CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD

UNICEFs mission is to advocate for the protection of childrens rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential. UNICEF is guided in doing this by the provisions and principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Built on varied legal systems and cultural traditions, the Convention is a universally agreed set of non-negotiable standards and obligations. These basic standardsalso called human rightsset minimum entitlements and freedoms that should be respected by governments. They are founded on respect for the dignity and worth of each individual, regardless of race, colour, gender, language, religion, opinions, origins, wealth, birth status or ability and therefore apply to every human being everywhere. With these rights comes the obligation on both governments and individuals not to infringe on the parallel rights of others. These standards are both interdependent and indivisible; we cannot ensure some rights without or at the expense ofother rights.
A legally binding instrument

The Convention on the Rights of the Child is the first legally binding international instrument to incorporate the full range of human rightscivil, cultural, economic, political and social rights. In 1989, world leaders decided that children needed a special convention just for them because people under 18 years old often need special care and protection that adults do not. The leaders also wanted to make sure that the world recognized that children have human rights too. The Convention sets out these rights in 54 articles and two Optional Protocols. It spells out the basic human rights that children everywhere have: the right to survival; to develop to the fullest; to protection from harmful influences, abuse and exploitation; and to participate fully in family, cultural and social life. The four core principles of the Convention are nondiscrimination; devotion to the best interests of the child; the right to life, survival and development; and respect for the views of the child. Every right spelled out in the Convention is inherent to the human dignity and harmonious development of every child. The Convention protects children's rights by setting standards in health care; education; and legal, civil and social services. By agreeing to undertake the obligations of the Convention (by ratifying or acceding to it), national governments have committed themselves to protecting and ensuring children's rights and they have agreed to hold themselves accountable for this commitment before the international community. States parties to the Convention are obliged to develop and undertake all actions and policies in the light of the best interests of the child.

THE HUMAN RIGHTS FRAMEWORK

Human rights are those rights which are essential to live as human beings basic standards without which people cannot survive and develop in dignity. They are inherent to the human person, inalienable and universal. The United Nations set a common standard on human rights with the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. Although this Declaration is not part of binding international law, its acceptance by all countries around the world gives great moral weight to the fundamental principle that all human beings, rich and poor, strong and weak, male and female, of all races and religions, are to be treated equally and with respect for their natural worth as human beings. The United Nations has since adopted many legally binding international human rights instruments. These treaties are used as a framework for discussing and applying human rights. Through these instruments, the principles and rights they outline become legal obligations on those States choosing to be bound by them. The framework also establishes legal and other mechanisms to hold governments accountable in the event they violate human rights. The instruments of the international human rights framework are the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the six core human rights treaties: the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; the

Convention on the Rights of the Child; the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment; the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination; and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. Every country in the world has ratified at least one of these, and many have ratified most of them. These treaties are important tools for holding governments accountable for the respect for, protection of and realization of the rights of individuals in their country. As part of the framework of human rights law, all human rights are indivisible, interrelated and interdependent. Understanding this framework is important to promoting, protecting and realizing childrens rights because the Convention on the Rights of the Childand the rights and duties contained in itare part of the framework.

BACKGROUND ON HUMAN RIGHTS

Human rights are standards that recognize and protect the dignity of all human beings. Human rights govern how individual human beings live in society and with each other, as well as their relationship with governments and the obligations that governments have towards them. Human rights law obliges governments to do some things, and prevents them from doing others. Individuals also have responsibilities: in using their human rights, they must respect the rights of others. No government, group or individual person has the right to do anything that violates anothers rights.
Inherent, inalienable and universal

Human rights are inherent; we are simply born with them and they belong to each of us as a result of our common humanity. Human rights are not owned by select people or given as a gift. They are inalienable; individuals cannot give them up and they cannot be taken away even if governments do not recognize or protect them. They are universal; they are held by all people, everywhere regardless of age, sex, race, religion, nationality, income level or any other status or condition in life. Human rights belong to each and every one of us equally.
Equal, indivisible, interrelated and interdependent

All rights are equal and no right is superior to any other; there are no small rights. Human rights are indivisible and interrelated, with a focus on the individual and the community as a whole. Although human rights are often divided into two categories civil and political rights and economic, social and cultural rightsrights cannot be treated separately or in distinct categories because the enjoyment of one right usually depends on fulfillment of other rights. People who are denied civil and political rights, such as political participation, have no means to protect the economic, social and cultural rights covering such needs as education and health care. Similarly, where basic survival needs are not met, civil and political rights may be meaningless as people become overwhelmingly concerned with getting adequate food and shelter. Different rights therefore should not be considered in isolation.

