MEETING OF STATES PARTIES

Sixth meeting

New York, 18 February 1997

Agenda item 6

OTHER MATTERS

STATUS OF THE AMENDMENT TO THE CONVENTION

ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD

Note by the Secretary-General

1.         At present 188 States are parties to the Convention on the Rights of the Child which, within an exceptionally short period of time, has become the international human rights instrument with the largest number of ratifications.

2.         In 1993, the World Conference on Human Rights recommended that the Committee on the Rights of the Child should be enabled expeditiously and effectively to meet its mandate, especially in view of the unprecedented number of ratifications and subsequent submission of country reports.

3.         In 1995, the Government of Costa Rica proposed an increase in the membership of the Committee from 10 to 18 and presented the following amendment to article 43, paragraph 2, of the Convention:

“2.The Committee shall consist of eighteen experts of high moral standing and recognized competence in the field covered by this Convention. The members of the Committee shall be elected by States Parties from among their nationals and shall serve in their personal capacity, consideration being given to equitable geographical distribution, as well as to the principal legal systems.”

GE.9715261 (E)

4.         On 12 December 1995, a Conference of the States Parties to the Convention adopted the amendment by consensus.

5.         In accordance with the provisions of article 50 of the Convention, an amendment “... shall enter into force when it has been approved by the General Assembly of the United Nations and accepted by a two-thirds majority of States parties”.

6.         By its resolution 50/155 of 21 December 1995, the General Assembly approved the amendment and urged States parties to take appropriate measures so that acceptance by a two-thirds majority of States parties can be reached as soon as possible.

7.         In order for the amendment to enter into force, it is required that 120 States out of a total of 180 which were parties to the Convention at the time of the convening of the Conference of the States Parties notify to the Secretary-General, who is the depositary of the Convention, their acceptance of the amendment. As of 3 January 1997, 16 such notifications had been received.

8.         With a view to ensuring the entry into force of the amendment as soon as possible, as requested by the General Assembly in resolution 50/155, States parties may wish to take appropriate measures for an early notification of acceptance. In this connection, it may be noted that the Committee at its fourteenth session in January 1997 reiterated its support for the increase of its membership as soon as possible.

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