CRC/C/GC/13
the independent expert for the United Nations study on violence against children
(A/61/299) and calls on States parties to implement those recommendations without delay.
It calls attention to the detailed guidance available in the Guidelines for the Alternative
Care of Children. 3 It also draws on the expertise and experience of United Nations
agencies, Governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), community
organizations, development agencies, and children themselves in seeking to implement
article 19 in practice. 4
7.
Article 19 in context. The Committee recognizes that:
(a)
Article 19 is one of many provisions in the Convention directly relating to
violence. The Committee also recognizes the direct relevance to article 19 of the Optional
Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography and the Optional
Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict. However, the Committee holds
that article 19 forms the core provision for discussions and strategies to address and
eliminate all forms of violence in the context of the Convention more broadly;
(b)
Article 19 is strongly linked to a broad range of provisions in the Convention
beyond those relating directly to violence. In addition to the articles containing the rights
identified as principles of the Convention (see section V of the present general comment),
implementation of article 19 must be situated in the context of articles 5, 9, 18 and 27;
(c)
Children’s rights to respect for their human dignity, physical and
psychological integrity and to equal protection under the law are also recognized in other
international and regional human rights instruments;
(d)
Implementation of article 19 requires cooperation within and between
national, regional and international human rights bodies, mechanisms and United Nations
agencies;
(e)
Cooperation is needed in particular with the Special Representative of the
Secretary-General on Violence against Children, who has the mandate to promote the
implementation of the recommendations of the United Nations study on violence against
children in close collaboration with Member States and a wide range of partners, including
United Nations agencies and organizations, civil society organizations and children, in
order to safeguard the child’s right to freedom from all forms of violence.
8.
Dissemination. The Committee recommends that States parties widely disseminate
the present general comment within government and administrative structures, to parents,
other caregivers, children, professional organizations, communities and civil society at
large. All channels of dissemination, including print media, the Internet and children’s own
communication means, should be used. This will necessitate translating it into relevant
languages, including sign languages, Braille and easy-to-read formats for children with
disabilities. It also requires making culturally appropriate and child-friendly versions
available, holding workshops and seminars, implementing age- and disability-specific
support to discuss its implications and how best to implement it, and incorporating it into
the training of all professionals working for and with children.
9.
Reporting requirements under the Convention. The Committee refers States
parties to the reporting requirements outlined in the treaty-specific reporting guidelines
(CRC/C/58/Rev.2 and Corr.1), in general comment No. 8 (para. 53), and in the concluding
observations of the Committee adopted following the dialogues with representatives of
3
4
General Assembly resolution 64/142, annex.
See the Guidelines on Justice in Matters involving Child Victims and Witnesses of Crime (Economic
and Social Council resolution 2005/20, annex).
5