PATH TO THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD

The path to the Convention on the Rights of the Child has been long and slow. In 1945, the United Nations Charter laid the groundwork for the Convention by urging nations to promote and encourage respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms 'for all'. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights followed three years later, further stressing that "motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and protection" and referring to the family as "the natural and fundamental group unit of society." Several Declarations on the Rights of the Child were agreed during the twentieth century, the last in 1959 "recognizing that Mankind owes to the child the best that it has to give." Declarations are statements of moral and ethical intent but they are not legally binding instruments. The international human rights framework was therefore built to contain covenants (or conventions) that carry the weight of international law. In 1976, the first two covenantsthe International Covenants on Civil and Political Rights and on Economic, Social and Cultural Rightsbecame binding on States parties. These two Covenants used the

foundation of the rights and principles in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and thus provided a legal as well as a moral obligation for countries to respect the human rights of each individual. Childrens rights then followed the same path. In 1978, on the eve of the United Nations sponsored International Year of the Child, a draft text was proposed for the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Drawing heavily from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, a working group within the United Nations then collaborated and revised the draft, finally agreeing what became the articles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Final approval from United Nations Member States came when the UN General Assembly unanimously adopted the text of the Convention on the Rights of the Child on 20 November 1989. The Convention then became legally binding in September 1990, after 20 States had ratified it. Many countries ratified the Convention very soon after it was adopted and others continued to ratify or accede to it, making it the most widely ratified human rights treaty. Nearly all States are now parties. Somalia and the United States have not yet ratified the Convention but have signed it, indicating their support.

THE ROLE OF THE UNITED NATIONS IN RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

The United Nations has repeatedly emphasized the need to integrate human rights into the broad range of its activities. It is essential to recognize the potential of almost all UN human rights mechanisms and procedures for contributing to the protection and promotion of childrens rights.
Human rights treaties

The creation of a body of international human rights law is one of the United Nations great achievements. The United Nations has helped negotiate more than 70 human rights treaties and declarationsmany focused on the rights of vulnerable groups such as women, children, persons with disabilities, minorities and indigenous peoples. Together, these treaties and declarations have helped create a culture of human rights throughout the world, providing a powerful tool to protect and promote all rights. In accordance with the treaties, States parties have set up treaty body committees that may call upon States to respond to allegations, adopt decisions and publish them along with criticisms or recommendations. For the full text of the core human rights treaties, see the links at right.
World Conferences and Summits

The standards articulated in the international covenants and conventions have been reinforced through declarations and plans of action that have emerged from a series of World Conferences organized by the United Nations. These conferences have gained importance as real forums for deciding on national and international policy regarding such global issues as the environment, human rights and economic development. They focus world attention on these issues and place them squarely on the global agenda. UNICEF's work in the area of child rights is informed by the World Summit for Children (1990), as well as by the World Conference on Education for All (1990), the World Conference on Human Rights (1993), the World Summit for Social Development (1995), the Fourth World Conference on Women (1995), the Millennium Summit (2000), and the World Summit and Special Session on Children (2005). The 1993 World Conference on Human Rights, in particular, recognized that the human rights of children constitute a priority for action within the United Nations system. At the 2005 Special Session on Children, Member States committed themselves to improving the situation of children.
Other mechanisms for protecting human rights

The United Nations promotes respect for the law and protection of human rights in many other ways, including:

