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GENERAL
CRC/GC/2003/5
27 November 2003
Original: ENGLISH
COMMITTEE ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD
Thirty-fourth session
19 September-3 October 2003
GENERAL COMMENT No. 5 (2003)
General measures of implementation of the Convention on
the Rights of the Child (arts. 4, 42 and 44, para. 6)
FOREWORD
The Committee on the Rights of the Child has drafted this general comment to outline
States parties’ obligations to develop what it has termed “general measures of implementation”.
The various elements of the concept are complex and the Committee emphasizes that it is likely
to issue more detailed general comments on individual elements in due course, to expand on this
outline. Its general comment No. 2 (2002) entitled “The role of independent national human
rights institutions in the protection and promotion of the rights of the child” has already
expanded on this concept.
Article 4
“States Parties shall undertake all appropriate legislative, administrative, and
other measures for the implementation of the rights recognized in the present Convention.
With regard to economic, social and cultural rights, States Parties shall undertake such
measures to the maximum extent of their available resources and, where needed, within
the framework of international cooperation.”
I. INTRODUCTION
1.
When a State ratifies the Convention on the Rights of the Child, it takes on obligations
under international law to implement it. Implementation is the process whereby States parties
take action to ensure the realization of all rights in the Convention for all children in their
jurisdiction.1 Article 4 requires States parties to take “all appropriate legislative, administrative
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