Committee Opens 38th Session

[GENEVA, 10 January 2005] - The Committee on the Rights of the Child yesterday opened its winter session by hearing an address by the United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Mehr Khan Williams. It also adopted its agenda and programme of work.

In her opening address, Ms. Khan Williams told the 18-member Committee that the tsunami natural disaster was a human tragedy that touched all so deeply largely because of its unprecedented scope affecting communities in several countries in Asia and Africa, and also foreigners from all over the world. Today, many children had been injured or killed by the tsunami, in fact a disproportionate number of children were victims of the floods; and UNICEF estimated that no less than 1.5 million children had been seriously affected by this monumental catastrophe.

Ms. Khan Williams said efforts everywhere should ensure that children were protected from abuse and exploitation. Experience had shown that in times of tumult like this, when families were broken apart, when incomes, dignity and hope were lost, children were the most vulnerable to abuse and exploitation. The international community should help children cope with the trauma by providing psychological support and getting them back in school as quickly as possible.

At the beginning of the meeting, Committee Chairperson Jacob Egbert Doek said that 150,000 persons had so far perished as a result of the tsunami. He also noted that about 200 young persons had died in Argentina due to a fire accident in a discotheque in December. In 2004 alone, about 10 million children had died as a result of curable diseases. A minute of silence was observed in memory of all the young victims.

Also, a new Committee Expert, Ms. Alison Anderson of Jamaica, made a solemn declaration to perform her duties and exercise her powers as a member of the Committee honourably, faithfully, impartially and conscientiously. She replaces Ms. Marjorie Taylor who resigned last year for health-related reasons.

During its three-week session, from 10th to 28th January, the Committee will consider reports from Sweden, Albania, Luxembourg, Austria, Belize, the Bahamas, Iran, Togo, Bolivia and Nigeria on their efforts to implement the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.