Monitoring the human rights records of nations: The treaty body committees receive technical, logistical and financial support from the United Nations. The United Nations also has an Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, which is mandated to promote and protect the enjoyment and full realization by all people of human rights. Appointing special procedures to address specific country situations or broader issues : The United Nations may also appoint experts (sometimes titled special rapporteurs, representatives or independent experts), to address a specific human rights issue or particular country. These experts may conduct studies, visit specific countries, interview victims, make specific appeals and submit reports and recommendations. These procedures include a number of child-specific procedures and many broader procedures which increasingly make reference to children's rights. Child specific procedures include the Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography; and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the impact of armed conflict on children. Many broader procedures increasingly include references to children's rights in the context of their particular mandates. Such procedures include the Special Rapporteurs on the right to education; on torture; on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; on violence against women; on freedom of religion or belief; and on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; and also an Independent Expert on human rights and extreme poverty. Country-specific Special Rapporteurswho focus on the human rights situations in particular countries and regions and can receive individual complaintsand the Representative of the Secretary-General on Internally Displaced Persons have also singled out violations of childrens rights. Some other relevant mechanisms include Working Groups on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances and on Arbitrary Detention.

UNDERSTANDING THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD

The principles outlined in the international human rights framework apply both to children and adults. Children are mentioned explicitly in many of the human rights instruments; standards are specifically modified or adapted where the needs and concerns surrounding a right are distinct for children. The Convention on the Rights of the Child brings together the childrens human rights articulated in other international instruments. This Convention articulates the rights more completely and provides a set of guiding principles that fundamentally shapes the way in which we view children. This compilation and clarification of childrens human rights sets out the necessary environment and means to enable every human being to develop to their full potential. The articles of the Convention, in addition to laying the foundational principles from which all rights must be achieved, call for the provision of specific resources, skills and contributions necessary to ensure the survival and development of children to their maximum capability. The articles also require the creation of means to protect children from neglect, exploitation and abuse. All children have the same rights. All rights are interconnected and of equal importance. The Convention stresses these principles and refers to the responsibility of children to respect the rights of others, especially their parents. By the same token, children's understanding of the issues raised in the Convention will vary depending on the age of the child. Helping children to understand their rights does not mean parents should push them to make choices with consequences they are too young to handle. The Convention expressly recognizes that parents have the most important role in the bringing up children. The text encourages parents to deal with rights issues with their children "in a manner consistent with the evolving capacities of the child" (article 5). Parents, who are intuitively aware of their child's level of development, will do this naturally. The issues they discuss, the way in which they answer questions, or the discipline methods they use will differ depending on whether the child is 3, 9 or 16 years of age.

RIGHTS UNDER THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD

The Convention on the Rights of the Child was the first instrument to incorporate the complete range of international human rights including civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights as well as aspects of humanitarian law. The articles of the Convention may be grouped into four categories of rights and a set of guiding principles. By clicking on any of the categories below, you can link to a plainlanguage explanation of the applicable articles in the Convention. Additional provisions of the Convention (articles 43 to 54) discuss implementation measures for the Convention, explaining how governments and international organizations like UNICEF will work to ensure children are protected in their rights. You can see the full text of the Convention by clicking on the link in the box on the right. Guiding principles: The guiding principles of the Convention include non-discrimination; adherence to the best interests of the child; the right to life, survival and development; and the right to participate. They represent the underlying requirements for any and all rights to be realized. Survival and development rights: These are rights to the resources, skills and contributions necessary for the survival and full development of the child. They include rights to adequate food, shelter, clean water, formal education, primary health care, leisure and recreation, cultural activities and information about their rights. These rights require not only the existence of the means to fulfil the rights but also access to them. Specific articles address the needs of child refugees, children with disabilities and children of minority or indigenous groups. Protection rights: These rights include protection from all forms of child abuse, neglect, exploitation and cruelty, including the right to special protection in times of war and protection from abuse in the criminal justice system. Participation rights: Children are entitled to the freedom to express opinions and to have a say in matters affecting their social, economic, religious, cultural and political life. Participation rights include the right to express opinions and be heard, the right to information and freedom of association. Engaging these rights as they mature helps children bring about the realization of all their rights and prepares them for an active role in society. The equality and interconnection of rights are stressed in the Convention. In addition to governments obligations, children and parents are respon sible for respecting the rights of othersparticularly each other. Childrens understanding of rights will vary depending on age and parents in particular should tailor the issues they discuss, the way in which they answer questions and discipline methods to the age and maturity of the individual child. HUMAN RIGHTS PROVISIONS Children and young people have the same basic general human rights as adults and also specific rights that recognise their special needs. Because the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) brings together rights articulated in other international treaties there are many parallels between the Convention and other treaties. The five other core human rights instruments are: the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR); the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR); the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (Torture Convention); the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Race Discrimination Convention); and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (Womens Convention). Among other rights found in the Convention on the Rights of the Child and shared with one or more of these instruments are: Non-discrimination (Article 2): All human rights instruments prohibit any discriminationdistinction, exclusion, restriction or preferencein the provision, protection and promotion of rights. In other words, everyone has the human rights in these treaties, irrespective of their race, sex, religion, national origin or any other

