THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC, or UNCRC) is a human rights treaty setting out the civil, political, economic, social, health and cultural rights of children.
Nations that ratify this convention are bound to it by international law. Compliance is monitored by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, which is composed of members of countries around the world.
REPORT
Governments of countries that have ratified the Convention are required to report to, and appear before, the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child periodically to be examined on their progress with regards to the advancement of the implementation of the Convention and the status of child rights in their country.
GENERAL COMMENTS
General Comments provide interpretation and analysis of specific articles of the CRC. General Comments constitute an authoritative interpretation as to what is expected of States parties as they implement the obligations contained in the CRC.
EACH CHARTER
The 10 principles of the EACH Charter relate in many respects to the rights of the child as stipulated in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child .
RESOLUTION BY THE HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
The United Nations Human Rights Council has adopted a Resolution on the right of the child to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health. The report stresses that the survival, protection, growth and development of children in good physical and emotional health are the foundations of human dignity and human rights. The right of the child to health is also informed by the Constitution of the World Health Organization, in which health is defined as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, rather than merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
ARTICLE 24 CRC GENERAL COMMENTS
Article 24 of the Unites Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child states:
States Parties recognize the right of the child to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health and to facilities for the treatment of illness and rehabilitation of health. States Parties shall strive to ensure that no child is deprived of his or her right of access to such health care services. With a view to publish a General comment on art.24 of the CRC the Committee invited NGO’s and other institutions working in the field of children’s health and health services to submit papers describing the most crucial obstacles for implementing art. 24.
EACH submitted such a paper in January 2012, containing the combined experiences of the member organizations. The general Comment was published in March 2013 on the internet. EACH is proud to see that that many of the points that are raised in her paper have found their way into the General Comment.
REPORT OF THE UN HIGH COMMISSIONER
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human rights rendered a report to the UN General assembly on the child’s right to health. The report stresses that the survival, protection, growth and development of children in good physical and emotional health are the foundations of human dignity and human rights.
The right of the child to health is also informed by the Constitution of the World Health Organization, in which health is defined as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, rather than merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
PARTICIPATION
EVERY CHILD’S RIGHT TO BE HEARD; NINE BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR PARTICIPATION
A resource guide on the UNCHR General Comment No.12 gives an overview of the
nine basic requirements for effective and ethical participation and associated benchmark.
Participation is:
- transparent
- informative
- respectful
- relevant
- child-friendly
- inclusive
- supported by training for adults
- safe and sensitive to risk
- accountable
Children’s participation in healthcare is held in high esteem by EACH.
Read the document by Gerison Landsdown, Save the Children UK and Unicef ( download)
ADOLESCENT HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE CONTEXT OF THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD
GENERAL COMMENT NO 4 (2003)
While adolescents are in general a healthy population group, adolescence also poses new challenges to health and development owing to their relative vulnerability and presure from society, including peers, to adopt risky health behaviour.
The Convention on the Rights of the Child defines a child as every human being below the age of 18 years unless, under the law applicable, majority is attained earlier (art. 1).
Consequently, adolescents up to 18 years old are holders of all the rights enshrined in the Convention;
they are entitled to special protection measures and, according to their evolving capacities,
they can progressively exercise their rights (art. 5).