Country Profiles on the Implementation of Children's Rights

SUMMARY

IBCR is contributing to the goal of making the world better fit for children by identifying challenges and providing solutions to achieve the full implementation of the CRC. Country Profiles will focus on those countries that have ratified the CRC and its Optional Protocols, and analyse and report on the extent to which those countries have realized children's rights. These reports highlight progress made, good practices and remaining challenges. The project also supports and reinforces existing international mechanisms such as the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.

IBCR has developed a particular expertise in this area, having produced – with the financial assistance of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) – its first regional report on South-East Asia “Making Children's Rights Work: Country Profiles on Cambodia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Timor Leste and Viet Nam” (2006). In 2006, using its internal resources, IBCR also completed the draft Country Profiles for all other countries of Asia. In 2007, IBCR also published its second regional report – this time with the support of the Government of Sweden – entitled “Making children's Rights Work in North Africa: Country Profiles on Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia” (2007). The current priority of IBCR is to accelerate the pace of implementation of this programme to cover all States Parties to the CRC, beginning with the countries of Africa, where the implementation of children's rights is facing multiple challenges.

BACKGROUND

The situation and developments pertaining to children's rights in various countries around the world can be ascertained using a variety of sources, including: official periodic reports submitted to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child by Governments and the parallel NGO reports, the flow of information on the protection of children's rights and specific cases of violations, studies, research and reports on specific issues affecting children prepared by international organizations, specialized centers and institutes, independent experts and specialists. However, although this information is valuable, it does not necessarily reflect the general trends with regard to the effective implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and also of the progress made in the realization of children's rights from a global or regional perspective, nor does it facilitate comparative analysis. As well, this public information is limited as it does not highlight best practices which can be shared with other States Parties to assist them in meeting their obligations under the CRC. The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child conducts ongoing monitoring on the effective implementation of the CRC at the national level, assessing States Parties' compliance with the provisions of the Convention and progress towards the realization of the rights of the child. It does this through the collection of official periodic reports submitted by Governments, as well as, reports received from NGOs and others. Information on measures adopted at the state level in response to the recommendations and issues raised by the Committee are generally provided in the next report submitted by States Parties, five years later at the earliest. In the meantime, gaps may exist in assessing and presenting the global and regional trends concerning the realization of children's rights that would allow drawing comparisons and noting potentially disturbing tendencies. Moreover, while the UN Committee's conclusions and recommendations may capture media attention and put pressure on a State Party, this may be short-lived and soon forgotten. Other studies and reports on specific issues relating to the protection of the rights of the child are undertaken by international organizations, bilateral agencies, specialized centers and institutes, and independent experts. These reports contain valuable information and would allow for a greater knowledge of the situation pertaining to children's rights; however, there is often limited circulation of this information. Also, the national reports submitted to the Committee often are not made available to the public at the country level, despite that this is stipulated in the Convention on the Rights of the Child. There is no mechanism that exists at a global or regional level to ensure the systematic circulation of information on trends in the realization of children's rights, cases of violation, and examples of best practices. There are few exceptions where information is shared which include, UNICEF's annual report on the situation of children that has a worldwide circulation, and some specialized studies and reports on specific children's rights issues published by international organizations, NGOs and other agencies. Drawing on various sources of information, this project aims at filling the existing gaps through the preparation and publication of country profiles that would allow a greater understanding of the status of implementation of the CRC at the country and regional level. In addition it would facilitate cooperative approaches among States Parties in implementing the Convention by highlighting examples of best practices. The preparation and publication of the country profiles would also allow a comparative analysis and an enhanced knowledge of the situation of children's rights in the countries of each region as well as worldwide.

OBJECTIVES

The main objective of the Country Profiles on the Status of the CRC Implementation for 2005-2010 is to contribute to the effective implementation of the CRC and its Optional Protocols at national level in the countries that have ratified them. Secondary objectives include: " Raising awareness on the status of implementation of the CRC, achievements and remaining challenges and drawing attention to problems children face in enjoyment of their rights; " Identifying and sharing positive experiences and best practices on processes developed including policies, measures and reforms undertaken at States Parties level; " Accelerating the implementation of recommendations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child following the reports of States Parties; " Helping reinforce at the country level partnership in the implementation of the CRC between Governments, NGOs, CSOs, the media and the general public.

ACTIVITIES AND TIME-FRAME

In 2006, thanks to the financial support of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), IBCR completed the Country Profiles for Cambodia, East Timor, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Viet Nam. IBCR also completed the draft Country Profiles for all other countries of Asia.

Tthanks to the financial support of the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, IBCR recently completed the Country Profiles for the countries of Northern Africa: Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia.

IBCR is currently seeking additional financial support, including from new international partners, to allow for the completion of the Country Profiles for all States Parties to the CRC. The first priority of IBCR is the finalisation of Country Profiles for the all sub-regions of Africa, followed by other regions of the world (Americas, Europe, Australia and Oceania). In the years to come, once the first cycle of Country Profiles has been completed for all States Parties, IBCR will periodically review the Country Profiles in order to provide up-to-date information about the status of implementation of children's rights.

PARTNERS AND COLLABORATORS

In implementing this project IBCR seeks to develop partnerships with relevant international organizations and bodies, including UNICEF, OHCHR, national and international NGOs, donor agencies, religious and community-based organizations, relevant research centers and academic institutions, the mass media, the private sector, and children and youth associations. This partnership is critical for the development of the project. In addition, IBCR will be seeking partnership with organizations working in the field. Naturally, while implementing this project close collaboration will be maintained with the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. This partnership and collaboration are important for data gathering, validation of information on reported progress and existing gaps, observing performance and best practices, preparation of analytical country profiles and their publication and dissemination. While facilitating the entire process of preparation of country profiles, such partnership can also eliminate duplication in terms of reporting and outcomes, as well as ensure effective use of resources by working together and in a complementary manner.

RESOURCES NEEDED

IBCR is already committing a significant portion of its resources to the research and drafting of the Country profiles. Nevertheless, additional resources are needed to conduct fact-finding missions and hire professional help to assist in the data-verification, analysis, and reporting (such as was provided by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) for selected countries of Asia and by the Department of Foreign Affairs of Sweden for the North African region.

PUBLICATIONS

To view Country Profiles on all countries of Asia, click here.
To view available country Profiles on countries of Africa, click here.

INFORMATION

For more information on this project, please contact Mr. Guillaume Landry, IBCR Programme Manager.