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On September 14, 2015 the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) commenced its 70th session in Geneva, Switzerland. During this session, which will end on October 2, the Committee will review the reports of Bangladesh, Brazil, Chile, Kazakhstan, Poland, Timor-Leste, and the United Arab Emirates concerning the States’ implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child; examine the reports of Brazil and Cuba with respect to their implementation of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography (OP-CRC-SC); and evaluate the reports of Brazil, Cuba, and Madagascar regarding their implementation of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict (OP-CRC-AC). The Committee will also review reports by civil society organizations and national human rights institutions (NHRIs) concerning the States’ implementation of the Convention and optional protocols.
According to the agenda and programme of work, the Committee will also discuss how to strengthen its cooperation with other UN bodies to enhance the promotion and protection of the rights of the child; consider information and communications submitted under the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a communications procedure (OP-CRC-IC); continue working on three general comments concerning public spending to realize children’s rights, adolescents, and children in street situations; begin working on a general comment on children in the context of migration, which will be issued together with the Committee on Migrant Workers (CMW); examine its working methods; and prepare a day of general discussion on a child’s right to a healthy environment, to take place in September 2016.
The 70th session will be live-streamed on the UN Treaty Body Webcast, and archived sessions will also be available.
Convention on the Rights of the Child
Bangladesh
In its reply to the Committee’s list of issues, Bangladesh noted that it is reviewing the possibility of withdrawing its reservations to the Convention and that, towards this end, it has taken steps to garner public support, including by working with civil society organizations and the media. Bangladesh has increased funding for children’s health and education; facilitated the registration of births as part of its immunization program; adopted legislation to protect women and girls from sexual violence within and outside of marriage; conducted an awareness raising campaign about ending corporal punishment against children; and signed a memorandum of understanding with India on the rescue, recovery, repatriation, and integration of victims of human trafficking. Bangladesh also reported that it is cooperating with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to provide humanitarian assistance to undocumented children of Myanmar nationals living in refugee camps. See Committee on the Rights of the Child, Replies of Bangladesh to the list of issues, UN Doc. CRC/C/BGD/Q/5/Add.1, 12 August 2015.
Several civil society organizations, including the Global Initiative to End All Corporal Punishment of Children (report) and the International Dalit Solidarity Network (report), submitted reports for the Committee’s consideration concerning Bangladesh’s implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Brazil
Brazil responded to the Committee’s list of issues noting that it enacted its Ten-Year Plan of Action for the Promotion of Children’s Rights, which lays out national policy guidelines through 2020; created a free phone app called Proteja Brasil, which allowed users to refer complaints concerning alleged violations of children’s rights to the Human Rights Hotline during the FIFA Confederation Cup in 2013 and the FIFA World Cup in 2014; criminalized actions by government agents resulting in arbitrary violence against children and adolescents; made efforts to universalize civil and birth registration in the “Legal Amazon” and northeast Brazil; and adopted measures to promote an inclusive system of education for children with disabilities. Additionally, Brazil enacted legislation to prevent institutionalizing children, barring exceptional circumstances; adopted standards to ensure that incarcerated mothers receive medical services, especially during their pregnancy; and implemented strategies to reduce child mortality, including initiatives concerning breastfeeding, vaccination, and preventative healthcare. Brazil is in the process of approving laws to protect the rights of migrant children and adolescents as well as measures to combat human trafficking. See Committee on the Rights of the Child, Replies of Brazil to the list of issues, UN Doc. CRC/C/BRA/Q/2-4/Add.1 2015.
The International Baby Food Action Network (report) and a coalition of civil society organizations, including Defence for Children International, submitted a joint report for the Committee’s consideration concerning Brazil’s implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Chile
In response to the Committee’s list of issues, Chile noted plans to create a Secretariat for Children and an Ombudsman for Children, which would be tasked with promoting, protecting, and defending children’s rights and would also have the authority to receive citizens’ complaints regarding situations that pose a threat to children’s rights. Chile increased its funding for children’s initiatives from 2012-2014; adopted an agreement aimed at reducing pollution caused by burning wood, which is one of the leading causes of respiratory and cardiovascular illness in children; adopted harsher punishment for people found guilty of committing sexual offenses against children; and took steps to adopt measures to increase access to rights for migrant children. With respect to indigenous adolescents, Chile has adopted measures to combat discrimination, including providing medical support that is respectful of the Mapuche culture. Currently, there is legislation pending that requires healthcare providers to respect the gender identity and sexual orientation of their patients. See Committee on the Rights of the Child, Replies of Chile to the list of issues (only in Spanish), UN Doc. CRC/C/CHL/Q/4-5/Add.1, 13 July 2015.
Several coalitions of civil society organizations, including the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission and Observatorio de Derechos Humanos, submitted a joint report for the Committee’s consideration concerning Chile’s implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Additionally, the National Human Rights Institution of Chile submitted a supplementary report for the Committee’s review.
