CRC concluding observations 2023, paragraph 17
Plain English recommendation
Government should: Ensure all children can: (a) Safely make complaints about violence, abuse, discrimination and other violations of their rights, in schools, care settings, foster care, mental health settings and detention; and ensure they know how to make a complaint; (b) Access solutions and legal support to help put things right when their rights are violated, especially for disadvantaged children, including by expanding the types of support available through legal aid; (c) Get support from people working in the justice system who are trained on children’s rights and ways to make the system child-friendly.
Original UN recommendation
The Committee recommends that the State party ensure that all children have access to: (a) Confidential, child-friendly and independent complaints mechanisms in schools, alternative care settings, foster care systems, mental health settings and detention for reporting all forms of violence, abuse, discrimination and other violations of their rights, and raise awareness among children of their right to file a complaint under existing mechanisms; (b) Legal support and representations and remedies, including by removing barriers faced by children in disadvantaged situations and expanding the types of support provided under the legal aid budget; (c) Officials working with children in the justice system who have been adequately trained on children’s rights and child-friendly proceedings.
Date of UN examination
18/05/2023
UN article number
4, 42, 44 (6)
Original UN document
Download the original CRC concluding observations 2023 on the UN website.