The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolution 44/25 of 20 November 1989, by which it adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child,
Recalling also its resolution 46/112 of 17 December 1991 and taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 1992/75 of 5 March 1992,
Taking note of the report of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on its first session, held at Geneva from 30 September to 18 October 1991, and the meeting of the States parties to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, held in New York on 11 November 1992,
Reaffirming that the rights of children require special protection and call for continuous improvement of the situation of children all over the world, as well as for their development and education in conditions of peace and security,
Profoundly concerned that the situation of children in many parts of the world remains critical as a result of inadequate social and economic conditions, natural disasters, armed conflicts, exploitation, illiteracy, hunger and disability, and convinced that urgent and effective national and international action is called for,
Mindful of the important role of the United Nations Children's Fund and of the United Nations in promoting the well-being of children and their development,
Convinced that the Convention on the Rights of the Child, as a standard-setting accomplishment of the United Nations in the field of human rights, makes a positive contribution to protecting the rights of children and ensuring their well-being,
Recalling the World Declaration on the Survival, Protection and Development of Children and the Plan of Action for Implementing the World Declaration on the Survival, Protection and Development of Children in the 1990s, adopted at the World Summit for Children, held in New York on 29 and 30 September 1990, and stressing the necessity to ensure the follow-up of the Summit at the national and international levels,
Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the status of the Convention,
Encouraged by the fact that an unprecedented number of States have to date become signatories and parties to the Convention, thereby demonstrating the widespread commitment that exists to strive for the promotion and protection of the rights of the child,
1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on the status of the Convention on the Rights of the Child;
2. Recalls with deep satisfaction the entry into force of the Convention on 2 September 1990 as a major step in international efforts to promote universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms;
3. Expresses its satisfaction at the number of States that have signed, ratified or acceded to the Convention since it was opened for signature, ratification and accession on 26 January 1990;
4. Calls upon all States that have not done so to sign, ratify or accede to the Convention as a matter of priority;
5. Requests the Secretary-General to provide, from within existing resources, all facilities and assistance necessary for the dissemination of information on the Convention and its implementation, with a view to promoting further ratification of or accession to the Convention, as well as the full realization of its principles and provisions;
6. Emphasizes the importance of the strict compliance by States parties with their obligations under the Convention;
7. Appeals to States parties to the Convention that have made reservations to review the compatibility of their reservations with article 51 of the Convention and other relevant rules of international law;
8. Recognizes the important role of the Committee on the Rights of the Child in overseeing the effective implementation of the provisions of the Convention;
9. Welcomes the constructive and useful results achieved by the Committee on the Rights of the Child during its first session, including the adoption of the general guidelines regarding the form and contents of initial reports to be submitted by States parties;
10. Approves the recommendation contained in the resolution adopted by consensus at the meeting of the States parties to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on 11 November 1992, in which the States parties reaffirmed the recommendation made by the Committee on the Rights of the Child regarding the organization of the future work of the Committee on the basis of two sessions annually, each of up to three weeks' duration, as may be decided by the Committee in the light of its anticipated workload, and the establishment of a pre-sessional working group that would meet for one week approximately two months in advance of each session for a preliminary review of reports from States parties;
11. Authorizes the Secretary-General to implement the recommendation mentioned in paragraph 10 above;
12. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure the provision of appropriate staff and facilities, within the overall existing budget framework, for the effective performance of the functions of the Committee on the Rights of the Child;
13. Requests bodies and organizations of the United Nations, within the scope of their respective mandates, to intensify their efforts to disseminate information on the Convention, promote understanding of it and assist Governments in its implementation;
14. Invites intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to intensify their efforts with a view to disseminating information on the Convention to adults and children alike and promoting understanding of it;
15. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its forty-ninth session a report on the status of the Convention;
16. Decides to consider the report of the Secretary-General at its forty-ninth session under the item entitled "Human rights questions".
89th plenary meeting
