Today marks a historic milestone in children’s rights as the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child launch the ‘General Comment No. 26 on children’s rights and the environment with a special focus on climate change’. This document, which is the first of its kind, recognises the right of children around the world to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.
The launch was celebrated with a live-broadcast session at the United Nations Palais des Nations in Geneva, and was the result of an 18-month global intergenerational consultation process led by the international child rights organisation Terre des Hommes. Contributions from 16,331 children from 121 countries were received, making this the most inclusive child participation process in the United Nation’s history.
Speaking at the launch event, Joshua Hofert, Executive Director of terre des hommes Germany said: “Today is a good day for children – and for our planet. By recognising children’s environmental rights, the Committee underscores that those responsible for climate and environmental damage violate children’s rights. States must listen to children’s and young people’s demands. They must stop making decisions at their expense. They must take action.”
The launch of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child’s new guidance marks a historic moment in the recognition of children’s rights, with the document for the first time recognising the right of children around the world to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment. The document was launched in Geneva today following an 18-month global intergenerational consultation process led by the international child rights organisation Terre des Hommes, with contributions from 16,331 children from 121 countries.
Speaking at the launch event, Joshua Hofert, Executive Director of terre des hommes Germany, said: “Today is a good day for children – and for our planet. By recognising children’s environmental rights, the Committee underscores that those responsible for climate and environmental damage violate children’s rights. States must listen to children’s and young people’s demands. They must stop making decisions at their expense. They must take action.”
The new document, ‘General Comment No. 26 on children’s rights and the environment with a special focus on climate change’, clarifies States’ obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and urges both States and businesses to take decisive action against climate change and environmental pollution.
Today marks an historic milestone in the recognition of children’s rights, with the launch of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child’s document ‘General Comment No. 26 on children’s rights and the environment with a special focus on climate change’. The document, which is the first of its kind, recognises the right of children around the world to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.
An 18-month global intergenerational consultation process led by the international child rights organisation Terre des Hommes was conducted to create the document, with contributions from 16,331 children from 121 countries. Speaking at the launch event in Geneva, Joshua Hofert, Executive Director of terre des hommes Germany said: “Today is a good day for children – and for our planet. By recognising children’s environmental rights, the Committee underscores that those responsible for climate and environmental damage violate children’s rights. States must listen to children’s and young people’s demands. They must stop making decisions at their expense. They must take action.”
The new document clarifies States’ obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, urging both States and businesses to take decisive action against climate change and environmental pollution. The launch of this historic document marks a major step forward in the recognition of children’s rights and the protection of their future.
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