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including those working with children in institutions and places of detention, the police and
armed forces, including peacekeeping forces, those working in the media and many others.
Training needs to be systematic and ongoing - initial training and re-training. The purpose of
training is to emphasize the status of the child as a holder of human rights, to increase knowledge
and understanding of the Convention and to encourage active respect for all its provisions. The
Committee expects to see the Convention reflected in professional training curricula, codes of
conduct and educational curricula at all levels. Understanding and knowledge of human rights
must, of course, be promoted among children themselves, through the school curriculum and in
other ways (see also paragraph 69 below and the Committee’s General Comment No. 1 (2001)
on the aims of education).
54.
The Committee’s guidelines for periodic reports mention many aspects of training,
including specialist training, which are essential if all children are to enjoy their rights. The
Convention highlights the importance of the family in its preamble and in many articles. It is
particularly important that the promotion of children’s rights should be integrated into
preparation for parenthood and parenting education.
55.
There should be periodic evaluation of the effectiveness of training, reviewing not only
knowledge of the Convention and its provisions but also the extent to which it has contributed to
developing attitudes and practice which actively promote enjoyment by children of their rights.
I. Cooperation with civil society
56.
Implementation is an obligation for States parties, but needs to engage all sectors of
society, including children themselves. The Committee recognizes that responsibilities to
respect and ensure the rights of children extend in practice beyond the State and State-controlled
services and institutions to include children, parents and wider families, other adults, and
non-State services and organizations. The Committee concurs, for example, with general
comment No. 14 (2000) of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights on the right
to the highest attainable standard of health, paragraph 42, of which states: “While only States
are parties to the Covenant and thus ultimately accountable for compliance with it, all members
of society - individuals, including health professionals, families, local communities,
intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, as well as
the private business sector - have responsibilities regarding the realization of the right to health.
States parties should therefore provide an environment which facilitates the discharge of these
responsibilities.”
57.
Article 12 of the Convention, as already emphasized (see paragraph 12 above), requires
due weight to be given to children’s views in all matters affecting them, which plainly includes
implementation of “their” Convention.
58.
The State needs to work closely with NGOs in the widest sense, while respecting their
autonomy; these include, for example, human rights NGOs, child- and youth-led organizations
and youth groups, parent and family groups, faith groups, academic institutions and professional
associations. NGOs played a crucial part in the drafting of the Convention and their involvement
in the process of implementation is vital.