SOU, Alm.del - 2012-13 - Bilag 62: Referat af rapporten "Championing Children’s Rights: A global study of independent human rights institutions for children", fra UNICEF

Amman – Florence 4 Nov –Independent human rights institutions for children play a pivotal role inndependentbridging two very different worlds: that of policymaking, government and politics, and that ofchildren, who often find themselves marginalized and excluded from society, and their viewssidelined. Children’s ombudspersons are critical advocates to champion children’s best interestspionand make governance fit for children.This is the main conclusion of a new report by the UNICEF Office of Research,ChampioningChildren’s Rights: A global study of independent human rights institutions for children –theexecutive summary will be unveiled at the 11thInternational Conference of National Human RightsInstitutions, in Amman, Jordan, on November 4.rdan,The study is globally the first comprehensive review of independent human rights institutions forchildren. The global trend has seen a mushrooming of public, government--sanctioned organizationsthat seek to ensure the voices of young people are heard, their best interests are represented, andtheir complaints are addressed. More than 200 such bodies have been established in over 70countries in the last two decades.The report takes stock of more than 20 years of their experience and highlights the purpose andtpotential of these institutions, what it is they do and how they operate.,In 1981 Norway was the first country to have a children’s ombudsperson, well before the 1989adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), followed by Costa Rica in 1986. Sinceonvention(CRC),then, the adoption of independent institutions has accelerated, with European and Latin Americanstates being at the forefront, and African and Asian countries coming on board in the 2000s,2000sincluding the most recent blossoming of discussions around the creation of child-focusedchildindependent institutions in the Middle East and North Africa.These institutions take a variety of forms and go by many different names ranging fromnames,ombudspersons for children, commissioners, advocates to child rights departments with humanwithinrights commissions. What these institutions have in common is the responsibility to independentlymonitor, promote and protect children’s rightsrights.A key monitoring and accountability instrument for the implementation of the CRC, they often offerCdirect mechanisms to hold accountability towards children and make sure that the impact of policyand practice on children’s rights is understood and recognized. They support remedy and reformwhen things have gone wrong or results are inadequate. They bring flexibility to political andginstitutional systems that can otherwise be rigid and inaccessible to the public, especially tochildren or those working on issues concerning them.

Their independence is core to their ability to perform that role. As the report highlights, theirrole.effectiveness is a function of both their mandate and pro-activeness and the environment theyactivenessoperate in.In the context of significant economic constraint, these typically small offices are the targets ofbudgetary cuts. They need to constantly demonstrate their relevance in an area where the direct.attribution of results is difficult.Challenges can also be internal. Their effectiveness depends on their ability to reach out to thehallengesmost marginalized children and provide an adequate remedy for rights violations. Leadership andcapacity are core aspects of their ability to fulfil their mission.As the report emphasizes, children’s participation is a key factor for the mandate of theinstitutions, but is still an area requiring further attention. “Children themselves makerequiringproportionally few complaints to institutions and one of the reasons may be because manyinstitutions,complaint mechanisms remain insufficiently child-sensitive” says the report.child sensitive”Legislation should provide for open and transparent processes and for the allocation of resources;andgovernments should instruct relevant departments and public bodies at all levels to fully cooperatewith the institutions; parliaments should closely consult with the institutions; civil society shouldsupport independent institutions sharing information, supporting children in making complaints,providing research and evidence to strengthen them; donors and intergovernmental organizationsshould provide technical assistance in establishing and strengthening independent institutions andstrengtheningin raising awareness of their role.Independent institutions for children are the mirror of how a society views childhood. Its form andscope must be a result of national and local political and social processes tthat confer legitimacyand broad ownership to them.### ends ###Contact:James ElderChief, CommunicationsUNICEF Office of ResearchTelephone: +39 335 758 2585[email protected]Twitter: @james_unicefPatrizia FaustiniSenior Communications AssistantUNICEF Office of ResearchTelephone: +39 055 2033 253[email protected]