the Committee’s upcoming general discussion next September on violence within the school and the family and had welcomed the recommendations by the Committee to request the Secretary-General to conduct an in-depth study on the issue of violence against children.

Mrs. Robinson said that the Commission had also decided to establish a Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people. The Commission had demonstrated the importance it attached to the promotion of human rights, including children rights, in the context of HIV/AIDS. That was a most welcomed initiative, especially in light of the forthcoming General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS next June.

Mrs. Robinson said that she attached particular importance to including a child rights dimension in the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance. Children should be an important focus of attention in that global effort since they were, all too often, vulnerable targets of discrimination and exclusion. At the same time, children had a lot to contribute to a shared vision of an inclusive, non-discriminatory world because they had open minds and lacked prejudice. That was why the Durban Conference provided a good occasion to highlight the relevance of the struggle against racism and racial discrimination concerning child rights, and one needed to make the best use of such an opportunity. Among the various events planned around the World Conference, a Youth Summit would take place on 27 August, before the opening of the Conference, and would allow young people to bring to the attention of the World Conference a statement reflecting issues of main concern to them.

Mrs. Robinson informed the Committee Experts that the General Assembly’s Special Session on children that would take place in New York from 19 to 21 September. The Committee had been actively contributing to the outcome document which had greatly evolved since the Second Preparatory Committee that was held last January.

The ratification process of the two optional protocols to the Convention had been slightly slower than expected, Mrs. Robinson said. As of today, the optional protocol on children in armed conflicts had been ratified by 4 States parties and signed by 79 States; and the one on sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography had been ratified by 3 States parties and signed by 72 States. Regarding the increase of the membership of the Committee, the amendment to article 43.2 had been ratified by 98 States, which represented only an increase of two States since the Committee's last session. At least 120 ratifications were needed in order for the amendment to enter into force.


CORRIGENDUM

In press release HR/CRC/01/28 of 23 May, 2001, the fifth paragraph on page three should read as follows:

Responding to the Committee’s queries, the members of the delegation said that the eastern sector of Turkey had been neglected over the years which had resulted in regional disparities. Nevertheless, this did not mean any discrimination whatsoever towards any particular ethnic group. Governments’ efforts had been accelerated to eliminate such disparities. Within this context, the “South-eastern Anatolian Project” had been launched. This was the biggest development project concentrated in the south-eastern part of Turkey and numerous dams had been built on the Euphrates and Tigris rivers to diversify and enlarge development in the region. At least 10 per cent of the Turkish population resided in this region.



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