From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
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The Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman, will today lead a delegation at Ireland’s appearance before the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which takes place in Geneva. The hearing takes place over the afternoon of Tuesday 24 January and the morning of Wednesday 25 January 2023.
The hearing will be available to watch live on UN WebTV.
The delegation comprises senior officials from a wide range of government departments. Speaking ahead of the appearance before the Committee, Minister O’Gorman said:
"The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child was adopted over 31 years ago and remains a critical benchmark in the global effort to promote and protect children’s rights.
"Ireland’s Report to the Committee which was submitted last February highlights the many strides we have taken to ensure that children and young people in Ireland can fully enjoy their rights and I hope to further elaborate on the progress made since then. At the same time, I am fully appreciative of the challenges still faced as we work towards making Ireland the best place to be a child.
"I look forward to engagement with the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child over the two days. The Committee has played a valuable role in highlighting human rights issues in Ireland in the past, helping to create an impetus for change. The new National Policy Framework for Children and Young People 2023-2028, which will be published later this year, will be directly informed by recommendations made by the Committee on foot of this Hearing."
Consultation with children and young people has also been integral to the State Report and is testament to the emphasis placed on child and youth participation by the Irish Government. The Minister also acknowledges the active involvement of civil society throughout the CRC reporting process, and its critical role in the further advancement of children’s rights.
Ireland is a strong supporter of the UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies, as essential monitors of States’ implementation of the core international human rights treaties.
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is the most rapidly ratified human rights treaty in history with more countries having ratified the Convention than any other human rights treaty in history - 196 countries have become State Parties to the Convention as of December 2021.
The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) is the body of independent experts that monitors implementation of the Convention. All States Parties to the Convention are obliged to submit regular reports to the Committee on how it is being implemented. Following this hearing, the Committee will make observations and recommendations to Ireland on the implementation of the Convention here.
Ireland’s delegation at the CRC Hearing is led by Minister Roderic O’Gorman and is comprised of senior officials from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Department of Health, Department of Education, Department of Justice, Department of Social Protection, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Department of Finance, Department of Foreign Affairs, and the Attorney General’s Office.