43rd session of the Human Rights CouncilSide event on 30 years of the Convention on the Rights of the ChildStatement by Nada Al Nashif, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights25 February 2020

Excellencies, distinguished panellists,

I would like to thank the Community of Portuguese Language Countries for holding such an important discussion and for inviting me to take part. This is my first public engagement since I joined the Office this month and I am delighted to be here with you today on this commemoration.

As we heard yesterday at the high-level panel, the Convention on the Rights of the Child is the most widely ratified international human rights treaty and continues to be a powerful force for change and a driver for the rights of children around the world.

We have seen that the Convention and its Optional Protocols have led to stronger respect for children’s rights and we have seen significant progress for children across the world.

• Children today are in better health. For example, the under-five mortality rate and the number of under-five deaths have fallen by more than half since 1990.¹
• Children have access to higher quality education for longer.
• From 2008 and 2018, 25 million child marriages were prevented and other achievements in the elimination of worst forms of child labour have been made.²
• Children are also increasingly empowered to claim their rights through initiatives such as human rights education programmes, Children’s Parliaments, reform of juvenile justice systems, as we heard yesterday, ranging from Scotland, to Yemen to South Africa.
• And of course, we have heard children’s voices with passion and determination such as girl activists Greta Thunberg from Sweden and Autumn Peltier, an indigenous teen advocate for clean water in First Nations communities in Canada, who are part of the children demonstrating powerful leadership and not waiting to be given a role.  

It was therefore uplifting that 2019 was an historic year for children’s rights, with many celebrations of the positive changes the Convention has brought over the last 30 years.

Yet much more remains and must be done. Enjoyment of rights remain a far-off reality for many children globally, including girls, children with disabilities, children living in poverty every day, children accused or convicted of committing crimes and children facing discrimination, among others. According to the World Health Organization, more than 1.7 million children under five die every year due to preventable environmental impacts, and UNICEF estimates that up to 27 million children cannot attend school in conflict zones.

The solutions need all of us - representatives of Member States, UN System, civil society, academia - working collectively to ensure that no child is left behind. In this regard, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary, 59 States made concrete pledges³ to renew their commitment to the full implementation of the Convention. I am pleased to note that Portugal’s pledges, to create a National Council of Children and Young People and to publish guidance on how to promote the safe use of the digital environment by children and families, deal with the strengthening of child participation. And Angola pledged to launch a program to effectively respond to children’s rights violations and abuses.

These pledges are encouraging; we welcome many more.  At the national level, they provide an opportunity to address gaps so that no child is left behind.

We have seen promising international examples at the United Nations of children participating in children’s rights mechanisms and decision-making processes. This core right to voice and participation is also critical for the liberation of capacities and harnessing of talents.

We have all that we need to move the agenda forward – as long as there is the political will for it. 

In exactly three months, on 25 May 2020, we also celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Convention’s two Optional Protocols on armed conflict and sale of children. All Member States but one are parties to the Convention - I urge broader ratification of Protocols in order to meet reporting obligations.
Children remain disproportionately affected by armed conflict. We have too many examples but these realities are true in conflicts around the world from Syria and Yemen, to the Democratic Republic of Congo and Afghanistan.  We must actively identify children who were involved in and affected by hostilities and provide them with the necessary support. This includes children in emergency migration contexts.
Last September, the Committee published guidelines for States and others working against the sale and exploitation of children. It is clear that we need to take greater action to address the impunity of perpetrators and provide support to child victims. Here, we must pay particular attention to offences committed through information and communication technologies.
To conclude, ratification is just the beginning. The test is to uphold principles and take action to advance children’s rights. We should all seize the momentum of this anniversary to strive towards a world where all children have dignity, equal opportunity to enjoy their human rights and actively participate in society. Our office remains available as a dynamic partner in this endeavour.