trait. The Race Convention wholly prohibits discrimination based on race, national origin or ethnicity and outlines steps that governments must take to end it. The Womens Convention likewise calls for an end to discrimination, based on sex, and outlines specific areas of life in which women must be treated equally in order to eliminate discrimination; Right to life (Article 6): also found in Article 6 of the ICCPR; Right to freedom from torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment (Article 37): outlined for everyone in the Torture Convention and also included as Article 7 of the ICCPR; Right of detained persons to be treated with dignity (Article 37): Article 10 of the ICCPR broadly states this right and the Convention on the Rights of the Child specifies that children in this situation must be treated in a way that takes their age into account; Right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion (Article 14) : found in Article 18 of the ICCPR; Right to freedom of opinion and of expression (Article 13): found in Article 19 of the ICCPR; Right to adequate standard of living (Article 27): found in article 11 of the ICESCR; Right to health and health services (Article 24): found in Article 12 of the ICESCR; and Right to education (Article 28): found in Article 13 of the ICESCR.

Many Articles of both the ICCPR and the ICESCR call attention to the special needs of families and children. These include Article 24 of the ICCPR (calling for the protection of children and registration at birth of their name and nationality) and Article 10 of the ICESCR (calling for specific attention, protection and assistance to children). These examples show that the Convention on the Rights of the Child is founded on rights inherent to everyone, but that it also builds on concerns for the specific needs and vulnerabilities of children. For the text of any of the human rights conventions, see the box at right.

OPTIONAL PROTOCOLS TO THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD

Providing legal protection for children against the worst forms of exploitation

The Convention on the Rights of the Child, a universally agreed set of non-negotiable standards and obligations, provides protection and support for the rights of children. In adopting the Convention, the international community recognized that people under 18 years of age often need special care and protection that adults do not. To help stem the growing abuse and exploitation of children worldwide, the United Nations General Assembly in 2000 adopted two Optional Protocols to the Convention to increase the protection of children from involvement in armed conflicts and from sexual exploitation. The Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict establishes 18 as the minimum age for compulsory recruitment and requires States to do everything they can to prevent individuals under the age of 18 from taking a direct part in hostilities. The Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography draws special attention to the criminalization of these serious violations of children's rights and emphasizes the importance of fostering increased public awareness and international cooperation in efforts to combat them. The Optional Protocols must always be interpreted in light of the original treaty as a whole, in this case guided by the principles of non-discrimination, best interests of the child and child participation.
Using Optional Protocols to augment human rights instruments

Human rights treaties are often followed by optional protocols, additional legal mechanisms that complement and add to the treaty. A protocol may be on any topic relevant to the original treaty and is used either to further address something in the original treaty, address

