Reporting to the UN Committee

on the Rights of the Child

A Starter Pack for
Country Programmes

Save the Children UK

Child Rights Supporting Strategy
2007

Acknowledgements
This paper was prepared by Damon Barrett on behalf of the Child Rights Supporting
Strategy, headed by Jennifer Grant.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to UNCRC Committee Members, Lucy
Smith (Norway) and Jean Zermatten (Switzerland) for their input into this paper and to
Maja Andrijsevic-Boko at the UNCRC Secretariat for her assistance in this regard.
We would also like to thank for their input, tips and suggestions Laura Theytaz Bergman
from the NGO Group for the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Carla Garnelas from
Childrens Rights Alliance England (CRAE), Clare Feinstein, Child Participation
Consultant and Peter Dixon, Child Rights Programming Consultant. From Save the
Children, we are most grateful to Louise King, Kevin Byrne, John Errington, Nayeem
Wahra, Bharti Mepani, Duncan Trotter, Louisa Gosling, Julia Sherwood, Marcia Hanson,
Gema Vicente, Selina Fairclough, Estefania Jover, Rachael Gibbons and Najia Ahmad.
Child Rights Supporting Strategy
This strategy represents the institutionalisation of a commitment by Save the Children
UK to working with external actors towards the enforcement of child rights worldwide. It
is concerned with the accountability of duty bearers, primarily governments, and is
focused on the enforcement of child rights worldwide through national, regional and
international mechanisms and structures and in providing spaces for children to advocate
for their own rights. It is imperative that we look at structures and mechanisms to
promote and protect child rights for all children at all times. If we can manage to
convince governments to recognise and then enforce child rights we may reduce general
levels of vulnerability and prevent children from falling into specialist categories of high
risk.

We will support country programmes to advocate for the creation of national child rights
mechanisms and structures in country such as childrens ombudsmen and/or Independent
Human Rights Institutions and work to reform legislation/constitutional provisions where
they are not in line with the UN Convention of Rights of the Child (UNCRC). We will
also support country programmes to use existing regional and international mechanisms
and structures to promote and protect childrens rights such as the African Charter on the
Rights and Welfare of the Child, the European Convention on Human Rights, the
European Social Charter, the Inter-American Convention on Human Rights, the Human
Rights Council and, of course, the UNCRC.
NGO Group for the Convention on the Rights of the Child
The NGO Group for the Convention on the Rights of the Child has been in existence
since 1983 when the drafting of the Convention began. It was then known as the Informal
Ad Hoc Group for the Convention on the Rights of the Child and was actively involved in
the drafting process. After the Convention came into force in 1990 the Group changed its
name to the present one and currently has a membership of more than 70 NGOs.

The NGO Group's mission is to facilitate the promotion, implementation and monitoring
of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. One of the significant areas of its work is to
enable national NGOs and coalitions to participate in the reporting process to the
Committee on the Rights of the Child. Contact details for the NGO Group may be found
on page 52.
The NGO Group for the CRC has produced A Guide for Non-Governmental
Organisations Reporting to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. The 3rd
Edition is on the CD(10) and was of great use in drafting this paper, particularly
relating to the format and procedures of the reporting process.

ii

Acronyms & Abbreviations

CAT Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment of
Punishment
CEDAW Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against
Women
CRC/UNCRC UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
CRAE Childrens Rights Alliance England
CRP Child Rights Programming
CRSA Child Rights Situational Analysis
ECOSOC Economic and Social Council
GIM Global Impact Monitoring
ICCPR International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
ICERD International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
ICESCR International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights
ICPMW International Convention for the Protection of Migrant Workers and Their
Families
IGO Inter-Governmental Organisation
INGO International Non-Governmental Organisation
NGO Non-Governmental Organisation
NGOC NGO Coalition
OHCHR Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
OPAC - Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict
OPCAT Optional Protocol to CAT
OPSC - Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child
Pornography
SRSG Special Representative of the Secretary General (of the UN)
SCUK Save the Children UK
TPP Thematic Programme Plan
UDHR Universal Declaration of Human rights
UN United Nations

iii

Foreword
The reporting process to the Committee on the Rights of the Child:
A tool deserving attention

The Committee on the Rights of the Child is the body established by the Convention on
the Rights of the Child. Its members are elected by States Parties to monitor progress
achieved by each State in the implementation of childrens rights (art. 43 UNCRC). In
other words, it is the monitoring body that, apart from hailing achieved progress, tries to
understand how States view their obligations towards children; what mechanisms they set
up to ensure respect without any discrimination for the core principles and of the
subjective rights enshrined in the UNCRC; what action plans they elaborate in national
policy; what resources they allocate to involved ministries and agencies; what promotion
and training they provide in the matter of childrens rights; to what extent their judiciary
or administrative bodies refer to the UNCRCIn short, the Committee is the body that
supervises the implementation of this exceptional, holistic, universal and ground-breaking
instrument, the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
However, as everyone knows, the control exercised by a Treaty Body remains a difficult
and delicate task, being based foremost on the State Party report submitted via the Office
of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. Although most reports are satisfactory, it
happens that reports are submitted with a delay, lack sufficient detail, or omit certain
issues set out in the reporting guidelines. Some State Party delegations dodge questions
from Committee members during the dialogue and in such cases, examination proves to
be problematic. Moreover, one must keep in mind that the State Party report is a selfassessment, with all the flaws inherent to this kind of information.
Consequently, the Committee on the Rights of the Child needs additional reliable,
objective and carefully processed information, if possible prepared in inter-institutional
dialogue. In this respect, the Committee on the Rights of the Child pays particular
attention to links established with the main agencies of the UN family, foremost UNICEF,
but also with numerous NGOs, be it at the international, regional or national level.
Information gathered through these sources is of primary importance and ensures that the
Committee gains a more realistic vision of the situation for children, rather than one based
solely on the State report. It guarantees also to reach relevant, precise and up to date
recommendations.
The reporting work to the Committee does not only serve the interests of the monitoring
body. In our view, it is of high value for the author, being for the State an opportunity to
take stock of its action, to define its achievements, failures and flaws. Moreover, it
represents a working tool for NGOs and NGO groups or national coalitions, since it gives
an indication as to what has been carried out, and what still remains to be done. It should
be used as a real basis for a plan of action.
Institutions and persons that have worked together in a reporting process are highly
privileged: they know precisely where childrens rights stand in a given country. This is
fundamental to give direction to any action, and to improve the situation for children in
the field. Save the Children is one of the organizations with which the Committee is
pleased to collaborate. This document was born from a desire to ensure more effective
engagement in the reporting process. The initiators of the project must therefore be
thanked for understanding that the reporting process of the Committee on the Rights of
the Child must not remain a neglected tool, but rather that tremendous benefit can be
found in it.
Jean Zermatten, Member of the Committee on the Rights of the Child

iv

Contents
Page
Acknowledgements
Acronyms and Abbreviations
Foreword by Jean Zermatten, UNCRC Committee Member

i
ii
iii

Introduction: The reporting process as a basis for action

Part I: What Is It All About? The Convention, the Committee and the Reporting
Process
Save the Children and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)

The Committee on the Rights of the Child

An Overview of the Reporting Process

10

The Cycle of Reporting to the Committee on the Rights of the Child

13

Part II: Why Should We Get Involved? The Importance and Benefits of
Engagement
The Importance of NGO/Civil Society Engagement in the Process

16

The Importance of Save the Childrens Involvement

17

UNCRC Reporting and Child Rights Programming (CRP)

18

Impact of the Reporting Process on Child RightsSo Far!

19

UNCRC Reporting and the Five (GIM) Dimensions of Change

21

Case Study 1: Lesotho

22

Part III: How Can We Engage? Advice and Suggestions for SCUK Programme
involvement in the Reporting Process
Strategic Context

24

Strengths and Weaknesses

25

Specific Objectives and Activities Involved in

Child Rights Monitoring and Reporting

27

UNCRC Reporting and the Model for Impact

29

The State Report

30

v
The NGO Supplementary/Alternative Report

31

The Pre-Sessional Working Group

34

The Plenary Session

37

Sample Timeline of the Reporting Process

38

Case Study 2: England

39

Child Participation

40

Advocacy

42

Coalition Working

45

Case Study 3: Yemen

49

Funding

50

Useful Contacts and Online Resources

52

Glossary of Terms

53

CD Contents

55

Introduction: The reporting process as a basis for action

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) is the most widely ratified and
comprehensive of the UN human rights treaties. It forms an international framework for
the protection and promotion of child rights and underpins all of Save the Childrens
work as well as the work of other agencies, donors, and others involved in bringing
improvements to the lives and prospects of children. On 20th November 2007, the
UNCRC will reach its 18th birthday. However, whilst the UNCRC itself has come of
age and has achieved almost universal ratification, children continue to experience
violations of their rights all over the world.
The periodic reporting process to the Committee on the Rights of the Child is the primary
international mechanism for monitoring state obligations under the UNCRC and
mobilising civil society to press for change. It is not merely a report, submission or
attendance at a meeting in Geneva every few years. This mechanism serves as an
important basis for action on addressing the imbalance between state obligations on paper
and implementation on the ground. The process provides a framework for awareness
raising and mobilisation, analysing national policy and practice, national and international
linkages and advocacy, capacity building of local NGOs, monitoring state obligations,
facilitating child participation and more.
Purpose of this Starter Pack
In 2003, Daniela Baro, former child rights adviser at Save the Children UK, undertook an
in depth study of engagement by eight Save the Children country programmes with the
periodic reporting process. Her report, A Tool for Change? Reporting to the Committee
on the Rights of the Child, showed the many benefits of engagement in the reporting
process as well as some of the drawbacks and difficulties. It also highlighted that there
was significant scope for strengthening Save the Childrens role.

This Starter Pack follows on from Daniela Baros report. It is intended for country
programme staff and aims to provide an introduction to the periodic reporting process and
the importance of NGO and civil society involvement to illustrate the potential to lever
change using the reporting process as a basis for action. It aims further to give some
practical advice and suggestions on engagement in the reporting cycle.
It is not intended to provide a definitive formula for engagement. The advice and
suggestions given are drawn from the experiences of SCUK staff, the NGO Group for the
Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Committee on the Rights of the Child, and
other sources. Each country programme must formulate its own appropriate methods and
approaches based on their particular circumstances.
The pack is divided into three sections, each beginning with a detailed contents page:
What is it all about? Provides and introductory background to the Convention, the
Committee, the reporting process and the obligations of the state.
Why should we get involved? - Looks at the strengths and weaknesses of the process,
the importance of engagement for NGOs and Save the Children and the impact on child
rights
How can we engage? Looks at key objectives and activities, provides some advice

and suggestions for engagement at the various stages, as well as tips on child
participation, follow-up advocacy, NGO coalitions and funding.

2
Resources and References

Further reading and support in the form of documents, toolkits websites etc are identified
throughout using text boxes.
A CD is provided containing copies of all of the documents referred to along with other
useful resources. A table of contents for the CD may be found below at page 55
Note: When reference is made to the CD, a number in brackets refers to the
relevant CD folder where the relevant resource may be found.

Kullwadee Sumnalop/Save the Children

Grade six students from Grogol School in the south of Yogyakarta, Indonesia,
which was destroyed by the 2006 earthquake

Country specific documents, training and ongoing technical assistance are available
from the Child Rights Supporting Strategy. For more information, please contact
Jennifer Grant, Child Rights Advocate, on +44 207 012 6777
[email protected]

Part I: What is it all about?

The Convention, the Committee and the
Reporting Process

This section provides and overview of the

UNCRC and key concepts within the
Convention, introduces the Committee
and details the various stages of the
Reporting Process.
Contents:
Save the Children and the UN
Convention on the Rights of the
Child
The Convention on the Rights of the
Child
o Key Facts
o General Principles
o Evolving Capacities
o Stakeholders/Duty bearers
The Committee on the Rights of the
Child
o Composition
o Purpose and Mandate
o The Committee in the UN
human rights system
An overview of the reporting process
o Outline of the various stages
o Aim and Approach
The cycle of reporting to the
Committee on the Rights of the Child

Jean Chung

A young boy reads the alphabet in an

English class at Nahre Balla School in
Shomali Plains, Afghanistan

that luminous living document that

enshrines the rights of every child
without exception to a life of dignity
and self-fulfilment
Nelson Mandela speaking about the
UNCRC in 2000

Save the Children and the

UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
Save the Children was founded in 1919, as a
response to conditions in Europe immediately
following the First World War. The Save the
Children Fund was publicly launched at London's
Royal Albert Hall in May 1919 by sisters
Eglantyne Jebb and Dorothy Buxton and began a
fundraising campaign to raise money to send to
children in Europe in the areas devastated by war.
In 1923, believing that we should claim certain
rights for children and labour for their universal
recognition, Jebb drafted her Declaration of the
Save the Children Archive
Rights of the Child, containing five welfare-based
rights for children. It was adopted by the International Save the Children Union in 1923
and by the League of Nations in 1924, some 24 years before the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights. It became known as the Declaration of Geneva.

Save the Children Archive

In 1946 following the Second World War,

the International Save the Children Union
was dissolved and succeeded by the
International Union for Child Welfare
(IUCW). One of its first tasks was to
persuade the newly formed United Nations
to adopts the Geneva Declaration. In 1948,
the IUCW drafted the 1948 Declaration on
the Rights of the Child, adding two points
to the Geneva Declaration that introduced
the concepts of non-discrimination and the
protection of the family.

Over ten years later, in 1959, the UN adopted the 2nd Declaration on the Rights of the
Child. It contained ten articles and introduced a number of new concepts, such as the best
interests of the child, the right to play and recreation, the right to name and identity, and
the right to free and compulsory education.
1979 was the UNs International Year of the Child (IYC). In 1978 the Polish government
had submitted a draft convention on the rights of the child to the UN Commission on
Human Rights hoping to see it adopted during the IYC. In 1979 a working group was set
up by the Commission to consider the question of the UN Convention on the Rights of the
Child.
Once again, the Save the Children Alliance was involved in the drafting of a
revolutionary international document for children as a member of the Ad-Hoc NGO
Group for the Convention on the Rights of the Child. NGOs had a significant impact on
the Convention, with at least 13 substantive articles being a direct result of their input,
including Art 39 on the rehabilitation and reintegration of child victims of exploitation,
and Art 24 on the health implications of harmful traditional practices.
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child was adopted unanimously by the UN
General Assembly in 1989. It is the most comprehensive and most ratified of all human
rights treaties and now forms the basis of Save the Childrens work worldwide.
Extracts from Save the Children Alliance UNCRC
Training Kit

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)

Key Facts

The UNCRC took ten years to draft. Save the Children played a significant role in the
drafting process

It was adopted unanimously by the United Nations General Assembly on 20th

November 1989 and entered into force in record time on the 2nd September 1990 after
receiving the required 20 ratifications

193 countries have now ratified (or acceded to) the UNCRC, leaving the United
States and Somalia as the only exceptions. No other human rights treaty has received
this level of ratification.

