23 May 2002: CRINMAIL 380: Special Edition on the 30th Session of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child ? No. 1 Contents: - COMMITTEE ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD: Committee on Rights of Child Opens Thirtieth Session [press release] - COMMITTEE ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD: Thirtieth Session of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child [event] - COMMITTEE ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD: New Committee Member Approved [news] - COMMITTEE ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD: Committee on the Rights of the Child Considers Initial Report of Guinea-Bissau [press release] - NGO GROUP FOR THE CRC/CRIN: NGO Alternative Reports [publications] - NGO GROUP FOR THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD: Profile of the NGO Group for the CRC [organisation] - CRIN: Copy of the full text of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child [document] Your submissions are welcome if you are working in the area of child rights. To contribute, email us at info@crin.org. Please note that we are unable to respond to emails addressed to crinmail_english@domeus.co.uk --------------------------------------------------- - COMMITTEE ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD: Committee on Rights of Child Opens Thirtieth Session [press release] The Committee on the Rights of the Child opened this morning its spring session by adopting its agenda and programme of work and by hearing a statement by a representative of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Maria Francisca Ize-Charrin, in her opening statement on behalf of the Office, said that the length of country reports had been an issue of concern to the Office and Conference Services because of financial and personnel shortages for the reproduction of lengthy reports. Concerning the increase of membership of the Committee from 10 to 18 Experts, Ms. Ize-Charrin said that so far 128 States had notified their acceptance and the notification of 9 more States would suffice to increase the number. With regard to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child involving children in armed conflict, which entered into force on 12 February this year, 30 States had ratified it. The Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child pornography and child prostitution, which entered into force on 18 January, had also been ratified by 29 States. The decision of the Commission on Human Rights on the appointment of an Independent Expert to carry out a study on violence against children was a recognition of the work of the Committee on that issue, Ms. Ize-Charrin said. The appointment of such an Expert was in the hands of the Secretary-General. The Committee had held a general discussion on violence against children in the family and in schools. During its three-week session, the Committee will consider the reports of Guinea-Bissau, Belgium, Niger, Belarus, Tunisia, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Spain and the Netherlands. These countries are among the 191 States parties to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. [ Source: OHCHR. http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/view01/E93D4873E173046CC1256BC000 464F55?opendocument See website for the latest news releases on Child Rights ] See also http://www.crin.org/resources/infoDetail.asp?ID=1819 --------------------------------------------------- - COMMITTEE ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD: 30th Session of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child [event] The 30th Session of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child is currently in progress (21 May ? 7 June 2002). State Party reports being considered are as follows: Belarus: http://www.unhchr.ch/tbs/doc.nsf/(Symbol)/CRC.C.65.Add.15.En?OpenDocument [English] Belgium: http://www.unhchr.ch/tbs/doc.nsf/(Symbol)/CRC.C.83.Add.2.Fr?OpenDocument [French] Guinea-Bissau: http://www.unhchr.ch/tbs/doc.nsf/(Symbol)/CRC.C.3.Add.63.En?OpenDocument [English] The Netherlands Antilles: http://www.unhchr.ch/tbs/doc.nsf/(Symbol)/CRC.C.61.Add.4.En?OpenDocument [English] Niger: http://www.unhchr.ch/tbs/doc.nsf/(Symbol)/CRC.C.3.Add.29.Rev.1.En?OpenDocume nt [English] Spain: http://www.unhchr.ch/tbs/doc.nsf/(Symbol)/CRC.C.70.Add.9.En?OpenDocument [English] Switzerland: http://www.unhchr.ch/tbs/doc.nsf/(Symbol)/CRC.C.78.Add.3.En?OpenDocument [English] Tunisia: http://www.unhchr.ch/tbs/doc.nsf/(Symbol)/CRC.C.83.Add.1.En?OpenDocument [English] Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: http://www.unhchr.ch/tbs/doc.nsf/(Symbol)/CRC.C.28.Add.18.En?OpenDocument [English] United Arab Emirates: http://www.unhchr.ch/tbs/doc.nsf/(Symbol)/CRC.C.78.Add.2.En?OpenDocument [English] For a complete listing, see: http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu2/6/crc/crcs30.htm#30th or http://www.crin.org/docs/resources/treaties/crc.25/annex-vi-crin.htm. This will be updated with the Concluding Observations after the session (7 June 2002). A backgrounder is also available on the Office of the High Commissioner?s website, including an agenda for the session. See http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/view01/E2C5E9FACBB0BBB8C1256BBB00 49A2E7?opendocument Further information is available from: The Secretariat for the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Palais Des Nations, 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland. Tel: 00 41 22 917 9301; Fax: 00 41 22 917 9022; Email: pdavid.hchr@unog.ch; Website: www.unhchr.ch http://www.crin.org/resources/infoDetail.asp?ID=1556&flag=event ----------------------------------------------- - COMMITTEE ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD: New Committee Member Approved [news] [Geneva, 21 May 2002] Following the resignation of Committee Member Ms. Amina Hamza El Guindi of Egypt earlier this year, the Egyptian Government, in accordance with the rules of procedure, nominated a replacement, Ms. Moushira Khattab. The Committee approved her nomination on Tuesday 21 May and she will continue the term of office until 28 February 2003. At the opening of the Committee?s session, she made a solemn declaration saying that she would perform her duty and exercise her powers as a member of the Committee honourably, faithfully, impartially and conscientiously. [Source: NGO Group for the CRC and OHCHR. See: http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/view01/E93D4873E173046CC1256BC000 464F55?opendocument ] ------------------------------------------------ - COMMITTEE ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD: Committee on the Rights of the Child Considers Initial Report of Guinea-Bissau [press release] [Geneva, 22 May 2002] The Committee on the Rights of the Child today reviewed the initial report of Guinea-Bissau on how that country was implementing the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Introducing the report, Dionisio Cabi, Justice Minister of Guinea-Bissau, said that in addition to problems created by the lack of adequate funds in his country, there were other problems threatening children such as drug addiction, prostitution, worst forms of child labour and the presence of landmines. Such indicators necessitated deep reflection on the state of children in the country. The solution to those problems should be found in good governance, the respect for human rights, the fight against corruption and the implementation of measures favouring the well-being of children, he added. In two meetings, held this morning and this afternoon, Committee Experts, among other things, expressed concern that 60 per cent of school age children were not attending school, and that the rate of school dropouts was high; adequate health services were not being made available due to the lack of funds; and 90 per cent of the health budget was received from external financing [ Source: OHCHR. To read the full press release, visit: http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/view01/39E976491EF5DD8DC1256BC200 29E249?opendocument ] ----------------------------------------------- - NGO GROUP FOR THE CRC/CRIN: NGO Alternative Reports [publications] Reports submitted by NGOs to the Committee on the Rights of the Child are made available on the CRIN website, in partnership with the NGO Group for the Convention on the Rights of the Child. These reports, which are known as NGO Alternative Reports, provide expert advice on the implementation of the Convention in areas falling within the scope of their respective mandates. The reports are submitted in accordance with article 45(a) of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which states that ?The Committee may invite the specialized agencies, the United Nations Children's Fund and other competent bodies as it may consider appropriate to provide expert advice on the implementation of the Convention in areas falling within the scope of their respective mandates.? The reports can be searched by country, CRC session or by NGO on the CRIN website. Go to: http://www.crin.org/resources/treaties/CRC.asp?catName=International+Treatie s&flag=legal&ID=6 Alternative NGO reports submitted to the 29th Session of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (14 January ? 1 February 2002) concerning the below countries are available in pdf and word format at the following links. Greece Contact: Amnesty International - Greek Section, 30 Sina Street, 106 72 Athens, Greece. Tel: 00 301 36 00 628; Fax: 00 301 36 38 016 Email: info@amnesty.gr http://www.crin.org/resources/infoDetail.asp?ID=2460 Greek Helsinki Monitor, P.O. Box 60820, 15304 Glyka Nera, Greece. Tel: 00 301 347 2259; Fax: 00 301 601 8760; Email: panayote@greekhelsinki.gr; Website: www.greekhelsinki.gr http://www.crin.org/resources/infoDetail.asp?ID=2461 Mozambique Contact: Save the Children Norway ? Mozambique, PO Box 160, Mutare, Mozambique. Tel: 00 258 1 494805; Fax: 00 258 1 497231; Email: scn.maputo@teledata.mz http://www.crin.org/resources/infoDetail.asp?ID=2463 Lebanon Contact: Co-ordination Forum of NGOs Working Among the Palestinian Community, P.O. Box 14-5792, Code 1105-2070, Beirut, Lebanon. Tel: 00 961 1 816115; Fax: 00 961 1 815636; Email: CCFPCL@cyberia.net.lb http://www.crin.org/resources/infoDetail.asp?ID=2462 Chile Contact: Fundación Para la Protección de la Infancia Danada por los Estados de Emergencia, Casilla 599-11, Santiago, Chile Tel: 00 56 2 204 2735; Fax: 00 56 2 225 8752; Email: pidee@terra.cl; Website: www.pidee.web.cl Report available in English [http://www.crin.org/resources/infoDetail.asp?ID=2464] and Spanish [http://www.crin.org/resources/infoDetail.asp?ID=2459] Fundación Instituto de la Mujer, Vina del Mar 019, Providencia, Santiago, Chile. Tel:00 562 222 4946; Fax: 00 562 635 3106; Email: xzavala@insmujer.cl http://www.crin.org/resources/infoDetail.asp?ID=2465 For further information, see: http://www.crin.org/resources/treaties/list.asp?ID=16&type=session --------------------------------------------------- - NGO GROUP FOR THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD: Profile of the NGO Group for the CRC [organisation] The NGO Group for the Convention on the Rights of the Child is a coalition of international non-governmental organisations, which work together to facilitate the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. It was originally formed in 1983 when members of the NGO Group were actively involved in the drafting of the Convention. The NGO Group has a Liaison Unit that supports participation of the NGOs, particularly national coalitions, in the reporting process to the Committee on the Rights of the Child as well as other activities to ensure the implementation of the Convention. One important area is the management of NGO Alternative Reports to the Committee on the Rights of the Child. To view more information on the NGO Group, including an organisation brochure and publications, go to: http://www.crin.org/NGOGroupforCRC/ For more information about the NGO Group, contact: NGO Group for the Convention on the Rights of the Child, c/o Defence for Children International, 1 rue de Varembé, P.O. Box 88, CH-1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland. Tel: 00 41 22 740 47 30; Fax: 00 41 22 740 1145; Email: ngo-crc@tiscalinet.ch --------------------------------------------------- - CRIN: Copy of the full text of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child [document] CRIN has made available a copy of the full text of the Convention, including an unofficial summary. See; http://www.crin.org/docs/resources/treaties/UNCRC.htm For further information, contact: Child Rights Information Network (CRIN) c/o Save the Children, 17 Grove Lane, London, SE5 8RD, UK. Tel: 00 44 (20) 7716 2240; Fax: 00 44 (20) 7793 7628; Email: info@crin.org; Website: www.crin.org --------------------------------------------------- The CRINMAIL is an electronic mailing list of the Child Rights Information Network (CRIN). CRIN does not accredit, validate or substantiate any information posted by members to the CRINMAIL. The validity and accuracy of any information is the responsibility of the originator.
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