EU Presidency Statement - Rights of the Child

EU Presidency Introductory Statement on the RIGHTS OF THE CHILD, by the UK Mission to the UN on behalf of the European Union, UN General Assembly, Third Committee, New York

Mr. Chairperson,

On behalf of the European Union and some members of the Latin American and Caribbean States Group, I have the honour to introduce under agenda item 67 the draft resolution entitled "The Rights of the Child", contained in document A/C.3/60/L.22

This is, Mr. Chairperson, a vital issue in the work of this Committee. 2005 marks the 15th anniversary of the entry into force of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. And yet we find that children are still growing up denied fundamental rights and denied a fair chance in life. Children's rights are violated all over the globe. Irrespective of birthplace, wealth, religion or social status. It is the inherent and unique vulnerability of children, that makes such violations abhorrent to all of us. We clearly, therefore, have much more to do in highlighting the issues which prevent the full enjoyment of human rights by children, as well as responses that States and, in support, the UN may take in guaranteeing those rights.

Mr. Chairperson, the Convention on the Rights of the Child remains a beacon to demonstrate our commitment to the protection and promotion of child rights, a commitment we must all fulfil. This draft resolution continues to highlight the vital role of the Convention and other United Nations mechanisms in the protection and promotion of human rights. It details the challenges that continue to face all States in ensuring the full enjoyment of child rights; Identity, family relations, poverty, health, education, violence, discrimination, housing, displacement,

disability, child labour, the death penalty, the sale of children, child prostitution, child pornography and armed conflict.

This year, Mr. Chairperson, we have also used this resolution to highlight the particular vulnerability of children infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. We believe that the destructive force of HIV/AIDS which leaves children in utterly vulnerable situation, undermines Child Rights on so many levels, and therefore merits particular attention. This resolution will focus on other issues particularly relevant to child rights in future sessions of the GA.

Mr. Chairperson, the sponsors look forward to working with delegations on this text. And we hope that it will, despite concerns raised on individual issues, attract the support of all delegations as an indispensable package to promote concerns related to the rights of the child in the UN.

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 (16/11/2005)
• EU Presidency Statement - Explanation of Vote: the Girl Child (15/11/2005)
• EU Presidency Statement - Rights of the Child (14/10/2005)
• European Commission puts women's reproductive health and child rights at heart of Development policy (4/5/2005)