The consolidated report by Switzerland on the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

Bern, 04.07.2012 - In its meeting of 4 July 2012 the Federal Council approved the follow-up report by Switzerland on the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child of 1989. The report describes the measures that Switzerland has taken to strengthen children's rights. The report will now be submitted to the Committee on the Rights of the Child, the body that monitors this Convention.

Article 44 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child requires Switzerland to inform the Committee on the Rights of the Child regularly about the implementation of the Convention. The first report by Switzerland was approved by the Federal Council in 2001 and was examined by the Committee in June 2002.  

The present report comprises the content of the second, third and fourth reports on the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child by Switzerland. It deals with general legal and political developments to strengthen the rights of the child in Switzerland. Especially in the observance of the general principle of the importance of child welfare, the respect for the views of the child, the prevention of sexual exploitation and trafficking of children, the availability of childcare institutions and the integration of handicapped children, Switzerland has further improved respect for the rights of the child over the past 10 years.  

The Convention on the Rights of the Child was approved by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 20 November 1989. It comprehensively guarantees the human rights of children and young people under 18. There are currently 193 contracting states. The Convention is based on the principle that the welfare of children is the primary concern of all measures affecting children.  

Switzerland approved the Convention on the Rights of the Child on 24 February 1997. It has also ratified the optional protocol of 2000 on the involvement of children in armed conflict. The implementation of this protocol is also dealt with in the present report. Switzerland has further ratified the 2000 optional protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. The initial report on this subject was submitted to the Committee on the Rights of the Child on 9 November 2011.  


Address for enquiries

Jean-Marc Crevoisier
Tel. 079 763 84 10



Publisher

The Federal Council
https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start.html

Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
https://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home.html

https://www.admin.ch/content/gov/en/start/documentation/media-releases.msg-id-45281.html