Tuesday, 23 January 2007
HREOC congratulates government for ratifying children's rights protocols
The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) has welcomed yesterday's announcement that the Australian Government has ratified the two Optional Protocols to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
"Australia's ratification of the Protocols sends a clear signal to the international community about the importance of these principles and the role of international law in protecting children around the world," Human Rights Commissioner Graeme Innes AM said.
"I commend the government for committing to protect children who may become victims of sexual exploitation and those children at risk of being involved in armed conflict.
"The next step will be to incorporate the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the two Protocols, into Australian law."
Australia will join 110 other nations who have ratified the Protocol on children in armed conflict and 113 nations who have ratified the Protocol on the sexual exploitation of children.
The United Nations estimates that 300,000 children are involved in armed conflict in over 36 countries. The number of children who are victims of sexual exploitation is likely to be far higher than that number.
In 2004, the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) made a submission on the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict, to the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties.
A copy of the Commission's submission can be found at: http://www.humanrights.gov.au/legal/submissions/jscot_submission_croc_optional_protocol.html
Media contact: Louise McDermott (02) 9284 9851 or 0419 258 597
Last updated 30 January, 2008
