On the occasion of the ASEAN CRC30 commemorative event, a joint publication entitled “Children in ASEAN: 30 Years of the Convention on the Rights of the Child” that features achievements and actions for children’s rights in the region has been launched in Bangkok last Nov 1. The event is co-hosted by Thailand’s Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (MSDHS) and UNICEF.
At the event, ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Ministers and senior officials, civil society organizations, development partners and children representatives themselves discussed progress in implementing the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) as well as emerging challenges and new opportunities to realise child rights.
The report looks at what the next 30 years might look like for children in ASEAN. It highlights 10 actionable recommendations which include reinforcing regional systems and cross-border collaboration; ensuring no child is left behind; strengthening laws and policies; increasing public finance and social investment; as well as strengthening data collection, analysis and use.
Minister of MSDHS ChutiKrairiksh said, “today ASEAN celebrates an important anniversary — the 30th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. It is an occasion for ASEAN Member States to reflect on implementation gaps and to undertake additional measures to ensure that the rights of children are fully realised.”
On his part, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for Socio-Cultural Community, H.E. Kung Phoak reiterated, “ASEAN is committed to the promotion and the protection of the rights of children.We have been working concertedly to create an enabling environment in which our children can thrive and be empowered and to ensure that their voices are heard, and their participation is integral to all efforts affecting their lives.”
Thirty years ago, world leaders, including all ASEAN Member States, made a historic commitment to the world’s children by adopting the CRC. By 1995, all ASEAN Member States had ratified the CRC and since then ASEAN has been a leading voice and valuable partner in supporting its implementation. (Source: reliefweb.int)