EU Presidency Statement - Explanation of Vote: the Girl Child

EU Presidency Explanation of vote on the THE GIRL CHILD, by the UK Mission to the UN on behalf of the European Union, UN General Assembly, Third Committee, New York

Mr.Chairperson,

I have the honour of delivering this explanation of vote on behalf of the European Union. Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Turkey, Albania, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, Iceland, Norway, Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova align themselves with this explanation of vote.

The European Union attaches great importance to the Rights of Girls. We are grateful to SADC, in particular Namibia, for their committed and patient stewardship of this resolution. We believe that this resolution helps foster international awareness and understanding of issues that may limit girls' full realisation of human rights. The draft before us is a result of a long and constructive consultation and the European Union believes that it deserves universal support from delegations.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child remains the most widely recognised child rights protection mechanism. The European Union will vote against any amendment that is designed to weaken references to the Convention. We urge delegations that share our commitment to the Convention to support the current text and vote against this amendment.

Thank you, Mr.Chairperson.

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• EU Presidency Re-Introduction Statement - Rights of the Child (18/11/2005)
• EU Presidency Statement - Explanation of Vote: the Girl Child (15/11/2005)
• EU Presidency Statement - Rights of the Child (25/10/2005)