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62ndSession Third Gommittee Item 66 a & b: Promotionand protectionof the rights of children

Check against delivery

STATEMENT By Ms. Ragne Birte Lund Ambassador Ministry of ForeignAffairs

New York, 18 October 2007

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Mr Chairman, This yearis a landmark yearwith several opportunities advance implementation the rightsof to the of the child.It marks lSth anniversary theadoption theConvention theRights theChild. the of of of of Furthermore marks5 yearssincethe entryinto forceof the two OptionalProtocols the CRC on it to the involvement Children armed of in conflictandtheSaleof Children, ChildProstitution Child and Pornography. Also we havebeforeus the Machelstudy l0 yearstrategic reviewon childrenand conflict in a changing world aswell asthe first progress reporton the follow up to the groundbreaking UN studyon Violenceagainst children. a few weeksthe UN will convene In commemorative highlevel plenarymeetings the follow up to the outcome the special on of session Childrenin 2002.All on of this provides UN system, the regional govemments, societyandchildrenand organisations, civil youngpersons themselves reflectuponachievements challenges to and relatingto child rights concems. Therehaveindeed beensignificant improvements children'ssurvival, for well beinganddevelopment world wide - all which arecentral the Convention the Rightsof the Child. But progress not to of is evenwhen it comes the prospects achieving UN MillenniumDevelopment to of the Goalsthat directly and indirectlyrelateto children. Main hindrances shouldbe documented inform policies and and programs guidethe way forward. to Too manychildrenworld wide arewithoutbirth registration, subject socialexclusion, abuse are to and and extreme formsof exploitation. Childrenaffected armedconflictareamongthe manymillions by that aredeniedaccess healthservices education. to and Underthe leadership the PrimeMinisterof of partnership govemments, UN andthe privatesector Norway an international of the actors now works strategically towards reaching MDGs 4, 5 and6. Norway is alsoactivelyengaged the Education the in for All process will hostthe High LevelGroupMeetingin cooperation and with UNESCOand foundingagencies 2008.Childrenarekilled andmaimeddueto landmines cluster in and munitions evenlong afterconflictshaveceased. Earlierthis yearNorway initiatedan international process aimingat banningclustermunitions which haveunacceptable humanitarian consequences. will This not leastbenefitchildrenandyoungpersons living in situations affected conflict. by Mr Chairman, Renewed resolveis needed closethe gapsbetween normsof the CRC andrelated to the instruments andtheirimplementation. Impunity mustnot be allowed prevail. to This is not least vitalwith respect to systematic of sexual acts girls committed armedconflict.The Secretary violence against in General's reporton the Girl Child deserves utmostattention. our The findingsof the Committee the on Rightsof the Child, of the manyothertreatybodies, procedures in the reports the most special and to recent Commission the Status Womenhighlightmultipleformsof discrimination practices on of and that disproportionately affectgirls. In this regard dueattention shouldbe paidto the recommendations of the UN studyon violenceagainst childrencallingon states address formsof gender to all discrimination partof a comprehensive as prevention violence strategy. Mr Chairman, TheConvention therightsof theChild hasinspired on govemments world wideto takelegal, administrative othermeasures secure rightsof thechildandto promote principle the and to the the of bestinterest thechild. In orderfor theCRCto truly impact children's of on livesgovernments should, go however, beyond ratification. CRC should incorporated national The be into legislation child for protection. Norwaythis is donethrough HumanRights In the Act andtheCRC alsoprevails case in of conflictwith othernational legislation. ThustheCRCis a livinginstrument. Mr Chairman, Thanksto the initiativeof the Committee the Rightsof the Child thetwo landmark studies on LIN notablythe MachelStudyon ChildrenandarmedConflictthatcamein 1996andthe UN Studyon violence against children,leadby Professor Pinheiro andlaunched 2006haveprovided in the

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intemational community with crucialanalysis toolsto build a world safefrom violence and andfit for children youngpersons. and The extentandnature violence of against childrenasdepicted the World reporton Violenceagainst in Childrenpresented Professor by Pinheiroandthe waysforwardasrecommended the report,deserve in worldwideurgentattention follow up action.Norwayfavours strongmandate an independent and a for high level advocate leadthe international to effortsin closecooperation with key organisations, agencies fundsandprograms and suchasUNICEF, WHO andthe Office of the High Commissioner for HumanRightsandILO anddrawingon their capacities well ascivil societyandthe continued as involvement children youngpersons. of and Yesterday very powerfullaunchof the MachelStudyl0 yearstrategic the reviewof childrenand conflict in a changing world took place. Norway indeedwelcomes Machelstudyandthe first part the of the 10-year strategic reviewandwishes be a strategic to partner the follow up. The wishes the in of youngpersons who themselves havelived in conflictzones, expressed the Youth report,"Will as in you Listen",areconcrete implement and able.They mustbe an integralpartof the follow up of l0 Year strategic reviewandyoungpersons shouldcontinue be involvedin this process. to Finally,Mr, Chairman, Norwaywould like to makea few observations relatingto the forthcoming + commemorative5 meeting theSpecial to session theGeneral of Assembly children. our view on In the agenda the proposed and roundtables shouldprovideprominent attention the protection child to of rightsandaddress child protection concems an integrated strategic in and manner. The meetingmay in particular valueto the protection child rightsby addressing add of waysof promotingchild participation how to empower duty holders, childrenandyoungpersons, and the the in line with a centralprincipleof the conventionon the Rightsof the child. Participation ofchildren is not only the right to be heard, be seen to andto be takenseriously; is the it right to be informedandto havethe possibility influence. to Evidence from our own partof the wortd suggests progress implementing right to participation slow.Thereis a gapbetween that in the is theory andpractice. child participation key to successful Yet is implementation the manyotherrightsof of the child suchaseducation, healthandprotection from violence abuse exploitation all which are and all key elements the Declaration Planof Action,"A world Fit for children". of and In preparing the commemorative 5 December + for meetings Norwaysuggests member that states and the UN system devotespecial attention experiences implementation effective to and of participation in variouscontexts. This would contribute making2007a landmark to yearfor child rightsandchild protection. Thankyou.