A large number of states have, however, entered reservations and declarations on

certain articles, particularly those relating to childrens civil and political (or
participation) rights

The UNCRC represents a significant departure from the traditional view of the child
in international law. Children are seen not as mere recipients of welfare, but as rights
bearers and as having a vital role in the promotion and protection of their own rights

It is the most comprehensive human rights treaty ever written

o There are 54 articles guaranteeing over 40
substantive rights for children
o It covers civil and political rights, economic,
social and cultural rights, as well as aspects
of humanitarian law
o It creates a number of rights that are unique
in international law and specific to children,
including the right to know and be guided
and cared for by ones parents (art. 7.1), to
have ones emerging capacities taken into
consideration, to have their interests afforded
the status of a primary consideration in any
decision that may effect them, to the
maximum available resources for their
survival and their development and,
crucially, the right to be heard in any
decisions that might affect them. (art.12)

The UNCRC has two Optional Protocols both adopted by the General Assembly on
25th May 2000.
o Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child
Pornography (OPSC)
o Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict (OPAC)
o The Optional Protocols add to the CRC and strengthen the rights of the child
in their specific areas
o As of 1st January 2007 each Optional Protocol had 110 States Parties

6
The General Principles
Underpinning the UNCRC are the four mutually reinforcing General Principles
identified by the Committee on the Rights of the Child. These principles provide a
framework for the interpretation and implementation of all of the rights contained within
the UNCRC and should be reflected in all relevant policy and practice.
Non-discrimination (art. 2)
Addressing discrimination requires changes in legislation, resource allocation and
education to change attitudes. This obligation requires the application of all of the
rights in the Convention to all children at all times. However, States must also actively
identify individual children and groups of children who may require special measures
for the full implementation of their rights. For example, girls, children with disabilities
or children form minority or indigenous groups being excluded from education.
The best interests of the child (art.3.1)
The best interests of the child must be a primary consideration in all actions
concerning children. Public or private social welfare institutions, courts of law,
administrative bodies or legislative authorities are required to apply the best interests
principle by considering how childrens rights and interests will be affected by their
actions, including those actions that indirectly affect them.
The right to life, survival and development (art. 6)
In its Concluding Observations the Committee tends to focus on the right to life when
it deals with Art. 6 so, for example, it raised concerns in relation to extra judicial
killings in Colombia in 2006, and landmines in Kyrgyzstan in 2004. However, the
Committee has also made clear that States must interpret development in its
broadest sense to take into account the physical, psychological, emotional, social and
spiritual development of the child. For example, the right to play (art. 31), to an
adequate standard of living (art. 27) and the right to know and be cared for by ones
parents (art. 7.1) are all essential to the right to life, survival and development.
The right to be heard (art.12)
Childrens opinions must be sought in matters that affect them and their views must
be given due weight. This right requires consistent and ongoing arrangements for
meaningful and effective child participation in the implementation of the rights
guaranteed in the Convention. Children must have their views taken into account, for
example, in judicial proceedings, custody hearings, in school etc. They should also be
consulted in relation to proposed policies and legislation that affects them.

Non-Discrimination

Right to Life,
Survival and
Development

Right to Be
Heard

Best
Interests

7
The Evolving Capacities of the Child

Also of fundamental importance to the understanding of the rights contained in the

UNCRC is the recognition of the evolving capacities of the child (art. 5). The
UNCRC was the first human rights treaty to recognise the fundamental importance of
childrens developing maturity. Gerison Lansdown, in her report The Evolving
Capacities of the Child summarises evolving capacities as follows:
The concept of evolving capacities is central to the balance embodied in the
Convention between recognising children as active agents in their own lives, entitled
to be listened to, respected and granted increasing autonomy in the exercise of rights,
while also being entitled to protection in accordance with their relative immaturity
and youth The full report is on the CD(1)
Though not a general principle, evolving capacities also permeates the entire
Convention. The principle is specifically mentioned in Art. 12 relating to the right to be
heard, as well as other articles, and is also very closely connected to another general
principle, the best interests of the child.
Stakeholders/Duty Bearers
The primary duty bearer under any human rights treaty is the State. The same applies to
the UNCRC. Each of the articles in the Convention places some sort of obligation
on the State, using language such as shall undertake
to, shall recognise, shall ensure etc. Art 4 sets out
the states overarching obligations, stating that they
shall undertake all appropriate legislative,

administrative, and other measures for the

implementation of the rights recognized in the present
Convention (See further below page 19)
However, the State is not the only duty bearer. Parents
and carers, civil society, the judiciary, the media, UN
agencies, local and international NGOs and others all
have duties to promote and protect the rights of the child.
This may be illustrated in the circles of influence
diagram shown here.

Taken from Child Rights Programming:

A Handbook for Save the Children
Alliance Members pg. 36.

Art 43 of the UNCRC sets out the process established under the
Convention to assess the implementation of the UNCRC. This is the
periodic reporting process. It is the main chance to involve all of these stakeholders in a
constructive and co-operative dialogue to improve the situation for children in each
country. In order to manage this process and make recommendations, the Committee on
the Rights of the Child was established under Art 43.1.

o
o
o

Copies of the Convention and the Optional Protocols, lists of ratifying States
and details of reservations are available on the CD (5) and online at:
UNCRC http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/k2crc.htm
OPSC
http://www.ohchr.org/english/law/crc-sale.htm
OPAC
http://www.ohchr.org/english/law/crc-conflict.htm
The Convention is available in 50 languages online at:
http://www.unicef.org/magic/briefing/uncorc.html
A child friendly version is on the CD (5) and online at:
http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/pdfs/NCD-poster_e.pdf
Further reading on General Principles and Evolving Capacities are on the
CD(1). See in particular Child Rights Programming: A Handbook for Save
the Children Alliance Members pp 27-33

The Committee on the Rights of the Child

Composition
The Committee on the Rights of the Child was established in 1990 as required by art.
43.1 of the Convention and is the body responsible for monitoring state obligations.

It sits in Geneva for three sessions of three weeks every year. Sessions are held in
January, May/June and September/October

The Committee is made up of 18, independent, unpaid members, acting in their

personal capacity

Committee members are elected by States Parties for four-year terms. They must be
of high moral standing and recognised competence in the field covered by the
Convention (art. 43.2)

Other factors taken into account in elections include, geographical distribution,

expertise in the field of human rights, the ability to devote sufficient time,
representation from a wide variety of professional backgrounds and legal systems and
fluency in one of the three working languages (English, French, Spanish)

The diagram on the next page shows where the Committee sits in relation to the UN
system

Purpose and Mandate

The primary role of the Committee is to monitor state compliance with their
obligations under the UNCRC through the periodic reporting procedure.

It also plays a significant role in developing our understanding of the content of the
rights contained within the UNCRC through Days of General Discussion, (yearly
public meetings to discuss specific rights), and General Comments, (official
statements clarifying the content of certain articles)

The approach of the Committee is non-confrontational. Its aim is to assess, through

constructive dialogue, the child rights situation in the various states parties; to raise
areas of concern; and to provide recommendations for full implementation of the
Convention.

The Committee may not consider individual complaints or communications from

individuals, nor to undertake inquiries into gross violations.
o

An OHCHR Guide to the UN Treaty Body System is on the CD (10)

The working methods of the Committee are covered in more detail below.
See also the Committees own working methods document on the CD (4)
and at
http://www.ohchr.org/english/bodies/crc/workingmethods.htm

General Comments and details of previous Days of general discussion

are available on the CD (4) and online at the Committees website
http://www.ohchr.org/english/bodies/crc/

o
o

A list of current Committee members along with their CVs is available at

http://www.ohchr.org/english/bodies/crc/members.htm

Secretariat

OHCHR

Secretary General

Security
Council

General Assembly
Conventions
ECOSOC
Treaty Bodies

Human Rights Council

UDHR
ICESCR

Committee on Economic Social

and Cultural Rights

ICCPR
OP1 OP2

Human Rights Committee

ICERD

Committee Against Racial

Discrimination

CEDAW
OP

Committee on the Elimination of

Discrimination Against Women

SRSG
Children
Affected by
Armed
Conflict

1503 Complaints
Mechanism
Universal Periodic
Review (UPR)

SC Res
1612
Country and
Thematic Special
Rapporteurs

Special Committee on
Israeli Practices in the
Occupied Territories

Working Groups
CAT
OPCAT

Committee Against Torture

UNCRC
OPAC
OPSC

Committee on the Rights of

the Child

ICPMW

Committee on Migrant
Workers

Working
Group on
Children
in Armed
Conflict

Sub Commission
on the Promotion
and Protection of
Human Rights

Studies by Special
Rapporteurs

Adapted from OHCHR 1997

Note: This diagram is by no
means exhaustive of UN
bodies. It is intended to
highlight the position of the
UNCRC within the main
human rights mechanisms. A
plan of the UN system is
available at
http://www.un.org/aboutun/ch
art.html

Working Groups

The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was adopted on 13th December 2006 and the International Convention for the Protection of All
th
Persons from Enforced Disappearance was adopted on 6 February 2007. They each require 20 ratifications to enter into force

10

An Overview of the Reporting Process

1. The State Report
The reporting process begins with the development of the State Report. The Committee
on the Rights of the Child has provided guidelines indicating good practice as to process
and providing detail as to the nature of information sought. Critical to Save the Children
is the need for the Government to use this as a periodic opportunity to re-invigorate
interest in, and commitment to child rights.

The initial report is due 2 years after the UNCRC enters into force in the country (this
occurs 30 days after ratification). Thereafter, periodic reports are due every 5 years. Upon
receipt, the Committee will set a date for consideration of the state report at the next
available session. If the state does not submit on time, the Committee will send a
reminder.
The state report should provide the Committee with a comprehensive review of the child
rights situation in the country, covering legislative, administrative, judicial and any other
measures undertaken to implement the Convention, backed up with detailed
disaggregated data. States must also report on how they have responded to the
Committees recommendations from the previous reporting session.
State reports should be no longer than 120 pages and divided into 8 thematic clusters of
rights as required by the Committees Reporting Guidelines.
I. General Measures of Implementation {Arts 4, 42, 44.6}
II. Definition of the Child {Art 1}
III. General Principles {Arts 2, 3, 6, 12}
IV. Civil Rights and Freedoms {Arts 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 37(a)}
V. Family Environment and Alternative Care {Arts 5, 9, 10, 11, 18, 20, 21, 25,
27.4, 39}
VI. Basic Health and Welfare {Arts 18, 23, 24, 26, 27}
VII. Education, leisure and Cultural Activities {Arts 28, 29, 31}
VIII. Special Protection Measures {Arts 22, 30, 32, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38, 39, 40}
Within each of these clusters the following information must be provided:
Follow-Up
The first paragraph in each cluster should detail measures undertaken with regard
to the Committees previous Concluding Observations.
Comprehensive National Programmes Monitoring
Subsequent paragraphs should provide sufficient information to provide the
Committee with a full understanding of the implementation of the Convention in
the country as well as the mechanisms established to monitor progress.
Allocation of Budgetary and Other Resources
States must provide information on the amount and percentage of the national
budget and other resources devoted annually to children.
Statistical Data
Disaggregated by gender, disability, geographical area, age etc. indicating trends
and highlighting groups requiring special attention
Factors and Difficulties
The last paragraph in each cluster should describe any factors and difficulties
affecting the fulfilment of the states obligations as well as information on targets
set for the future.
o A chart containing a summary of the UNCRCs provisions arranged according to
the eight clusters is on the CD (5)
o For full details of the content of State Reports, see the Committees reporting
guidelines and examples of previous state reports on the CD (4) and (7)

11
This cluster format is adhered to throughout the reporting process. This method avoids
undue repetition (few policies or laws will address only one specific right, but may well
come under these broader headings). More importantly, it allows for continuity
throughout the process and easier analysis of all of the relevant submissions and
meetings. State and NGO reports, the Pre-Sessional Working Group and Plenary Session
meetings, Lists of Issues and Written Replies and the Committees Concluding
Observations all follow the same thematic format.
Following submission, the report is edited, translated into the three working languages of
the Committee, distributed to specialised agencies and made available to NGOs.
2. NGO Supplementary/Alternative Reports
The UNCRC specifically allows for reports from other competent bodies, including
NGOs and childrens groups, to gain a more detailed understanding of child rights in the
country. These reports help to fill in the gaps in the State Report and clarify misleading or
incorrect information. They also provide other perspectives which may assist the
Committee in understanding the climate of rights enjoyment, both resistances and
obstacles, and also forces for change.

The NGO report is an opportunity to include childrens voices in the reporting process
(this should also be achieved through the state report) a stimulus to create of NGO
coalitions (NGOCs), to engage with processes of change, and, if necessary, to raise
concerns and make recommendations at the international level.
Supplementary/Alternative Reports should be submitted within 6 months of the state
report and three months prior to the Pre-Session to ensure they are taken into account,
translated etc.
3. The Pre-Sessional Working Group (The Pre-Session)
The Pre-Sessional Working Group is a private meeting between the Committee, NGOs
and other international organisations. It takes place around 4 months prior to the Session
with the Government to discuss the State Report and the alternative reports. The PreSession is a chance for NGOs/NGOCs and children, in person and in a safe forum, to
highlight the main areas of concern, give their opinions of the State Report and add any
information since the submission of their alternative reports.

Only NGOs that have submitted written information will be invited to attend. Meetings
are confidential and no summary records are produced. All parties should therefore be
able to speak freely.
4. List of Issues
The Pre-Session enables the Committee to identify a List of Issues which identifies
further information required from the Government. This frequently focuses on the need
for disaggregated data on violations of rights, and lists the key areas of concern that the
Committee will address at the Plenary Session (see below). It therefore allows the
Government to prepare for the questions that may be asked.
5. Written Replies
As implied by its name, this document contains the written answers to the List of Issues
and must be submitted at least 1 month prior to the Plenary Session. NGOs may feed into
the Written Replies or they may submit their own supplementary information.
Information from the State and NGO reports, the Pre-Session and the Written Replies will
frame the discussion between the Committee and the Government.

12
6. The Plenary Session
This is the main meeting between the Government and the Committee that takes place
over a full day (two 3-hour sessions). The Committee will ask a series of questions in the
same thematic format as the State Report and the Government will be given the
opportunity to respond. Although this meeting is public, NGOs may only attend as
observers they may not make representations.
7. Concluding Observations
This is the outcome document of the reporting process. Following again the thematic
structure of the state report, the Committee first highlights positive aspects, then goes on
to outline its concerns and its recommendations. The final paragraph of the Concluding
Observations sets the date for the next periodic report.
Important: The Concluding Observations end the session, not the process. The
Concluding Observations should set an Agenda for Action over the coming five
years until the next report is due. NGOs have an important role to play in
ensuring the recommendations are advocated for and implemented.

Monitoring State
Obligations
The state is the primary duty bearer
for the implementation of rights
contained in the UNCRC.
The only international mechanism
to monitor the states obligations is
the reporting process to the
Committee on the Rights of the
Child

To
Ensure

The Aim and Approach of the

Reporting Process

The periodic report should provide the

Committee with a basis for constructive

dialogue with the State party about the
implementation of the Convention and the
enjoyment of human rights by children in the
State party
Committee on the Rights of the Child

Progressive
Implementation of the
UNCRC
Each reporting session should not be
seen in isolation or as a one off
event. Rather, it is a cycle that
should set realistic agendas to affect
change for children and build upon
the previous reporting sessions

Constructive Dialogue

Through

Reporting is not intended to name

and shame or to pass judgement. It
is about improving the
implementation of the UNCRC in the
country through the creation of an
ongoing, constructive dialogue
between the Government, the
Committee, children, NGOs and
other relevant international
organisations

13

The Cycle of Reporting to the Committee on the

Rights of the Child

Government Ratifies
Convention on the Rights of the
Child

Concluding
Observations form
agenda for action.
Ongoing advocacy
by NGOs/NGOCs

State Report
submitted 2 years
after ratification and
then periodically
every 5 years

Within 6
months

Alternative
Report(s)
Submitted by
NGOs/NGOCs

At least 3
months

Pre-Sessional
Working Group
considers report
and submissions
from other
competent bodies

Concluding
Observations
Issued by the
Committee

Plenary Session
State Report,
Written Replies and
other information
discussed with
Government
delegation

At least
1 month

Written Replies
sent to the
Committee

List of Issues
sent to the
Government

A sample timeline of the reporting process may be found on page 38

14

Leticia Valverdes

Young people look through Save the Children publications at a Save the
Children project, Projeto Peixearte, which trains young people to monitor and
influence how local governments funds are allocated and spent.

Copies of the Committees guidelines for initial and periodic reports are
available on the CD (4) and also online at:
Initial
http://www.unhchr.ch/tbs/doc.nsf/(Symbol)/CRC.C.5.En?Opendocument
Periodic
http://www.unhchr.ch/tbs/doc.nsf/(Symbol)/CRC.C.58.Rev.1.En?Opendocument

Documents dating back to the first reporting sessions in 1992/93, including

State Reports, Lists of Issues, Written Replies, and Concluding
Observations, may be found on the Committees website at
http://www.ohchr.org/english/bodies/crc/sessions.htm

Note: The reporting process for OPAC and OPSC is slightly different that
that of the main treaty, which is the focus of this Starter Pack. Following an
initial report, information on the relevant Optional Protocol should thereafter
form a part of the main report every five years. Unlike the UNCRCs near
universal ratification, the Optional Protocols currently have 110 States
Parties each (as of 1st January 2007). Only those states that have ratified the
Optional Protocols are subject to their reporting procedures. Guidelines for
states reporting under OPAC and OPSC are available on the CD (4) and at
OPAC
http://www.unhchr.ch/tbs/doc.nsf/(Symbol)/CRC.OP.AC.1.En?Opendocument
OPSC
http://www.ohchr.org/english/bodies/crc/docs/CRC.C.OPSC.2.pdf

15

Part II: Why Should We Get Involved?

The Importance and Benefits of Engagement

The Reporting process is an important tool for

change that may be used as a basis for action on
child rights. It can help to bring government,
children, civil society, and the public together,
on a periodic basis, to reflect on progress in
implementing the UNCRC and to identify
needed change. Key is the way in which it can
bring agents of change together in a country.
Save the Children has a role to play in this. For
example, we can assist in building local
capacities, where they are weak, support NGO
coalitions and facilitate child participation. This
section looks at the importance of engagement
for civil society and Save the Children, as well
as some of the main benefits.
Contents:

Tom Pietrasik

Girls inside a tent of the Safe Play

Area organised by Save the Children
in Thuri Park Relief Camp, Pakistan

The Importance of NGO/Civil Society

Engagement
o Advocating for Change
o Strengthening the Work of NGOS
o Monitoring Implementation
o Strengthening the Process
The Importance of Save the Childrens
Involvement
UNCRC reporting and Child Rights
Programming

If

only those with powerwould

listen and incorporate the
experience of those who have first
hand knowledge of the reality of
the situation on the ground the
results would transform the ideas
of leadership and decision
making
Mary Robinson
Former UN High Commissioner for
Human Rights

The Impact on Child RightsSo Far

o General Measures of Implementation
o UNICEF Implementation Study
UNCRC Reporting and the Five
Dimensions of Change
Case Study 1: Lesotho

16

The Importance of NGO/Civil Society Engagement in the

Process
Civil society and NGOs have a vital role in the periodic reporting process. Article 43
specifically refers to the participation of other competent bodies in the process, which
includes NGOs and NGO coalitions. There are many aspects to NGOs and civil societys
role, adding significant benefit not only to child rights reporting and monitoring, but to
advocacy, the work of NGOs and the reporting process itself.
Advocating for Change
The reporting process is not an ad hoc international exercise. The ultimate aim is on the
ground improvements in childrens enjoyment of their rights and thus the improvement of
their lives and prospects. It should not be seen as separate from the ongoing advocacy of
NGOs. One of the most important roles for NGOs/NGOCs is to maintain the momentum
that has been built during the formal information gathering and report construction
process and to continue to advocate for change based on the Committees
recommendations. A key role for Save the Children is to work with and support local
NGOs to build capacity to continue with rights-based advocacy and research following on
from the reporting process.
Strengthening the Work of NGOs
NGO involvement in the reporting process can strengthen the work of those NGOs in
many ways. For example, the reporting process requires a detailed child rights situational
analysis, providing vital programmatic information for evidence-based advocacy. The
process helps focus dialogue on child rights and raise awareness of the issues at local and
national level. Membership of coalitions creates new partnerships, capacity building
opportunities, and an environment that helps with information sharing and new methods
of working. The reporting process can also help with the development of co-ordinated
approaches and strengthening child participation in advocacy.
Monitoring Implementation
Reporting to the Committee and monitoring implementation of the UNCRC go hand in
hand. NGOs have an important role to play in monitoring the situation of child rights in a
country. During the course of their programmatic work and advocacy NGOs are well
placed to see how the Government is implementing the Committees recommendations
and child rights challenges generally. It is important to continue to share information with
local partners throughout the process and in follow up. Adding this information to annual
reviews and impact assessments will make compilation of the next NGO report far easier!
Strengthening the Process
NGO engagement is crucial to addressing some of the perceived weaknesses in the
system, such as the historic lack of child participation and the Committees dependency
on external information due to its lack of a fact finding mandate (This is dealt with in
more detail below pp 25 & 26).
o

CRIN and the NGO Group for the UNCRC have produced a paper on The
Use of Concluding Observations for Monitoring the Implementation of the
CRC. A copy is on the CD (10) and online at
http://www.crin.org/docs/resources/publications/ngocrc/CRINNGOCRC_WP2_en.pdf

17

The Importance of Save the Childrens Involvement

Child Participation
Children have the right to be heard and
have their views given due weight
The reporting process enables SCUK to
increase child participation in advocacy
and hold duty bearers to account.
Child participation provides a vehicle to
strengthen capacity amongst
Governments, Committee Members,
Partners, including children, to ensure
children are heard
Facilitating child participation is a core
value for Save the Children
The process provides potential for a highly
visible and practical demonstration of child
participation that can and has changed
attitudes at the local and national level

Programming
Reporting requires a detailed child rights
situational analysis
It offers the chance for Save the Children
to measure its own contribution to child
rights
It involves aspects of all three pillars of
child rights programming (see diagram
below pg 18)
It addresses the five dimensions of change
(see diagram below pg 21)
Our programmes have benefited from
reporting in the past (See A Tool for
Change pg 30)
Concluding Observations help set an
agenda for action in the coming years

As a Child Rights Organisation

Save the Childrens work is underpinned by
the UNCRC, a Treaty we helped to draft.
Engagement in the reporting process is
fundamental to any clear commitment to
childrens rights
We have a responsibility to ensure children are
able to express their opinions and influence
decisions that affect their lives
Save the Children should be systematically
involved in ensuring States live up to their
international obligations to children
A consistent presence in the reporting process
in each of the countries we work will help to
strengthen Save the Childrens position as the
leading child rights organisation, speaking out
for all children at all times, nationally and
internationally

Advocacy
The reporting process provides a framework
and timeline for long term advocacy,
addressing systemic changes for children
It provides an opportunity for local, national
and international advocacy
The reporting process serves as a legitimate
means to challenge government
performance on childrens rights and to
identify ways to work with government to
achieve change
It helps with access to those in positions to
affect change eg the departments
responsible for the State Report
It helps raise fundamental issues over and
above those that are theme-specific

Building and Strengthening Alliances

The reporting process helps build and
sustain national coalitions Save the
Children is well placed to support this
It allows for wide stakeholder consultations
It helps develop a broad constituency of
support
It helps strengthen bonds with other Alliance
members and civil society partners through
joint working on alternative reports,
advocacy and monitoring
Assisting with the government report can
build links with key officials
Regular attendance at the Pre-Session and
Plenary Session allows for closer working
with the Committee

18

UNCRC Reporting and Child Rights Programming (CRP)

Child Rights Situational analysis (CRSA)
Child rights programming is based on a detailed understanding of the child rights situation in the
country gained through a child rights situational analysis. The reporting process requires a child
rights situational analysis from the Government and NGOs every 5 years see again the
Committees reporting guidelines. CD (4)
With this information as a basis, child rights programming is shaped around three pillars of work.
Engagement in the reporting process involves aspects of all three, but primarily pillars 2 & 3.

1. Practical Actions on
Gaps and Violations of
Rights

2. Strengthening
Structures and
Mechanisms

Childrens right to be heard

is not often guaranteed.
Child participation in the
reporting process provides a
significant opportunity for
children to have a voice.
Save the Children has a
core role in facilitating
childrens meaningful
involvement.

Identifying weaknesses in
mechanisms and structures
is one of the primary aims of
the reporting process (see
again, General Measures of
Implementation)

Having a voice at this level

helps with self-esteem and
personal empowerment for
the children directly involved
The reporting process can
help with the production of
evidence to identify
violations of childrens rights
and gaps in the enjoyment
of rights.
Disaggregated data helps to
assess how discrimination
applies to these violations
and gaps.

States must report on

progress on:
Law reform
Budget allocation and
monitoring
National co-ordinating
bodies
Education and training for
professionals working
with children
National Plans of Action
to manage changes
The Committee will also
address specific
mechanisms and structures
under the separate thematic
headings, eg benefits
payments, juvenile justice,
free primary education etc.
Proposing options for
change/advocacy based on
the evidence. This may form
a part of the NGO report
presented to the Committee
and national level advocacy
plans.

3. Building
Constituencies
NGO coalitions are a key
element of the reporting
process, creating national
platforms for child rights
Reporting allows for wide
consultations and develops
a broad constituency of
support
Throughout the process,
publicity and wide
dissemination of the
relevant documents
promotes ownership by
civil society and raises
awareness of child rights in
local communities.
Concluding Observations
can form an agenda for
action for civil society to
mobilise behind.
The media is specifically
mentioned in the UNCRC
as having an important role
in building support for
childrens rights in society.

Child Rights Programming: A Handbook for Save the Children Alliance

Members is on the CD (3) and on the Intranet at
http://intranet/Policy/Policy%20and%20Learning/CRP%20resources.htm

19

Impact of the Reporting Process on Child RightsSo Far!

States

Parties shall undertake all appropriate legislative, administrative,

and other measures for the implementation of the rights recognised in the
present Convention. With regard to economic, social and cultural rights,
States Parties shall undertake such measures to the maximum extent of
their available resources and, where needed, within the framework of
international co-operation
Article 4 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

The UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre recently undertook a three-year study of the
impact of the UNCRC. It focused on the General Measures of Implementation of 62
countries that had reported to the Committee at least twice over a 15 year period.
The General Measures of Implementation are eight systems related measures identified by
the Committee that must be undertaken by States to fulfil their obligations under the
UNCRC. They represent structures, systems and initiatives that are extremely important
for the full implementation of the UNCRC. The Committee looks for these specifically
during the reporting process (see the first cluster above pg 10)
The General Measures may be summarised as follows:

Law reform: Requires States Parties to ensure compatibility of new and

existing legislation and judicial practice with the UNCRC. This includes:
constitutional amendment, amendments to legislation and development of new
laws, responding to new issues relating to childrens rights and by considering
effective remedies for children and their representatives.

