Signature and Ratification of The Third Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a Communications Procedure (OP3CRC) in Nepal
Background/ Introduction
United Nations enforced the Convention on the Right of the Child (UNCRC) on 20th Nov 1989 and further adopted optional protocols
- Optional Protocol to the Convention to the Right of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography (OPSC) and
- Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Right of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict (OPAC)
on 25th May 2000. Both these optional protocols entered into force on 18th Jan 2002 and 12th Feb 2002 respectively.
The Government of Nepal ratified the UNCRC on 14th September 1990 and became the state party of this convention. In addition, Nepal government signed both the optional protocols on 8th Sept 2002. As per the UNCRC Article 44 paragraph 1: State party must report initially two years after acceding to the Convention and then every five years. The Committee examines each report and addresses its concerns and recommendations to the State party in the form of ‘concluding observations’. The Committee reviews additional reports which must be submitted by States who have acceded to the two Optional Protocols to the Convention.
The government of Nepal has already sent the state report on OPSC and has accomplished its preparation on OPAC. Moreover, the civil society should also prepare the shadow report on both these optional protocols so as to comprise the missing aspects of the state reports. CRC Sub-Committee of Human Rights Treaty Monitoring Coordination Committee (HRTMCC) secretariat at Child Nepal (CN) has taken initiation in preparing the shadow reports and is in the phase of having consultations with children and stakeholders.
Activities Accomplished
| SN | Activity Title | Date | Report |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | List of Issues CRC 3-4-5 | Date | https://www.childnepal.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/List-of-Issues-CRC-3-4-5.pdf |
| 2 | List of Issues OPAC | Date | |
| 3 | Submission of supplementary reports to UN committee on the Rights of the Child | September, 2014 | |
| 4 | Experts Consultation for civil society supplementary report on CRC and OPAC in collaboration with National Human Rights Commision | June 25, 2014 | |
| 5 | Consultations with children and adults in regional and national level for civil society supplementary report on CRC and OPAC | May/June, 2014 | |
| 6 | Formation of CRC Reporting Coalition Nepal which is the Umbrella Coalition of existing coalitions of Nepal | July 15, 2013 | |
| 7 | Sharing Program of OPSC Concluding Observations | September 24, 2012 | |
| 8 | Consultation Workshop with Children Thematic Study_CN | July 25, 2012 | |
| 9 | Participation in 60th session of UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. | June 4, 2012 | |
| 10 | Facilitation meeting with government representatives to participate in upcoming hearing in Geneva. | December 22, 2011 | |
| 11 | Participation in Pre-Session of UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. | October, 2011 | |
| 12 | CRC, OPSC Alternative Report – Nepal, sent to UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. | July, 2011 | |
| 13 | Experts’ Consultation at National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on OPSC Alternative Report. | August 9, 2011 | |
| 14 | National Consultation workshop in Kathmandu. | December 27, 2010 | |
| 15 | Consultation workshop with children and stakeholders at Chitwan, Nepal. | December 21-22, 2010 | |
| 16 | Consultation with 1612 National Task Force and CAAFAG working group. | December 9, 2010 | |
| 17 | Eastern Regional consultation workshop accomplished at Biratnagar supported by PLAN Nepal. | September 25-26, 2010 | |
| 18 | Accomplished Consulation Workshop with children and stakeholders at Nepalgunj supported by World Vision International. | September 5-6, 2010 | |
| 19 | Organizational visits for collecting case studies on OPSC and OPAC. | ||
| 20 | Information collection from Internet Service Providers (ISPs) on Child pornographic sites. | ||
| 21 | Information collection on OPSc from different NGOs working in Nepal. | ||
| 22 | Meetings with CRC-Sub Committee, HRTMCC members. | ||
| 23 | Orientation Workshop with Child Rights Organizations for sharing on CRC Optional Protocols, Shadow Reporting process and UN Systems and Mechanisms. | March 2, 2010 |
