Sixtieth session of the
CHR
(15 March - 23 April 2004)
Full details of the 60th Session, including the agenda and documents, are available on the OHCHR website, [ html ]
Agenda of the meeting: The provisional agenda of the Commission's session (E/CN.4/2004/1) and the accompanying annotations (E/CN.4/2004/1/ Add.1 and Corr.1). Item 13 is on the Rights of the Child; item 10 is on economic, social and cultural rights; item 11 on civil and political rights; item 12 is on integration of the human rights of women and a gender perspective; item 18 on the effective functioning of human rights mechanisms. This includes discussion of the treaty bodies; national institutions and regional arrangements; and the adaptation and strengthening of the United Nations machinery for human rights.
Documents and Reports: A list of reports are available [html format], including:
- A list of NGO Statements [html]
- Reports of the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education, Ms Katarina Tomasevski, including, her Annual Report (E/CN.4/2004/45), her reports on China (E/CN.4/2004/45/Add.1) and on Columbia (E/CN.4/2004/45/Add.2 in Spanish)
- State of implementation of the Programme of Action for the Prevention of the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography Note by the Secretary-General (E/CN.4/2004/69)
- Report submitted by Juan Miguel Petit, Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography (E/CN.4/2004/9), available in English, French and Spanish in Word format. Addendum, Mission to France, 25 - 29 November 2002 [ word ] [ pdf ]. Addendum, Mission to Brazil [word] [pdf]
- The Secretary-General's Report to the Security Council on the impact of children in armed conflict (A/58/546-S/2003/1053), 10 November 2003 and the Statement by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict to the Security Council 20 January 2004 (pdf)
- Progress report of the Secretary-General on the study on the question of violence against children [word] [pdf]
- The report of the Secretary-General on the status of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (E/CN.4/2004/67)
- The report of the Secretary-General on Human rights in the administration of justice, in particular in post-conflict States and in juvenile justice (E/CN.4/2004/51) in pdf.
- Statement by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ireland, Mr Brian Cowen T.D. on behalf of the European Union - High-Level Segment, Geneva 15-18 March 2004, with a focus on children affected by armed conflict [pdf] with a reference to EU Guidelines on Children and Armed Conflict, adopted on 8 December 2003 [pdf]
- Report of the Special Rapporteur, Theo van Boven, on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment [word] [pdf]
- Report of the special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, Miloon Kothari [word] [pdf]
Further information is available, including:
- Children's Human Rights Caucus report 2004 [word and pdf]
- links to adopted Resolutions [htm]
- OHCHR Press Room for the 60th Session [html]
- News and Civil Society Perspectives [html]
- UN News from Geneva [html]
Join the Children's Human Rights Caucus email list for regular updates about the Sixtieth session by sending a blank email to: childrightscaucus_chr-subscribe@domeus.co.uk, or by visiting the CRIN website [html]. Archives of the briefings will also be available.
Further reading | Reports of previous sessions of the Commission on Human Rights are available on the OHCHR website.
Item 13: Rights of the Child
- Alternative NGO Resolution on item 13 [word] and [pdf]
- Omnibus Resolution on the Rights of the Child [E/CN.4/2004/L.51]
- Official record of votes on the Omnibus Resolution [word]
- Official summaries of CHR reports presented under item 13 [word]
Other related resolutions
- The Resolution on Abduction of Children in Africa (should be available soon)
- Right to education [E/CN.4/2004/L.39]
- Human rights in the administration of justice, in particular juvenile justice [E/CN.4/2004/L.66] (adopted by consensus)
- Trafficking in women and girls [E/CN.4/2004/L.60]
- Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially in women and children [E/CN.4/2004/L.62] (both adopted by consensus)
- The right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health [E/CN.4/2004/L.41] (orally amended)
Background to the omnibus resolution on the rights of the child
There are numerous occasions when the rights of the child are addressed at the meeting. They are dealt with as a specific item of discussion and an "omnibus resolution" on the rights of the child is adopted every year. This resolution began as a combination of separate resolutions. Previously a number of resolutions on specific issues affecting children were introduced by the country most concerned about the issue. These included children living and working on the street, sexual exploitation of children and children affected by armed conflict. Concerned about the "proliferation" of resolutions pertaining to children, in 1994 the Commission decided to bring together all the issues in an omnibus resolution. It was initially intended that the omnibus resolution would not only consolidate the many resolutions on children's rights but also would be rationalised and shortened.
Although there have been some attempts to streamline the resolution, at the same time the resolution has continued to grow through the inclusion of new issues. This growth has often occurred on an ad hoc basis rather than in response to a clear, coherent overarching structure and purpose. The resolution adopted by consensus at the 58th session was co-sponsored by 104 countries and, although still very long, contains strong language, including many of the issues that NGOs have pushed for, such as the appointment of an independent expert to carry out the study on violence against children, the fact that the 'Convention on the Rights of the Child [..] and other relevant human rights instruments must constitute the standard in the promotion and protection of the rights of the child', a call to 'abolish by law as soon as possible the death penalty for those under 18 at the time of the commission of the offence'.
