State Party Reporting Process

The Convention on the Rights of the Child and its Optional Protocols are  monitored through a system of reporting by States parties to the Committee on the Rights of the Child. Reporting guidelines are available to assist States in preparing their reports.   The report is examined by the Committee in the presence of the government and a summary of the discussion is produced.   At the end of the dialogue, the Committee prepares concluding observations which reflect the main points of discussion and indicate concerns and issues which require specific follow-up action at the national level.

All documentation is available on the website of the Committee on the Rights of the Child. In addition, Country Reports and a Session Report are prepared for each session.

52nd Session Documentation

Documentation for the recently concluded 52nd session of the Committee, is now available.  Under the CRC the Committee examined the second periodic reports of Mozambique and Qatar, the third and fourth combined reports of Pakistan and Philippines, and the fourth periodic report of Bolivia. The Committee examined the initial reports of Poland and Yemen under the OPSC, and the initial reports of Poland and Turkey under the OPAC.

51st Session Documentation

Documentation from the 51st session of the Committee is available. Under the CRC the Committee examined the second periodic reports of Mauritania and Niger, the third and fourth periodic reports of Bangladesh, France and Romania and the fourth periodic report of Sweden. Under the OPSC and the OPAC the Committee examined the initial reports of Oman and Slovenia.

Documentation from earlier sessions can be found on the website of the Committee.

Convention on the Rights of the Child

The Convention on the Rights of the Child was unanimously adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 20 November 1989 and entered into force on 2 September 1990. The Convention, which contains 54 articles, is a comprehensive instrument which sets out rights that define universal principles and norms for children. It provides children with fundamental human rights and freedoms as well as takes into account their need for special assistance and protection due to their vulnerability. It has been ratified by 193 States parties.

Optional Protocols

Two Optional Protocols to the CRC were adopted by the General Assembly on 25 May 2000.  The first Optional Protocol, which entered into force on 18 January 2002, is on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography (OPSC).  The Optional Protocol requires that the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography be prohibited and it defines the acts that should be consequently criminalized. It binds States to protect the rights and interests of child victims and to develop prevention, rehabilitation and international cooperation to ensure the protection of children from sexual exploitation.  It has been ratified by 128 States parties.

The second Optional Protocol, which entered into force on 12 February 2002, is on the involvement of children in armed conflict (OPAC). The Optional Protocol raises the minimum age for direct participation in hostilities from 15 years of age to 18.  It also prohibits compulsory recruitment by government forces of anyone under 18 and all forms of recruitment or use by other armed groups of persons under 18. It has been ratified by 122 States parties.

State Party Reports

States parties to the CRC are required to submit an initial report two years after ratification and progress reports every five years. States parties to the Optional Protocols are also required to submit an initial report two years after ratification but not separate progress reports. Instead, further information about the implementation of the Protocols is to be included in the progress reports on the implementation of the Convention. 

Reporting Guidelines

The process of preparing the State party report should be a broad and participatory one which offers an opportunity to conduct a comprehensive review of national legislation, administrative rules and procedures and practices. It allows States parties to monitor progress made, identify problems and shortcomings, assess future needs and goals, and plan and develop policies to achieve these goals.

The Committee has developed guidelines to assist States parties in drafting their periodic reports.

Guidelines for reporting under the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography and the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict have also been drafted by the Committee.

Summary Records

The State party report is examined by the Committee in the presence of the government.  Government representatives are invited to answer questions and comments posed by Committee members in order to understand more fully the actual situation in the country. Summary records are produced by the United Nations as an official record of the meeting.

Concluding Observations

At the end of the dialogue, the Committee prepares concluding observations which reflect the main points of discussion and indicate concerns and issues which would require specific follow-up action at the national level.