CRC - Convention on the Rights of the Child

The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 20 November 1989. It was adopted because the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was too general to address the specific characteristics of children’s rights. Belgium ratified the CRC on 16 December 1991.

The CRC sets out the minimum requirements that must be met in the treatment and care of children. The Committee on the Rights of the Child monitors compliance with the Convention and also regularly provides authoritative interpretations of certain articles through general comments.

States Parties to the CRC are assessed in an evaluation cycle:

1. State report + alternative reports from civil society
   Member States that are parties to the CRC must, whenever the Committee on the Rights of the Child requests it, submit a report to the Committee on their progress in fulfilling their obligations and on the progress children are making in enjoying these rights. In addition, civil society may submit alternative reports.
2. List of issues from the Committee on the Rights of the Child + constructive dialogue between the State and the Committee
   Based on these reports, the Committee provides a list of issues to the State concerned. The State is then invited to a public session as part of a “constructive dialogue”. During this session, the State’s report is discussed with the Committee’s experts. The list of issues serves as a guiding thread during this dialogue.
3. Concluding observations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child
   Finally, the Committee adopts its concluding observations. These are recommendations to guide the State concerned in the implementation of the CRC.

Further information: UN Treaty Body Database