OFFICE OF THE HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR
HUMAN RIGHTS
Rights of the child
Commission on Human Rights resolution 2000/85
The Commission on Human Rights,
Bearing in mind the Convention on the Rights of the Child, emphasizing that the provisions of this
Convention and other relevant human rights instruments must constitute the standard in the promotion and
protection of the rights of the child, and reaffirming that the best interest of the child shall be the primary
consideration in all actions concerning children,
Reaffirming its resolution 1999/80 of 28 April 1999 and General Assembly resolutions 54/149 and
54/148 of 17 December 1999, as well as all previous resolutions on this subject,
Welcoming the tenth anniversary of the entry into force of the Convention on the Rights of the Child,
which constitutes an occasion for the renewal of commitment to the rights of the child,
Welcoming also the preparatory process for the special session of the General Assembly to be convened
in 2001 by way of follow-up to the World Summit for Children and encouraging States to participate actively
therein in order to promote an effective review of progress made, as well as the identification of obstacles
affecting the full implementation of the outcome of the World Summit for Children, as a reaffirmation of their
commitment to children, and encouraging the establishment of forward-looking strategies,
Reaffirming the World Declaration on the Survival, Protection and Development of Children and the
Plan of Action for Implementing the World Declaration on the Survival, Protection and Development of
Children in the 1990s adopted in September 1990 by the World Summit for Children (A/45/625, annex) and the
Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted in June 1993 by the World Conference on Human Rights
(A/CONF.157/23), which, inter alia, states that national and international mechanisms and programmes for the
safeguard and protection of children, in particular those in especially difficult circumstances, should be
strengthened, including through effective measures to combat exploitation and abuse of children, female
infanticide, harmful child labour, sale of children and organs, child prostitution and child pornography, as well as
other forms of sexual abuse, and which reaffirms that all human rights and fundamental freedoms are universal,
Profoundly concerned that the situation of children in many parts of the world remains critical as a
result of poverty, inadequate social and economic conditions in an increasingly globalized world economy,
pandemics, natural disasters, armed conflicts, displacement, exploitation, illiteracy, hunger, intolerance,
disability and inadequate legal protection, and convinced that urgent and effective national and international
action is called for,
Alarmed by the reality of daily violations of children’s rights, including the right to life, to physical
security and to freedom from arbitrary detention, torture and any form of exploitation, as laid out in relevant
international instruments,
Reaffirming that the family is the fundamental group of society and the natural environment for the
growth and well-being of the children and recognizing that the child should grow up in a family environment and
social atmosphere of happiness, love and understanding,
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,
Reaffirming the importance of access by children to the highest attainable standard of social services,
which are an integral part of, and contribute positively to, social and economic development and recognizing that
the primary responsibility for ensuring provision of and universal access to social services rests with
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