Child Rights Connect

85th pre-session
2020-02-10 - 2020-02-14
Chile (LOIPR), Cuba (CRC), Djibouti (CRC), Gambia (LOIPR), Greece (CRC), Madagascar (CRC), Somalia (CRC), Zambia (LOIPR)

HRC Intersessional event on "Realizing the rights of the child through a healthy environment"
2020-02-12 13:15 - 15:00 (Europe/Paris) | Palais des Nations (Room XXII), Geneva, Switzerland

High-level mainstreaming panel on CRC30, 43rd session of the HRC
2020-02-24 - 2020-03-20
High-level mainstreaming panel on CRC30, 43rd session of the UN Human Rights Council

84th session in Samoa
2020-03-02 - 2020-03-06 | Apia, Apia, Samoa
Session:
Cook Islands, Micronesia, Tuvalu
Pre-session:
Kiribati
Find more information on out dedicated webpage!

Adoption of the LOIPR (Mauritius, NZ, Sweden)
2020-06-29 - 2020-07-03
The LOIPR of Mauritius, New Zealand and Sweden will be adopted as planned in June 2020.

85th online limited session
2020-09-14 - 2020-10-02
85th online limited session with no State reviews (postponed to January 2021).

87th pre-session
2020-09-21 - 2020-10-09
Canada (CRC), Iceland (CRC), Kuwait (CRC), Philippines (CRC), Poland (CRC SRP), Ukraine (CRC), Vietnam (CRC)
Adoption of LOIPR: France, Ireland
The 87th pre-session, originally planned in June 2020, is postponed to September/October 2020.

Virtual Side Event on a Child Rights Approach to the LBI Draft Treaty on Business and Human Rights
2020-10-21 13:00 - 14:30 (Europe/Paris)
Business activities and enterprises significantly affect children in all aspects of their lives. As the Committee on the Rights of the Child highlighted, “children are both rights-holders and stakeholders in business”. Children are potential consumers targeted by marketing strategies and possibly using harmful or unsuitable products and services, off and online. Many are workers in the formal or informal economy. They are family members of business employees and, as such, they may be directly affected by their working conditions and environment. Children are also members or residents of communities and environments, which are affected by business activities or in which business operates. Children are “often disproportionately affected by the adverse impact of business activities”. Yet, the impact of business on children and their rights is often still invisible to many stakeholders: governmental bodies, decision makers within the business sector but also human rights advocates.
The aim of this virtual side event, which will be held on Wedneday October 21 from 1pm to 2:30pm CEST, is to create a platform to exchange on priorities to be raised and addressed during the 6th Session of the open-ended inter- governmental working group on transnational corporations and other business enterprises with respect to human rights (OEIGWG) from October 26 to October 30, 2020. This event will hear from diverse and relevant stakeholders on how they are addressing the impact of business activities and enterprises on the lives of children and youth and how a legally binding instrument could regulate and mitigate the negative impact on their rights.
Panellists:
• Anita Goh, International Commission of Jurists: Presentation of the legal analysis
• Emanuella Ribeiro Halfeld Maciel, Clínica de Direitos Humanos, Federal University of Minas Gerais,
children rights violations and mining tailing dams (Brazil)
• Gabriela Kühn, ECPAT International – Case study on child protection from sexual exploitation in the
context of business activities
• Cristina Duranti, Good shephard sisters international foundation – Case study child rights violations
in the context of mining, DR Congo
The side-event will be held on Zoom at the following link:
http://bit.ly/ChildRightsSideEvent (Meeting-ID: 857 4944 6537 Access code: [REDACTED])
Please register here if you wish to attend the event and check the concept note for additional information!
Event Contacts:
Child Rights Connect: Maty Diawara – programmes2@childrightsconnect.org
DKA Austria: Ingrid Pintaritsch – ingrid.pintaritsch@dka.at

Launch of the new publication : "The Rights of Child Human Rights Defenders: Implementation Guide"
2020-12-07 13:00 - 14:30 (Europe/Paris)
Child Rights Connect is thrilled to announce the release of our new publication “The Rights of Child Human Rights Defenders: Implementation Guide”, which will be presented during this virtual launch event on December 7th, 2020, from 1pm to 2:30pm CET.
You can check out the event flyer and read the quick intro to the new guide for more information. Join us at the launch webinar to learn more  about what you can do to strengthen the protection and empowerment of CHRDs!

