On 28 August 2023, the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child published General Comment No. 26 on children’s rights and the environment with a special focus on climate change!
Grounded in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, these ground-breaking guidelines clarify the obligations of governments with respect to children’s rights and environmental harm and provide a powerful tool with which to hold them accountable when children’s environmental rights are violated.
Read General Comment No.26 (also in French, Spanish)
The Committee and the General Comment No.26 steering group, with CERI as a key organising partner, wish to thank everyone who contributed to the consultations that took place between January 2022 and February 2023. We wish to say a special thank you to the 16, 331 children that took the time to share their views and ideas as part of this process.
Versions of the General Comment created with children, for children will be published (in English, French and Spanish) on 18 September 2023 as part of the Global Launch of General Comment No. 26, as well as the Global Charter for Children’s Rights, the Environment and Climate Change. The Global Charter reflects the key demands and messages of children and young people from around the globe on their rights, the environment and climate change, informed by their contributions to CERI regional consultations and General Comment No. 26 consultations.
Global Launch of General Comment No. 26
On 18 September 2023, the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child will host an official launch of General Comment No.26 in the United Nations Palais des Nation, Switzerland. To complement the official launch event, the General Comment No. 26 steering group together with the Child Advisors invite children, young people and the wider global community to host launch activities on (or around) the 18 September 2023. Find out how to get involved here.
