UNCRC complaints mechanism update

Date: 2nd April 2013
Category: UK 1st periodic review

A further seven States must ratify Optional Protocol 3 before an active mechanism whereby individuals and groups can seek justice for rights violations directly to the UNCRC can come into force.

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) is still the only UN human rights treaty without an active mechanism whereby individuals and groups of individuals can seek justice and remedies for rights violations directly from the Committee on the Rights of the Child.

Optional Protocol 3 to the Convention (OP3) will allow this, but it still needs a further seven States to ratify before it can come into force. Germany ratified earlier this month, and we hope more will do so very soon.

• For more on OP3, visit the CRIN campaign page here.

The International Coalition is a coalition of international, regional and national non-governmental organisations and networks, human rights institutions and other non-governmental bodies which are campaigning for the complaints procedure, and committed to achieving rapid ratification and entry into force of the OP3.

• Find out more about the International Coalition here.