UN Human Rights Council Resolution: Towards better investment in the rights of the child 24 de marzo de 2015 November 2015
1 S 293 Movimiento Mundial por la Infancia (Capitulo Nicaragua) Resolución del Consejo de Derechos Humanos de la ONU Hacia una mejor inversión en los derechos de la niñez 16 páginas. Save the Children ISBN: 985-99982-77-79-4 1) Derechos de la Niñez- 2) Desarrollo local- 3) Inversión Municipal en la Niñez y Adolescencia- 4) Estudios Managua, Nicaragua Noviembre, 2015 Credits Written by: Contributions: Design and layout: Pedro Hurtado Vega and Karen González Ulrika Soneson Cilliers and the GMC s Group for Investment in Children, consisting of Save the Children, World Vision, CODENI, Plan International and UNICEF. Diseño e Impresiones Cuadra Publication coordinator: Lenin Altamirano, Oficial de Comunicaciones - Save the Children. Printing: Print run: Bolonia Printing 1,450 copies Managua, November 2015 This is a publication of the Global Movement for Children (GMC), supported by Save the Children. Partial reproduction is permitted providing the source is cited. ITS SALE IS PROHIBITED
2 Let s Learn about the United Nations Human Rights Council Resolution Towards better investment in the rights of the child
3 From where in the world are the countries on the Human Rights Council? 13 are from Asia 13 from Africa 8 from Latin America and the Caribbean 7 from Western Europe 6 from Eastern Europe Dear friends, today the nations of the world are working to promote human rights and improve the living conditions of children. The world s official and independent countries form part of the United Nations (UN), which has 193 member countries that work together for peace and the development of peoples. To achieve its objectives, the UN has a structure in which human rights-related issues are discussed. To work in favor of those human rights, including the rights of the child, a Human Rights Council is formed by representatives from 47 States elected by the United Nations General Assembly for a period of three years.
4 What is the United Nations Human Rights Council and what are its functions? The United Nations Human Rights Council is a forum of nations based in Geneva, Switzerland, that promotes human rights and seeks to prevent abuses, inequality and discrimination. Human Rights Council member countries and world organizations carried out advocacy actions to promote the rights of the child and in March 2014 the council took an unprecedented decision.
5 What was that decision and why is it so important? The Council proposed focusing its annual discussion in March 2015 on the issue: Towards better investment in the rights of the child. A number of important actions were carried out in preparation for this discussion. Let s learn about those actions The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights prepared a report on investment in children in the different countries. Organizations and governments from different parts of the world contributed to the report. In December 2014, the High Commissioner for Human Rights published its report, titled Towards better investment in the rights of the child. 2,700 children from 71 countries were consulted. The information obtained from the consultations was shared with the Committee on the Rights of the Child. As a result of the contributions from the different countries, a short video was produced and presented at the UN Council s session.
6 Which international and regional organizations and networks worked to influence this process? Many organizations from around the world worked to influence this process, including UNICEF, Save the Children, Redlamyc, Plan International, the African Child Policy Forum, Child Rights Connect, the Child Rights Coalition Asia, Eurochild and the International Baby Food Action Network. On March 27, 2015, with the support of 78 countries, the UN Human Rights Council consensually adopted the resolution A/HRC/28/L.28 Towards better investment in the rights of the child. Why is this resolution relevant? For the first time in the history of human rights, children have an official United Nations resolution on investment in children. It places investment in children on the international agenda and in the human rights framework. It provides human rights promoters with a powerful tool for conducting advocacy actions with state decision makers.
7 What does this historic resolution say? That investing in children is critical to achieving inclusive, equitable and sustainable human development for present and future generations. That investing in quality education and health services tailored for children is essential for promoting and protecting their rights. That the lack of sufficient public investment means one billion children in the world are deprived of services that are essential for their survival and development. That equitable, sustained and broad-based investment in children lays the foundation for a just society, a strong economy and a world free of poverty.
8 What does this resolution say that States must do to improve the lives of children? The resolution is very clear that States must: Make children a priority in their budgets. Constantly mobilize both their own and international resources to promote and guarantee the realization of children s rights. Prioritize social expenditures that benefit children during economic and financial crises. Fight corruption and illicit practices. Ensure that budgetary processes are open, transparent, accessible and participatory. Guarantee financial internal oversight and accountability to ensure accurate information on investment in children. Establish holistic child protection systems, including through laws, policies, regulations and appropriate budget allocation.
9 What can be done from civil society? Learn about and understand what is proposed in the resolution and the reports presented by the United Nations High Commissioner. Disseminate the resolution Towards better investment in the rights of the child, particularly to civil society organizations, children s organizations and government institutions that work with children. Produce child-friendly versions. Use the contents of the resolution and the reports to develop advocacy actions with the government and local authorities aimed at achieving better investment in children to guarantee the realization of their rights. Promote children s significant participation and active consultation in matters affecting them, including the formulation and application of public policies and the provision of services. Promote children s opinions being taken into account in the processes for drawing up plans and budgets that contribute to their development. Provide inputs for the follow-up reports.
10 What are those participation spaces? They could include the children s home, school or community; civil, social or religious organizations; networks; town hall meetings with children; and meetings between children and municipal or national authorities. Children can get involved, too. Here s how: By participating in spaces where they can freely express their views without being discriminated against in any way and in which their views are given due weight in accordance with their age and maturity.
11 How can international cooperation support all of these efforts? By reinforcing its commitment, cooperation and assistance with the aim of applying the Convention on the Rights of the Child through the sharing of good practices and research and the development of capacities. By continuing to strengthen activities to generate capacities for the promotion and protection of children s rights through technical collaboration programs. By complying with the commitments taken on internationally, particularly in relation to child rights. By encouraging international finance, governmental and non-governmental institutions to collaborate with developing countries in order to increase their capacity to draw up national budgets taking the rights of children into account.
12 The next steps States must take the rights of the child into account in all global forums and decisions, as was the case with the Development Agenda. United Nations programs must support the States in their development initiatives and in relation to the development of the rights of the child. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights will prepare a follow-up report on investment in child rights and present it to the Human Rights Council during its 31st session in March 2016. All of this amounts to a commitment from the world s countries to promote children s full development based on the premise that investment of sufficient quantity and quality contributes to the achievement of their rights.
13 For further information, you can also consult: http://www.ohchr.org/sp/hrbodies/pages/humanrightsbodies.aspx http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/undoc/gen/g14/247/02/pdf/ G1424702.pdf?OpenElement http://www.childrightsconnect.org/govtspendingsurvey/ http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/s/hrc/d_res_dec/a_hrc_28_l28. pdf http://www.childrightsconnect.org/govtspendingsurvey/
14 Global Movement for Children (GMC) November 2015
Global Movement for Children (GMC) November 2015