A/HRC/RES/16/12
street, in all matters and decisions affecting their lives through the expression of their
views, and that those views be given due weight in accordance with their age and maturity,
Reaffirming also that the child, for the full and harmonious development of his or
her personality, should grow up in a family environment while the best interests of the child
shall be the guiding principle of those responsible for his or her nurture and protection and
that families’ and caregivers’ capacities to provide the child with care and safe environment
should be promoted,
Recalling the Convention concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the
Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour, 1999 (No. 182) and the Convention
concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment, 1973 (No. 138) of the
International Labour Organization, and welcoming the commitments by States to accelerate
action against child labour, including the confirmed goal of eliminating the worst forms of
child labour by 2016,
Welcoming the joint work of the Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child
prostitution and child pornography and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General
on violence against children on effective and child-sensitive counselling, and complaint and
reporting mechanisms to which children can safely report incidents of violence, including
sexual violence and exploitation,1
Welcoming also the work of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for
children and armed conflict,2 the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on
violence against children3 and the Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child
prostitution and child pornography,4 and taking note of their reports,
Welcoming further the work of the Committee on the Rights of the Child,
Welcoming the constructive dialogue on the theme “A holistic approach to the
protection and promotion of the rights of children working and/or living on the street”, on
the occasion of the full-day annual meeting on the rights of the child, held on 9 March
2011, and the renewed commitment to the implementation of the Convention expressed on
that occasion by States parties,
Profoundly concerned that the situation of children in many parts of the world
remains critical and has been negatively affected by the world financial and economic
crisis,
Deeply concerned about the situation of girls and boys working and/or living on the
street worldwide and the negative impact that this has on the full enjoyment of their rights
and their development,
Recognizing that the prevention and solution of certain aspects of this phenomenon
could be facilitated in the context of economic and social development,
Recognizing also the need for States and the international community to create an
environment in which the well-being of the child is ensured, including by strengthening
international cooperation in this field,
Deeply concerned about the multiple forms of discrimination and stigmatization
children living and/or working on the street often face because of factors such as race,
1
2
3
4
2
A/HRC/16/56.
A/HRC/15/58.
A/HRC/16/54.
A/HRC/16/57.