Leiden Children's Rights Observatory

Dear Readers, Last week, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child marked the 10th anniversary of the Third Optional Protocol on a Communications Procedure (OPIC). We invite you to read and share our reflections on this milestone. https://lnkd.in/eUn2WNYP 📢 Additionally, the conference report from our earlier symposium celebrating OPIC’s 10th anniversary is now available on our website. 📢 #ChildrensRights #OPIC #Accesstojusticeforchildren #righttoremedy #InternationalLaw #CRC #CRCCommittee #ConferenceReport #LeidenChildrensRightsObservatory Rehana DoleTon Liefaard Laura Marchetti

First Annual Children’s Rights Symposium for Australia and the Asia-Pacific - 22 November 2024 The Convention on the Rights of the Child at 35: Developments in children’s rights in Australia, Asia-Pacific, and the World Very much looking forward to speaking at this event next month, commemorating the 35th Anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child hosted by Western Sydney University -> https://lnkd.in/esyWzdiE Feel welcome to join our conversation or attend one of the other activities that week, including a webinar on 19 November 2024 "Teaching the rights of the child in universities: Global experts in conversation" with Julia Sloth-Nielsen Nicola Taylor Dr Holly Doel-Mackaway and moderated by Meda Couzens -> https://lnkd.in/e_7cnTCM https://lnkd.in/exs-pE_S #globalconversations #CRC #35yearsCRC #childrensrights #childrights #LeidenUniversity #LeidenLawSchool Leiden Law School Universiteit Leiden Leiden Children's Rights Observatory Advanced Studies in International Children’s Rights

📢 New Case Commentary Published! Dear Readers, We’re pleased to share an analysis of the CRC Committee’s decision in M.L. and others v. Georgia. The case sheds light on the abuse suffered by children in a Georgian orphanage, addressing the State's failure to protect them. The author, Prof. Conor O'Mahony of University College Cork, highlights the Committee's significant reliance on ECtHR case law, strengthening the interpretation of child protection obligations under the CRC. Additionally, the case emphasizes the Committee’s more flexible approach to admissibility, making it an effective tool for addressing ongoing child protection concerns. Our sincere thanks goes out to the author. Read and share your thoughts! #OPIC #CRC #CRCCommittee #accesstojustice #historicalabuse #childprotection #childreninalternativecare #childrendeprivedofliberty #tortureandilltreatment #childrights #childrensrights #humanrights #casenotes #ECtHR Ton Liefaard Rehana Dole Nicolás Espejo Yaksic Daniella Zlotnik Raz Julia Sloth-Nielsen Law Uwc https://lnkd.in/e2DNAh7f

10 years delivering justice to children Last week the Committee on the Rights of the Child commemorated the 10th Anniversary of the Third Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a Communications Procedure (OPIC) For a report on the meeting -> https://lnkd.in/en-gPmP2 It was an honour to represent Leiden University and the Leiden Children's Rights Observatory during this meeting and share our research findings concerning the first 10 years of OPIC. We have identified four crucial focus areas requiring our attention to uphold and increase OPIC's accessibility, credibility and impact. In sum: 1. Increase the number of ratifications by States (only 53 States have ratified so far); 2. Support, as a collective effort, the Committee on the Rights of the Child's role in delivering legally sound, consistent and authoritative decisions, reports and individual & systemic remedies; 3. Promote the use of third party interventions (amicus briefs etc.) to help the Committee navigate complex legal questions and clarify State obligations under the CRC and its Optional Protocols; 4. Enhance the accessibility of the OPIC procedure for children and increase the efforts to make the procedure child-centered, including for example the use of oral hearings (remote or otherwise), the development of child-friendly remedies and the publication of child-friendly summaries of OPIC decisions. Our submission concluded by underscoring OPIC's significance for the development of just and timely remedies for children at the domestic level. OPIC's true potential lies at the local level, close to where children need to have access to justice. "Ultimately, OPIC supports both individual redress and the development of robust, child-centered legal systems that ensure equitable access to justice for all children." If you want to follow the work of the Leiden Children's Rights Observatory feel welcome to visit our website and sign up for our newsletter -> https://lnkd.in/eZaSMxk5 #OPIC #accesstojustice #effectiveremedies #impact #childrensrights #childrights #CRC #LeidenUniversity #LeidenLawSchool #childrensrightsobservatory #UNICEFchair UNICEF Nederland Leiden Law School Advanced Studies in International Children’s Rights Janivo Stichting Rehana Dole Ann Skelton Ana Luísa Maryssael de Campos

We are thrilled to announce the launch of our latest resource on children’s rights legislative reform!! Explore and share your thoughts! https://lnkd.in/dqh2wWAu 👇

📢 New Case Commentary Published! Dear Readers, We conclude another week with an insightful case commentary on the CRC Committee's decision in the case of D.E.P. v. Argentina. This case concerns the rights of D.E.P., whose criminal conviction did not consider his status as a child when determining the length of his sentence. It also failed to prioritize his social rehabilitation and did not ensure he received differentiated treatment while serving his sentence. This detailed analysis underscores the importance of recognizing a child's status and prioritizing their social rehabilitation within the justice system. Additionally, it provides valuable insights into the necessity of differentiated treatment during custodial periods. The author also critically reflects on the committee's stance regarding the treatment of child offenders upon turning 18. This valuable contribution is made by Prof. Jaime Couso Salas of Universidad Diego Portales 🔗 https://lnkd.in/e5MtBXAy #JuvenileJustice #ChildRights #LegalCommentary #SocialRehabilitation #HumanRights #Argentina #OPIC #childrendeprivedofliberty #detention #childjustice #childrensrights #UNCRC Ton Liefaard Nicolás Espejo Yaksic Julia Sloth-Nielsen Law Uwc Daniella Zlotnik Raz Rehana Dole

Dear Readers, We end the week with a discussion piece on the sixth follow up report of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. This valuable contribution is made by Lotte Koning and Elizabeth Graty Hood from University College Cork. We also extend our best wishes to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child as they commence their 96th session next week! More information via https://lnkd.in/e7p4ZeDj #OPIC #remedies #reparations #childrights #childrensrights #CRC #crccommittee #accesstojustice https://lnkd.in/eg3WPbGf

A week ago, we closed our symposium to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a Communications Procedure #OPIC - A million thanks to the many distinguished guests, colleagues, students, partners and donors who participated and helped us to shape the programme, which aimed at exploring the meaning and potential of OPIC to promote access to justice for children across the globe. The first 10 years of OPIC have been promising, but a lot of work lies ahead of us to provide children with effective remedies against human rights violations, starting with more OPIC-ratifications (including the Kingdom of the Netherlands) and the development of domestic remedies for children. The upcoming General Comment No. 27 on access to justice for children, by the Committee on the Rights of the Child, will provide important guidance on this matter. We were proud to host the first public consultation for this general comment last week at Leiden Law School. We also hope that the Kingdom of the Netherlands will soon ratify OPIC, following many other European and Latin American countries. In doing so, it will align with the quest for accountability in a world in which children suffer from a #polycrisis, as was highlighted by UNICEF in 2023 and by Ann Skelton in her inaugural address Leiden University last week. A conference report will soon be published on the Leiden Children's Rights Observatory #leidenlawacademy Rehana Dole Ana Luísa Maryssael de Campos UNICEF Nederland Janivo Stichting Adessium Foundation Leids Universiteits Fonds United Nations Human Rights Advanced Studies in International Children’s Rights #accesstojustice #LLM M.A.O.C. GRAVIN VAN BYLANDT STICHTING

🌟 Big News! We are thrilled to announce that we have just signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Leiden University. This marks the beginning of a 5-year partnership that promises to significantly advance child-friendly justice (CFJ) initiatives across Europe. As part of this collaboration, we hosted an academic seminar titled "Bridging the Gap: Exploring Academia's Role in Collaborative Advancements of Child-Friendly Justice in Europe." Held in Leiden on April 9, this event brought together experts and scholars to discuss and develop strategies that support CFJ research and implementation. This partnership will also create numerous opportunities for researchers and law students to engage with civil society work, gaining invaluable hands-on experience in the field. We are excited about the future and the impact this collaboration will have on advancing child friendly justice in Europe. Stay tuned for more updates on our journey together with Leiden University! Leiden Law School, Ton Liefaard, Rehana Dole, Leiden University, Leiden Children's Rights Observatory, Leiden Law Academy, Advanced Studies in International Children’s Rights #ChildFriendlyJustice #ChildParticipation #AcademicPartnership #CivilSociety #JusticeStartsWithChildren

This week, I was privileged to attend and speak at the 10th Anniversary Symposium on the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a Communications Procedure (OPIC) at the Leiden University. The symposium was hosted by the Leiden Children's Rights Observatory and the Leiden Law Academy, along with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and UNICEF. I got to speak at the opening ceremony and participated in a fascinating session on overcoming challenges.   To me this event was a real eye re-opener. It is an area of work I know well, the different parts of what is sometimes called the human rights system. And when there is a system, we must use that system to make positive change for children.    Many barriers remain to children’s right to access justice and remedy, but that is something we can help address, especially at national level. This includes a lack of knowledge about rights and remedies, limited trust in the systems along with limted access to those systems, as well as financial constraints. When national remedies have been exhausted it is useful to know that the Committee on the Rights of the Child has a communications procedure where a child, or someone on behalf of a child, can challenge the state.   So far, though, only 52 states have ratified this pptional protocol, mainly in Latin America and Europe. But even these ratifications provide for a huge opportunity for strategic litigation to advance awareness and recognition of child rights. These are some examples of cases that are very relevant to some of the important violations of child rights in those two regions of the world:   In the case of CRC communication 136/2021, Camila v Peru, the Committee emphasized the right to access abortion services for a 13-year-old girl who was a victim of rape and incest, highlighting the importance of protecting her health and well-being;   Regarding access to public education for children with irregular administrative status in Melilla, Spain (Communications Nos. 114/2020, 116/2020, 117/2020, and 118/2020, A.B.A et al. v. Spain), the Committee stressed the obligation of Spain to ensure all children have access to education, regardless of their immigration status;   And in Communication 100/2019, S.N. et al. v. Finland, the Committee addressed the repatriation of children from Syrian refugee camps whose parents are linked to terrorist activities. The Committee highlighted the need for states to prioritize the best interests of the child in such cases, ensuring their protection and well-being while considering security concerns.   No remedy means no rights. These examples show that we must continue to find remedy when children are wronged and make use of all possible avenues, especially when they can lead to change at scale across a country or even in several or many countries.