Committee on the Rights of the Child
ROUNDUP 11 June 2010
Issues Conclusions on Reports of Argentina, Belgium, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Grenada, Japan, Nigeria, Tunisia, Colombia and Serbia
The Committee on the Rights of the Child today concluded its three-week fifty-fourth session after issuing its concluding observations and recommendations on 18 reports, from 9 countries, which it considered in parallel chambers over the course of the session.
In closing remarks, Yanghee Lee, the Committee Chairperson, noted that, during its fifty-fourth session, Committee members had considered seven periodic reports under the Convention on the Rights of the Child - from Argentina, Belgium, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Grenada, Japan and Nigeria; five initial reports under the Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict - from Argentina, Colombia, Japan, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia; and six initial reports under the Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography - by Argentina, Belgium, Colombia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Japan and Serbia. The Chairperson noted that due to the recent earthquake in Guatemala the delegation of that country had been unable to attend the fifty-fourth session so the Committee would consider that country's periodic report when it met in September.
Lothar Friedrich Krappmann, the Committee Rapporteur, speaking on other activities of Committee Experts during the fifty-fourth session, noted that working in two chambers had meant most of the Committee's activities had been devoted to the review of reports. However, Committee members held a retreat before the beginning of the session to discuss their methods of work and some members of the Committee participated in an international panel on the subject of the right to education. Many Committee Experts continued to speak at discussions, panels and seminars on child rights being human rights. Mr. Krappman pointed out that the Committee also had a notable exchange with non-governmental organizations and it was reminded of the crucial need to reaffirm their commitment to topics they must address in the future.
The Committee's next session will be held from 13 September to 1 October 2010 in Geneva, when it will consider 18 reports: the periodic reports of Angola, Burundi, Montenegro, Nicaragua, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan and Guatemala under the Convention; the initial reports of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Nicaragua and Sierra Leone under the Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography; and the initial reports of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Nicaragua, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka and Sudan under the Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict.