UN child rights committee to review children’s rights in Sri Lanka

Geneva: The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child will be reviewing children’s rights in Sri Lanka along with seven other countries during its meeting in Geneva from 15 January to 2 February, UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) announced Wednesday.

The Committee, which is composed of 18 independent experts, monitors how States that have ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) are complying with their obligations.

During the meetings in Geneva, Committee members will hold question and answer sessions with the respective government delegations. The Committee’s final evaluation will be based on the written report and replies submitted by the State party, and the information provided supplied by the delegation as well as by other UN bodies and NGOs.

The sessions on Sri Lanka will be held at Palais Wilson, Ground Floor Conference Room, in Geneva, on 15-16 January. The other seven countries that will be reviewed are Guatemala, Panama, Seychelles, Spain, Solomon Islands, Palau and Marshall Islands.

The Committee will publish its findings, known as concluding observations on Thursday 8 February.