International Children's Day

Published 20th November 2008, 2:55pm

Today, 20 November 2008, marks the 19th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and is celebrated in many countries across the globe as International Children's Day. This is a landmark day for children's rights - the day that the United Nations adopted the Declaration on the Rights of the Child in 1959 and then in 1989, adopted the CRC.

This important international treaty has been extended to the Cayman Islands since 1994. Under the CRC, every child has the right to grow up in a healthy and safe environment. This means that the Cayman Islands Government has a positive obligation to protect children from abuse, neglect and exploitation.

The CI Government has drafted specific legislation designed to ensure that the rights of children as set out in this important international treaty become part of Cayman's domestic law; however, to date the Children Law 2003 has still not been brought into force.

During the recent UNICEF conference on legislative reform, Liz Gibbons, the Associate Director for Gender, Rights and Civic Engagement for UNICEF, said: "The right laws and policies, properly resourced, implemented and enforced - are an essential foundation for protecting children from violence and promoting their survival, education and development."

The HRC echoes this view and supports the urgent implementation of effective legislation to protect children's rights in the Cayman Islands. Accordingly, the HRC in conjunction with Hedge Funds Care Cayman, is about to begin an advocacy campaign to push for the rapid implementation of the Children Law 2003.

For further information contact: Human Rights Committee