Young activists are working together with UN representatives on General Comment 26
Osnabrück/Berlin, February 23, 2022 – Together with the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child terre des hommes will launch work on General Comment No. 26 to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child with an online kick-off event tomorrow, February 24. “We want to create a powerful instrument that encourages governments worldwide to protect children from harmful environmental influences and to ensure that they can grow up in a healthy and sustainable world,” said Jonas Schubert, children’s rights expert at terre des hommes .
A "General Comment" explains the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a specific topic. "General Comment No. 26" will clarify the previously very vague statements of the Convention on the Rights of the Child regarding environmental protection. The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child monitors and assesses whether the 196 states that adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child at the UN General Assembly on November 20, 1989, and subsequently ratified it, are complying with the provisions of the Convention.
For over ten years terre des hommes has been fighting for the international legal recognition and implementation of children's right to a healthy environment. Partner organizations from around the world have demonstrated how children suffer from mining projects, pesticide use, and water and air pollution. In recognition of this expertise, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child commissioned terre des hommes to compile the key points for the General Comment entitled "Children's Rights and the Environment with a Special Focus on Climate Change.".
Experts and those affected, but especially children and young people, are called upon to contribute their concrete experiences with the violation of children's rights through environmental destruction over the next twelve months and to formulate demands to the international community. At the launch event, young activists will also have their say alongside UN and government representatives.
“General Comment 26 is scheduled to be adopted by the Committee on the Rights of the Child in March 2023,” said Jonas Schubert. “Then the national and local implementation phase begins. This is the crucial point, because then the world’s governments must enact effective national laws to protect the environment and ensure their enforcement. terre des hommes and the young activists will ensure that this happens quickly and comprehensively.”
Further information: childrightsenvironment.org