30th Years of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. (CRC) November 04, 2019 (2019-6)

 

The year 2019 is a special year for children of the world. It is the 30^th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), the most rapidly and widely ratified international human rights treaty in history.

When countries- or states - sign a convention or make a treaty, they are making promises to each other. These promises create rights and obligations which are legally and politically binding.

By signing the CRC, world leaders agreed that children needed a special convention just for them because they often need care and protection that adults do not. They made a promise to children to protect and promote their rights to survive and thrive, to learn and grow, to make their voices heard and to reach their full potential. It was agreed that childhood, which goes up to 18 years, is a special, protected time, in which children must be allowed to grow, learn, play, develop and flourish with dignity.

Only a year after the signing of the CRC, Pakistan ratified the treaty making a strong commitment towards ensuring the fundamental rights of the child in the country. Ever since, noteworthy results, for children have been achieved in the country, however, a lot more needs to be done.

In his message for the 30th anniversary of the CRC, President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, H.E Dr. Arif Alvi said, "Pakistan is fully committed to combating all challenges that confront our children. We are dedicated to ensuring that no infant life is lost because of lack of basic health facilities; no school going child is deprived of education merely because of lack of schools; and no child is bounded to labour because of poverty, deprivation, and lack of opportunity. We will ensure that deteriorating environment does not affect our children. We will eradicate crime and terrorism from our society so that no child is ever prevented from leading a fulfilling life. It is, in short, our priority to transform each child into a productive and responsible member of our nation":

Over the past years, Pakistan has made steady progress for children, and the government of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf has committed to rise up to the challenges. The Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is committed to help children and young people survive, enter school, and develop the skills they need for employment said, "No country can prosper when there is a small island of rich people, and a sea of poor".

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is the UN organization mandated to protect the rights of every child, everywhere, especially the most disadvantaged, and is the only organization specifically named in the Convention on the Rights of the Child as a source of expert assistance and advice. As the flagbearer for the rights of the child, UNICEF continues to demand from the world leaders that they fulfill their commitments made in the CRC and take action to ensure that every child, has every right.

By promoting the ratification and supporting the implementation of the Convention and its Optional Protocols, UNICEF helps strengthen laws and policies and improves understanding of the Convention at all levels of society, including:

a.    Supporting governments to implement the Convention through laws and policies, including providing institutional and professional capacity development.

b.    Participating in different stages of the monitoring process. For example, UNICEF country offices assist governments in organizing major consultations prior to drafting their reports.

c.    Supporting the Committee on the Rights of the Child. For example, by participating in the Committee's review of submitted reports.

d.    Working with governments to identify implementation strategies in response to the Committee's recommendations.

e.    Helping to ensure that voices that too often go unheard are reflected in the information presented to the Committee. For example, by facilitating wide-reaching consultations at all levels of society, submitting written reports on the situation of women and children, and encouraging non-governmental organizations to submit their own reports to the Committee as a supplement to government reports.

UNICEF will continue to support the government of Pakistan to accelerate progress for children, work to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and help children realize their rights under the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). This will be made through strong partnerships with provincial authorities, teachers and health professionals, frontline workers and social mobilizers, communities and families, and of course children and adolescents themselves.

On 30th Years of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), a Commemorative Postage Stamp of Rs.20/- denomination is being issued by Pakistan Post on November 04, 2019.