RES/40/15 Thirtieth anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child

GE.19-05840(E)



Human Rights Council Fortieth session

25 February–22 March 2019

Agenda item 3

Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council on 22 March 2019

40/15. Thirtieth anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child

The Human Rights Council,

Guided by the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human

Rights, the International Covenants on Human Rights and other relevant human rights

instruments,

Noting that 2019 marks the thirtieth anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of

the Child, adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 44/25 of 20 November 1989,

which constitutes the standard in the promotion and protection of the rights of the child, and

the sixtieth anniversary of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, proclaimed by the

Assembly in its resolution 1386 (XIV) of 20 November 1959,

Recognizing that the Convention on the Rights of the Child is the most widely

ratified international human rights instrument,

Noting the Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the

involvement of children in armed conflict, on the sale of children, child prostitution and

child pornography and on a communications procedure,

Welcoming the work of the Committee on the Rights of the Child,

Emphasizing that the anniversaries offer a valuable opportunity to raise awareness

and to reflect on achievements, best practices and challenges with regard to the full

realization and continued advancement of the rights of the child,

Stressing the necessity for continued national efforts aimed at the full realization of

all human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the rights of the child, and

acknowledging the benefits of enhanced international cooperation to that end,

1. Calls for renewed efforts towards the full implementation of the Convention

on the Rights of the Child by all parties and ratification by non-party States;

2. Also calls for wider ratification of the Optional Protocols to the Convention

on the Rights of the Child;

3. Invites the President of the Human Rights Council to consider the theme

“Thirty years of implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child: challenges

and opportunities” for the annual high-level panel discussion on human rights

mainstreaming, to be held at the forty-third session of the Council;

United Nations A/HRC/RES/40/15

4. Requests the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human

Rights to liaise with States, relevant United Nations bodies and agencies, treaty bodies, in

particular the Committee on the Rights of the Child, special procedures and regional human

rights mechanisms, as well as with civil society, including non-governmental organizations,

and national human rights institutions, with a view to ensuring their participation in the

panel discussion, and to make the panel discussion fully accessible for persons with

disabilities;

5. Requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to make

provisions and to provide resources for the above-mentioned panel discussion, and to

circulate the relevant information among States and other stakeholders;

6. Invites the High Commissioner to make provisions for events and

arrangements for the celebration of the anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the

Child and to circulate the relevant information among States and other stakeholders, from

within existing resources and, where appropriate, in partnership with other international and

regional organizations;

7. Encourages States to use the anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of

the Child as a tool to raise awareness of the Convention and to maintain momentum and

increase action with respect to the rights of the child.

53rd meeting

22 March 2019

[Adopted without a vote.]