1. Background and objectives

The Permanent Mission of Romania and the Permanent Mission of Austria are organizing an event in the margins of the 81st session of the CRC entitled “30 years after the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child: achievements, challenges and opportunities, with a key focus on access to information, digital skills and online safety for children”. 

The year 2019 provides the opportunity to take stock of the achievements 30 years after the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, to identify challenges in the implementation of the rights of the child and to discuss the way ahead. This event aims to contribute to these discussions. Particularly, it will be an opportunity to take stock of 30 years since the adoption of the CRC from the perspective of the Committee on the Rights of the Child, to identify the existing gaps and challenges for the implementation and to discuss emerging issues in the area of children’s rights. Among current challenges and opportunities, the event will focus on the interlinkages between access to information, digital skills and online safety for children, also with a view to the ongoing work of the Committee on a General Comment on children’s rights in the digital environment. While access to information contributes to the promotion of children’s social, spiritual and moral well-being, as well as to their physical and mental health, and digital skills become indispensable in the process of education, online safety must be a priority for these essential objectives to be met. 

Romania, the holder of the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union, and Austria, the previous EU Council presidency, are committed to promoting children’s rights. The 30th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child is an opportunity to reaffirm this commitment and to galvanize reflection on achievements, challenges and opportunities in the area of children’s rights.  

2. Format of the event

The theme will be addressed by a panel consisting of members of the Committee on the Rights of the Child, human rights experts, representatives of civil society and diplomats, through short presentations. At the end of this part, a questions-and-answers session will allow the participants to engage with panelists and broaden the reflection initiated by them. 

3. Programme and panelists

13h00-13h20: Light lunch

13h20-13h25: Opening Remarks 

H.E. Amb. Adrian Vierita, Permanent Representative of Romania to the United Nations in Geneva  

13h25 – 14h05: Panel Session 

Justice Renate Winter, Outgoing Chair of the Committee on the Rights of the Child 

Mr. Luis Ernesto Pedernera Reyna, Incoming Chair of the Committee on the Rights of the Child 

Dr. Philip Jaffé, Professor at the University of Geneva, Psychotherapist and CRC Member  

Mr. Chulho Hyun, Regional Chief of Communication, UNICEF Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (ECARO) 

Ms. Adina Codres, Senior Counsellor, Romanian National Authority for Children’s Rights Protection and Adoption 

Ms. Ilaria Paolazzi, Programme Manager, Child Rights Connect 

Moderation:  Ms. Imma Guerras-Delgado, Team Leader – Child and Youth Rights, OHCHR   

14h05-14h35: Exchange time with the floor 

14h35-14h45: Closing remarks