2018 elections to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child

Date: 7th March 2017
Category: Reporting to and monitoring the UNCRC

Minister for Childcare and Early Years Mark McDonald MSP has followed up on previous correspondence made to Westminster regarding the inclusion of the devolved nations in the UN Committee election processes and putting forward a UK nominee.

Qualified experts from around the world are elected to become members of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. These elections happen every two years during the meeting of State Parties to the UNCRC in New York and are generally held in June.

The 2016 elections of the Committee on the Rights of the Child were held during the 16th Meeting of States Parties to the CRC in New York on 30 June 2016.

The following 9 members were elected:

1. Amal Aldoseri, Bahrein / Asia (Vice-Chaiperson) - already member of the Committee since 2012
2. Olga Khazova, Russia / Europe - already member of the Committee since 2012
3. Cephas Lumina, Zambia / Africa - NEW member
4. Benyam Dawit Mezmur, Ethiopia / Africa (Chairperson) - already member of the Committee since 2012
5. Mikiko Otani, Japan / Asia - NEW member
6. Luis Ernesto Pedernera Reyna, Uruguay / Americas - NEW member
7. Ann Marie Skelton, South Africa / Africa - NEW member
8. Velina Todorova, Bulgaria / Europe - NEW member
9. Renate Winter, Austria / Europe (Vice-Chairperson) - already a member of the Committee since 2012

The next elections to the Committee are scheduled to take place in June 2018.

Mark McDonald MSP has written to Edward Timpson MP, Minister of State for Vulnerable Children and Families to reiterate previous correspondence made in 2014 and 2015 regarding the nomination of a UK candidate.