Day of General Discussion
Days of General Discussion help develop a deeper understanding of the content or implications of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).
DGD 2021: Children’s Rights and Alternative Care
Given the current situation with the spread of COVID-19, the Committee on the Rights of the Child has decided that the Day of General Discussion on Children’s Rights in Alternative Care, originally scheduled to take place in September 2020, is postponed to 16-17 September 2021. Read more here.
You can now register here in English, French and Spanish to the DGD.
Child Rights Connect is currently mobilizing its members and partners who have an interest in being involved in the DGD to work in a broad coalition in order to achieve a meaningful DGD, as well as to ensure the full and meaningful participation of children throughout the process.
Any organisations who are interested in being involved in coordinating the DGD, please contact: Caroline Rose, Lumos caroline.rose@wearelumos.org
DGD 2018: Children Human Rights Defenders!
The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child dedicated its 2018 DGD to the thematic “Protecting and empowering children as human rights defenders”, after accepting Child Rights Connect’s proposal. As such, Child Rights Connect was the main partner organization of the DGD, working closely with the Committee, OHCHR, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights defenders and many other key experts and stakeholders, including children.
The thematic of Children Human Rights Defenders is not just a day conference but an ambitious long-term project to promote a global movement for children human rights defenders. Such movement will catalyse and strengthen existing initiatives to empower children as human rights defenders, by connecting them to broader initiatives at national, regional and international levels.
Child Participation in DGDs
The Committee wants children to be at the heart of the DGDs and for children’s voices to be central in all aspects of the preparations throughout the Day itself and what happens afterwards. See the Working Methods for child participation in DGDs in all UN languages!
For the first time, during the 2018 DGD, all working groups discussions were dialogues between adults, children and youth!
Child Rights Connect called on members and partners to gather children’s views on the scope of the DGD to inform many documents, such as the concept note.
Child Rights Connect also organised DGD briefing and debriefing Workshops for all the children attending the DGD!
Global Consultations
Child Rights Connect supported a global round of DGD children’s consultations which were taken forward by the Children’s Advisory Team, our members and partners, and children themselves. The aims of the consultations were to:
- Collect from children acting as or seeking to become human rights defenders their experiences, views and solution-oriented recommendations on the recognition, empowerment and protection of children human rights defenders to inform the programme and discussions of the DGD and related activities;
- Raise awareness and understanding of the topic of children human rights defenders and to support/advance their ongoing efforts related to children’s rights.
The findings of the submissions and materials are compiled in the following documents:
DGD Exhibition at the UN
Children Human Rights Defenders compiles videos and materials from CHRDs from all over the world. The exhibition was held in collaboration with the Permanent Mission of Norway to the United Nations Office
“This DGD was truly exceptional and innovative, and the level of participation of children was unprecedented” […] “A real child participatory event, where we talk about children with children”
“We have to fight for our rights – even if it’s difficult, no one can say it’s impossible”
“Since I have been in the halls of the U.N. this is the only time I think that I ever seen a room so very full, not just by Delegations, the government, but the new generation, the youth, those who will be fighting for liberty and freedom in the future, already Human Rights Defenders for whom we have organized this day” […] “And in the immediate commitment in my next upcoming country reports or thematic reports each and every time I will devote a specific chapter to young rights defenders”
“It shouldn’t be such a rare and exceptional event to have your voices join ours in discussion, directly influencing the decision making that takes place here.”
DGD Hubs
As part of the Global Movement for Children Human Rights Defenders, all types of discussions and debates can be DGD Hubs, before, during and after the DGD, at local, national, regional and international levels. See the DGD Hubs Guidelines (EN – FR – ES)! Should you be interested in organizing a DGD Hub, please contact us at secretariat@childrightsconnect.org to share your plan and receive our DGD Hub communication guidelines.