On 19 December 2011, the UN General Assembly approved a third optional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a communications procedure, which will allow for individual children to submit complaints regarding specific violations of their rights under the Convention. It is a major achievement for the protection of children's rights. Ensuring widespread ratification of the third optional protocol will nevertheless be a challenge.
Ireland has not yet ratified the third optional protocol, but by doing so, it will demonstrate its commitment to the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the communications procedure. This symposium aims to consider the relevance of the Protocol and opportunities for Ireland to lead in the ratification process.
You are invited to attend the Symposium on 14 May 2012 at the National University of Ireland, Galway. Speakers include Dr. Maria Herczog (UN Committee on the Rights of the Child) and Geoffrey Shannon (Special Rapporteur to the Irish Government on Child Protection). For further information please see the programme, below and attached.
To allow for accurate planning, we would kindly ask you to register by 10 May 2012 at childrightsprotocol@gmail.com. For more information please visit: http://www.nuigalway.ie/human_rights/conferences.html