UN experts urge final push for universal ratification of Optional
Protocols to Convention on the Rights of the Child
Joint statement by the Special Representative of Children and Armed Conflict,
the Special Representative of the Secretary General on Violence against
Children and the Chairperson of the Committee on the Rights of the Child:
New York/Geneva (25 May 2015) Universal ratification of the Optional
Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children,
child prostitution and child pornography (OPSC) and on the involvement of
children in armed conflict (OPAC) is closer than ever, UN experts have said.
Sixteen years after the Optional Protocols were adopted by the UN General
Assembly, they continue to generate tangible progress in the protection of
childrens rights worldwide and have been ratified by most UN Member States,
the UN experts said in a statement to mark the anniversary of the texts
adoption on 25 May 2000.
Now, with implementation under way of the Sustainable Development Goals,
which include ending abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence
against and torture of children, universal ratification should be a priority for all,
the experts urged.
Since 2014, there have been 13 new ratifications to OPAC. There is
momentum among Member States to better protect children under 18 from
recruitment and use in conflict, said Leila Zerrougui, Special Representative of
the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict. I encourage all
those who have not yet ratified OPAC to join the community of States Parties
who agree that children do not belong in armed groups or security forces in
conflict.
Ms. Zerrougui called on all Member States to fulfil the promise made to children
by ensuring that national legal frameworks are aligned with international
standards and by promoting accountability for those who violate childrens
rights.
Since the launch of the UN campaign for universal ratification, there has been
a steady increase in the number of ratifications to the Optional Protocol on the
sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography which is now in force in
173 states. Guided by the global commitment to end all forms of violence
against children highlighted by SDG target 16.2, 2016 can mark the start of a
new era in protecting childrens rights from abuse and exploitation. It is high
time to end violence against children. It is high time to bridge international
standards and action on the ground and to translate international commitments
into reality, leaving no child behind," highlighted Special Representative of the
UN Secretary-General on Violence against Children, Marta Santos Pais.
Ratifying the Optional Protocols is an important first step. States then have to
report to the Committee on the Rights of the Child on what they are doing to
implement them, said Committee Chair Benyam Dawit Mezmur. Currently 68
States still have to send us their first reports under OPSC and 45 under OPAC,
and around a third of these reports have been overdue for more than 10 years.
We urge all States Parties to report on a timely basis, he stressed.
OPSC: The Protocol on the sale children, child prostitution and child
pornography provides detailed guidance to support States in the implementation
of their obligations to prohibit, criminalize, prevent, and ensure accountability for
offences of sexual violence and exploitation. Furthermore, States must provide
access to child-sensitive justice, as well as recovery, reintegration and
compensation for child victims of sexual exploitation and sale for the purposes
of forced labour or illegal adoption, among others.
OPAC: The Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict is
a commitment that States will protect children under the age of 18 from taking
part in hostilities and will set the minimum age for conscription at 18. OPAC also
prohibits the recruitment and use of children under 18 by armed groups. The
Protocol encourages States to take all possible measures to prevent underage
recruitment, including by adopting legislation to prohibit and criminalize the
recruitment of children under 18.
ENDS
For additional information please contact:
Office of the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on
Violence against Children, Miguel Caldeira: caldeira1@un.org / +1 917 367
6132
http://srsg.violenceagainstchildren.org/
Office of the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for
Children and Armed Conflict, Stephanie Tremblay: tremblay@un.org / +1 212
963 8285
https://childrenandarmedconflict.un.org/
Committee on the Rights of the Child: Liz
Throssell: ethrossell@ohchr.org / +41 22 917 9466
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/CRC/Pages/CRCIndex.aspx
Convention on the Rights of the Child (ratified to date by 196 States):
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/CRC.aspx
Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child
pornography (ratified to date by 173 States):
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/OPSCCRC.aspx
Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict (ratified to
date by 165
States):http://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/OPACCRC.aspx
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