a new or emerging concern or add a procedure for the operation and enforcement of the treatysuch as adding an individual complaints procedure. The Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child provide more detail and expand obligations beyond those under the original treaty. A protocol is optional because it is not automatically binding on States that have already ratified the original treaty. The obligations in the protocol are additional and may be more demanding than those in the original convention, and so States must independently choose whether or not to be bound by a protocol. Accordingly, an optional protocol has its own ratification mechanism independent of the treaty it complements. Generally, only States that have already agreed to be bound by an original treaty may ratify its optional protocols. The Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child do however permit nonStates parties to ratify or accede to them. For example, the United States, which has not ratified the Convention, has ratified both of the Optional Protocols. States must ratify each of the Protocols following the same procedure required when ratifying the Convention. (See Using the Convention to protect children at left). OPTIONAL PROTOCOL ON THE INVOLVEMENT OF CHILDREN IN ARMED CONFLICT Worldwide, an estimated 300,000 children are engaged in armed conflicts with tragic consequences. They are often forcibly recruited or abducted to join armies, some under the age of 10. Many of them have witnessed or taken part in acts of unbelievable violence, often against their own families or communities. In Article 38, the Convention on the Rights of the Child urges governments to take all feasible measures to ensure that children under 15 have no direct part in hostilities. The Convention also set 15 years as the minimum age at which an individual can be voluntarily recruited into or enlist in the armed forces. The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict is an effort to strengthen implementation of the Convention and increase the protection of children during armed conflicts. The Protocol requires States who ratify it to take all feasible measures to ensure that members of their armed forces under the age of 18 do not take a direct part in hostilities. States must also raise the minimum age for voluntary recruitment into the armed forces from 15 years but does not require a minimum age of 18. The Protocol does, however, remind States that children under 18 are entitled to special protection and so any voluntary recruitment under the age of 18 must include sufficient safeguards. It further bans compulsory recruitment below the age of 18. States parties must also take legal measures to prohibit independent armed groups from recruiting and using children under the age of 18 in conflicts. When ratifying the Protocol, States must make a declaration regarding the age at which national armed forces will permit voluntary recruitment, as well as the steps that States will take to ensure that such recruitment is never forced or coerced. This requirement is particularly important because the Optional Protocol does not establish age 18 as a minimum for voluntary recruitment into the armed forcesonly for direct participation in armed conflict. After receiving the first 10 ratifications needed for its entry into force, the Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict became legally binding on 12 February 2002. Today, more than 100 countries have signed and ratified this Protocol. For more information on the process of ratification or accession, click on Using the Convention to protect children on the left menu.

OPTIONAL PROTOCOL ON THE SALE OF CHILDREN, CHILD PROSTITUTION AND CHILD PORNOGRAPHY
Commercial sexual exploitation of childrensuch as the sale of children, child prostitution, child sex tourism and child pornographyare prevalent all over the world. An estimated one million children (mainly girls but also a significant number of boys) enter the multi-billion dollar commercial sex trade every year, suffering degradation and life-threatening risk.

Articles 34 and 35 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child say that governments should protect children from all forms of sexual exploitation and abuse and take all measures possible to ensure that they are not abducted, sold or trafficked. The Conventions Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography supplements the Convention by providing States with detailed requirements to end the sexual exploitation and abuse of children. It also protects children from being sold for non-sexual purposes such as other forms of forced labour, illegal adoption and organ donation. The Protocol provides definitions for the offences of sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. It also creates obligations on governments to criminalize and punish the activities related to these offences. It requires punishment not only for those offering or delivering children for the purposes of sexual exploitation, transfer of organs or children for profit or forced labour, but also for anyone accepting the child for these activities. The Protocol also protects the rights and interests of child victims. Governments must provide legal and other support services to child victims. This obligation includes considering the best interests of the child in any interactions with the criminal justice system. Children must also be supported with necessary medical, psychological, logistical and financial support to aid their rehabilitation and reintegration. As a complement to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, interpretation of the Optional Protocols text must always be guided by the principles of non-discrimination, best interests of the child and child participation. The value of international cooperation and public education are also stressed in the Protocol. International cooperation is important as a means of combating these often transnational activities. Public awareness, information and education campaigns also help protect children from these serious violations of their rights. After receiving the first 10 ratifications needed for its entry into force, the Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography became legally binding on 18 January 2002. Today, more than 100 countries have signed and ratified this Protocol. For more information on the process of ratification or accession, click on Using the Convention to protect children on the left menu.

