exploitation, illiteracy, hunger, intolerance, discrimination, disability and inadequate legal protection, and
convinced that urgent and effective national and international action is called for,
Concerned that, in conflict situations, children continue to be victims and deliberate targets of attacks
with consequences that are often irreversible for their physical and emotional integrity,
Taking note of the progress made in the preparations for the special session of the General Assembly on
children, including in its draft outcome document, and encouraging the Assembly, at the special session, to make
a renewed commitment to the rights of the child and to consider future action for children in the forthcoming
decade, taking into account a strong child-rights approach,
Welcoming the reports of the Secretary-General on the status of the Convention on the Rights of the
Child (E/CN.4/2002/84), of the Special Rapporteur on the right to education (E/CN.4/2002/60 and Add.1-2), of
the Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography (E/CN.4/2002/88), of the
Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the impact of armed conflict on children to the General
Assembly at its fifty-sixth session (A/56/453) and to the Commission at its fifty-eighth session
(E/CN.4/2002/85), and the report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict (A/56/342S/2001/852),
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,
Recognizing that partnership between Governments, international organizations and relevant bodies and
organizations of the United Nations system, in particular the United Nations Children’s Fund, and all actors of
civil society, in particular non-governmental organizations, as well as the private sector, is important to realize
the rights of the child,
Welcoming the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the
World (2001-2010) and recalling the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace, which serve
as the basis for the International Decade,
Reaffirming interrelatedness of all human rights and the necessity to take into account the universality,
indivisibility, interdependence and interrelatedness of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights,
including the right to development, to promote and protect the rights of the child,
I. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS
OF THE CHILD AND OTHER INSTRUMENTS
1.
Urges once again the States that have not yet done so to sign and ratify or to accede to the
Convention on the Rights of the Child as a matter of priority, with a view to reaching the goal of universal
adherence, and, concerned at the great number of reservations to the Convention, urges States parties to
withdraw reservations incompatible with the object and purpose of the Convention and to consider reviewing
other reservations with a view to withdrawing them;
2.
Urges the States that have not yet done so to consider signing and ratifying or acceding to the
Optional Protocols to the Convention on the involvement of children in armed conflict and on the sale of
children, child prostitution and child pornography;
3.
Calls upon States parties to implement the Convention fully and to ensure that the rights set
forth in the Convention are respected without discrimination of any kind, that the best interests of the child are a
primary consideration in all actions concerning children, to recognize the child’s inherent right to life and that
the child’s survival and development is ensured to the maximum extent possible, and that the child is able to
express his/her views freely in all opinions on matters affecting him/her and that these views are listened to and
given due weight in accordance with his/her age and maturity;
4.
Urges States parties to take all appropriate measures for the implementation of the rights
recognized in the Convention, bearing in mind article 4 of the Convention, by strengthening relevant
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