Finland signed an Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child on a communications and inquiry procedure

Finland signed a new Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which contains provisions on a communications and inquiry procedure. The Optional Protocol is a remarkable step towards accelerating the implementation of the rights of the child. Finland was part of a so called “core group”, which consisted of ten countries working together across regional borders to promote the initiation of the Optional Protocol.

The Optional Protocol recognizes the competence of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child to receive and consider both individual and inter-state communications on alleged violations of any of the rights set forth in the Convention and its two Optional Protocols. The Optional Protocol also contains the inquiry procedure for grave and systematic violations.

Similar communications procedures are featured in eight of the core UN human rights conventions, whereas similar inquiry procedures are featured in four.

The entry into force of this Optional Protocol requires ten ratifications or accessions. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs is looking into the required conditions for ratification.

Further information: Legal Counsellor Krista Oinonen, Unit for Human Rights Courts and Conventions, tel. +358 9 16 055 731, gsm. +358 40 158 5482, e-mail: [email protected].