The United Nations Committee on Child Rights has released a set of guidelines centered on safeguarding children’s rights in the context of environmental issues, notably climate change.
Officially known as General Comment No. 26, the committee’s recommendations spell out what actions countries should take to mitigate the effects of climate change and environmental degradation on children’s overall well-being, while also advocating for a sustainable planet for everyone.
Created through an exhaustive consultation process, the guidelines drew input from national human rights organizations, governments, international bodies, experts, civic groups, and significantly, children themselves.
An impressive 16,331 comments were collected from young people in as many as 121 countries. This democratic approach ensures that the resulting document reflects a broad spectrum of perspectives and concerns.
Kartik, a 17-year-old child rights activist from India and a youth advisor to the committee, emphasized the crucial role that children play in today’s world.
“Our voices count and deserve to be considered,” he said. According to him, General Comment No. 26 serves as a vital tool for empowering children to understand and assert their rights in the face of environmental and climate challenges.
The guidelines elaborate on the fundamental rights of children to live in a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment. These are not isolated rights but are intrinsically linked to other foundational rights such as the right to life, education, and the highest possible standard of health.
Ann Skelton, the Chair of the committee, underscored the legal weight of the document. She mentioned that it clearly delineates the responsibilities that states have under the Child Rights Convention to shield children from environmental damage and to enable them to exercise their full range of rights.
In addition, the guidelines call for countries to put in place strong legal mechanisms to protect children from the environmental hazards associated with business activities.
Countries are urged to enforce laws that mandate businesses to respect children’s environmental rights and conduct thorough due diligence to minimize harm. When children are identified as victims of environmental abuse, the guidelines insist on swift and decisive actions to prevent further damage and remedy the situation.
The document highlights that children often face a unique set of challenges in seeking legal standing for environmental issues due to their age and status. Therefore, it suggests that countries should develop accessible, child-friendly legal channels for seeking justice against environmental wrongs.
The guidelines go beyond general recommendations to tackle specific issues like climate finance. They insist that developed nations should extend financial help in the form of grants rather than loans to developing countries, thereby averting additional burdens that could further compromise children’s rights.
The committee also calls for urgent collective actions to confront environmental destruction and climate change effectively.
Despite the comprehensive nature of the guidelines, some believe they don’t go far enough. Kelly Matheson, the deputy director at Our Children’s Trust, criticized the committee for missing an opportunity to make a transformative impact.
She described the guidelines as incremental steps when a significant leap is needed to genuinely address the crisis at hand.
Overall, the newly issued guidelines represent a significant milestone in recognizing and protecting children’s environmental rights, though it’s clear that some think there is still much ground to cover.