Kazakhstan
In its reply to the Committee’s list of issues, Kazakhstan noted that the majority of the recommendations pertaining to children in the National Plan of Action on Human Rights for 2009-2012 have been implemented. The State also noted that the Commissioner for Human Rights received 326 appeals concerning violations of children’s rights between 2010 and 2014, which concerned issues including social security, education, housing, and adoption. Additionally, Kazakhstan has held various training programs on children’s rights for juvenile affairs inspectors, judges, police officers, heads of educational institutions, and social workers; enacted provisions for refugee children concerning refugee papers, guardianship, education, and medical care; amended legislation to prevent torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment; and criminalized forced marriage or bride kidnapping of minors. Kazakhstan noted that it has also provided guardians and caregivers a monthly child maintenance allowance, enacted a plan to reduce suicide rates among children, and monitored whether employers are complying with laws restricting child labor. See Committee on the Rights of the Child, Replies of Kazakhstan to the list of issues, UN Doc. CRC/C/KAZ/Q/4/Add.1, 29 June 2015.
One civil society organization, the Global Initiative to End All Corporal Punishment of Children, submitted a report for the Committee’s consideration concerning Kazakhstan’s implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Poland
In response to the Committee’s list of issues, Poland stated that although it has not yet implemented its National Plan of Action for Children 2004-2012, it has included measures that pertain to children in its Human Capital Development Strategy 2020. Poland noted that its Ombudsman for Children received complaints concerning a number of issues, including healthcare, housing, education, and sexual abuse. The report also notes that children can call the Defender of Children’s Rights using a toll free number to report violations. Poland has taken measures to: combat racial discrimination, including by reviewing school curricula and textbooks; assist children who are seeking refugee status and are separated from their families by appointing them with a trustee; and ensure that Roma children have access to education. Poland is considering establishing a detention center for children less than 13 years old. See Committee on the Rights of the Child, Replies of Poland to the list of issues (only in French), UN Doc. CRC/C/POL/Q/3-4/Add.1, 27 August 2015.
A coalition of civil society organizations, including the Ordo Iuris Institute for Legal Culture, submitted a report for the Committee’s consideration concerning Poland’s implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Additionally, the Ombudsman for Children, an NHRI in Poland, submitted a supplementary report for the Committee’s review.
Timor-Leste
In its reply to the Committee’s list of issues, Timor-Leste noted the following developments: a law that criminalizes crimes of violence against children; the establishment of a child protection system that focuses on prevention, intervention, and legal assistance; the creation of awareness raising campaigns against child labor; the development of a mobile registration system to work with village chiefs in remote areas to register births; and a nutrition advocacy program that has been put into place in schools and communities to address malnutrition. Timor-Leste is also taking steps to ensure children’s right to education by training more than 200 teachers to help children with disabilities enter mainstream schools and by taking steps to increase girls’ retention rates in school. Additionally, Timor-Leste is taking measures to: expand its immunization program; provide clean water, sanitation, and housing in rural areas; establish a commission to address human trafficking; and reform the juvenile justice system, including by creating a Juvenile Center where juveniles can serve their sentences. See Committee on the Rights of the Child, Replies of Timor-Leste to the list of issues, UN Doc. CRC/C/TLS/Q/2-3/Add.1, 19 August 2015.
Several civil society organizations submitted reports for the Committee’s consideration concerning Timor-Leste’s implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, including International Baby Food Action Network (report), and Asia Justice and Rights and the HAK Association, who submitted a joint report. Additionally, the Ombudsman for Human Rights and Justice, the NHRI in Timor-Leste, submitted a supplementary report for the Committee’s review.
United Arab Emirates (UAE)
In response to the Committee’s list of issues, the UAE notes that it has imposed greater penalties for crimes in which the victims are children; established laws to protect the rights of juveniles in detention; formulated a policy that allows for the review of child-protection obligations of all police and civilian personnel working for the Ministry of the Interior; joined the Virtual Global Taskforce (VGT), which protects children from online pornography; created a manual for investigations of child abuse; established toll-free telephone numbers and hotlines to receive reports and complaints from domestic workers; and implemented legislation prohibiting children less than 18 years of age from participating in camel races. The UAE has taken steps to make secondary education compulsory and is formulating a plan to integrate children with disabilities into mainstream educational institutions. However, the UAE stated that it has not adopted a legal framework concerning refugees, especially children. See Committee on the Rights of the Child, Replies of the United Arab Emirates to the list of issues, UN Doc. CRC/C/ARE/Q/2/Add.1, 6 July 2015.
Two civil society organizations, the International Centre for Justice and Human Rights (report) and the Global Initiative to End All Corporal Punishment of Children (report), submitted reports for the Committee’s consideration concerning the UAE’s implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography
Cuba
In response to the Committee’s inquiries (only in Spanish), Cuba noted that there are no recorded court cases concerning the crimes of human trafficking for the purpose of human organ transfers, illicit adoption, or forced labor; children who have been victims of crimes covered by the Optional Protocol receive specialized psychiatric care; and the State’s laws prohibit sex tourism and the State works with tourism facilities to prevent such facilities from being used for child pornography or child prostitution. According to the report, the media has worked to promote messages about the development of healthy sexuality in an effort to combat attitudes of exploitation towards women and children; the State established a 24-hour hotline which child and adolescent victims can use to report complaints; and Cuban criminal law may be applied extraterritorially to crimes addressed by the Optional Protocol. See Committee on the Rights of the Child, Replies of Cuba to the list of issues on the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, UN Doc. CRC/C/OPSC/CUB/Q/1/Add.1, 2015.
