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Documents submitted for the Day of General Discussion (17 September 2004) on "Implementing Child Rights in Early Childhood"

The Committee on the Rights of the Child devoted its 2004 day of general discussion to the theme of child rights in early childhood. The meeting took place at the Palais Wilson in Geneva, Switzerland, on Friday, 17 September 2004. The meeting was attended by members of the public and representatives of non-governmental organisations, including indigenous organisations and youth groups, UN programmes and agencies, governments and other interested individuals and organisations.

Background

The UN General Assembly 2002 Special Session on Children adopted a Plan of Action that committed Member States to the "Development and implementation of national early childhood development policies and programmes to ensure the enhancement of children's physical, social, emotional, spiritual and cognitive development". The Committee on the Rights of the Child, a body of independent experts responsible for reviewing progress made by States parties in implementing the Convention on the Rights of the Child, decided at its 33rd session to devote its 2004 day of general discussion to "Implementing Child Rights in Early Childhood" in order to broaden understanding and raise awareness about the rights of the young children. Early childhood covers different age groups in different countries and regions, ranging from zero to four, to zero to eight years. The Committee does not favour the one or the other, and this theme day will endeavour to broaden understanding and raise awareness about the rights of the youngest children. The Committee will focus its discussions on both protection and participation aspects in early childhood as spelled out in the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The Committee adopted Recommendations based on the input received and discussions that took place during this day. These are available in English, French and Spanish.

Further information about the event is available on the website of the Committee on the Rights of the Child.

A list of the submissions for the day is available in [word] format.

The Committee on the Rights of the Child decided to devote its next Day of Discussion to the issue of "Children without parental care". This will take place during its 40th session, in September 2005. An outline is available in [word] format.

Reports submitted for previous General Days of Discussion are available on the CRIN website.

The following documents have been submitted for the Day of General Discussion:

1. Bernard van Leer Foundation, Children are our Future [pdf]

2. Canadian Child Care Federation, Keeping our Promises: Right from the Start [pdf]

3. Centre for Human Evolution Studies (CEU) & Ius Primi Viri International Association (IPV), The Rights of the Child [pdf]

4. Comunità Papa Giovanni XXIII Association, Starting Sound Practices Early [pdf]

5. European Association for Children in Hospital (EACH), Steps for Implementing the Child's Right to Health [part 1 and part 2]

6. FORCES India - New Delhi, The Status of the Young Indian Child [pdf]

7. FORCES - Tamil Nadu, Right to Participation of Young Children in India [pdf]

8. German League for the Child [pdf]

9. Groupe Africain, Un acte qui contribue à la protection et à la promotion des droits de l'enfant : la reconnaissance légale [Français - pdf]

10. Human Rights Watch - Children's rights division [pdf]

11. International Baby Food Action Network, Guaranteeing the rights to survival and development of young children, including the rights to health, nutrition and education [part 1, part 2.1, part 2.2 India, part 2.3 Italy, part 2.4 Pakistan, part 2.5 UK]

12. International Foster Care Organisation [pdf]

13. IPPA, the Early Childhood Organisation, Republic of Ireland, Implementing Child Rights in Early Childhood [pdf]

14. NGO Coalition for the Implementation of the CRC - Germany [pdf]

15. NGO Coalition for the Implementation of the CRC - DRC [Français - pdf]

16. RAPCAN, Realising the Rights of the Youngest Child [pdf]

17. República Argentina - Subsecretaría de Educación, El derecho a la niñez [Español - pdf]

18. SOS Kinderdorf International, Implementing Child Rights in Early Childhood [pdf]

19. SRG Welfare Society Bangladesh, The Child of Bangladesh & Poor and Destitute Children in Bangladesh [pdf]

20. UNICEF [pdf]

21. UNICEF New Zealand and Action for Children and Youth Aotearoa [pdf]

22. Vera Misurcova, Implementation of Children's Traditional Games in Early Childhood [pdf]

23. Victoria Martinez, La primera infancia desde una perspectiva de derechos humanos [Español pdf]

24. Ville de Genève - Délégation à la petite enfance, Petite enfance : des droits pour ouvrir à la citoyenneté ? [Français - pdf]

25. Presbyter Gustavo Mascó, Realizacion de los Derechos del Niño en la Primera Infancia [Español - pdf]

26. Dr. Rubén Efron, Aporte al Debate "Realizacion de los Derechos del Niño en la Primera Infancia" [Español - pdf]

27. Quaker United Nations Office, Children of Imprisoned Mothers [pdf]

28. Peter Newell, End All Corporal Punishment of Children Global Initiative [pdf]

29. Norberto Liwski, Realización de los derechos del niño en la primera infancia [Español - English]

30. Women's Coalition for Peace and Development & India Alliance for Child Rights, What has changed for girls in India in the decade since Beijing and Cairo? [pdf]

31. Government of Venezuela, Early Childhood in the Venezuelan Education sector: Implementing Child Rights [pdf]

32. India Alliance for Child Rights (IACR), India's Girl Child: Early Childhood - or Early Disposal? [pdf]

33. Bruce Abramson, The CRC Rights of Babies and Young Children: 3 Key Issues [pdf]

34. Government of Costa Rica, Insumos de Costa Rica Para los Grupos de Trabajo [Español - pdf]

Background papers

1. Caroline Arnold, Positioning ECCD in the 21st Century, Submission written for the Consultative Group for Early Childhood Care and Education, 2004 Co-ordinators' Notebook [pdf]

2. Defence for Children International, International Children's Rights Monitor: Are Youngest Children Being Sidelined in the Child Rights Movement? (Hard copy only)

3. Council of Europe, Children, participation, projects - how to make it work! [English and French]

4. CLAP, Exploring Rights of the Child in Early Childhood: a Report of Interface for Perspective Building on Legal Aspect of Early Childhood Care and Development [word]