Revised General Comment on harmful practices

Date: 11th March 2020
Category: UNCRC Optional Protocols and General Comments

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The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child and Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women have issued a joint revised General Comment on harmful practices.

The revised General Comment provides an update on the 2014 version. It sets out the causes, forms and manifestations of harmful practices such as female genital mutilation (FGM), child marriage and so-called ‘honour’ crimes. The revised General Comment also sets out a holistic framework for addressing harmful practices.

• Read the revised General Comment here.

General Comments are produced by UN committees responsible for overseeing a particular treaty (e.g. UNCRC, CEDAW). They give more information about how to interpret the treaty. A General Comment can cover:

• a specific article (such as the UNCRC’s General Comment 12 on the right of the child to be heard); or
• an issue affecting children and young people that the Committee feels needs further guidance (such as the UNCRC’s General Comment 21 on children in street situations)

You can find out more about General Comments and get links to all 24 relating to the UNCRC on Together’s website:

• Learn more about General Comments on Together’s website.