Days of General Discussion

Information about the Day of General Discussion 2008 (English - Français - Español)

Since 1992, the Committee on the rights of the Child has organised 15 general days of discussion on specific provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, or on related issues, in order to improve implementation of the Convention on this topic. At the end of such thematic discussion days, the Committee always adopts Recommendations.

Usually, discussion days are structured in working groups that address sub-themes, as defined in an outline adopted by the Committee eight months earlier. General days of discussions are public meetings open to representatives of States parties, UN agencies and bodies, NGOs, national human rights institutions, professional groups, academics, youth groups, and other interested parties.

Two discussion days (children in armed conflict and children and violence) have resulted in a Recommendation to the UN General Assembly, based on article 45 © requesting the Secretary General to undertake on its behalf studies on the related topics. The UN Study on the Impact of Armed Conflict on Children was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1996 (A/51/306 and Add. 1), the UN Study on Violence against Children was adopted by the General Assembly in 2006 (A/61/299).

Next Day of General Discussion: Resources for the rights of the child - responsibility of States

The next day of general discussion will be held during the 46th session of the Committee on the Rights of the Child, on 21 September 2007, and will focus on article 4 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child on "resources for the rights of the child - responsibility of States " and will look at investments for the implementation of economic, social and cultural rights of children. NGO contributions are available here. More information in English. Information in Français and Español and will be available shortly.

Previous Days of General Discussion

22 September 2008: The Right to Education in Emergencies
21 September 2007: Resources for the Rights of the Child - Responsibility of States
15 September 2006: To Speak, Participate and Decide - The Child’s Right to be Heard
16 September 2005: Children without Parental Care
17 September 2004: Implementing Child Rights in Early Childhood
19 September 2003: The Rights of Indigenous Children
20 September 2002: The Private Sector as and its Role in Implementing Child Rights
28 September 2001: Violence against Children in the Family and in Schools
22 September 2000: State Violence against Children
1999: 10th Anniversary: General Measures of Implementation
1998: HIV/AIDS
1997: Children with Disabilities
1996: The Child and the Media
1995: The Girl Child
1994: Role of the Family
1993: Economic Exploitation
1992: Children and Armed Conflict