Independent National Institutions for Childrens Rights: such as childrens

ombudsman offices, child rights commissioners and focal points within national
human rights institutions

National Plans of Action: Comprehensive national agendas or strategies for

implementation of the UNCRC are needed; their relationship to the follow-up
process to the World Summit for Children and UN General Assembly Special
Session on Children is critical

Childrens rights-focused permanent institutions and structures within

Government are required to ensure coordination and pursue implementation

Allocation of resources to the maximum extent of their availability

Systematic monitoring of the implementation of the UNCRC, through

effective child-related data collection, analysis, evaluation and dissemination

Education, training and awareness raising on childrens rights should be

steadily promoted

Involvement of civil society, including children, in implementation

See further General Comment No. 5 on the CD(4) and online

http://www.unhchr.ch/tbs/doc.nsf/(symbol)/CRC.GC.2003.5.En?OpenDocument

20
Two initial summary reports from the UNICEF study have been released with full results
forthcoming once all of the information has been analysed thoroughly. The summary
report reveals a broad process of social change for children, across many of the General
Measures, through ratification of the UNCRC and involvement in the reporting process.
The study also identified the many challenges that lie ahead.
Law Reform
The role of the UNCRC is most evident in law reform. In at least 50 of the countries
studied the Convention has been incorporated to various degrees into the national
legal framework by legislative reform, including constitutional amendment.
Incorporation into the national legal system is almost universal in the Eastern
European and Latin American Countries studied. Many important advances for
children and families have been achieved because of these reforms. In Belarus and
the Czech Republic, for example, Constitutional Courts found parts of the family
codes invalid as they were incompatible with the UNCRC. In some countries
comprehensive codes on children have been developed, for example, the
Childhood and Adolescence Code adopted by Paraguay in 2001 and the Romanian
Law on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of the Child.
National Independent Human Rights Institutions for Children
The establishment of national independent human rights institutions for children has
accelerated since the entry into force of the CRC. The first model for a childrens
ombudsman was developed by Radda Barnen (SC Sweden) in 1979. Until the
adoption of the UNCRC, however, only 2 such offices existed. Today there are over
60 in around 38 countries worldwide. These institutions act as a voice for children
and as champions for the realisation of childrens rights.
National Co-ordinating Mechanisms
Many countries have developed new bodies or mechanisms for children near the
very heart of government. These have been in the form of childrens units in the
president/prime ministers office; dept.s for children; national councils; national coordinating committees etc. Their aim is to make children visible in government
action; to ensure co-ordination of relevant activities; to monitor progress and to
promote and comprehensive and integrated agenda for the realisation of childrens
rights. Examples include National Council for Children in Ecuador and the National
Council for the Rights of the Child in Timor-Leste.
Awareness Raising and Education
All of the countries reviewed had undertaken activities to promote awareness of the
CRC through education and capacity building of professional groups and through
campaigns on public health issues such as HIV/AIDS.
Child Participation
Both thinking and practice with respect to child participation have evolved
considerably since the entry into force of the UNCRC. The study highlights this
evolution, with particular reference to NGOs. The Save the Children Alliance is
mentioned as a leader in this field.
The main challenges identified in the study include the need for
o Greater resource allocation
o Agreed indicators
o Better co-ordination between ministries
o The General Principles to underpin National Plans of Action
o

Two initial UNICEF reports have been released, both relatively brief (c. 30
pages). They are on the CD (6). A full report is forthcoming.

For more on the benefits for children see A Tool for Change pp 21 28,
with examples from 8 country programmes. CD (10)

21

UNCRC Reporting and the Five Dimensions of Change

The Five Dimensions of Change
express five core areas against
which any child rights based
programme should measure its
impact. This diagram illustrates
how the dimensions of change
relate to each other how they
relate to the reporting process

Changes in Policy and Practice

Affecting Childrens Rights
A primary aim of the reporting
process is to explore changes in
legislation, policy and practice that
affects child rights, such as law
reform, independent human rights
institutions, increased budget
allocation and monitoring etc.
The Committee will specifically look at
whether the General Principles are
understood and underpin all policy
and practice relating to children

Changes in Childrens
Participation and Active
Citizenship

The process itself helps to raise

awareness of child rights at national
and local level, and increases child
participation.

Participation in the reporting

process acknowledges a shift in
the view of children as
beneficiaries of adult
interventions towards respect for
them as rights holders and
having a role in making and
shaping their own societies.
The right to be heard is a General
Principle of the UNCRC and will
be directly addressed by the
Committee, which looks for
evidence of childrens views being
taken into account in the State
Report and evidence that the right
to be heard is recognised in all
policy and practice concerning
children, including in school,
judicial proceedings etc.
Children are increasingly
participating in the reporting
process largely through the work
of NGOs, but also through the
efforts of governments.

Changes in Equity and

Non-Discrimination of
Children
Non-discrimination is one of the
General Principles of the
UNCRC and is therefore
specifically addressed by the
Committee.

Changes in the Lives

of Children and the
Enjoyment of their
Rights

Changes in the Capacity of

Communities and Civil Society
to Support and Demand
Childrens Rights
Supporting the engagement of civil
society is one of the most important
elements of the process. Wide
consultations help to raise awareness
of child rights and encourage
ownership of the process.
Building sustainable national NGO
coalitions is also of vital importance
so the reporting process does not end
with the Concluding Observations but
continues with ongoing monitoring,
advocacy and documenting of best
practice.

As a general principle, nondiscrimination must be shown to

underpin all policy and practice
relating to children
Supporting the generation of
disaggregated data:
States are required not only to
show how the right of all children
are guaranteed without
discrimination, but also to
provide detailed disaggregated
data to the Committee to
highlight groups of children
needing special attention for the
protection of their rights.

22

Case Study 1: Lesotho

Kevin Byrne, now Programme Director for Indonesia, describes the benefits of
the reporting process in during his time in Lesotho

Our work in Lesotho involved bringing together a fairly weak civil society
sector and developing and supporting an NGO Coalition to respond to the
government report to the CRC. I found that working within this model had
a number of advantages for children, for local civil society and for Save
the Children.

Responding to the report allowed us to develop a collaborative, locally owned and

child-focused framework for multi agency planning. It put children on the socio-political
agenda and allowed taboo issues like abuse and exploitation to be raised in a safe
way. It also allowed children, and particularly vulnerable children, to speak out in safe
but prestigious forums. Two sectors of Basotho society previously excluded and
invisible - NGOs and children - were suddenly able to speak directly with donors, UN
agencies, government and the media and they made the most of the opportunities.
This process introduced the concepts of child rights and child participation in a very
practical and visible way to a wide audience, disproving entirely the commonly held
belief that child rights and child participation were too radical to be acceptable in
Lesotho's conservative, hierarchical and patriarchal society. In fact, Lesotho was the
first African country to send child representatives to the UNCRC and they made a
significant and positive impact on the Committee. All of this raised the status of
children generally in Lesotho and led to a major change in agencies' thinking, their
programme design and planning processes.
Children benefited directly from the process. It led to review of all child legislation and
the inclusion of NGOs and children in the development of a comprehensive Children's
Act. It also led to an increase in child-focused work by in-country agencies, increased
allocation of funds to child related activities and improvements in several child welfare
agency practices. It led further to the establishment of child led organisations.
Local agencies benefited from increased profile that translated, for some, into
increased funding and organisational growth. They also learned a lot from each other
and felt that participation in producing the report enhanced their status and gave their
staff morale a boost.
Save the Children benefited from the increased profile too and the expanded
constituency of support. The NGO Coalition facilitated national advocacy and policy
development work and gave us opportunities to develop more projects through local
partners. It created a stronger and more open dialogue between Save the Children
and local agencies.
It was also great fun! Events around the report launch such as the Children's Day and
take-over of Parliament gave everybody a shot in the arm and probably did more for
children's rights than the dozens of reports that spelt out Lesotho's problems annually.
Lastly it gave staff and partners a new way of thinking and interacting
with children that has continued to pay off for children in practical
programme development and implementation, even after Save the
Childrens withdrawal

23

Part III: How Can We Engage?

Advice and Suggestions for SCUK Programme
Involvement in the Reporting Process
This section gathers together learning and
advice from many sources to provide practical
suggestions
for
country
programme
involvement in the reporting process. It begins
with overarching considerations, then moves
on to address the specific stages of the process.
Finally, it provides some advice and
suggestions on child participation, advocacy,
coalition working and funding.
Contents:
Strategic Context
Strengths and weaknesses
o Addressing weaknesses
Specific
Objectives
and
Activities
Involved in Child Rights Monitoring and
Reporting
o UNCRC reporting and the Model for
Impact
The State Report
The NGO Supplementary/Alternative
Report
o Child and young peoples
submissions to the Committee
The Pre-Sessional Working Group
o Child Participation at the Pre-Session
The Plenary Session

Felicia Webb

Children in class at Osqofiya School

at Mayo IDP Camp, Khartoum

Case Study 2: England

Child Participation
o What is the value of child
participation
o Save the Children Practice Standards
o Dos and Donts
Advocacy
o What changes are we advocating
for?
o Who can make those changes?
o How can we influence those in
power?
Coalition Working
o Compelling Rationale
o Best Practice
Case Study 3: Yemen
Funding

"I believe we should claim certain rights

for children and labour for their
universal recognition
Eglantyne Jebb, Founder of Save the
Children, 1923

24

Strategic Context
It is important for any programme to periodically review systems and processes of change
as a part of the process of developing a child rights situational analysis. The analysis
should consider both the capacity and motivation of government and of aspects of civil
society, the NGO community, media, religion, academia and the business sector. On the
basis of this analysis the programme should consider the strategic importance of
engagement in the reporting process.
The process cannot be easily absorbed into tight schedules, budgets and work plans if
seen as a one off or ad hoc event. It requires planning, resources and ongoing
commitment, especially in relation to child participation, coalitions and advocacy. It
should complement programmatic work if planned properly.
A number of important questions need to be asked when deciding if and how to engage in
the reporting process.
Should we engage as a matter of principle? i.e. as a child rights-based organisation.
What is the value of involvement in the process? What value is added through
engagement in the process, aside from the actual implementation by the State of the
UNCRC i.e. building coalitions, raising awareness, child participation etc. Consider the
bigger picture beyond just the report and attending the Pre-Session.
What is the potential impact for children? Consider whether the Government is
willing to engage effectively and implement the Concluding Observations. Assess the
capacity of local NGOs/coalitions to press for change.
What are the risks involved? Carry out risk assessments. Involvement in the reporting
process presents numerous risks that need to be assessed, from speaking out against
governments to child protection. Are the negative consequences of getting involved in the
process? Is there potential for undermining local civil society?
These risks are inevitable but may be mitigated if considered well in advance and the
method of engagement tailored accordingly.
Is there enough time? Start early! Ensure that engagement is well planned, from
preparations for child participation and the alternative report, to advocacy and
monitoring.
Is it affordable? Consider funding capabilities when planning activities What funding
opportunities are available? (see further below pp 50 & 51) Are there any Alliance
partners we could work with? What is the financial capacity of local partners?
How can it fit in with the current TPP/programmatic work? Can involvement in
reporting be integrated into strategic planning and operational plans link to CRP and
GIM
What is Save the Childrens role and responsibility in the country? This factor
relates mainly to how Save the Children should engage and raises a number of questions.
What is the capacity of other NGOs/agencies to engage effectively? Should we take a
leading role? What responsibility do we have when there are no other agencies capable of
reporting? Does Save the Children have close relationships with Government and local
communities that would improve the process and its impact? Is Save the Children best
placed to facilitate child participation? Etc.

25

Strengths and Weaknesses

It is important to highlight the strengths and weaknesses of the reporting process, not only
to focus on the positive aspects, but also so that weaknesses may be identified and
planned for. A number of these weaknesses may be addressed to an extent through
effective civil society and child participation and this will be dealt with below.

Strengths
The reporting process provides a
means to build a wide constituency
of support at national level and
creates national platforms for child
rights

It provides a means to engage

Governments, the Committee, civil
society, NGOs and other
organisations in child rights-based
dialogue
It provides NGOs and children with
an opportunity to raise their concerns
and make their recommendations at
international level (But governments
should also be encouraged to
facilitate this in compiling the State
Report and attending the Plenary
Session)

NGO reports and the Pre-Sessional

Working Group are confidential
allowing participants to speak freely

Concluding Observations can serve

as a basis for National Plans of
Action and concrete agendas for
change

The reporting process is nonconfrontational and therefore should

be seen as a support and not a threat
to Governments

It highlights, in an international
forum, the situation of child rights in
the State Party it therefore carries
significant political and moral
weight

It requires a detailed child rights

situational analysis by the
Government, NGOs and children

Weaknesses
The reporting process is not aimed at
addressing violations of individual
childrens rights. Immediate threats
cannot be addressed. (Other UN
Conventions do allow for this,
however)

Child participation has not featured

in any systematic way, but is
specifically required see the
Committees Reporting Guidelines.

The Concluding Observations are

not legally binding and therefore
may be seen as lacking teeth

Due to lack of in-country expertise

Committee sometimes asks
questions and makes suggestions that
are not appropriate for certain
country situations. Civil society
participation can help to address this,
see below page 26.

The Committee is dependent entirely

upon external information, including
disaggregated data, which are often
not available. It has no mandate to
conduct fact-finding missions.

The Concluding Observations are

often seen as being rather vague,
using phrases such as make every
effort to and take steps to address
without specifying what those efforts
or those steps might entail. Over the
years, however, many
recommendations have become more
detailed, with specific measures or
reforms being set out. Compare
older Concluding Observations and
newer ones on the CD (7), e.g.
Uganda 1997 vs Colombia 2006 to
see this development.

26
Addressing Weaknesses

As mentioned briefly above the active involvement of civil society and NGOs can help to
strengthen the reporting process by addressing some of the perceived weaknesses in the
system.

The reporting process cannot address individual violations

Unfortunately, due to the nature of the reporting mechanism, NGOs cannot help with
this gap in the powers available to the Committee. However, NGO reports can help to
bring the individual experiences of children and young people to the attention of the
Committee to provide a clearer picture of the real lives of children behind the
statistics and laws contained in the State Report.

Lack of child participation

Child participation is increasing in the
reporting process and this is due to a
very large extent to the work of NGOs
like Save the Children. NGOS have
helped children and young people not
only to participate in the supplementary/
alternative report, but also to meet with
Committee members in Geneva and at
home, to take the issues directly to
Government, hold awareness raising
events etc. Some examples are provided
in the case studies in this paper. There
are, however, also examples of
Governments striving to include
childrens perspectives. For example,
the UK government has developed a
website to gather and include childrens
views in its 2007 report.

Jenny Matthews/Network Photographers

Young people in Um Nasser village,

occupied Palestinian territory, involved in
work relating to Rights of the Child
awareness.

