UN COMMITTEE ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD (CRC)
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/crc/index.htm
Mission/Mandate:
Target group:
State parties of the CRC, relevant UN bodies and agencies, general public
Objective:
"In drafting its reporting guidelines for States, the Committee on the Rights of the Child placed emphasis on concrete implementation measures which would make a reality of the principles and provisions of the Convention. More specifically, the Committee paid special attention to necessary reforms within the spirit of the Convention and procedures for constant scrutiny of progress. [...]
Mechanisms may be introduced at the national and local levels to coordinate policies and monitor the implementation of the Convention, including through an ombudsman's office. The political decision-making process is important. [...]
The gathering of reliable and relevant information on the situation of children is another important step to be taken. With precise data, discussions regarding remedies will be better informed and focused. Improvement of the capacity of the national statistical office can therefore be an essential contribution to the implementation of the Convention.
Other means of genuine realization of the principles and rights enshrined in the Convention are education and training of personnel working with children, such as nursery school and other teachers, child psychologists, paediatricians and other health personnel, the police and other law enforcement personnel, social workers and others." (Fact Sheet Nr.10, http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Publications/FactSheet10Rev.1en.pdf , accessed on 21 November 2008, p. 4, 5)
Funding:
UN budget
Scope of reporting:
Geographic focus: worldwide
Thematic focus: Rights of the Child according to the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the two optional protocols to the Convention (involvement of children in armed conflict and sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography)
Reporting methodology:
"All States parties are obliged to submit regular reports to the Committee on how the rights are being implemented. States must report initially two years after acceding to the Convention and then every five years. The Committee examines each report and addresses its concerns and recommendations to the State party in the form of ‘concluding observations’.
The Committee reviews additional reports which must be submitted by States who have acceded to the two Optional Protocols to the Convention.
The Committee cannot consider individual complaints, although child rights may be raised before other committees with competence to consider individual complaints.
The Committee meets in Geneva and normally holds three sessions per year consisting of a three-week plenary and a one-week pre-sessional working group. [...]
Publication cycle:
State reports three times a year (January, May & September), other publications on an irregular basis
Languages:
Website in English, French, Spanish, Russian, Arabic and Chinese; State reports in English, Spanish and French
Navigation of website:
State reports can be found by selecting "Sessions" in the main menu on the left, then select session and country
Additional references:
