OFFICE OF THE HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR
HUMAN RIGHTS
Rights of the child
Human Rights Resolution 2005/44
The Commission on Human Rights,
Emphasizing the importance of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and that its
provisions and other relevant human rights instruments must constitute the standard in the
promotion and protection of the rights of the child, and bearing in mind the Optional Protocol
to the Convention on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, and the
Optional Protocol to the Convention on the involvement of children in armed conflict,
Reaffirming that the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration in all
actions concerning children,
Reaffirming also the United Nations Millennium Declaration, the Vienna Declaration
and Programme of Action (A/CONF.157/23), and the outcome document of the twentyseventh special session of the General Assembly on children entitled “A world fit for
children” and the commitments contained therein,
Recalling its previous resolutions on the rights of the child, the most recent of which
is resolution 2004/48 of 20 April 2004, as well as General Assembly resolution 59/261
of 23 December 2004,
Taking note with appreciation of the reports of the Secretary-General on the status of
the Convention on the Rights of the Child (E/CN.4/2005/73), of the Special Rapporteur on the
right to education (E/CN.4/2005/50), of the Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child
prostitution and child pornography (E/CN.4/2005/78 and Corr.1 and Add.1-4), the report of
the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict
(E/CN.4/2005/77), and the progress report of the Secretary-General on the study on the
question of violence against children (E/CN.4/2005/75),
Welcoming the work of the Committee on the Rights of the Child and taking note of
the conclusions of the day of general discussion held on 17 September 2004 at its thirtyseventh session on implementing child rights in early childhood (see CRC/C/143, annex),
Profoundly concerned that the situation of children 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 economic environment, pandemics, in
particular HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, natural disasters, armed conflicts, displacement,
exploitation, illiteracy, hunger, intolerance, discrimination, gender inequality, discrimination
on the basis of disability and inadequate legal protection, and convinced that urgent and
effective national and international action is called for,
Recognizing that environmental damage has potentially negative effects on children
and their enjoyment of their lives, health and satisfactory standard of living,
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