Reliance on external information

The Committee cannot conduct fact-finding missions, but information from NGOs in
alternative reports and at the Pre-Session helps to fill the gaps in State Reports and
clarifies incorrect or misleading information. (See further below pp 31 to 33)

Contextually inappropriate questions and recommendations

The Committee cannot be experts in every country situation and members need input
from NGOs and civil society to ensure that their recommendations are contextually
relevant. As Lucy Smith, Committee Member from Norway states The Committee
tries of course not to ask questions or make suggestions that are not appropriate for
certain countries. The Pre-Session and the written information we get should help us
to avoid this

Concluding Observations lacking teeth (being non-legally binding)

Advocacy and campaigning by NGOs in follow-up to the reporting process, wide
dissemination of the Concluding Observations and the mobilisation of civil society
behind them, can help to add political and moral weight to the Committees
recommendations

27

Specific Objectives and Activities Involved in Child Rights

Monitoring and Reporting
In Part II we looked at the theory surrounding the importance and benefits of the reporting
process. This section addresses some of the specific, achievable objectives that may be
aimed towards and the key activities that may be undertaken to reach those objectives.
The list below is, of course, not exhaustive and these activities are certainly not
compulsory. This section is intended to reflect the breadth and quality of the work that
can be involved in UNCRC reporting and to provide some practical suggestions. Later
sections will provide specific tips and suggestions for the various individual stages of the
process.
Objective: Supporting the creation/strengthening of an effective civil society
coalition or network for child rights
Activities
Supporting baseline surveys on awareness of child rights, the reporting
process etc.
Workshops on child rights, participation, child rights programming and
UNCRC reporting with relevant actors and stakeholders
Produce UNCRC information packs
Translate and disseminate relevant documents
Develop shared child rights strategy with key civil society actors
Capacity building on advocacy and research (including child-led research)
Child rights awareness activities (across all objectives!)
Commission and undertake research in priority areas
Develop research strategy with key actors
Compile comprehensive child rights situational analysis
Produce alternative report
Indicators of success
Active coalition of civil society actors meets regularly and continues beyond
the immediate reporting cycle
Production of an alternative report based on shared information and an
accurate analysis of child rights
Committees Concluding Observations include NGOs and childrens concerns
Increased awareness among the public and civil society of child rights, the
reporting process and the Governments obligations
Objective: Increasing the role of children as advocates for change and reform
Activities
Training for civil society and government actors on child participation
Workshops to develop strategies for promoting child participation in the
monitoring and reporting process
Support the development of childrens groups and support creation of new
groups and networks of children and childrens groups
Support Childrens workshops and focus groups on child rights, the UNCRC
etc.
Production of cutting edge, locally appropriate and relevant child friendly
materials about the reporting process
Facilitate and support child-led research

28

Support and provide space for children to interact with the monitoring
process, for example to provide forums to facilitate interaction between adult
civil society and childrens groups
Involve children directly in UNCRC reporting including meeting Committee
members if appropriate and if possible
Indicators of success
Action plans for the promotion of child participation produced
Increased childrens groups and networks
Childrens views and experiences taken into account (through child led
research,
consultations
etc.)
in
the
governments
report,
supplementary/alternative reports and the Committees Concluding
Observations
Objective: Increasing engagement between Government and civil society in
monitoring, reporting and implementing national commitments in accordance
with its UNCRC obligations
Activities

Advocacy and lobbying (and throughout the process)

Workshops on child rights, participation etc. with government actors
International and national study visits re civil society participation
Activities to engage with government departments and ministries responsible
for UNCRC reporting and implementation eg co-operative forums analysing
the Committees recommendations
Bringing Government and civil society together to make plans for
implementation of the UNCRC and the Committees Concluding
Observations
Indicators of Success
Co-operation between government and civil society on implementation of the
UNCRC
Government engages constructively with civil society in reporting to the
Committee and in monitoring and implementation (of the UNCRC and the
Committees Concluding Observations)
Objective: Improving the quality of child rights monitoring and reporting and
enabling replication
Activities

Develop baselines and child rights indicators

Undertake and publish appropriate research
Stage regional conferences as opportunities for learning and advocacy
Conduct mid-term and final evaluations and disseminate reports
Publish case studies/best practice models and disseminate
Ongoing dialogue with the Committee on the Rights of the Child, NGO
Group for the Convention on the Rights of the Child, child rights academic
institutions, donors etc.
Indicators of Success
Clear recommendations based on project experiences communicated
internally, to civil society, Governments and the Committee on the Rights of
the Child
Baselines and child rights indicators developed to monitor progress
Donors and other stakeholders see the UNCRC reporting process as an
important opportunity to promote human rights

29

UNCRC Reporting and the Model for Impact

In delivering on its organisational strategy Save the Children UK seeks to make a
contribution to the achievement of child rights through the Model for Impact, which has
been adapted below to show where some of the main activities surrounding UNCRC
reporting, highlighted above, fit in.

Programmes at
District/Province Level
Supporting capacity building
local NGOs/civil society on
research and advocacy
Supporting and developing
childrens groups
Information from programmes
feeds into the alternative report
and ongoing monitoring
Consultations and focus
groups with local
communicates/children

Clear
Objectives
and Target
Groups

Awareness raising activities

with local communities

International Advocacy
Production of alternative report
and submission to UN
Committee
Attendance at Pre-Session
Side events and informal
meetings with Committee

National Advocacy
Awareness-raising
activities aimed at
govt. departments
Workshops and
training with key govt.
actors
Engagement with
relevant departments
during process and
with delegation around
plenary session

Impact
for
Children

Use of Concluding
Observations for
ongoing advocacy
Children directly
involved in advocacy

Child participation in the

alternative report and meeting
with Committee members
NGO and childrens concerns
reflected in concluding
Observations
Production of best practice
models

Adapted from CRSA Guidance 2006, pg 5

30

The State Report

It is important for NGOs to remain independent in the reporting process. However, it is
possible to take part in the compilation of the State Report while remaining independent.
For example, through supporting consultations with children and communities, providing
data, attending preliminary discussions and maintaining contact with key
ministries/departments throughout. The ultimate aim is for an open and transparent
reporting process. It is for each individual programme to decide on the balance necessary
to achieve this.
A number of activities may take place at this stage:
Desk Research
Check the UN Treaty Body Database to see when the State Report is due
Find out which department is responsible for compiling the state report
Track progress in compiling the report this allows for adequate preparation for
the NGO report and engagement at the Pre-Session
Look at the State Report and Concluding Observations from the last reporting
round (if any) to assess progress
Advocacy & Awareness Raising
Encourage timely submission of the report put the report on the radar of the
government well before the due date
Encourage adherence to the Committees reporting guidelines
Meet with the relevant department to discuss the key issues make
recommendations/raise concerns ie open up the dialogue!
Advocate for an open and consultative process encourage child participation
through workshops and forums with government actors
Encourage the publicising of the reporting process by the Government
Raise awareness among civil society promote ownership of the process
Involve the media (see further below, page 43)
Supporting the Government Report (where appropriate)
Facilitate child and community consultations - If the Government is not in a
position to include children and communities, or lacks the relevant expertise,
assist them. If facilitating consultations, ensure that it is understood that it is a
Government initiative with Save the Childrens support.
Provide statistics and data that the Government may not have - A comprehensive,
open and honest Government report is the most important element of the process.
Providing information does not affect the independence of the
organisation/coalition
Dont write the State Report!
It is the states obligation. The state is guided to consult with civil society and
NGOs may have a role to play, but they must retain their independence in order
to engage effectively in the rest of the process.

The reporting status of each state may be accessed at the UN Treaty Body
Database http://www.unhchr.ch/tbs/doc.nsf (click reporting status in the left
hand menu, then click on the CRC and select the relevant country from the list)

Sample State Reports are on the CD (7)

The Committees website also contains information about upcoming

Sessions and which State Reports will be considered
http://www.ohchr.org/english/bodies/crc/sessions.htm

31

The NGO Supplementary/Alternative Report

Format and Submission

If possible, the NGO report should be no more than 30 pages in length
Include an executive summary in bullet point format
The report should follow the same thematic structure as the state report (see
above, page 10)
It should be in one of the three working languages English, French or
Spanish
25 copies should be submitted (one for each member and for the secretariat)
as well as an electronic copy at least 3 months prior to the Pre-Session to
ensure it is taken into account
In a covering letter, State if you wish the Committee to keep any information or
sources confidential and indicate if you wish to attend the Pre-Session
Reports may be submitted directly to the Office of the High Commissioner for
Human Rights or to the NGO Group for the Convention on the Rights of the
Child who will ensure it reaches the Committee

There are two main elements to the NGO supplementary/alternative report: an

independent analysis of the child rights situation in the country and a section-by-section
analysis of the State Report. These should not be separate sections of the report, but both
elements should be covered under the different thematic headings.
1. Comprehensive analysis of the implementation of the CRC in the country
This should include:
Childrens views and suggestions representative of the diverse range of
backgrounds in the country
An analysis of law and policy relating to child rights
An analysis of the practical implementation of legislation
An investigation of budget allocation
A review of relevant research, reports, judicial decisions etc
Relevant statistics/disaggregated data
Areas of concern & NGO recommendations
Research & Analysis
Conduct comprehensive child rights situational analysis in conjunction with
coalition partners
Analyse and disseminate findings share information with coalition partners
Conduct a mapping exercise to identify duty bearers and decision makers See also
Advocacy Toolkit pp 28-31 on CD (10)
Consultations with children and local communities
Conduct baseline surveys, focus groups, workshops etc. in conjunction with
coalition partners analyse and share finding
Work with children and young people as researchers to assess progress since last
reporting, UN Special Session on Children etc.
Advocacy & Awareness Raising
Raise awareness of the consultations among civil society partners and relevant
government departments
Hold events with children to publicise the process and raise important issues (see
for example case studies 1 & 2)
Disseminate the results of the consultations, surveys and focus groups

32
Other Tips & Suggestions
Share the workload among coalition partners
Adopt a rights-based approach. Connect issues to relevant UNCRC articles
Refer to other relevant human rights standards, if appropriate, such as ILO
Convention 182 on the worst forms of child labour. The Committee will
encourage adherence to or ratification of these instruments. See Annex I to
General Comment No. 5 on the CD(4)
Address issues not previously dealt with in previous sessions with the State - the
Committee is interested in the most up to date information
Refer to as wide a range of sources as possible legislation, statistics, NGO,
UNICEF and Government reports, consultations with children etc.
Supplement the report with previous specific studies the NGO has undertaken
these may also be submitted to the Committee.
Dont wait for the state report. Begin the preparation for and compilation of the
NGO report in plenty of time for the due date of the state report.
Be concise, relevant and objective in the information provided.
Liaise with the Childrens Ombudsman/Commissioner or the National Human
Rights Institution if there is one
2. Section-by-section analysis of the State Party report
Once the State Report has been produced it should be made available by the government.
If not, a copy may be obtained from the CRC secretariat in Geneva (contact details below,
page 52). The report should be used to fill in the gaps in the State Report and to clarify
misleading material or any errors.
Research & Analysis
Analyse the State report for gaps, errors or misleading information
Compare to the child rights situational analysis undertaken by Save the
Children/local NGOs etc
Compare to the earlier State Report and Concluding Observations (if any) to track
trends between reports
Other Tips & Suggestions
Read the Committees reporting guidelines. In order to fully assess the state report
it is important to know what the Committee is asking for.
Dont finalise the NGO report until the state report has been assessed
Avoid personal opinions and insulting or overly political language.
Point to legislation, statistics and other factual information to supplement, support
or contradict the states comments
Refer to other commitments made by the government, eg, the Millennium
Development Goals, A World Fit for Children etc.
Build on your experience over time. Incorporate the Concluding Observations
into annual reviews and impact assessments this information will be extremely
valuable in feeding into future reports.
The State Report should be a broad and consultative process - provide the
Committee with an overview of how the state report was prepared:
o Did the Government consult with NGOs in the preparation of the report?
o Did children participate in the preparation of the report?
o If so, is the report reflective of their concerns and those of NGOs?
o Was the report made widely available in the country?
Make compiling the report as inclusive, dramatic and fun as
possible
The activities during and around the report's production are as important as
the report itself - Hold events at key stages in the process. Take advantage
of the opportunity to promote ownership of the process among civil society
stakeholders. Involve children throughout!

33
Children and Young Peoples Submissions to the Committee
Between 1998 and 2004 around 16 reports representing statements directly from
children and young people were submitted to the Committee on the Rights of the
Child. Prior to this, reporting of childrens views to the Committee was more indirect,
with their comments filtered through adults perspectives or not represented at all.
Broadly, the reports fit into 3 categories:
o The results of surveys carried out with children and young people
o Childrens direct and unedited comments with NGO commentary
o Reports compiled and edited by young people
Dr. Wiebina Heesterman has conducted an
analysis of the impact of children and young
peoples views and recommendations on the
Concluding Observations of the Committee.
Her analysis shows that whilst some of the
childrens concerns have been directly
influential, others have been missed entirely.
For example, all of the young peoples reports
stressed the importance of the right to play,
but play was never dealt with by the
Committee beyond references to the
therapeutic elements of recreation.

The Committee recognises the

importance of child
participationand encourages
children and youth
representatives to submit
information in the context of
periodic reviews...
Committee on the
Rights of the Child

On the other hand, young people from the UK requested information to support gay
and transgender young people, which was not raised by the State Report or other
NGO reports, but taken on board by the Committee in its recommendations.
The Committee, therefore, has not always been consistent in taking children and
young peoples views and recommendations into account. There is clearly room for
improvement. Childrens views are essential to the reporting process and judging by
childrens submissions to date, they also display a high level of competence. NGOs
have an important role to play in ensuring that childrens views continue to be brought
to the Committees attention and given their due weight. SCUK is well placed to lead in
this work.
An Assessment of the Impact of Youth Submissions to the UN Committee on
the Rights of the Child by Dr. Heesterman is available on the CD (7)
Samples of the three types of children and young peoples submissions referred
to in the report are also on the CD (7)

Previous NGO Alternative reports may be found on the CRIN website at

http://www.crin.org/docs/resources/treaties/crc.25/annex-vi-crin.asp
o Sample alternative reports are on the CD (7)
For more information on consultations with children, see So You Want to
Consult With Children: A Toolkit of Good Practice Save the Children
Alliance 2003. See in particular pp 23-39. On the CD (2) and online at
www.savethechildren.net/alliance/resources/childconsult_toolkit_final.pdf
For further information on the content of certain rights the following
resources may be of use:
o General Comments of the Committee - on the CD (4) and online at
http://www.ohchr.org/english/bodies/crc/comments.htm
o General Comments from the other UN Treaty Bodies
http://www.ohchr.org/english/bodies/treaty/comments.htm
o Reports from the various thematic Special Rapporteurs
http://www.ohchr.org/english/bodies/chr/special/themes.htm

34

The Pre-Sessional Working Group

What to expect
The Pre-Sessional meeting takes place over a half-day session (3 hours) and begins
with opening statements from the NGOs, followed by IGOs and National Independent
Human Rights Institutions. Delegates should signal to the Chair that they wish to
speak and will then be invited to take the floor. This opening statement should be no
longer than 10 minutes and should highlight the main issues facing children and any
new information that has arisen since the NGO report was submitted. It should not
summarise the NGO report or explain the work of the NGO (Information on the NGO
may be submitted in writing separately, however). It is advisable to submit a transcript
of your presentation in advance.
Following the opening statements the Committee asks its questions. It tends to ask
20-30 at a time, rather than one by one. NGOs and other participants then have the
opportunity to respond following a short break. The Committee prefers answers by
theme (again, the same 8 clusters as in the state report) and by the person with the
most expertise in that area. Again, answers to questions should be concise and kept
under 10 minutes. If more information is required the Committee will ask follow up
questions.