USING THE CONVENTION AND PROTOCOLS FOR CHILDREN

International human rights instruments such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child and its Optional Protocols are negotiated among United Nations Member States and are legally binding on the individual States that become parties to the instrument. There are two ways for a State to become a party: by signature and ratification or by accession. In ratifying the Convention or an Optional Protocol, a State accepts an obligation to respect, protect, promote and fulfil the enumerated rightsincluding by adopting or changing laws and policies that implement the provisions of the Convention or Protocol. The Convention places equal emphasis on all of the rights for children. There is no such thing as a 'small' right and no hierarchy of human rights. These rights are indivisible and interrelated, with a focus on the child as a whole. Governmental decisions with regard to any one right must be made in the light of all the other rights in the Convention. Governments that ratify the Convention or one of its Optional Protocols must report to the Committee on the Rights of the Child, the body of experts charged with monitoring States' implementation of the Convention and Optional Protocols. These reports outline the situation of children in the country and explain the measures taken by the State to realize their rights. In its reviews of States reports, the Committee urges all levels of government to use the Convention as a guide in policymaking and implementation. And because the protection of human rights is by nature a permanent and endless process, there is always room for improvement.

SIGNATURE, RATIFICATION AND ACCESSION

The process of creating binding obligations on governments International human rights treaties are developed by a process of negotiation among United Nations Member States to produce a commonly acceptable set of standards. Individual States then decide for themselves whether to be legally bound by the treaty. There are two

ways for a State to become a party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child: by signature and ratification or by accession. Both of these acts signify an agreement to be legally bound by the terms of the Convention. The Optional Protocols to the Convention are considered independently of the Convention and must be ratified or acceded to separately, but the process is the same. States do not need to be a party to the Convention in order to ratify or accede to one or both of the Optional Protocols.
Signature

Signature constitutes a preliminary endorsement of the Convention or Protocol. Signing the instrument does not create a binding legal obligation but does demonstrate the States intent to examine the treaty domestically and consider ratifying it. While signing does not commit a State to ratification, it does oblige the State to refrain from acts that would defeat or undermine the treatys objective and purpose.
Ratification or Accession

Ratification or accession signifies an agreement to be legally bound by the terms of the Convention. Though accession has the same legal effect as ratification, the procedures differ. In the case of ratification, the State first signs and then ratifies the treaty. The procedure for accession has only one stepit is not preceded by an act of signature. The formal procedures for ratification or accession vary according to the national legislative requirements of the State. Prior to ratification or accession, a country normally reviews the treaty to determine whether national laws are consistent with its provisions and to consider the most appropriate means of promoting compliance with the treaty. Most commonly, countries that are promoting the Convention sign shortly after it has been adopted. They then ratify the treaty when all of their domestically required legal procedures have been fulfilled. Other States may begin with the domestic approval process and accede to the treaty once their domestic procedures have been completed, without signing the treaty first. Both ratification and accession involve two steps. First, the appropriate national organ of the countryParliament, Senate, the Crown, Head of State or Government, or a combination of thesefollows domestic constitutional procedures and makes a formal decision to be a party to the treaty. Second, the instrument of ratification or accession, a formal sealed letter referring to the decision and signed by the States responsible authority, is prepared and deposited with the United Nations Secretary-General in New York.

IMPLEMENTATION
Fulfilling obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child and its Optional Protocols Translating child rights principles into practice requires action and leadership by governments. By ratifying the Convention, States commit to undertaking "all appropriate legislative, administrative and other measures" for the full realization of the rights it contains and to reporting on these measures to the Committee on the Rights of the Child, the body of experts charged with monitoring States' implementation of the Convention. For more information on the Committee, see the Monitoring page in this section. There are no specific right or wrong implementation measures, however the Convention should be the main benchmark and inspiration for all government action. In its reviews of States reports, the Committee urges all levels of government to use the Conventi on as a guide in policy-making and legislation, to: Develop a comprehensive national agenda; Develop permanent bodies or mechanisms to promote coordination, monitoring and evaluation of activities throughout all sectors of government;

Ensure that all legislation is fully compatible with the Convention and, if applicable the Optional Protocols, by incorporating the provisions into domestic law or ensuring that they take precedence in cases of conflict with national legislation; Make children visible in policy development processes throughout government by introducing child impact assessments; Analyse government spending to determine the portion of public funds spent on children and to ensure that these resources are being used effectively; Ensure that sufficient data are collected and used to improve the situation of all children in each jurisdiction; Raise awareness and disseminate information on the Convention and the Optional Protocols by providing training to all those involved in government policy-making and working with or for children; Involve civil society b including children themselves in the process of implementing and raising awareness of child rights; and Set up independent national officesombudspersons, commissions, focal points within national human rights institutions, or other institutions to promote and protect children's rights.

