Building universal standards for governments to uphold children’s rights impacted by the environmental and climate crisis
Children and young people worldwide have been calling on governments to take action on the environmental crisis, one of the greatest threats to children’s rights globally.
In fact, 1.7 million children lose their lives every year as a result of avoidable environmental impacts. Millions more are being forced to leave their homes, missing out on school and suffering from disease.
The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child is listening to the calls of children and young people. They are taking a major step to hold governments accountable for ensuring children live in a clean, green, healthy and sustainable world.
The Committee is creating a General Comment on Children’s Rights and the Environment with a Special Focus on Climate Change (General Comment No. 26) – authoritative guidance on how children’s rights are impacted by the environmental crisis and what governments must do to uphold these rights.
The General Comment is being informed by the collective, from human rights institutions, Indigenous People organizations to United Nations agencies. Most importantly, it is being shaped by children and young people, especially from communities most impacted by the environmental crisis.
From December 2021 – 2023, the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child will host a series of offline and online consultations and workshops with the global community, including specific consultations with children and young people, to inform the General Comment launching in 2023.
Join us for this significant opportunity to collectively build a powerful tool for children, young people and their allies to ensure governments uphold children’s rights and protect our planet.