Ratified by 196 States, the Convention on Rights of the Child (CRC) has remained as the most ratified human rights treaty to this day. This almost universal ratification, only short of one State party, in part is an indication of the unanimous intention of the international community to protect and promote children’s rights. The CRC enshrines the human rights of each and every child, by definition a person under the age of 18 years, without discrimination on any grounds.
Almost three decades of periodic reporting from the State parties to the Committee on the Rights of the Child (the Committee) reveals the importance of rigorous data collection and analysis to assist in planning and implementation, as well as bring State parties to account to children on their actions or the lack thereof. Indeed, the importance of disaggregated data is an issue that the Committee emphasizes to almost every State party that reports to it.
In this respect, it is important to acknowledge the significance of GlobalChild as a monitoring tool that would promote and contribute towards systematic data collection based on the reporting guidelines of the Convention, and enhance accountability to children. GlobalChild is also designed with a view to leverage the information technology and indicators framework and build an electronic platform grounded in the science of child development and the underlying principles of child rights as incorporated in the CRC. The Committee looks forward to the envisaged periodic engagement and consultation in the process of the development of this important electronic child rights monitoring platform.
I would like to commend the Federal Government of Canada for supporting this global initiative and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research (MSFHR) for assuming financial responsibility for this very important project. I am convinced that GlobalChild will be able to take critical steps towards the harmonization of the implementation and the monitoring of the CRC in Canada and, potentially, share some good practices and experiences with other countries.
Prof. Benyam Dawit Mezmur
Chairperson of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child