Do not forget to RSVP here and feel free to contact Agnès at gracia@childrightsconnect.org for more information !

86th online limited session
2021-01-18 - 2021-02-05
https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/15/treatybodyexternal/SessionDetails1.aspx?SessionID=2480&Lang=en

88th pre-session
2021-02-08 - 2021-02-12
Pre-session: Afghanistan (OPAC), Azerbaijan (CRC), Bolivia (CRC), Germany (CRC), Luxembourg (CRC SRP), North Macedonia (CRC), South Sudan (CRC), Uzbekistan (CRC)
Adoption of LOIPR: South Africa, United Kingdom
This pre-session will be held online.

87th session (online)
2021-05-17 - 2021-06-04
The CRC Committee decided to undertake online reviews “on a pilot exceptional basis” for Luxembourg (SRP) and Tunisia.
Deadline for additional submission (standard procedure): 5th May 2021
Programme of work is available here: https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/CRC/Pages/CRCIndex.aspx

89th pre-session
2021-06-07 - 2021-06-11
SRP pre-sessions: Croatia, Netherlands, Switzerland.
Deadline for written inputs to State report: 1st May 2021
Adoption of LOIPR: Bulgaria, Fiji, Liechtenstein, Oman.
Deadline for written inputs to LOIPR: 1st March 2021

88th session
2021-09-06 - 2021-09-24
The session will be conducted in-person with the following country reviews: Czech Republic, Eswatini, Poland (SRP), Switzerland (SRP).
Deadline for additional submission: 15th August 2021
The review of Afghanistan (CRC, OPAC) is postponed.

90th pre-session
2021-09-27 - 2021-10-01
SRP Pre-session: Chile and Zambia
Deadline for written inputs to the State report: 1st September 2021
Adoption of LOIPR: Bhutan, Ecuador, Estonia, Georgia, Guatemala, Peru and Sierra Leone.
Deadline for written inputs to LOIPR: 1st July 2021

89th session
2022-01-31 - 2022-02-11
Madagascar, Netherlands (SRP)
Deadline for additional submission: 15th December 2021
“As a result of unprecedented rise of COVID-19/Omicron cases, the OHCHR has evaluated that the 89th session of the Committee on the Rights of the Child due to start on 17 January 2022 is not possible in an in-person format. The Committee is currently in the process of consultation with the OHCHR/UNOG concerning the new dates. Further announcements will be made as soon as the decision is taken.”

90th session
2022-05-03 - 2022-06-03
Cambodia, Canada, Chile (SRP), Croatia (SRP), Cuba, Cyprus, Djibouti, Greece, Iceland, Kiribati, Somalia, Zambia (SRP)
Deadline for additional submission: 15th April 2022

SIDE-EVENT AT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF CHAIRPERSONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS TREATY BODIES: IMPLEMENTING THE TREATY BODY REVIEW 2020 – WHERE DO WE STAND
2022-06-01 18:15 - 19:45 UTC
This side event at the 34th Annual Meeting of Chairpersons of the Human Rights Treaty Bodies, co-organized by the Geneva Human Rights Platform, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the Commonwealth Secretariat, TB-Net and the Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the UN in New York. represents an opportunity for all stakeholders to take stock of the decisions taken by treaty bodies (TBs), OHCHR and member states, following the recommendations contained in the Report of the co-facilitators on the state of the UN human rights treaty body system.
The panel and open debate will discuss the implementation status of these decisions and recommendations, unpacking their significance for strengthening the TB system. By applying a multi-stakeholder perspective, this event will assess core topics currently under review, including the development of a predictable schedule of reviews, aligned working methods and digitalization.
PROGRAMME
13:15 – 13:20: Welcome and Introductory Remarks
13:20 – 13:45: Update on the status of implementation of the recommendations issued by the Report of the co-facilitators and suggested next steps
13:45 – 14:45: Open Discussion
MODERATION

