Children can take rights issues to UN

Published Jan 15, 2014

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United Nations - A new legal instrument will soon allow children from 10 countries to complain to a key UN committee if they believe their human rights have been violated.

The optional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child received the required 10th ratification from Costa Rica on Tuesday, triggering its entry into force on April 14.

Marta Santos Pais, the UN special representative on violence against children, said the “historic” entry into force of the protocol will place “the rights and aspirations of children at the centre of the human rights agenda.”

Initially, only children from the 10 countries will be able to seek redress for the violation of their rights. But Santos Pais said the UN and other organisations will keep promoting ratification of the protocol.

Sapa-AP

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