Preparation
Select the NGO/NGOC delegation - The NGO Group for the CRC recommends
that, in order to answer the broad questions asked by the Committee, an
NGO/NGOC delegation should ideally comprise, at least, a lawyer, a specialist in
one of the key areas of concern and someone with a comprehensive understanding
of the implementation of the UNCRC in the country
Identify issues and questions to be raised with the Government at the Plenary
Session
Ensure the childrens delegation, if any, is fully briefed and involved in
preparations - contact the child participation adviser for assistance
Arrange a private meeting with Committee Members the Committee prefers this
and children have reported that such meetings were the most beneficial part for
them. (See Child Participation below)
Attend an earlier pre-session before your own to see how the system works
Before the Pre-Session
Meet with government officials to discuss the issues you intend to raise. ie keep
up the dialogue!
Involve children in the build-up. Children from Lesotho, for example, took the
issues straight to Parliament (See Case Study 1, page 22)
Use the media, eg, radio broadcasts, to publicise the session and the NGO
alternative report Contact the NGO Group for advice on attending the pre-session
At the Pre-Session
Bring copies of any research, statistics etc. referred to in your presentation
Speak clearly and slowly to allow the interpreters to translate
Allocate responses to Committee questions by theme and to those delegation
members with the most expertise in those areas
Choose key issues to discuss be concise and objective

35
After the Pre-Session
Contribute to the Written Replies or submit further information separately
Provide feedback to the Committee they are always interested in ways to
improve their working methods
Hold a debriefing for children some children have been unsure or unconvinced
about the benefit of their involvement in the process or their meeting with
Committee members. It is essential to explain what happens next.
Raise awareness of the upcoming Plenary Session if possible, make
arrangements to attend
Make recommendations
The Committee specifically encourages recommendations from NGOs with the
relevant in-country expertise. It is an opportunity to influence the Concluding
Observations of the Committee. See for example the Norway NGO Group
report 1994 CD(7)

Show how NGOs can help to address the issues raised

The Committee often advises the Government to seek help from NGOs. Informing
them of how the NGO can help may be beneficial for advocacy/programmatic work
going forward

UNECE

Palais Des Nations, Geneva

Child Participation at the Pre-Session Stage

The Pre-Session meeting itself is a formal process and may not be the best point of
engagement for children. Children from Lesotho, for example, who attended with Save
the Children, complained that the Committee asked too many questions in too short a time
and used jargon they could not understand. Children can and have, however, participated
in this session, but events around the pre-session might provide better forums for child
participation.
Contact the Child Participation Advisor at the London office for advice
As always, ensure robust child protection systems are in place the pre-session
involves taking children away from their home environment
Obtain the necessary consents from children and parents/carers

36

Ensure that the children are well briefed, that they understand the issues and the
aims and outcomes reporting process
Consider the age/capabilities of the children on your delegation. Younger
children, for example, have been known to fall asleep a the pre-session!
Manage expectations some children have been unsure or unconvinced of the
benefit of their involvement in the process. Make sure the process is properly
understood and that the children and young people know this is the beginning of
lots of advocacy work afterwards!
Ensure that childrens own views are presented, not simply NGO concerns
coming from childrens mouths
Include children who have taken part in the preparation of the NGO report
The childrens delegation should be representative of the broad range of children
in the country
Include children in the election of the child delegation For example, in 2007,
Child Rights Alliance England (CRAE) is running a Get Ready for Geneva
competition to decide which children go
Ensure adequate translation is available, including into child friendly language
Brief the Committee on avoiding jargon, acronyms and overly complicated
language

Try to arrange a private meeting with Committee members in Geneva

We prefer to have separate meetings with the children, where we sit among
them and have a very informal session. Usually we have to do this during
the lunch break. It is also possible to have the meeting with the children at 9 am.
Time is short during the pre-session dialogue - only 3 hours per country, often
several people reporting - and there will not really be time to make the pre-sessional
meeting very child friendly. In the last pre-session we had a meeting with children
from Kenya that was very useful - Lucy Smith, Committee Member for Norway

Following the UKs last report, children and young people from England said that
their separate meeting with Committee Members was the most rewarding part of the
experience.
Arrange for the Committees Country Rapporteur to meet children and young
people in their own environment prior to the Pre-Session
Lucy Smith was the Rapporteur for Ireland in 2006. She explains I was invited to
Ireland by the Children's Ombudsman before the pre-session together with another
member of the Committee. The Ombudsman arranged meetings with different groups
of children, and this was very useful, as was the whole visit. We also had meetings
with NGOs, UNICEF and other organisations. As long as it is not the Government
that invites, the Committee is very positive to such visits, but we get no funding for
this from the UN, so it will have to be an invitation from the Ombudsman, UNICEF or
NGOs.

In September 2006 Save the Children UK facilitated 30 children and young

people from all over the world to participate in the Committees Day of
General Discussion on the right to be heard held in Geneva.
Preparatory materials for this event, guidance for accompanying adults, child
protection guidance, and various checklists and consent form are all on the CD(2)

For tips on child delegations and creating an enabling environment, see

So You Want to Consult With Children pp 47-63. CD (2)

For some experiences of children in the reporting process see A Tool for
Change pp 38 and 39, CD (10). people at this event

37

The Plenary Session

The Plenary Session is also structured following the 8 clusters of rights. This forms the
agenda for the discussion between the State delegation and the Committee. NGOs may
attend the Plenary Session but are not allowed to speak. There are, however, other ways
to participate and influence the process. Once the Concluding Observations have been
issued, follow up advocacy and monitoring begins.
Advocacy and Awareness Raising
Promote attendance by the Government in the past some Plenary Sessions have
been poorly attended by Government delegations
Try to influence the make up of the delegation. Representatives with the relevant
experience and knowledge should be included as well as senior officials with the
authority to speak for the Government
Meet with the delegation to discuss the issues and your recommendations
Include children in the build-up arrange a meeting between the childrens
delegation and the Government delegation
Meet with the Committee members informally between the Pre-Session and
Plenary Session
Publicise the Plenary Session hold events at home such as a childrens Plenary
Session, issue press releases, make the state report and the NGO report widely
available etc.
Publicise the Concluding Observations when they are issued
Research & Analysis
Ensure that the Committee has all the up to date information prior to the session
provide written updates if necessary
Follow-Up Strategy and planning
Hold a coalition meeting to discuss the Plenary Session and the Concluding
Observations
Undertake an evaluation of the project so far have children engaged effectively,
has civil societys capacity been built upon to advocate for change, have NGO
concerns been included in the Concluding Observations?
Provide feedback to the children that were involved were their
recommendations/views reflected in the Concluding Observations?
Work with children and young people to help develop of plans of action
Begin implementation of monitoring procedures and advocacy strategy
If possible, attend the Plenary Session!
Although NGOs may not speak at this session, it is important to attend for a
number of reasons:
o It maintains the NGO/NGOC presence through the entire process, showing the
Government that they are committed and monitoring events it is an excellent
opportunity for lobbying
o The Summary Records do not cover everything that is said at the session. It is
therefore important to attend to gain a full picture of the dialogue between the
Committee and the Government

Summary Records of Plenary Sessions are available on the UN Treaty Body

Database, online at http://www.unhchr.ch/tbs/doc.nsf (Click on the CRC, from the
drop-down list click Summary Record and choose the relevant country)
Unofficial summaries are available through the NGO Group for the
Convention on the Rights of the Child
http://www.crin.org/resources/infoDetail.asp?ID=7599andflag=report
Documents on child rights indicators (as opposed to well-being indicators)
are on the CD (6)

38

Sample Timeline of the Reporting Process

The timeline of reporting process varies. In the past it has taken up to 2 years from state
report to Concluding Observations, but recently turnover has been very fast leaving little
time for NGOs to prepare. It depends on submission of the State Report, the date of the
Committee Session, and also, crucially, on the workload of the Committee. Ideally, the
Committee would like a one-year turnover.
Months

State Report Submitted - Committee schedules report for

consideration at next available session
(The remainder of the timeline depends on this date)
Within 6 months

NGO Alternative Report Submitted

At least 2-3 months

Pre-Sessional Working Group Meeting - List of Issues

Produced

Written Replies Submitted

At least one month

12

5 years

Plenary Session between Committee and Government Concluding Observations Produced

Concluding Observations set agenda for action

Continuing advocacy

Keep track of progress in the compilation of the State Report. Will the
report be on time? Find out when the State expects the report to be
submitted.
Anticipate the pre-session date. eg, if the State Report is submitted in
August, pre-session will not likely take place in September/October, but it
may be in January.
Contact the NGO Group for the Committee on the Rights of the Child to find out
the current rate of turnover and for advice on when the pre-session might take place
Be prepared for an early pre-session. Have the alternative report and any oral
submissions drafted, awaiting only the analysis of the State Report.
Start preparations early for work with children and young people in genuine and
respectful ways to support their participation.

39

Case Study 2: England

John Errington, Programme Director for England, describes his experience of
involving children and young people in the reporting process in England

In England we pushed from a very early stage to get government to engage

with children and young people, but the report did not seem to be a priority. It
took a year to get their agreement and funding to carry out the consultation to
ensure that childrens views were included.

We went into partnership with CRAE (Childrens Rights Alliance England) to complete the
work. Save the Children did the fieldwork involving 50 groups, which included 500 children
and young people. The majority were in community projects etc. to gain excluded groups
views and the rest were a cross section of schools. We provided three sessions to each group
where possible. The first was on childrens rights and the UNCRC. The second was a focus
group with a very open agenda to pick up their issues and concerns, and the third was a
feedback session where they saw the report and were told what would happen next. This
process worked well. Many of the groups were quite inspired after the first session and
started, for example, to do their own consultations with peers to get more ideas for the focus
groups. When all the reports came in they were analysed by our lead worker along with CRAE
who we asked to provide an independent element in the process. This proved to be very
useful to ensure objectivity, as we would have been vulnerable to claims that we were just
pushing our agency agenda otherwise.
We identified the main issues from the consultation as listening to children, lowering the
voting age, tackling racism and discrimination, promoting the UNCRC, conditions in childrens
homes, rethinking benefits for young people, protection for refugees, teacher training and
selection, violence against children, promotion of healthy lifestyles, and community safety and
bullying. 50 children from the groups were invited to a seminar in Westminster where they
worked on these issues in much more depth, made recommendations and were addressed by
the Speaker and an Education Minister.
Framing the final recommendations was difficult and we again relied on CRAE to formulate
that section and check the quality of the evidence. It was finally presented to John Hutton MP
by a group of children and young people. He looked terrified but responded well to their
issues.
Due to the Committees backlog at the time, two reports were submitted by the Government,
the second being an update. The children and young peoples consultation was not
mentioned in either. In the end we sent the consultation report to the Committee directly. In
the lead up to the Geneva hearing we invited the Chair of the Committee to visit London to
meet a children's group. This was really successful. He was met at the airport by two very
young children who took him to their home area in London, walked around with him illustrating
their views by showing him the conditions and asking him to take pictures with a camera they
gave him. In the afternoon he went to a conference centre where children from a wide range
of backgrounds ran a mock trial of Tony Blair to highlight violations of childrens rights. The
only adults present were called as witnesses by the children who ran the whole event with
considerable humour!
The Chair of the Committee was very impressed and reserved private time for the children at
the subsequent NGO session in Geneva with the Committee. He said that this had been the
first such event in the world and that he would like to see it followed in other countries. It was
evident that some of the Concluding Observations were based on input from this session.
We also took a group of children and young people to Geneva and helped them
to present their evidence. This was a positive experience too although very rushed.

40

Child Participation
Child participation is a core element of Save the Childrens involvement in the reporting
process. Participation can mean a range of things: to take part, to be involved in, to
influence, to contribute, to share. However, for the purpose of this document child
participation is defined as the childs fundamental right to influence processes, decisions
and matters affecting his or her life. Child participation is not only a matter of moral
obligation but is also a legal right and a General Principle of the UNCRC.

What is the value of child participation in advocacy initiatives?

Children have the right to be heard and to have their views taken into account
It improves the relevance and appropriateness of public and organisational decisionmaking on childrens issues by ensuring that those with the direct experience of a
situation are able to have their voices heard
It brings particular benefits to the poorest and most marginalised groups of children
who, even more than most children, have often been excluded from the social,
cultural, political and economic life of their communities and societies
It acknowledges children as rights holders and protagonists in the protection and
promotion of those rights
It is a means by which children can be included in their society as active and
responsible citizens
It increases the visibility of childrens issues and helps to improve the accountability
of adult institutions for what happens to children
It allows children a platform to advocate for change

Save the Children Practice Standards

When planning and supporting children and young peoples participation in advocacy the
7 basic Save the Children practice standards for participation should be considered:
An ethical approach: transparency, honesty and accountability
Adult organisations and workers are committed to ethical participatory practice and to the
primacy of childrens best interests.
Childrens participation is relevant and voluntary
Children participate in processes and address issues that affect them either directly or
indirectly and have the choice as to whether to participate or not.
A child friendly, enabling environment
Children experience a safe, welcoming and encouraging environment for their
participation.
Equality of opportunity
Child participation work challenges and does not reinforce existing patterns of
discrimination and exclusion. It encourages those groups of children who typically suffer
discrimination and who are often excluded from activities to be involved in participatory
processes.
Staff are effective and confident
Adult staff and managers involved in supporting/ facilitating childrens participation are
trained and supported to do their jobs to a high standard.
Participation promotes the safety and protection of children
Child protection policies and procedures form an essential part of participatory work with
children.
Ensuring follow-up and evaluation
Respect for childrens involvement is indicated by a commitment to provide feedback
and/ or follow-up and to evaluate the quality and impact of childrens participation.

