Ratification kit on the Third Optional Protocol

Date: 1st March 2021
Category: UNCRC Optional Protocols and General Comments
Author: Child Rights Connect

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This innovative tool tackles the main concerns, barriers and misconceptions surrounding the ratification of the Optional Protocol. It shows how ratification can help States to fulfil their human rights obligations under the substantive child rights treaties.

The Third Optional Protocol sets out an international complaints procedure for child rights violations.  It allows children from countries that have ratified the Optional Protocol to bring complaints about violations of their rights directly to the UN Committee if they have not found a solution at national level. The UK Government has not signed up to the Third Optional Protocol and has no current plans to do so. This ratification kit will provide concrete case studies of ratification experiences, as well as advocacy work being carried out at the national level for the ratification and implementation of the Optional Protocol which can inspire ideas. To inform a persuasive advocacy strategy, this kit also includes arguments for ratification. It will also provide a better understanding of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a Communications Procedure and what can be expected from it.

• Access the toolkit here.