Country Profiles on the Implementation of Children's Rights

Summary

IBCR is contributing to the goal of making the world increasingly fit for children by identifying and providing solutions to the challenges surrounding the full implementation of the CRC. The “Country Profiles” program focuses on countries that have ratified the CRC and its Optional Protocols, and seeks to analyze and determine to which extent these countries have adhered to the CRC. These reports draw attention to progress that has been 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.

The IBCR has developed a particular expertise in this area as a result of 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 Asian countries. In 2007, IBCR 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). IBCR’s current priority is to accelerate the rate at which this program is being implemented in order to address all States Parties to the CRC, beginning with the countries of Africa, where the implementation of children's rights is facing multiple challenges.

With this goal in mind, the IBCR, in March, 2008, received a grant from the International Francophone Association to pursue its objective of studying the realization of Children’s Rights in Central Africa. This will be achieved through an analysis of the progress made and best practices in Burundi, Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and in Rwanda.

The IBCR is aware of the need for the Country Profiles program to effect genuine change in the field of children’s rights, as such, IBCR prioritizes the facilitation of dialogue and communication amongst all stakeholders dedicated to the principles and objectives decreed in the CRC.  In order to achieve communication amongst the various actors, the IBCR aims to have the results of this report as focal point of a four day seminar, to be held in Brazzaville (Congo), in which approximately forty participants will be in attendance. This is an important opportunity to unite the key-actors in this region who share concern in regards to the current situation available to children, and to develop their knowledge in matters of participation for children. Further, this regional seminar will allow for the sharing of knowledge and discussion between both the civil society and the government. The main objective is to have decision makers implement international instruments available to all children of the region.

Background

The situation and developments pertaining to children's rights in various countries around the world can be ascertained using a variety of sources, such as: 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 subject of the protection of children's rights, on specific cases of violations, relevant studies, research, and reports on specific issues affecting children prepared by international organizations, specialized centers and institutes, and independent experts and specialists. Regardless of the value of this above-mentioned information, it does not necessarily reflect general trends with regard to the effective implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the progress made in the realization of children's rights from a global or regional perspective, nor does it facilitate comparative analysis.
Further, public information is often limited and usually does not address best practices which could be shared with other States Parties to assist them in meeting their obligations as outlined by the CRC. The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child performs ongoing assessments of the effectiveness of the implementation of the CRC at the national level,  and of the compliance of the States Parties’ to the provisions of the Convention and its progress in the attainment of the rights of the child. This is accomplished through the collection of official reports submitted by Governments, NGOs, and other sources. Information pertaining to the adoption of state level responses to recommendations made by the Committee are usually addressed in the subsequent report submitted by States Parties (commonly, five years later). During this time, disparities may exist in assessing and presenting the global and regional trends concerning the achievement of children's right; as such, drawing comparisons and noting potentially disturbing tendencies is extremely challenging given the situation. Moreover, while the UN Committee's conclusions and recommendations may capture media attention and place pressure on a State Party, this is often short-lived and soon forgotten. Various 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 material. Also, national reports submitted to the Committee are often not made available to the public at the large, despite the fact that this disclosure is stipulated in the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Further, there is no mechanism that exists at an international 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 a few exceptions where information is shared; for example UNICEF produces an annual report on the situation of children which has worldwide circulation, also, specialized studies and reports on specific children's rights issues are published by international organizations, NGOs and other agencies. Drawing on various sources of information, this project of the IBCR aims to fill the existing voids in knowledge through the preparation and publication of country profiles, in turn allowing a greater understanding of the status of the implementation of the CRC at both the national and regional level. Also, this project will facilitate the implementation of the CRC as examples of best practices would be provided. The formulation and publication of the Country Profiles also allows for a comparative analysis to be undertaken and the enhanced knowledge of the state of children's rights in the countries of each continent 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 achievement 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, remaining challenges, and to draw attention to the problems children face in the fulfillment of their rights; the identification and sharing of positive experiences and best practices regarding developed procedures such as policies, procedures, and reforms undertaken at States’ Parties level; the acceleration of the realization of the recommendations set forth by the Committee on the Rights of the Child in response to State Party reports; and to provide assistance and collaboration between Governments, NGOs, CSOs, the media, and the general public in the implementation of the CRC.

Activities and time frame

In 2006, as a result of financial support provided by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), IBCR completed the Country Profiles for Cambodia, East Timor, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam. IBCR also completed the draft Country Profiles for all Asian countries.

Due to the financial generosity 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, from new international partners to complete further Country Profiles for all States Parties to the CRC. The first priority of IBCR is to finalize the Country Profiles the sub-regions of Africa, followed by other world regions (Americas, Europe, Australia and Oceania). 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 also child and youth associations. Partnership as outlined above is critical for the development of this project. In addition, IBCR will be seeking to establish partnerships with organizations working in the areas of interest. Naturally during the implementation of this project, close collaboration will be maintained with the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. This partnership and collaboration is critical to data gathering, the validation of information regarding progress and discrepencies, the observation of implementation and best practices, and the preparation of analytical country profiles including their publication and dissemination. Such partnership not only facilitates the obtainment of objectives, but can also prevent the duplication of reporting, as well as ensure the efficient use of resources.

Resources needed

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

Publications

To view the Country Profiles concerning all Asian countries, click here.
To view the Country Profiles concerning North-African countries, click here.
To view the Country Profiles concerning the Great Lakes in Africa, click here
For more information on this project, please contact Mr. Guillaume Landry, IBCR Program Manager