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The Committee on the Rights of the Child

The Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) is composed of 18 independent experts, which are elected for a term of four years by States parties. It monitors the implementation of the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). It also monitors the implementation of the two Optional Protocols to the Convention (see below).

Members serve in their personal capacity and may be re-elected if nominated. The Committee convenes three times a year for sessions of three weeks duration, normally in January, May and September at the United Nations Office in Geneva.

Definition of 'the child' of the CRC

Individual Complaints (not yet possible)

State reporting and NGOs

Schematic representation of state reporting procedure 

Convention on the Rights of the Child

The Convention was adopted and opened for signature, ratification and accession by  General Assembly resolution 44/25 of 20 November 1989. It entered into force on 2 September 1990, in accordance with article 49.

Text of the CRC (Website of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights)

African States Parties to the Convention

All African States are parties to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, with the exception of Somalia.

Optional Protocols

In addition to the new Optional Protocol which establishes an individual complaint procedure, there are two other Optional Protocols to the CRC which regulate specific areas of children's rights:

Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child
on the involvement of children in armed conflict

Adopted and opened for signature, ratification and accession by General Assembly resolution A/RES/54/263 of 25 May 2000. Entry into force: 12 February 2002.

Text of the Optional Protocol

Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography

Adopted and opened for signature, ratification and accession by General Assembly resolution A/RES/54/263 of 25 May 2000. Entry into force: 18 January 2002.

Text of the Optional Protocol

Last change: 22.02.12 - 17:14