The committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against women (CEDAW) and the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) issued joint General Recommendation No. 31/ general Comment No.18 on harmful practices. This marks the first time that two expert United Nations committees have joined forces to set out a common interpretation of the obligations on states to ent harmful practices. Th
2. ABOUT CEDAW
– The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against
Women (CEDAW) is an international document which lists the rights of all girls
and women.
– It is an important agreement about equality between girls/women and
boys/men. CEDAW says all discrimination against girls and women must end.
3. ABOUT CRC
– The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (commonly
abbreviated as the CRC or UNCRC) is a human rights treaty which sets out the
civil, political, economic, social, health and cultural rights of children.
– “Rights" are things every child should have or be able to do. All children have
the same rights. These rights are listed in the UN Convention on the Rights of
the Child. Almost every country has agreed to these rights.
4. WHAT ARE RIGHTS ?
– Rights (or human rights) are things that every person has that describe what
she or he is entitled to. These rights are written in an international document
called the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which was agreed by
the United Nations in 1948.
– The UDHR clearly says that girls and women and boys and men have the same
rights.
– The rights of all children are laid out in more detail in the Convention on the
Rights of the Child (CRC). The CRC says these rights apply equally to all girls and
boys.
5. WHAT IS CONVENTION ?
– A convention is an agreement between countries to behave a certain way.
Conventions about human rights are promises between governments that they
will treat the people who live in their countries in a particular manner.
– When a country ratifies a convention, it often changes its own laws so that the
goal of the convention can be reached.
– Conventions put a legal obligation on governments to do all they can to respect
the rights in it.
6. WHAT IS DISCRIMINATION ?
– Discrimination means unfair treatment of a person or group for any reason such
as being a girl or a boy, belonging to a particular race or religion or having
different abilities, and so on.
– When people are discriminated against, they cannot enjoy their rights.
– Discrimination against girls and women means directly or indirectly treating
girls and women differently from boys and men in a way which prevents them
from enjoying their rights.
8. Both CRC and CEDAW highlight
– Girls have a right to education, health and nationality.
– All forms of violence against girls and women, such as trafficking and
prostitution, must end.
– Discrimination and being treated unfairly because of being a girl must end.
– Both parents are responsible for raising their children.
– Play, rest and leisure are important for all children.
– These rights are applicable in family life as well.
– Governments must do all they can to make sure girls’ rights are protected.
9. WHY TO CARE ABOUT CEDAW
– CEDAW helps girls and women of every age to claim their rights
– CEDAW calls upon governments to take action to end discrimination of girls and
women
– Being aware of girls’ and women’s rights is the first step towards ending
discrimination faced by girls and women
10. WHY TO CARE ABOUT CRC
– We should do everything in our power to protect and promote their rights to
survive and thrive, to learn and grow, to make their voices heard and to reach
their full potential. In spite of the overall gains, there are many children who
have fallen even further behind.
– To meet these challenges, and to reach those children who are hardest to reach,
it is important to be aware of CRC.
11. CEDAW has 30 articles.
These articles
explain what girls’ and
women’s rights are
and what governments
should do to end
discrimination against
them.
CEDAW : ARTICLES
12. ARTICLES 1-16
– Articles 1-16 of CEDAW outline the different things governments must do to end
discrimination against girls and women.
– It also lists specific areas where discrimination against girls and women must
end, like laws, marriage, education, health care, and employment.
13. ARTICLES 17-22
– Articles 17-22 of CEDAW set up a committee of international experts called the
CEDAW Committee (or the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination
against Women).
– The CEDAW Committee monitors whether governments that ratified CEDAW are
doing enough to end discrimination against girls and women.
14. ARTICLES 22-30
– These articles deal with the administration(or management) of the Convention.
The articles say how the United Nations and governments should work together
to make sure rights of girls and women are protected.
– The articles also say how disagreements between governments about girls’
andwomen’s rights can be settled.
15. CRC has 54 articles. All
the rights are connected
to each other, and all are
equally important. As
you grow, you have more
responsibility to make
choices and exercise your
rights.
CRC : ARTICLES
16. CARED FOR
– All organizations concerned with children, for example, schools and the health
service, should work towards what is best for each child. Article 3
– All children have a right to a birth certificate. Article 7
– Children should not be separated from their parents unless it is for their own good.
For instance, if a parent is hurting their child or not taking care of them properly.
Article 9
– If parents decide to live apart, children have the right to stay in contact with both
parents. Article 9
– Families who live in different countries have the right to get back together and live
in the same place. Article 10
17. PROTECTION
– All children should be protected from violence, abuse and neglect, and
governments should protect them. Article 19
– Children should not be allowed to do work that is dangerous or might make
them ill, or stops them going to school. Article 32
– Children have a right to be protected from dangerous drugs, and from the
business of making or selling them. Article 33
– Nobody can do anything to your body that you do not want them to do, and
grown-ups should protect you. Article 34
– No child should be punished in a way that humiliates or hurts them. Article 37
18. PARTICIPATING
– All children have a right to be able to give their opinion when adults are making
a decision that will affect them, and adults should take it seriously. Article 12
– All children have a right to find out things, and say what they think through
speaking, writing, drawing etc. unless it breaks the rights of others. Article 13
– All children have the right to meet, make friends with, and join clubs with other
children. Article 15
– All children have the right to privacy. Article 16
– All children have the right to information from TV, radio, newspapers and the
internet. These media should provide information that children can understand.
Article 17
19. FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
– All children have the right to think and believe what they want, and to practise
their religion. Article 14
– Parents should help children learn what is right and wrong. Article 14
– Children who are refugees or asylum seekers in another land have the right to
special protection. They have the same rights as children who were born in that
country. Article 22
– Children who come from a minority group have the right to learn and use the
language and customs of their families. Also to practice their own religion and
use their own language. Article 30
20. EDUCATION AND PLAY
– All children have the right to an education. Article 28
– The purpose of education is to develop every child’s personality, talents and mental
and physical abilities. Article 29
– Education should teach children to respect their parents, their own and other
cultures. Article 29
– Education should prepare children to live responsibly and peacefully in a free
society. Article 29
– Education should teach children to respect the natural environment. Article 29
– All children have the right to relax and play, and to join a wide range of activities.
Article 31
21. SURVIVAL & DEVELOPMENT
– Every child has the right to life. Article 6
– Children who are disabled, either mentally or physically, have a right to special
care and education so they can lead full and independent lives. Article 23
– All children have a right to good health and good quality health care. All
children should have clean water, nutritious food and a clean environment so
they stay healthy. Article 24
– All children have the right to a decent standard of living. The Government
should help families who cannot afford to provide a decent standard of living for
their children. Article 27
22. REHABILITATION AND CARE
– Children under the age of 16 years should not take a direct part in any conflict.
Article 38
– Children who are affected by an armed conflict should have special protection
and care. Article 38
– Children who have suffered in any way have a right to get help in a safe place, to
help them recover. Article 39
