The Committee on the Rights of the Child has decided to devote its next day of general discussion to the theme of the rights of indigenous children. The meeting will take place at the Palais Wilson in Geneva, Switzerland, on Friday, 19 September 2003. The meeting is open to the public and representatives of non-governmental organizations, including indigenous organizations and youth groups, UN programs and agencies, governments and other interested individuals and organizations are welcome to attend.
The programme for the Day of General Discussion is available in English, French and Spanish. Links to the documents submitted can be found below. A summary of the submissions for the day is available as a word and pdf document.
In addition, NGOs that will still be in Geneva on Saturday, 20 September are invited to attend an informal training sessions on reporting to treaty bodies. This session is aimed primarily at NGOs working on indigenous issues, but all are welcome to attend. For those interested, we ask you to send a message to the Secretariat (crc@ohchr.org) with the names of interested participants, so that we can make arrangements for a security badge. A programme of the training session is available in English, French and Spanish.
The focus of the general discussion will be on questions of non-discrimination and cultural specificity. The first working group will discuss issues of racism and xenophobia and discrimination in accessing services as well as discrimination when indigenous children come into contact with law enforcement officials or the justice system. The second working group will focus on the right to identity and the right to education. The objective of the discussion is to facilitate the exchange of information and experiences in order to assist the Committee in addressing the rights of indigenous children during the examination of State Party reports.
NGOs are invited to submit written contributions on the themes mentioned above to the Office of the High Commissioner as soon as possible, and before 27 June 2003. Although documents may be submitted in English, French or Spanish, they will not be translated into the other languages. If possible, documents should be sent electronically. Oral contributions from NGOs are also welcome during the day itself but should be limited to interventions in the debate rather than formal statements.
For registration and to submit written contributions, please contact the Committee on the Rights of the Child - Secretariat, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Palais des Nations - CH-1211 Geneva 10 - Switzerland, Phone +41 22 917 9235 or 917 9000, Fax +41 22 917 9022, or email crc@ohchr.org
Further information
Further details of the session are available in an outline prepared by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights [word and pdf format at CRIN or pdf at OHCHR]
An information brochure is available in English, French and Spanish on the website of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights [html]
Reports submitted for previous General Days of Discussion are available on the CRIN website.
Recommendations
The following documents have been submitted for the Day of General Discussion
1. The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, (14pp) [report].
2. International Labour Office, (7pp), [report]
3. International Institute for Child Rights and Development, University of Victoria, Canada, "Non-Discrimination and Diversity: The Rights of Indigenous Children (Access to Basic Services and Legal Protection), (9pp) [report]
4. World Vision, "The Rights of Indigenous Children: Ongoing Challenges", (8pp) [report]
5. Archana Mehendale, "Isolated Communities and Ignored Claims: Tribal Children's Right to Education in India", (7pp) [report]
6. Norma Del Rio Lugo, Programa Infancia, Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana-Mexico, "Los Derechos en la diversidad cultural", (5pp) [report]
7. Government of Norway, Submission to the Child's Rights Discussion Day (4pp) [report]
8. The Rights of Indigenous Children: Cultural Specificity in the Canadian Educational System, (4 pp) [report]
9. Indigenous Children and Early Childhood Development Programmes, Bernard van Leer Foundation, (9 pp) [report]
10. Aportación de México al debate general sobre el tema "Los derechos de los niños indígenas" (11 pp) [report]
11. UNICEF, Implementing the Right to Education for Indigenous Children, (8 pp) [report]
12. Centre for Organisation Research and Education, Discrimination against Indigenous Children in India: Race, Class and Culture, (10 pp) [report]
13. Child Rights International Research Institute, Need for Continuing Dialogue with Indigenous Peoples about the Needs of their Children, (7 pp) [report]
14. Government of Bolivia, Los Niñas y adolescentes y la exclusión social étnica en Bolivia, (7 pp) [report]
15. to 17. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission of Australia, Part 1 Identity and Culture, (7 pp) [report] Part 2 Non-discrimination and equality, (8 pp) [report] Part 3 Law and Public order (13 pp) [report]
18. The child of Bangladesh, Submitted by Suman Barua, (6 pp) [report]
19. Human Rights Watch, Discrimination Against Bedouin Children in Israel's Schools, (23 pp) [report]
20. Analysis and challenges for the Rights of the Indigenous Children in Argentina, (4 pp), [report in English] [report in Spanish]
21. Defense Association of the International Children, DNI Colombia, Violation of rights to children and young people pertaining to indigenous populations in Colombia (15 pp) [report]
22. Centre for Human Evolution Studies and Ius Primi Viri, International Association, Principles for a universal human rights education, (8 pp) [report]
23. First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada, Non-discrimination and diversity, (8 pp) [report]
24. Formosa: a province in development which negates social identity and diversity, submitted by Luis María Zapiola [Spanish]
25. The protection of the rights of the child - legislation, judicial actions and policies, submitted by Submitted by Dr. Jose Martín Gallardo [Spanish]
26. Statement: Discurso Señor Rafael Chela, Grupo de trabajo de la Comision de derechos humanos [spanish]
27. Statement by Mr Wilton Littlechild, United Nations Secretariat for the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues [report]
28. Statement by Mr Adam Kuleit Ole Mwarabu, an indigenous youth representative from Tanzania [report]
29. Closing remarks: Ms Ida Nicolaisen, member of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues [report]