41
When involving children and young people in advocacy initiatives dont
Involve the children and young people as tokens
Speak on behalf of the children and young people without their consent
Try and change or influence their contributions
When involving children and young people in advocacy initiatives do
Get a commitment by everyone involved children and adults to respect each
others views and to work together for a positive outcome
Recognise the stage of development and maturity of the children involved and use of
methods and approaches that respect and build upon that recognition
Be sensitive and responsive to the context in which children live
Be able to provide meeting places and facilitate activities and events aimed at
encouraging childrens involvement
Know when and how to intervene to support the process while at the same time
encouraging childrens growth and development
Allow the necessary time for children to work together and come up with their own
opinions
Advise children of the reasons for participation and the possible consequences of
different alternatives, thereby offering them the possibility not to participate (which is
as important as the right to take part)
Ensure access to relevant information prepared in a child-friendly way

Be prepared to listen to
childrens priorities
o Be clear about what you are
trying to achieve
o Be clear about the boundaries
of the proposed initiative
o Do the necessary research
o Be willing to consult with
children on methods of
involving them
o Remember that children are
not a homogenous group
o Be prepared to make the
necessary time and resources
available
o Remember the importance of
working with adults as well as
children
o Be prepared to be challenged
o

Anna Kari

Children playing in their backyard on

the Ford Estate in Sunderland, England

The Committee remains committed to exploring means of furthering

participationin particular it encourages more participation of children
during Pre-Session country briefings
Committee on the Rights of the Child
Resources on child participation are included on the CD(2) - The folder is
divided into two sections:
o Guidance and Tools contains toolkits, SCUK guidance, practice standards
and important checklists, forms etc.
o Learning - contains reports, articles and case studies

42

Advocacy
Advocacy is a key NGO contribution throughout the reporting process. It is vital that a
clear advocacy strategy is implemented which incorporates this process. That means
being clear about what policies and actions need to be changed; who is in a position to
make the changes; and how to influence those decision makers.

What changes are we advocating for?

Identify key issues and desired changes through CRSA and TPP development
o What rights are not realised?
o Why are these rights not realised?
o Who is the primary duty bearer?
o What obstacles are there?
o What measures can address the violation?
o How can we ensure the meaningful participation of children?
Select specific policy measures that lend themselves to advocacy rather than
programming approaches
Connect issues to UNCRC articles (eg discrimination art. 2, education art. 28)
Check to ensure the State has not entered a reservation on the relevant articles!
Is there sufficient movement for change? ie is policy change on the relevant issue a
realistic goal?
Consider long term and short term goals
o A long term goal is a realisable vision
o A short term goal is a concrete step towards that vision
Ensure advocacy objectives are S.M.A.R.T. - Specific, Measurable, Achievable,
Realistic and Time-bound.
Ensure objectives are change-oriented ie directed towards a desired change for
children to address a violation of their rights
Consider the following questions when setting goals and objectives:
o What am I trying to achieve?
o What is stopping me?
o What am I going to do about it?

Who can make the changes?

Targets
Be as specific as possible identify individuals and departments rather than
ministries
Research decision-making processes and duty bearers
Think where the real power lies. Identify those with responsibility for the relevant
issues and individuals with the power to make policy changes refer to any mapping
done during the preparation of the Alternative Report (See also SCUK Advocacy
Toolkit, pp 33 & 34)
Identify those who may influence decision makers such as politicians, teachers
unions, parents etc.
Remember to keep this information up to date as people, departments and
responsibilities change!
Allies
Who has the will or the power to assist in advocating for change? Think beyond those
you already or usually work with
Would advocating together as a coalition achieve better results or should the issues be
divided among coalition members according to areas of expertise?
Involve children in advocating for their own rights! At the planning stage, work with
children and young people to consider how and when children might be involved.

43
How can we influence those in power?
Focus on key issues throughout the entire reporting process
The reporting process is the opportunity for levering change open to civil society and
Government. It involves national and international advocacy, awareness raising on a
local and national level, capacity building, coalition building and child participation. All
of these factors lend significant weight to Save the Childrens advocacy for significant
changes for children.
Involve the media (It is relatively cost free but can be very effective!)
Ensure that your media strategy is well planned
the mediaare highly
Mobilise and work together with childrens media
initiatives
important in the efforts to
Identify which media outlets will reach target audiences
make reality the
Prepare a contact list of journalists
principles and standards
Have expert speakers ready on key issues
of the Conventionthe
Prepare messages for public dissemination
media could also play a
When preparing press releases, remember that it must
pivotal role in monitoring
be news What reason does the publication have to
cover the issue?
the actual implementation
Include punchy quotes and avoid using jargon
of the rights of the child
Be creative! Consider new and attention grabbing ways
to get the message across. For example:
Committee on the Rights of
o Invite journalists to events involving children,
the Child
such as the mock trial of Tony Blair held by the
England Programme and CRAE (Case study 2)
o Collect quotes from children based on their experiences
o Write an open letter to the Government
Other Tips and Suggestions
Plan the advocacy strategy well in advance. Following on from the England case
study above (page 39), John Errington said With hindsight we should have reserved
capacity for the advocacy following the arrival of the Concluding Observations. The
parliamentary debate was very superficial as the government wanted to bury the
criticism. We should have had an action plan ready to press our advocacy calls
Lobby decision makers (For tips see Advocacy Toolkit pp. 58-60)
Conduct public campaigns based on key issues (Advocacy Toolkit pp 61 & 62)
Be ready to respond to the Concluding Observations
Use the Concluding Observations to identify advocacy goals look for the main
recommendations regarding the four thematic objective areas and the supporting
strategies
Carry out risk assessments what may be done to minimise risk?
Be proactive identify advocacy opportunities such as elections, parliamentary
debates, the release of key studies, key dates such as Human rights Day, World Aids
Day or World Child Labour Day etc.
Establish clear, simple messages ensure they are accessible to all audiences
including children (Advocacy Toolkit p. 47)
Widely disseminate the State Report, the Alternative Report and the Concluding
Observations Highlight key areas of concern
Translate the documents into local languages and child friendly language ask
children to help, for example, by highlighting areas they do not understand.
Ensure you have the relevant facts and expertise and share information with coalition
members
Support childrens own advocacy initiatives

44
Identify levers, opportunities and relationships throughout the
reporting process
o Assisting with the State Report helps to build relationships with
governmental departments
o Compiling the alternative report can help map out the relevant departments,
ministries, duty bearers and decision makers
o Opening channels of communication with the Government in the run up to the
Pre-Session, meeting with the Government delegation prior to the Committee
session, arranging events with children etc. are all beneficial to future
advocacy on specific issues
o UNICEF and other agencies are also involved in the reporting process - it is
an opportunity also to lobby them

Advocacy opportunities in the reporting process

Changes in Policy to Improve the Implementation of
Child Rights

Key decision makers with the power to make changes

o
o
o
o

Working on the Inside

Meeting with the
government delegation prior
to the Committee Session
Encouraging timely reporting
Facilitating child
consultations
Supplying relevant data for
the state report
Making recommendations
based on programmatic
experience

o
o
o
o
o
o

Working on the Outside

Raising awareness of the
reporting process
Translating and disseminating
the relevant documents
Consulting with communities
and children
Attending the Pre-Session
Attending the Plenary
Session
Arranging side events and
private meetings with the
Committee

Working with Others

o Forming and capacity
building NGO coalitions
o Building constituencies of
support
o Forming civil society
platforms for child rights
o Consulting with children and
facilitating child participation
o Involving the media

Adapted from Save the Children

Advocacy Toolkit 2007 pg 54

o This section is largely based the Advocacy Toolkit developed by Louisa

Gosling, Julia Sherwood, Constanza De Toma (January 2007). It is a detailed
resource and extremely useful in preparing an advocacy strategy. A copy is
on the CD (10)

45

Coalition Working
The SCUK coalitions strategy requires the following top line considerations to be met:
1. There must be a compelling rationale for joining any coalition and clear
objectives for involvement in a coalition in any given year
2. Staff should seek to demonstrate best practice in their conduct with
coalitions
This section will therefore work within this strategic framework by highlighting some of
the rationale arguments for coalition working in UNCRC reporting and flagging up best
practice issues to be considered.

o
o

Compelling Rationale
UNCRC reporting is strategically focused
o UNCRC reporting is a central element of the child rights supporting
strategy and may be used to assess the States performance in relation to
all of SCUKs core themes at international level
Our objectives in the coalition are clear
o The objectives of the reporting process have been dealt with at length
already see also, however, we will achieve more than working alone
and best practice suggestions below.
UNCRC reporting involves working with preferred collaborators, eg
o Child led organisations and campaigning children
o Campaigning organisations (on childrens issues)
o Child rights organisations
o Human rights organisations
We meaningfully add value and lead where it is a core issue
o Save the Children will often be the largest child rights organisation within
the coalition, with the greatest resources and relevant experience
o In the UK we have been the lead organisation, co-ordinating responses
from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
o In Ghana, Save the Children initiated the UNCRC coalition, and brought
in Save the Children Sweden which financed the NGO report and
provided training
o In Lesotho, we provided secretariat support and led on child participation
o NB Save the Children may exert significant power, which must be
sensitively handled see further best practice below
UNCRC reporting encourages national platform building on child rights
o Save the Children can help to build the capacity of local NGOs/Civil
Society, which continues to benefit children even if we withdraw
We will achieve more than working alone
o Coalitions have the potential to bring together a wide range of expertise
and spheres of influence
o Workload, resources and new working methods may be shared
o A coalition report is more likely to be taken into account by the
Committee and is more difficult for the Government to discredit
o The delegation at the Pre-Session can represent a large number of NGOs,
even if their individual members cannot attend
o Coalitions may add increased authority and credibility in reporting and
advocacy
o Coalitions can share information from their areas of focus to improve
monitoring going forward. This information feeds into future reports.
On the added value of Save the Childrens involvement in the reporting
process, see A Tool for Change pp. 30 38. CD (10)
An evaluation of the NGO coalition for child rights in Lesotho, written by
Kevin Byrne, is on the CD (6)

46
Best Practice
In Daniela Baros study, country programmes raised a number of key issues and
challenges relating to coalitions. Some of these issues are dealt with below, with
suggestions for addressing them provided beneath each heading. This list is, of course,
not exhaustive, and some suggestions and issues are crosscutting.

Uncertainty about Save the Childrens role, for example if UNICEF or other
Alliance members are already involved
o Ensure capacity and wider organisational implications have been
accounted for in advance. What is the precise role of Alliance members,
UNICEF etc? How can we work together?
Questions of Ownership of the process. Are certain members in charge?
o Save the Children may be one of the larger and better resourced INGOs
involved. It is important to avoid taking control as the main aim to
facilitate and support active civil society engagement
o Set up an elected co-ordinating committee
o Observe decision-making processes
o Ensure budgets and financial commitments are agreed assign the role of
budget monitoring and ensuring commitments are met to a
committee/working group

Note: It is vital that Save the Children should be careful of its

power relationships and think carefully about ownership and
capacity building. Ultimately it is the state and civil society
that has to engage with the changes needed. SCUKs role
has to be in support of this process.
In order to avoid undermining local NGOs it is important to
see the coalition less as a programme opportunity through
which Save the Children could achieve change and more as
an institution for child rights to collaborate with, and to offer
contributions to.
With this in mind, it may sometimes be necessary to submit a
separate report or to step back from the process and take a
more supporting role. This will depend on the individual
circumstances of each programme.

Inclusion and participation of all coalition members, including children

o Establish in advance and observe basic processes: agenda setting, note
taking, decision making, use of logos/brands, fundraising agreements,
communication between meetings, leadership and governance, approving
public statements, membership criteria, good meeting behaviours and the
frequency of meetings etc.
o Sometimes the conditions may not exist for meaningful and ethical
childrens participation in a particular process and/or coalition partners are
not in agreement. In some cases, if partners cannot be influenced or the
process adapted, Save the Children may wish to withdraw from such
coalitions or processes saying no is sometimes a good way of showing
what we mean by ethical and meaningful child participation.

47

Real representation of civil society

o Ensure a broad range of organisations, community groups and children are
involved
o Respect the diversity of views and ensure that all voices are heard as a
large, well resourced INGO, it is sometimes important that Save the
Children is not seen as over-dominant or controlling.

