Welcome to the United Nations
Language:
  1. Home
  2. About Us
  3. Priorities and Commitments
  4. General Comments by the Convention on the Rights of the Child

General Comments by the Convention on the Rights of the Child

 

UN Campaign towards universal ratification of the Optional Protocols to the CRC

2010 marked the 20th anniversary of the entry into force of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the 10th anniversary of the adoption of its two Optional Protocols, respectively on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography (OPSC) and on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict (OPAC). The ratification and implementation of these treaties lay the foundation for the safeguard of children’s rights and their effective protection from violence, abuse and exploitation.

In 2010 a global campaign was launched to promote the universal ratification of the Optional Protocols. The campaign was designed to mobilize the widest political and social support to children’s protection.

The OPSC reinforces the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child from sexual exploitation. The global campaign has helped to raise awareness of States Parties obligation to protect all children below the age of 18 from all forms of sexual exploitation, to criminalize all acts of sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography and to ensure the rights of child victims and witnesses. A child who has been sexually exploited should be treated as a victim rather than a criminal, irrespective of the legal age of sexual consent.

The OPSC calls for the adoption and effective implementation of national legislation in conformity with its provisions, including to:

  • Criminalize the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.
  • Establish extra-territorial jurisdiction and abolish the double criminality requirement with respect to offenses covered by the OPSC.
  • Ensure that offences covered by the OPSC are made extraditable.
  • Ensure the liability of legal persons.
  • Protect the rights and interests of child victims and witnesses at all stages of the criminal justice process, including their privacy and safety, taking into consideration their views, needs and concerns.
  • Safeguard children’s rights, best interests and participation in relevant decisions and proceedings and ensure the rights of child victims to appropriate assistance, including their right to recovery, reintegration and compensation.
  • Strengthen the capacity of professionals working with and for children to prevent and address the offenses covered by the OPSC.
  • Raise awareness among the public at large, including children, through information, education and training about preventive measures and harmful effects of the offences referred to in the OPSC.
  • Promote cross-border and international cooperation and mutual assistance for the implementation of the OPSC.
  • Promote respect for States Parties’ reporting obligations to the Committee on the Rights of the Child and relevant follow up to the Committees’ concluding observations and to recommendations of children’s rights mandate holders. 

The Global Campaign for the universal ratification of the Optional Protocols was launched by the SRSG on Violence against Children, in cooperation with UNICEF, the OHCHR, the Committee on the Rights of the Child, the SRSG for Children in Armed Conflict and the Special Rapporteur on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography. It is promoted in collaboration with Members States, other UN agencies and offices, international organizations and NGOs at the global, regional and national levels.  

More information:

Ratification Status of the Convention on the Rights of the Child

Ratification Status update of Optional protocol on the Convention on the Rights of the Child on Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography

Handbook on the Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornograpy (published by UNICEF Innocenti Research Center)

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

Optional Protocol on a Communications Procedure Download

Rules of procedure under the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a Communications Procedure Download

Ratification Status of Optional Protocol on a Communication Procedure

Human Rights Council Working Group on an optional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child to provide a communications procedure (SRSG submission)

Child-friendly versions of the Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child

Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography - Raising Understanding among Children  and Young People on the OPSC

This booklet explains the contents of one of these international commitments: the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography (or the OPSC for short). The OPSC is important because it explains what can be done to stop sexual violence against children and how we can help the children affected. 

The official version of the OPSC includes many technical and legal terms (for example: jurisdiction and extradition). Terms that can be difficult for people of all ages to understand. With the support and guidance from children, we have chosen to include and keep many of these terms within this booklet and provide explanations. Children told us that while these terms may be difficult to understand, it is helpful to learn about them. For these reasons, this version of the OPSC may be best used by older children and young people and with the support of knowledgeable adults, teachers and group leaders.

Download

English French Spanish Greek Nepali Polish Portuguese Turkish 

Optional Protocol on a Communication Procedure - Raising Understanding among Children  and Young People on the OPCP

In this publication you will find information about a set of commitments that help protect children and support them when their rights have been violated. These commitments can be found in a document called the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a Communications Procedure (or the OPCP for short). 

In this publication you can learn:

1.    What is the United Nations?
2.    What is a Convention and what is an Optional Protocol?
3.    What is a communication procedure?
4.    And more helpful information

This booklet provides a summary of the OPCP. It captures the major points of the official version. Some details, however, are not included. If you have more questions or need to use the OPCP for legal purposes, we recommend that you refer to the official, full length version. There is also a resource entitled: ‘Speak up for your rights – OP3 CRC’ that provides helpful information to children, young people and child-led organizations about the OPCP (you can find links to these resources at the end of the publication). 
 

Download

English French Spanish Bosnian Nepali Polish Portuguese Turkish