Felix Kirchmeier, Executive Director, Geneva Human Rights Platform (GHRP)

PANELISTS

Rosemary Kayess, Chairperson, Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Victoria Sulimani, Ambassador/DPR Political Affairs, Permanent Mission of Sierra Leone to the United Nations in New York
Antti Korkeakivi, Chief, Anti-Torture, Capacity-Building, Coordination and Funds Section, Human Rights Treaties Branch, OHCHR
Christen Broecker, Deputy Director, Jacob Blaustein Institute for the Advancement of Human Rights

ON UN WEB TV
Those who won’t be in New York can follow this event on UN Web TV and ask questions to the panelists by sending these to the following email address: ghrp@geneva-academy.ch
GET READY: OUR RESEARCH BRIEF ON THIS ISSUE
Our new Research Brief Implementing the TB Review 2020 – Where Do We Stand provides a comprehensive summary of the key decisions taken and recommendations given by all relevant stakeholders – TBs, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and member states – in implementing the recommendations of the TB Review 2020 process.
Written by Felix Kirchmeier, Chloé Naret and Domenico Zipoli, it outlines the main issues discussed to date, including good practices, challenges and practical recommendations on ways forward.

91st session
2022-08-29 - 2022-09-23
Germany, Kuwait, North Macedonia, Philippines, South Sudan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam
Deadline for additional submission: 15th August 2022

93rd pre-session
2022-09-26 - 2022-09-30
Pre-sessions: Albania, Finland, Jordan, Sao Tome and Principe, Turkey.
Deadline for alternative reports: 1st July 2022
SRP pre-sessions: Mauritius, New Zealand, Sweden, Ireland, Oman.
Deadline for written inputs to State reports: 15th August 2022

92nd session
2023-01-16 - 2023-02-03
Azerbaijan, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Ireland, Mauritius, New Zealand, Oman, Sweden
Deadline for additional submission: 15th December 2022
Registration: https://indico.un.org/event/1001958/

94th pre-session
2023-02-06 - 2023-02-10
Pre-sessions: Andorra, Dominican Republic, Israel, Kyrgyzstan, Liechtenstein (OPSC), Russian Federation, Togo.
Deadline for alternative reports: 1st November 2022
SRP pre-sessions: France, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Deadline for written inputs to State report: New deadline! 1st December 2022
Adoption of LOIPR: Argentina, Spain
Deadline for written inputs to LOIPR: 1st November 2022

95th pre-session
2023-05-01 - 2023-05-05
Pre-sessions: Congo, Lithuania, Paraguay, Senegal (CRC, OPSC, OPAC)
Deadline for alternative reports: 1st March 2023
SRP pre-sessions: Bulgaria, Liechtenstein
Deadline for written inputs to State report: 1st March 2023
Adoption of LOIPR: Norway, Qatar, Romania
Deadline for written inputs to LOIPR: 1st March 2023

93rd session
2023-05-08 - 2023-05-26
Finland (CRC, OPSC), France, Jordan, Sao Tome and Principe, Türkiye, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Deadline for additional submission: 15th April 2023

40th Anniversary Conference: Changing the Narrative
2023-05-26
Promoting positive change with children around 40 years of civil society advocacy in Geneva
Changing the Narrative: Promoting positive change with children around 40 years of civil society advocacy in Geneva

About the Conference
*Check out our web story !
2023 marks the 40th anniversary of Child Rights Connect, celebrating 40 years of coordinated global civil society advocacy in Geneva for child rights. It also marks 25 years since adoption of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders and 75 years since adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Yet, across the globe, these celebrations coincide with attacks on democracy, shrinking civil society space and an unprecedent backlash against universal human rights, undermining the freedom, safety and action of those defending human rights. Child rights, their defenders (including child human rights defenders), and the larger child rights movement are not spared.
For the purpose of developing a strategy for the child rights movement, including children, to effectively counter anti-child rights rhetoric and respond to challenges faced by the movement, experts and practitioners convened with children, key States and the public at a conference hosted in Geneva (in hybrid format) on Friday 26 May 2023.
Recognising its importance, the conference was part of the formal programme of work of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child during the last day of its 93rd session in Geneva. Child advisors of the CRCnct Children’s Advisory Team also attended.

