Human Rights Sender: owner-child-rights@hrea.org Precedence: bulk Reply-To: child-rights@hrea.org 8 April 2004: CRINMAIL 564: Special Edition on Child Rights at the Commission on Human Rights ************************************************************************** - COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS: CHR Continues General Debate on Rights of Children [news] - VIOLENCE: Violence Against Children a Central Issue for Child Rights at the Commission [news] - JUVENILE JUSTICE: World Organisation Against Torture Addresses the Commission [news] - EXPLOITATION: Report of the Special Rapporteur on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography [reports] *********************************************************************** 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 Adobe Acrobat is required for viewing some of the documents, and if required can be downloaded from www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html *********************************************************************** - COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS: CHR Continues General Debate on Rights of Children [news] [GENEVA, 7 April 2004] - The Commission on Human Rights carried on this morning with its annual debate on the rights of the child, hearing from a series of national delegations describing Government efforts to enhance the well being of children and from several international agencies which outlined programmes and policies to aid the young. A Representative of the World Health Organization said today was World Health Day, and the organization wished to call attention to road traffic injuries, including child road trauma, which were a growing public health problem. The burden of this trauma fell overwhelmingly on low and middle-income countries, where 97 per cent of traffic deaths occurred. A Representative of Norway told the meeting that the establishment of the International Criminal Court had allowed the international community to hold offenders accountable for universally recognized crimes against humanity such as the conscription of children under the age of 15 and the targeting of children in armed conflicts, but sexual violence, including rape, committed against children must also constitute a crime against humanity. And a Representative of Iceland said it was hoped that the study envisaged by the Secretary-General's Independent Expert on violence against children would stress the importance of preventive measures and assistance to families at risk. Addressing the meeting were officials of Bahrain, Croatia, Russian Federation, Nepal, Armenia, Qatar, Bhutan, Yemen, Iraq, Norway, Oman, the League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Nicaragua, Bangladesh, Syria, Morocco, Iceland, Angola, Switzerland, the World Health Organization, the International Labour Office, Benin, Slovenia, Venezuela, Ghana, Mozambique, the United Nations Children's Fund, and Madagascar. The Commission adjourned its general debate at noon for an hour-long special meeting featuring a speech by Secretary-General Kofi Annan and an observance of the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide of Rwanda. [source: OHCHR. For the full press release, visit: http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/view01/0DEB156FB5D76632C1256E6F00539F5B?opendocument ] The draft resolution on child rights at the Commission is still under negotiations. These will be continuing for the third session this afternoon at the Commission, in Geneva, from 3pm till 6pm. Detailed information about the negotiations and issues that states have raised, are available from the email list of the Child Rights Caucus for the CHR. These can be accessed from the CRIN website at the following: http://www.crin.org/docs/resources/treaties/unchr.htm. For more information about the Child Rights Caucus, contact: Séverine Jacomy , Convenor Subgroup on the Commission on Human Rights c/o World Organisation Against Torture / Organisation Mondiale Contre la Torture (OMCT) 8 rue du Vieux-Billard, P.O. Box 21, CH-1211 Geneva 8 Tel : +41 22 809 49 39; Fax : +41 22 809 49 29 E-mail : sj@omct.org Internet: www.crin.org/docs/resources/publications/NGOCRC/subgroup-CHR.htm For further information about the email list or to contribute, contact: d.messerli@int.omct.org ----------------------------------------------- - VIOLENCE: Violence Against Children a Central Issue for Child Rights at the Commission [news] [Geneva, 8 April 2004] - Violence against children was dominating many of the discussions on child rights this week at the Commission on Human Rights. Addressing the Commission on Tuesday, Mr. Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, Independent Expert in charge of the Secretary-General's study on the violence against children, presented some of the main themes that will be analysed in the study. This study would seek to provide an in-depth picture of violence against children, documenting the magnitude, incidence and consequences, and would focus on providing clear recommendations for the improvement of legislation, policy and programmes to prevent and respond to such problems. He said preparation of the study should be viewed as an opportunity for focusing attention on the issue of violence against children. Addressing the Commission on Wednesday, Save the Children (as a joint statement by with Casa Alianza, Defense for Children International, International Alliance of Women, International Catholic Child Bureau, International Council of Women, International Federation of Social Workers and Plan International Sweden), said that the study was an important opportunity to bring about real and positive change in the lives of girls and boys. The study provides an opportunity to develop more effective responses that give children real protection from violence. Save the Children welcomed the independent expert's emphasis on child participation in his concept paper, and believe this aspect to be critical for the credibility and success of the Study. Save the Children believes that children's participation is essential in order to better understand the extent and characteristics of violence affecting children and to design effective reporting systems and programmes that children can trust. Save the Children also held a side event on Tuesday to discuss child participation in the UN study on violence. Save the Children underlined that, in order to assure quality and credibility, particular attention must be given to meaningful and ethical participation of children, so that they can freely express their views in all matters. A Panel was organised by the Subgroup on Children and Violence, NGO Group for the CRC, to present some of the progress made so far on the Study. Panellists included Professor Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, Amaya Gillespie, Director of the Secretariat for the Study, and four members of the NGO Advisory Panel, two of who are under-18 representatives. Details of the panel discussion were sent out via the Child Rights Caucus email list, and are available at the following: http://www.domeus.co.uk/forum/childrightscaucus_chr The progress report of the Secretary-General on the study on the question of violence against children, detailing progress on the study requested by the General Assembly, is available from the CRIN website, in word and pdf, at the following: http://www.crin.org/docs/resources/treaties/unchr.htm Further information about the Study is available from the website of the Subgroup on Children and Violence at: http://www.crin.org/docs/resources/publications/NGOCRC/subgroup-violence.htm. Current information about the UN Study is sent to interested NGOs and others through an email list, approximately once a month. To subscribe, send an email to: childrenandviolence-subscribe@domeus.co.uk. Further information about Save the Children's toolkits for participation are available from the CRIN website at http://www.crin.org/docs/resources/treaties/unchr.htm. These include: So You Want to Consult with Children? This publication based on Save the Children's learning from involving children in consultations at local, national, regional and international meetings leading up to the UN Special Session on Children. http://www.savethechildren.net/alliance/publications/childconsult_toolkit_final.pdf So You Want to Involve Children in Research? This toolkit supports children's meaningful and ethical participation in research relating to violence against children. It has sections on involving children in secondary and primary research and covers ethical issues, ideas and suggestions for involving children. http://www.rb.se/Shop/Archive/Documents/2958%20So%20You%20Want%20to2.pdf ---------------------------------------------- - JUVENILE JUSTICE: World Organisation Against Torture Addresses the Commission [news] [Geneva, 8 April 2004] - In a statement to the Commission on Human Rights yesterday, The World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) expressed its concerns regarding the failure of both the judiciary and of responsible administrative authorities to react promptly to allegations of ill treatment or torture of children in police facilities, detention centres and other public institutions in most parts of the world. OMCT denounced the lack of adequate measures in place to punish states agents that have abused children. Such measures "must be taken urgently, not only in order to fight impunity, but also and especially to prevent further abuses from being committed by the same agents". The Commission was therefore asked to urge governments to immediately suspend any state agent alleged to have committed acts of ill treatment against children, for the duration of the investigation. If they are found guilty, they should be suspended immediately. Furthermore, OMCT recommends that in such cases, the staff composition of the concerned institution be thoroughly reviewed, and an adequate child protection policy be adopted, implemented and monitored. With regards to child victims of such abuses, it was recommended that they be given formal recognition and reparation from the state, as well as support for their psychosocial and medical rehabilitation. Finally, OMCT expressed their support for the UN Study on Violence Against Children, and believes the report should not only be presented to the Commission on Human Rights, but also to the UN General Assembly. For further information about OMCT's work on child rights, visit: http://www.omct.org/base.cfm?cfid=931143&cftoken=6298048&page=children&consol=open. Relevant reports submitted to the Commission on Human Rights, are made available through the CRIN website. This includes the report of the Secretary-General on Human