Achieve that the human rights of millions of children are guaranteed

The States of Vanuatu, Uruguay and Chile were examined before the Council of Human Rights of the United Nations, between the 22 and 24 of January. In the three cases, FMSI (Marist Foundation for International Solidarity) together with other allied organizations, prepared reports on the situation of children and exercised impact so that their recommendations are taken into account and can be considered by the respective States.  

During the month of December, Marist colleagues travelled to Geneva to present their reports to the diplomats and to meet with the permanent missions (Embassies).   On several occasions, it was possible to confirm that we were the only ones defending the rights of children.

Finally, the great effort made produced fruit. Among the achievements we can mention that 40% of the countries, which made recommendations to Chile, referred to children.  The same thing happened with 50% of those, which observed Uruguay and 70% of the countries, which formulated recommendations to Vanuatu. 

Several of the themes mentioned were among the priority focus of the Reports of FMSI.

The themes touched by countries include the following:

• Uruguay: prevention of school abandonment, adolescents deprived of freedom, violence, sexual abuse, human trade and traffic. 
• Vanuatu: children with disabilities and effects of climatic change.
• Chile: violence, children who live in residential institutions and education for children who have special educational needs.

The next step is that the States officially accept these recommendations and, later, exercise pressure so that they are implemented. This long process is necessary to guarantee that not only thousands, but also millions of boys and girls have their human rights guaranteed.

Universal Periodic Review – UPR

It is a process carried out by the Human Rights Council (HRC).

It consists of the periodic review of the fulfillment of human rights in each of the member states of the United Nations. This process consists of the following phases:

1. The State presents the report about human rights in the country;
2. Exam and Interactive Dialogue between the State under review and the States party to the CHR and the observer States
3. Adoption of the HRC report – Non-Governmental Organisations can address the State and members of the HRC orally
4. The last phase involves both the State and NGOs and National Human Rights Institutes interested in implementing the recommendations.

This process constitutes a cycle that lasts four and a half years, so when this period ends the State is again examined by those who make up the HRC.

FMSI has participated in the elaboration of 44 reports, with the cooperation of other NGOs or alone (13 in America, two in Europe, 13 in Africa, nine in Oceania and seven in Asia).