Multiple civil society organizations, including Sociedad Cubana Multidisciplinaria para el Estudio de la Sexualidad (report) and Asociación Cubana para el Desarrollo de la Educación Infantil (report), submitted reports for the Committee’s consideration concerning Cuba’s implementation of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.
Madagascar
In its reply to the Committee’s list of issues, Madagascar noted that it: adopted laws which criminalize the sale of children, human trafficking for the purpose of organ transfers, and forced child labor, as defined in the Optional Protocol; holds corporations liable for trafficking offenses committed by their agents; criminalizes child pornography on the Internet; allows children to file complaints for offenses committed against them, although no complaint has yet been filed; prohibits the employment of children in bars, casinos, discos, and cabarets; and prohibits sex tourism. Madagascar reported one recorded case of child pornography, in which a 60 year old French man abused a 13 year old girl; the perpetrator was arrested and imprisoned by French authorities. According to the report, Madagascar identified poverty as the primary reason why children are exploited for the purposes of sale, prostitution, and pornography; the State plans to address this by implementing its National Development Plan. It also plans to take measures to retroactively register over half a million births. See Committee on the Rights of the Child, Replies of Madagascar to the list of issues on the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography (only in French), UN Doc. CRC/C/OPSC/MDG/Q/1/Add.1, 20 July 2015.
Several civil society organizations, including ECPAT France (report), submitted reports for the Committee’s consideration concerning Madagascar’s implementation of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.
Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict
Brazil
The Committee requested information from Brazil about whether it: conducts public awareness campaigns concerning the Optional Protocol; carries out trainings regarding the Optional Protocol for the armed forces, international peacekeeping forces, police, judiciary, immigration officials, medical and social workers, and teachers; has adopted legislation to prevent children’s access to firearms, as well as to prevent their recruitment by gangs; and criminalizes all of the offenses in the Optional Protocol. Brazil was also asked to provide information on whether it had taken measures to: identify children who are vulnerable to the offenses in the Optional Protocol, including refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants; provide these individuals with access to physical and psychological recovery programs; and enact legislation that prohibits the trade and export of arms and military assistance to countries where children are involved in, or may be recruited or used in armed conflicts. See Committee on the Rights of the Child, List of issues in relation to the report submitted by Brazil under article 8, paragraph 1, of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict, UN Doc. CRC/C/OPAC/BRA/Q/1, 10 March 2015.
Cuba
In response to the Committee’s list of issues, Cuba noted the following: recruitment into the Armed Forces is never coerced; if an armed conflict arises, military personnel under the age of 18 do not engage in military activities until they have joined the Armed Forces; courses at the Camilo Cienfuegos military schools and at officer training centers cover the topics of human rights and humanitarian law, including the Convention and its Optional Protocols; students who are less than 18 years old do not participate in weapons training; and students may drop out of military school with no adverse consequences. See Committee on the Rights of the Child, Replies of Cuba to the list issues in relation to the report submitted by Cuba under article 8, paragraph 1, of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict, UN Doc. CRC/C/OPAC/CUB/Q/1/Add.1, 13 July 2015.
Two civil society organizations, the National Union of Jurists of Cuba (report) and Asociación Cubana para el Desarrollo de la Educación Infantil (report), submitted reports for the Committee’s consideration concerning Cuba’s implementation of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict.
Madagascar
In response to the Committee’s list of issues, Madagascar noted that: the National Commission for International Humanitarian Law is responsible for the implementation of the Optional Protocol; while there is no criminal liability for persons who have violated the Optional Protocol, the act of child recruitment has been criminalized; courses on children’s rights and the Optional Protocol are taught in training institutions for the judiciary and prison administration, but not in all military schools; and dahalos (bandits) have been disarmed to reduce the number of large-scale cattle thefts and the number of children being recruited into armed groups. According to the report, the National Independent Commission for Human Rights is authorized to receive and investigate complaints, including from children, for trafficking-related offenses. See Committee on the Rights of the Child, Replies of Madagascar to the list issues in relation to the report submitted by Cuba under article 8, paragraph 1, of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict, UN Doc. CRC/C/OPAC/MDG/Q/1/Add.1, 20 July 2015.
A coalition of civil society organizations submitted a report for the Committee’s consideration concerning Madagascar’s implementation of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict.
Additional Information
The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child is one of ten committees of experts established to assess States’ implementation of specific UN human rights treaties. To learn more about the Committee on the Rights of the Child, children’s rights, and other human rights treaty bodies, visit IJRC’s Online Resource Hub.