States parties to the Conventions Optional Protocols have many of the same guidelines, and also requirements specific to the Protocols. For example, States parties to the Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict must also undertake measures to ensure that individuals under the age of 18 do not take a direct part in armed conflicts. This obligation applies to measures involving 16-18 year old members of the armed forces. It also applies to legal measures to prohibit independent armed groups from recruiting and using children under the age of 18 in conflicts. The Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography requires States to provide legal and other support services to child victims and specifically calls for international cooperation to prevent and punish these abuses.

MONITORING THE FULFILMENT OF STATES OBLIGATIONS

The Committee on the Rights of the Child

Governments that ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child or one of its Optional Protocols must report to the Committee on the Rights of the Child. The Committee is made up of 18 experts in the field of children's rights from different countries and legal systems. They are nominated and elected by States parties but act in a personal capacity, not as representatives of their countries. Reports to the Committee on the situation of children's rights in their country are submitted by the State within two years of ratification and every five years thereafter. The Committee has adopted guidelines detailing which information States are expected to give in their implementation reports for the Convention and each of the Optional Protocols. In reviewing States' reports, the Committee looks at how well governments are setting and meeting the standards for the realization and protection of children's rights as outlined in the Convention or Optional Protocol. The Committee does not monitor the behaviour of individual parents and other caregivers and it is not empowered to receive complaints from citizens. Along with this regular reporting, the Commitee may request additional information or complementary reports.
The involvement of non-governmental organizations

Non-governmental organizations also play a major role in raising public awareness about the Convention and its goals. The Convention acknowledges these contributions by specifically inviting their participation in the reporting and monitoring process, a first among human rights treaties. Governments are urged to involve all sectors of society in the preparation of reports. While a few consult non-governmental organizations extensively in the reporting process and incorporate their contributions into reports to the Committee, individual non-governmental organizations or coalitions can and do prepare alternative reports for the Committee's consideration. For more information on the work nongovernmental organizations undertake, see the 'Organizations' page of What you can do on the left menu.

UNICEF's role in the monitoring process

The Convention on the Rights of the Child is the first human rights treaty that grants a role in its implementation to a specialized United Nations agency UNICEF. Under the Convention, UNICEF has a legal obligation to promote and protect child rights by supporting the work of the Committee on the Rights of the Child. In addition to contributing advice and assistance to the Committee, UNICEF facilitates broad consultations within States to maximize the accuracy and impact of reports to the Committee. For more information on UNICEFs monitoring role, see UNICEF in Action in the left menu.

UNICEF IN ACTION
UNICEF's work for the overall protection of childhood is guided by the principles and standards established by the Convention on the Rights of the Child. In advocating to protect children's rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential, UNICEF helps to change the legal and policy framework of States parties and to improve understanding of the Convention itself at all levels of society. Among other activities, UNICEF works in nearly 160 countries to support ratification and implementation of the Convention and the Optional Protocols on the involvement of children in armed conflict and on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. UNICEF draws attention to the duties of governments, families, communities and individuals to respect those rights and supports them in doing so. UNICEF also supports the Committee on the Rights of the Child, which monitors implementation of the Convention and Optional Protocols by States parties. UNICEF is given a special role under the Convention with respect to monitoring. In addition to contributing advice and assistance to the Committee, UNICEF facilitates broad consultations within States to maximize the accuracy and impact of reports to the Committee.

Sources: http://www.unicef.org/crc/ http://www.unicef.org/crc/index_framework.html http://www.unicef.org/crc/index_30196.html http://www.unicef.org/crc/index_30198.html http://www.unicef.org/crc/index_understanding.html http://www.unicef.org/crc/index_30177.html http://www.unicef.org/crc/index_protocols.html http://www.unicef.org/crc/index_30203.html http://www.unicef.org/crc/index_30207.html http://www.unicef.org/crc/index_30208.html http://www.unicef.org/crc/index_30210.html http://www.unicef.org/crc/index_action.html http://www.unicef.org/crc/index_30229.html