Ghana’s Child Rights Record to be reviewed

Ghana’s record on children’s rights will be reviewed next week by the United Nations (UN) Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC), in sessions that will be webcast live.

Ghana is one of the 195 states that have ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and it is required to undergo regular examination of its record by the Committee of 18 independent experts.

A statement issued by the UN Country Office in Accra, said the discussions between the CRC and the delegation from the Ghanaian Government would take place at Palais Wilson in Geneva, Switzerland on May 20.

It said, possible issues to be discussed include, measures to eliminate discrimination against vulnerable children, particularly children with disabilities, steps to increase birth registration and measures to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS and reduce poverty.

“The discussions would also border on legislation and awareness-raising to eradicate harmful traditional practices such as female genital mutilation, early marriage and ritual servitude (Trokosi), and measures to eradicate the worst forms of child labour,” it said.