UNCRC Monitoring

Every state that has ratified the UNCRC is required to report to the Committee on the Rights of the Child ('the Committee') on how it is fulfilling its obligations under the Convention. This allows the Committee to assess what progress a state is making in implementing the Convention. This reporting process should happen once every five years.

Recently, States have been able to opt into a new procedure for reporting. This is called the "simplified reporting procedure". The UK opted in to the simplified procedure in August 2019 and its first review under the new procedure will take place in 2021-22. The former system was called the "standard reporting procedure".

There are fewer steps under the simplified reporting procedure than there were under the former procedure. Under the simplified procedure there are five steps (compared to six under the standard procedure):

*Please note that there has been significant disruption to the current reporting cycle. We will keep updating this page as new dates and deadlines are confirmed*

1. List of Issues Prior to Reporting (LOIPR)
The Committee sends the government a request for specific information, known as the List of Issues Prior to Reporting (LOIPR). This asks the government about measures and developments relating to the implementation of the UNCRC and the two Optional Protocols.
- Read the Committee's request to the UK Government for specific information here.
Non-state party stakeholders (NGOs, children’s own organisations, NHRIs, UN agencies, academics, researchers) can highlight key issues to be included in the LOIPR through written reports submitted to the Committee. Together submitted two reports towards the end of 2020.
- Read Together's list of 30 key issues for children in Scotland here.
- Read the list of 30 key issues for children across UK here.
2. State Party report and shadow reports

The government must reply to the LOIPR within one year. The deadline for this is the 15th June 2022.

This reply forms the State's official report to the Committee. As the UK is the State Party, the Scottish Government feeds into the overall UK Government report.

After the submission of the State report, stakeholders such as NGOs and children's organisations can send comments or shadow reports, as well as questions for the Committee’s dialogue with the government and proposed recommendations. These submissions are due one month before the Committee’s pre-sessional working group. The next deadline is the 15^th December 2022. The pre-session is expected to take place in February 2023.
3. Dialogue

The Committee on the Rights of the Child considers the reply from the State party and information received from other stakeholders - such as NGOs. The Committee and a delegation of officials from the country under review then meet in Geneva for a dialogue to discuss the key issues raised. This is an opportunity for the Committee to ask questions of the State delegation and clarify any points. The dialogue forms the basis of the Concluding Observations.

We are awaiting confirmation of the dates for 2023.
4. Concluding Observations

Following the dialogue, the Committee publishes its Concluding Observations.

The Concluding Observations set out the Committee's assessment of how well the country is implementing the Convention, areas of concern and recommendations to address these.
5. Follow-up

Following the Concluding Observations, there is a period of follow-up activity where States are encouraged to implement the Committee's recommendations ahead of the next reporting cycle.

Simplified Reporting Procedure