A/RES/55/79
Profoundly concerned that the situation of girls and boys in many parts of the
world remains critical as a result of the persistence of poverty, social inequality,
inadequate social and economic conditions in an increasingly globalized world
economy, pandemics, in particular human immunodeficiency virus/acquired
immunodeficiency syndrome, natural disasters, armed conflict, displacement,
exploitation, illiteracy, hunger, intolerance, discrimination and inadequate legal
protection, and convinced that urgent and effective national and international action
is called for,
Underlining the need for mainstreaming a gender perspective in all policies
and programmes relating to children,
Recognizing the need for the realization of a standard of living adequate for the
child’s physical, mental, spiritual, moral and social development, the protection of
the child from torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or
punishment, the provision of universal and equal access to primary education and
the implementation of the commitments on the education of children contained in
the United Nations Millennium Declaration, 5
Concerned at the number of illegal adoptions, of children growing up without
parents and of child victims of family and social violence, neglect and abuse,
Welcoming the adoption of the Optional Protocols to the Convention on the
Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict and on the sale
of children, child prostitution and child pornography, 6
Recognizing that partnership among Governments, international organizations
and all sectors of civil society, in particular non-governmental organizations, is
important to realizing the rights of the child,
Stressing the importance of integrating child-related issues into the work of the
World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related
Intolerance, the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and
Light Weapons in All Its Aspects and the special session of the General Assembly
on the problem of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency
syndrome in all its aspects, to be held in 2001,
I
Implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
1.
Once again urges the States that have not yet done so to sign and ratify
or accede to the Convention on the Rights of the Child2 as a matter of priority with a
view to reaching the goal of universal adherence as soon as possible;
2.
Invites States to consider signing and ratifying the Optional Protocols to
the Convention 6 as a matter of priority with a view to their entry into force as soon
as possible, bearing in mind the convening of the special session of the General
Assembly to follow up the World Summit for Children in September 2001;
3.
Reiterates its concern at the great number of reservations to the
Convention, and urges States parties to withdraw reservations that are incompatible
with the object and purpose of the Convention and to review on a regular basis any
reservations with a view to withdrawing them;
5
6
2
See resolution 55/2, para. 19.
Resolution 54/263, annexes I and II.