Conference programme
The conference centred around two plenary high-level panels: the first considering the context and challenges faced by the child rights movement and child human rights defenders; and the second looking at potential responses through UN mechanisms and agencies.
The morning plenary was proceeded by a dialogue with representatives of the Child Rights Connect Children’s Advisory Team, which was selected as ‘Changemakers’ by World Vision International. The afternoon plenary was proceeded by a keynote address from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Each plenary session was followed by parallel working sessions on key thematic issues, aimed at identifying elements for the subsequent development of a global strategy to counter anti-child rights rhetoric through changing the narrative around the role and impact of the child rights movement.

Please access our digital conference pack, which includes the conference programme and the interventions from our speakers (audio-visual and written). In line with our environmental policy (under development), the conference was a paperless event. This virtual treasure chest of fascinating discussions and memorable moments. Within its digital pages, you’ll discover an impressive lineup of panelists, ranging from luminaries like Ann Skelton,Volker Türk , Mary Lawlor, and Catherine Russel to brilliant and dedicated child advisors from around the world.
Inside the conference pack, you’ll discover a wealth of engaging speeches and interventions by our panelists. This is where you can relive thought-provoking moments and gain valuable insights that shaped our 40th Anniversary Conference. This will be the essential resource for accessing the conference program and experiencing the core of our event.

Recordings

Plenary sessions
Working group 1 session
Working group 2 session
Working group 3 session
Working group 4 session

Next steps and follow-up

On our News webpage, a dedicated web story highlighting the strong moments and statements of the day is now available to read!
All parts of the conference were recorded, with recordings available on this webpage.

The Child Rights Connect Secretariat intends to use these to help it draw key findings and recommendations from the conference so that these can be used to strengthen on-going advocacy as well as to identify potential global responses to the challenges being faced by the child rights movement and child human rights defenders. In turn, this will inform development of the Strategic Plan for 2025-2029 for the Child Rights Connect network, which will be considered for adoption at the organisation’s General Assembly in mid-2024. Conference discussions may also inform the contribution of Child Rights Connect to the Human Rights 75 Initiative of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, which will affirm the need to put children’s rights at the core of any new vision for the future of human rights.

Do not hesitate to contact the secretariat at secretariat@childrightsconnect.org if you have any questions.

94th session & launch of General Comment 26
2023-09-04 - 2023-09-22
Albania, Andorra, Dominican Republic, Kyrgyzstan, Liechtenstein, Togo (CRC, OPAC)
Deadline for additional submission: 15th August 2023

96th pre-session
2023-09-25 - 2023-09-29
Pre-sessions: Bahrain (OPSC, OPAC), Egypt, Mali, Namibia, Pakistan (OPSC), Panama (OPSC)
Deadline for alternative reports: 1st July 2023
SRP pre-sessions: South Africa
Deadline for written inputs to State report: 1st August 2023

95th session
2024-01-15 - 2024-02-02
Bulgaria, Congo, Lithuania, Russian Federation, Senegal (CRC, OPSC, OPAC), South Africa
Deadline for additional submissions: 15th December 2023
The review of Israel has been postponed.

97th pre-session
2024-02-05 - 2024-02-09
Pre-sessions: Armenia, Eritrea, Honduras, Mexico, Slovakia, Turkmenistan
Deadline for alternative reports: 1st November 2023
SRP pre-sessions: Estonia, Bhutan, Georgia, Guatemala
Deadline for written inputs to State report: 1st November 2023
No adoption of LOIPR.

96th session
2024-05-06 - 2024-05-24
Bhutan SRP, Egypt, Estonia SRP, Georgia SRP, Guatemala SRP, Mali, Namibia, Paraguay and Panama (OPSC)
Deadline for additional submissions: 15th April 2024