Addressing internal competition/tensions between interests of members

o Create a clear vision, mission and strategy for the coalition
o Ensure appropriate protocols are in place for sign off, media, dispute
resolution etc. to avoid future problems
o Ensure meaningful participation of all members
o Focus on the objectives of the coalition, rather than outside objectives
Dealing with different levels of commitment/Limited participation
o Consider different levels/types of membership eg Full membership,
associate members, observers etc.
o Ensure commitments are understood and agreed and regularly reviewed
Different ideological positions about children among members
o Ensure Save the Childrens interests and position are properly represented
Work must be Child Rights Programming based
Children are key stakeholders in the process
Child Protection Policy discussed, agreed and adopted
Documentation and learning integral to any collaborative
relationship
o Ensure that preferred collaborators are actively sought
o Agree on key messages and the objectives of the coalition
o Ensure procedures are in place for handling conflicts over decisions, for
dealing with violations of agreements made among the partners, and for
making decisions when there is insufficient time for full consultation.
Too many networks and too many members can reduce effectiveness
o Place a limit on membership if necessary ensure size of the coalition is
sufficiently tied in to objectives
o Ensure members roles are clear and agreed
o Appropriate division of labour is essential for effective working
establish working groups etc. within the coalition
Ensuring institutional memory
o Address the imbalance between information rich and information
poor members - Share access to information
o Involve all members in project evaluation and follow-up
Building on momentum gained during the reporting period - including a
commitment to follow up
o Agree on a strategy for the coalition beyond simply drawing up the
alternative report
o Ensure agreed objectives account for follow-up
o Arrange for regular update meetings
o Continue to share learning and experiences
o Assign issues from the Concluding Observations for members to monitor
- include developments in Annual Reviews and share these
Balancing transparency with the fear of negative reaction from the
authorities
o Highlight the non-confrontational nature and aim of UNCRC reporting
o Communicate with the Government throughout the reporting process
o Ensure messages, publications etc. are not politically partisan or based on
personal opinion

48

Finding ways for constructive dialogue and co-operation with the

government
o Share contacts and working methods with coalition members
o Include suggestions in the Alternative Report for how NGOs can help
with the issues raised
o Begin dialogue with the Government before the Pre-Session to discuss
key issues

Support the Capacity of local NGOs to Advocate for Child Rights

One of the main benefits of the UNCRC reporting process is that it helps local
NGOs to undertake sustainable child rights advocacy
o Produce advocacy toolkits and distribute information packs
o Hold training workshops on the CRC, participation and advocacy
o Disseminate key advocacy materials to local NGOs, eg State Report,
Concluding Observations, relevant legislation etc.
o

The NGO Group for the CRC has published a detailed guide on coalitions
for CRC reporting entitled Networking for Childrens Rights. CD (10)

Louise Dyring Nielson/Save the Children Denmark

Children at the playground in Cuale, Angola, built by Save the

Children

49

Case Study 3: Yemen

Save the Children Swedens use of the reporting process as an advocacy tool
in relation to violence against children
The following case study is taken from the report of the Global Capacity Building
Workshop on Community and Child Centred Advocacy held by the International Save
the Children Alliance in March 2006 in Kathmandu. The report is on the CD(10)
Yemen ratified the UNCRC in 1991 and its third periodic reporting process took place
during 2004/2005. A major shortcoming of the two previous reports, however, had been
that issues of violence against children were not sufficiently addressed by either the
government or NGOs and no serious follow up plans for implementation of the Concluding
Observations had been made.
Save the Children Sweden worked with the Yemen Coalition for Child Rights Care to
submit an alternative report to the Committee on the Rights of the Child and included the
issue of violence against children. In addition, a social workers report emphasised
childrens voices. Workshops and training on child rights as well as awareness raising
activities also took place during this time. In February 2005, the Coalition discussed the
issue with the Committee at the pre-sessional meeting in Geneva.
The Committees Concluding Observations from the third reporting process included:
Revision of existing legislation and explicit prohibition of all forms of physical and
humiliating punishments
Training of teachers and parents on alternative practices
Undertaking awareness raising campaigns on the negative impact of physical and
humiliating punishments
Although Concluding Observations are not legally binding, they are recommendations from
the international body mandated to monitor state obligations and therefore carry significant
political and moral weight. The more knowledge of them and mobilisation behind them, the
greater that weight. Save the Children Sweden suggested that a follow-up plan to the
Concluding Observations would be a strong platform for future advocacy.
Some of the benefits of this work included:
The Yemen Coalition for Child Rights Care, the Child Protection Network and The
Violence against Children Network carrying out programmes to follow up on the UN
Committees Concluding Observations. They now follow a child rights approach.
Other partners in civil society, including the Yemen Coalition, being mobilised to make
use of the Concluding Observations in their advocacy and awareness raising efforts
Save the Children Sweden, along with its partners, convincing the media to report
about the Concluding Observations, including issues of violence against children
The Childrens Parliament discussing the Concluding Observations and preparing a
plan of action for follow-up in its session in August 2005.
Because of NGO involvement in the reporting process, the Yemeni government was more
aware and willing to listen on child rights issues, including violence against children. In
March 2005, for example, the Higher Council for Motherhood and Childhood and the Arab
Resource Collective, supported by Save the Children Sweden, organised a training
workshop on advocacy for the rights of the child; and in September 2005, the Yemeni
Government developed a plan of action emphasising that Yemen should address violence
against children in schools and other settings.
The Coalition subsequently prepared a booklet containing the Concluding Observations to
be disseminated at local and national levels, for follow-up and implementation. Save the
Children Sweden has also translated into all important documents to Arabic to ensure
future follow-up actions.

50

Funding
As we have seen above, good governance, capacity building, civil society engagement
and child participation are some of the main elements of the reporting process and it is
these aspects that should be focused upon when seeking funding.
Below are some brief introductions to the various sources of funding available and the
teams that may be able to help in accessing them.
European Commission (EC)
European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR)
From 2007, the European Commission has new "Financial Perspectives (or budgets) for
the next 7 years. They have restructured their budget lines and there will be an instrument
for Human Rights and Democracy. A communication from the EC about the New
Human Rights and Democracy Programme (Thematic Programme 2007-2013) is on the
CD.

Within this, specific objectives of most relevance for CRC reporting may be:
o To strengthen the international framework for the protection of human rights,
the rule of law and the promotion of democracy
o To strengthen the role of civil society in promoting human rights and democratic
reform, in supporting conflict prevention and in developing political participation
and representation
Guidelines for 2007 onwards are not yet available, but guidance notes for EIDHR funding
2005-2006 are included on the CD as an example. Up to date information will be
available from the Programme Funding Unit in Head Office once it has been released.
UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO)
Global Opportunities Fund (GOF)
The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office is increasingly focusing on international
mechanisms and has expressed an interest in funding CRC reporting. A new GOF Human
Rights Programme has been created which will have around 3.5 million per year. One of
the core areas of funding is child rights and the indicators they have identified include the
following, which are of specific relevance to UNCRC reporting:

Child rights policies with mechanisms for meaningful participation from children
developed
Reform of policies and laws which discriminate against children and increase
their vulnerabilities
Government and NGOs reporting under international instruments in a timely
manner
Legislation reviewed for conformity with international standards including
enforcement measures
Mechanisms for monitoring child rights in place e.g. establish children's
ombudsman, national human rights mechanisms
Improved understanding of relevant international child rights instruments
amongst key stakeholders including their capacity and responsibility to
implement such instruments

Although the FCO has priority focus countries (Myanmar, India, Colombia, China,
Brazil) it will also consider funding proposals from other countries that have a clear
regional impact or have a global demonstration value. Ensuring institutional learning and
enabling replication is therefore extremely important.

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GOF funding proposals follow a strict format involving a two-step process. Initially a
concept note is submitted through the FCO country or regional representative which must
then be approved in London. It is extremely important that the FCO representative is first
contacted to discuss the proposal as their approval is essential for the grant to be
considered in London. If the concept paper is approved the proposal moves on to a full,
detailed bid.
A sample proposal form is on the CD along with guidance notes. The Programme
Funding Unit can also provide technical advice and guidance.
Charitable Trusts and Foundations
There are a number of charitable trusts and foundations that fund work on human rights,
capacity building, governance and participation, all of which are integral to UNCRC
reporting. An example is the Ford Foundation, based in New York, which has funded
Save the Children UK in the past for projects such as human rights education and
frequently funds human rights advocacy initiatives. Some trusts and foundations fund
UNCRC reporting specifically. For example, the Big Lottery Fund in the UK has recently
awarded a large three-year grant to the Childrens Rights Alliance England (CRAE) for
child participation in the CRC reporting process.

Trust fundraising is based heavily on developing working relationships with the relevant
trusts and foundations. All Trust applications are dealt with through the Trusts
Development Team based in Farringdon who will be happy to discuss proposals and
potential donors.
Collaboration with Alliance Partners
There are national institutional donors aside from the UK that Save the Children may
access through collaborative working with Alliance partners. For example, SIDA through
Save the Children Sweden. Some members, such as Italy, have no programmatic presence
and are focused on fundraising, so Save the Children UK may be the implementing
organisation for funding purposes, though the grant would be through the Alliance
partner.

Please contact the Alliance Development Team who may be able to discuss this option
further and put you in touch with the relevant members and staff for discussions.
Other
The other teams at Head Office that may be able to help are Corporate Development and
Leadership Development (Major Donors). However, these funding options might be less
likely due to the types of projects individuals and companies tend to fund. They also look
for quantitative impacts such as numbers of children accessing education or numbers
immunised etc. which are not the direct outcomes of the reporting process.

To discuss any of the options above, or to suggest funding avenues we may not have
considered, please contact Jennifer Grant, Child Rights Advocate.
The Key Objectives and Activities section above may be
amended to form a concept note for institutional donors
Many of the details used in that section were taken from funding
proposals for UNCRC reporting

Contact details for funding teams are on the People Directory of the
Intranet http://intranet/directories/people/search.asp

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Useful Contacts
Child Rights Supporting Strategy
Jennifer Grant, Child Rights
Advocate
1 St. Johns Lane, London, EC1M 4AR,
UK
Ph: +44 207 012 6777
Email: [email protected]
Child Participation Adviser,
Bharti Mepani
1 St. Johns Lane, London, EC1M 4AR,
UK
Ph +44 207 012 6853
Email:
[email protected]
Save the Children Alliance Office,
Geneva
1 Rue de Varemb, CH-1202 Geneva,
Switzerland
Ph: +41 22 919 1200
Fax +41 22 919 2001

NGO Group for the Convention on

the Rights of the Child
1 Rue de Varemb, CH-1202 Geneva,
Switzerland
Ph: +41 22 740 4730
Fax: +41 22 740 1145
Email: [email protected]
www.crin.org/NGOGroupCRC
Secretariat, Committee on the Rights
of the Child
Office of the UN High Commissioner
for Human Rights
UNOG-OHCHR, 1211 Geneva 10,
Switzerland
Ph: +41 22 917 9000
Email: [email protected]
http://www.ohchr.org/english/
Child Rights Information Network
(CRIN)
C/o Save the Children UK, 1 St. Johns
Lane, London, EC1M 4AR, UK
Ph: +44 207 012 6400
Email: [email protected]
www.crin.org

Online Resources
Child Rights Information Network
(CRIN)
Massive amounts of child rights
information and regular email updates.
www.crin.org
Database of NGO Alternative Reports
http://www.crin.org/docs/resources/treaties/
crc.25/annex-vi-crin.asp
High Commissioner for Human Rights
Website
Access to all UN Treaty Body websites and
other UN human rights information
http://www.ohchr.org/english/
UN Treaty Body Database
Documents relating to all UN Treaty
Bodies, including the CRC
http://www.unhchr.ch/tbs/doc.nsf
Raoul Wallenberg Institute Human
Rights Theme Map

Ratification status and links to each

countrys page on the OHCHR website
http://www.rwi.lu.se/tm/ThemeMaps.html
Committee on the Rights of the Child
website
Access to documents ordered by Committee
session as well as General Comments, Days
of general discussion etc.
http://www.ohchr.org/english/bodies/crc/
University of Minnesota Human Rights
Library
Human rights documents and materials by
theme and region
http://www1.umn.edu/humanrts/
International Journal of Childrens
Rights
Subscription and free academic articles on
child rights
http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/mn
p/chil

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Glossary of Terms
Accession/Accede
When a State ratifies a Convention without having previously signed it see further
signature and ratification below
Adoption
A treaty is adopted when it is accepted by a vote at the General Assembly. The CRC was
unanimously adopted on 20th November 1989 as opposed to Entry into Force - see
below.
Declaration
1. A statement made upon ratification that clarifies the states interpretation of a certain
article.
2. A non-binding legal instrument, such as the Universal Declaration on Human Rights or
the Declaration on the Rights of the Child.
Duty Bearer
The person or body responsible for guaranteeing a right
Entry into Force
A Treaty/Convention enters into force when it has received the requisite number of
ratifications as set out within the document itself. The CRC required 20 ratifications and
entered into force on 2nd September 1990.
International Law
Rules aimed at regulating the behaviour of states towards each other and towards the
people within their territories
Legal Mechanisms
Structures implemented to enforce or monitor implementation of the law. The Courts are
an example of a legal mechanism, as is periodic reporting to the Committee on the Rights
of the Child
Member State
A state belonging to a particular international body or organisation, such as the UN, the
EU or the AU as opposed to State Party or Signatory - see below.
Optional Protocol
A separate legal document adding to the Convention/Treaty and requiring separate
ratification
Ratification, Ratify
The process of adopting a treaty by the legislature as opposed to Signature see
below
Reservation
A proviso entered upon ratification of a treaty which limits the states obligations under a
certain article
Rights Bearer
The subject of the rights contained within a treaty

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Signature/Sign
Signing a treaty signifies an intention to ratify. A signatory to a treaty is not bound by its
terms but must not do anything that would run counter to its object and purpose
Signatory
A state that has signed a treaty. Somalia and the US are signatories to the CRC. All other
states are States Parties.
State Party
Once a state has ratified a treaty it becomes a State Party. The plural is States Parties
Treaty Body
The body established to monitor a particular treaty. The Treaty Body for the UNCRC is
the Committee on the Rights of the Child
Treaty/Convention
Interchangeable terms for a legal contract between states. Covenant also means the
same thing e.g. the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)

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CD Contents
1. Academic Articles
Various articles and reports for further reading on the UNCRC, the General
Principles, evolving capacities and related issues
2. Child Participation
Guidance and Tools toolkits, checklists and guidance on participation and
protection
Learning articles, reports and evaluations on child participation
3. Child Rights Programming (CRP)
Handbooks and toolkits on CRP
4. Committee on the Rights of the Child
The Committees Reporting Guidelines, General Comments, Days of general
discussion, Recommendations, Working Methods, Rules of Procedure etc.
5. Convention and Optional Protocols
The UNCRC and Optional Protocols, UNCRC in 50 languages and a child
friendly version
UNCRC summary provisions arranged according to the 8 clusters of rights
Reservations to the UNCRC
Links to other international legal instruments
6. CRC Implementation and Impact
UNICEF Implementation Handbook
UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre Implementation Studies
Child rights Indicators papers
Evaluation of Lesotho NGO Coalition by Kevin Byrne
Laying the Foundations for Childrens Rights by Philip Alston
7. CRC Reporting Sample Documents
Sample Concluding Observations, Lists of Issues, Written Replies, Concluding
Observations and NGO Alternative Reports from: Azerbaijan, Belize, Colombia,
Kyrgyzstan, New Zealand, Norway, Uganda
Compilation of Concluding Observations 1996 2005
Childrens submissions
Save the Children alternative reports
8. Funding
Information on FCO and EC funding streams
9. Starter Pack Documents
Pdf of this paper (Hyperlinks within the document may then be used)
10. Toolkits and Guides
A Tool for Change? Reporting to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child
by Daniela Baro
Save the Children Advocacy Toolkit by Louisa Gosling, Julia Sherwood,
Costanza De Toma
External and internal toolkits and guides that were of use in preparing this Starter
Pack plus others that may be of further assistance.

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