Further reading
Rights of the child, Commission on Human Rights resolution 2000/85, dated 27 April 2000 (E/CN.4/RES/2000/85) [html format ]
Rights of the child, Commission on Human Rights resolution 2001/75, dated 25 April 2001 (E/CN.4/RES/2001/75) [html format ]
Rights of the child, Commission on Human Rights resolution 2002/92, (E/CN.4/RES/2002/92) [html format]
Rights of the child, Commission on Human Rights resolution 2002/92, (E/CN.4/RES/2003/86) [html format]
Commission on Human Rights
The United Nations Commission on Human Rights (CHR), composed of 53 States, meets each year in regular session in March and April for six weeks in Geneva. Over 3,000 delegates from member and observer States and from non-governmental organisations participate. During its regular annual session, the Commission adopts about a hundred resolutions, decisions and Chairperson's statements on matters of relevance to individuals in all regions and circumstances. It is assisted in this work by the Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, a number of working groups and a network of individual experts, special representatives and rapporteurs mandated to report to it on specific issues.
The Commission can also meet exceptionally between its regular sessions in special session to deal with urgent and acute human rights situations in the most expeditious way. To date, the special sessions have been held in Geneva concerning the situation of human rights in the territories of the former Yugoslavia (13-14 August 1992 and 30 November-1 December 1992), in Rwanda (24-25 May 1994), in East Timor (23-27 September 1999), and grave and massive violations of the human rights of the Palestinian people by Israel (17-19 October 2000).
One of the most important tasks entrusted to the Commission has been the elaboration of human rights standards. In 1948 it concluded work on the landmark Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Since then it has developed standards relating, inter alia, to the right to development, civil and political rights, economic, social and cultural rights, the elimination of racial discrimination, torture, the rights of the child and the rights of human rights defenders. Human Rights standards have little value if they are not implemented. Consequently, the Commission devotes much of its time to examining issues of implementation. Some of its work is particularly sensitive, generating extensive debate and often disagreement. Its network of mechanisms - experts, representatives and rapporteurs - plays an important role in reporting to the Commission annually. Information received from Governments, non-governmental organisations and individuals is used in the preparation of these reports.
The main themes addressed by the Commission are: the right to self-determination; racism; the right to development; the question of the violation of human rights in the occupied Arab territories, including Palestine; the question of the violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms in any part of the world; economic, social and cultural rights; civil and political rights, including the questions of torture and detention, disappearances and summary executions, freedom of expression, the independence of the judiciary, impunity and religious intolerance; the human rights of women, children, migrant workers, minorities and displaced persons; indigenous issues; the promotion and protection of human rights, including the work of the Sub-Commission, treaty bodies and national institutions; and advisory services and technical cooperation in the field of human rights.
Further reading
The website of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Links includes details of sessions, mechanisms, rules of procedure, documents, membership, bureau and news room, [ html ]
How to get involved?
Accredited NGOs can participate directly in the Commission on Human Rights by making written statements, sent in advance to its secretariat, and oral statements addressing the Commission under the relevant items of its agenda. Yet, most NGO work consists of preparatory work, advocacy, information and substantive input prior and in parallel to the sessions, through direct contacts with member States, organisation of thematic panels, production of alternative information and follow-up of negotiations at the international and national levels. In that process, NGOs operate both individually and as organised groups.
Individuals, groups/coalitions and NGOs that are not directly connected to international human rights work can also be involved. The UN Commission's resolution on the rights of the child can be used as a tool for advocating improvements in the lives of children. NGOs can approach the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other relevant government departments regarding domestic issues highlighted in the omnibus resolution on the rights of the child, or under other resolutions of the Commission on Human Rights, in order to monitor the implementation of the recommendations made by the government. NGOs and others can also lobby their government to push for issues important to them - either globally or in a specific country - during the Commission. In a few countries shortly before the start of the Commission, human rights NGOs meet with their governments to discuss various items of the Commission agenda.
The resolution also serves as a valuable tool for informing the authorities and the wider public of commitments made at the international level and for making potential links with local and national developments. For instance, the UN study on Violence against Children mandated by the 58th session of the Commission on Human Rights is an opportunity for all to work on this issue at home and integrate the results back into the international study and its follow-up. For more information, visit the subgroup on violence [html format].
Persons, groups/coalitions and NGOs can convey their concerns and suggestions to NGOs present at the Commission by contacting the NGO Subgroup on the Commission on Human Rights [html format]. In order to enhance the co-operation and efficiency of child rights NGOs at the Commission on Human Rights, this group was created to co-ordinate and prepare this work throughout the year. In addition, a Children's Human Rights Caucus is held by the Subgroup to ensure coordinated action on children's rights through daily meetings and permanent up-dates during the Commission. NGOs are very welcome to join these daily meetings. The caucus welcomes proposals and suggestions for presentations, child-related issues activities, events and campaigns to be developed. The exact dates and place of the Caucus during this year's Commission will be posted soon. There is also an email account for interested members and the wider child rights community to be informed about significant developments in the Commission. To join visit the CRIN website.
Contacts & links
For more information on the Commission on Human Rights, contact:
The Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights, OHCHR – UNOG,
8-14 Avenue de la Paix, 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland.
Tel: +41 22 917 9000; Fax: +41 22 917 9016
Website: http://www.ohchr.org/english/bodies/chr/
For more information about the subgroup for the Commission on Human Rights,
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
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