rights in the administration of justice, in particular in post-conflict States and in juvenile justice. It sets out the practical measures for the implementation of the international standards in the field of human rights in the administration of justice. The report concentrates on rebuilding and strengthening structures and capacities for the administration of justice in post-conflict situations, and in juvenile justice. It also highlights the role of technical assistance of the United Nations system in this regard. The Report of the Special Rapporteur, Theo van Boven, on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, available in word and pdf from: http://www.crin.org/docs/resources/treaties/unchr.htm A panel event entitled 'Kids Behind Bars' was organised by the Subgroup on Juvenile Justice, NGO Group for the CRC, on Monday 5 April. Notes about this event were sent out via the child rights caucus email list. These are available at http://www.domeus.co.uk/forum/childrightscaucus_chr ----------------------------------------------- - EXPLOITATION: Report of the Special Rapporteur on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography [reports] The Special Rapporteur, Juan Miguel Petit, addressed the Commission on Tuesday presenting his latest report that focuses on the prevention of child sexual exploitation, and is based on information received from Governments, international organisations and non-governmental organisations. He said current efforts to battle the sale of children and child prostitution continued to be characterised by large gaps and continued impunity for perpetrators. Mr. Petit said he wondered whether the international community was truly seeking to construct a human rights regime that provided effective protection and prevention. Among its conclusions and recommendations, the report notes that common features identified in successful prevention policies and programmes include political will; a sound knowledge base; an institutional presence; a multidisciplinary approach and coordination between different institutions; participation of children and their families; outreach to the grassroots level; attention to gender issues and the concerns of groups exposed to higher risks of sexual exploitation; and adequate human and financial resources. National policy frameworks, legislation and international instruments are indispensable tools in prevention efforts. Moreover, prevention policies cannot be implemented in isolation from policies related to protection, recovery and participation. Successful interventions are a combination of activities that attack the problem on different fronts in a holistic manner. His report is available in English, French and Spanish in word format at the following: English: http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu2/2/60chr/summaries/13_E.doc French: http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu2/2/60chr/summaries/12_F.doc Spanish: http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu2/2/60chr/summaries/13_S.doc The Special Rapporteur also explained his findings from two country visits to France and Brazil. According to information received, children are being trafficked into France primarily from Eastern Europe, notably Romania, and from West Africa, but also from Asia, including from such countries as India and China. Many of those children are under the control of trafficking networks and are forced into prostitution. Reports have also been received alleging that the production of child pornography is sometimes connected with domestic sexual abuse. The Special Rapporteur recommends, among other things, the establishment of the same level of cooperation with authorities of other main countries from which children are trafficked as is seen in the case of Romania. >From his visit to Brazil in November 2003, he concludes that the President's remarkable decision to make the fight against child sexual exploitation a priority of his Government is an important mobilizing factor at the institutional level and strong backing for organizations and social movements committed to the promotion of children's rights. Noting that the legislative and policy framework is in place, he recommends the establishment of a Guardianship Council in all municipalities to further implement the Statute for the Child and Adolescent. Specialized criminal courts, prosecutor services and police precincts for child victims of crimes should be established and strong signals sent that impunity would no longer be tolerated. Links to the reports are available in word and pdf on the CRIN website at the following: http://www.crin.org/docs/resources/treaties/unchr.htm A Panel event on the prevention strategies to address the sexual exploitation of children, organised by the subgroup on the sexual exploitation of children (NGO Group for the Convention on the Rights of the Child), took place this morning at the Commission in Geneva. Notes about this meeting will be made available through the Child Rights Caucus Info notes. To register, send an email to: childrightscaucus_chr-subscribe@domeus.co.uk. To consult the archives, go to: http://www.domeus.co.uk/forum/childrightscaucus_chr ********************************************************************** 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. 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