Geneva — The Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children, Marta Santos Pais, welcomed the adoption of a resolution on the rights of the child by the Human Rights Council at its 23rd session, which closed today.
14/06/2013
Geneva — The Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children, Marta Santos Pais, welcomed the adoption of a resolution on the rights of the child by the Human Rights Council at its 23rd session, which closed today.
The resolution, which focuses on access to justice for children, reaffirms the fundamental importance of child-sensitive justice systems and calls upon States to ensure that all children who come into contact with the justice system — whether as victims, witnesses, or alleged perpetrators — have access to child-friendly legal aid, appropriate support services, and remedies.
"Access to justice is a fundamental right of every child. When children are victims of violence, exploitation or abuse, they must be able to seek justice without fear, and their rights must be upheld throughout the process," said SRSG-VAC Marta Santos Pais.
The SRSG called on all States to implement the UN Guidelines on Justice in Matters involving Child Victims and Witnesses of Crime, and to invest in training for justice professionals on child-sensitive approaches.
The SRSG also reaffirmed the importance of the Optional Protocol on a Communications Procedure (OPCP) as a crucial instrument allowing children to bring individual complaints before the Committee on the Rights of the Child.