Time

Activity

Opening of the conference – plenary session (Room XX) – In English and French

Ms. Tatiana Valovaya, Director-General of the United Nations Office in Geneva, Ms. Liliane Maury Pasquier, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Mr. Félix Baumann, Deputy Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the UN, Ms. Esther Alder, Administrative Councillor of the City of Geneva, with the presence of Ms. Anne Emery-Torracinta, State Councillor of the Canton of Geneva,

Presentation of the conference: Ms Gerison Lansdown

Keynote: The Rights of Children: State of Play – plenary session (Room XX) – In English and French

Children and young people have led the development of the format and the content of this session, and will be the facilitators and speakers. They have decided on different stories to present which will give an insight into the ‘state of child rights’ today which they will then have a discussion about, concluding with some key messages about children’s rights after 30 years of the CRC. 

Working Group 1 – Child Protection 

Session led by Friends International

With Ms. Najat Maalla M’jid, Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children.

Working Group 2 – Justice for children; Justice with children(Room XXI) 

In English only

Session led by Terre des Hommes andInternational Bar Association Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI)

With Ms. Marta Pascual, Juvenile Judge and President of the International Association of Youth and Family Judges and Magistrates (AIMJF).

Children’s rights and women’s rights: tensions or synergies? (Room XXII)

In English and French 

Session led by Enfants du Monde 

With Ms. Koumba Boly-Barry, Special Rapporteur on the right to education.

Lunch break and @ 13:30 - Launch of the exhibitions “Children Reporters” and “Drawings of God” – 

Communal Space 3 (in front of Room XX)

Children’s participation – Roundtable – plenary session

With Ms. Amal Salman Aldoseri, Vice Chairperson of the Committee on the Rights of the Child and Ms. Najat Maalla M’jid, Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children. 

Working Group 3 – Migration and children’s rights 

(Room XX)

In English and French 

Session led by International Social Service Switzerland.

Working Group 4 – Children Affected by Terrorism: A Roadmap for Action 

(Room XXI) 

In English only

Session led by United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

Anniversary Trifecta: 

10^th Anniversary of the UN Guidelines on the Alternative Care of Children and 5^th anniversary of the Optional Protocol to the CRC on a communications procedure

(Room XXII)

In English only

Session led by International Social Service Switzerland and Child Rights Connect.

SIDE EVENT (15.30-17.00)

Children in the digital age – championing children’s issues in intergovernmental forums (Room XXIV)

In English only

Closing of the day – plenary session (Room XX) – In French and English

Moderation: Ms Gerison Lansdown

Time

Activity

Keynote: The Future of Children’s Rights – plenary session (Room XX)– In English and French 

Children and young people have led the development of the format and the content of this session, and will be the facilitators and speakers. They have decided on different stories to present which will give an insight into the future of children’s rights and the CRC, which they will then have a discussion about, concluding with some key messages about children’s rights and the CRC in the next 30 years.

Children human rights defenders- Roundtable – plenary session (Room XX) – In English and French

With Ms. Amal Salman Aldoseri, Vice Chairperson of the Committee on the Rights of the Child and Mr. Michel Forst, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders.

Working Group 5 – The past, present and Future of children’s environmental rights (Room XX)

In English and French 

Session led by Terre des Hommes.

With Ms Mikiko Otani, member of the committee on the Rights of the Child and Ms Ingrid Gubbay, lawyer and head of human rights and environmental law litigation at Hausfeld & Co.

Working Group 6 – Children’s Rights in the Age of Biotechnology (Room XXI)

In English only 

Session led by International Social Service Switzerland.

With Mr. Nigel Cantwell, international child protection consultant, and Mr. Michael Wells-Greco, Associate Professor, Maastricht University/Charles Russell Speechleys.

Children’s rights studies today 

(Room XXII)

In English only

Session led by the University of Geneva. 

With Ms. Michelle Cottier, Law Faculty, University of Geneva and Mr. Karl Hanson, Centre for Children’s Rights Studies, University of Geneva.

Lunch break 

Official Launch of the UN Global Study on Children Deprived of Liberty - (Room XXII) In English only

With the independent expert Mr. Manfred Nowak

Open forum -discussions led by participants to the conference (Rooms XXI and XXII)

In English only

• Safeguarding and promoting girl human rights defenders: encouraging action and tackling growing threats – led by Defence for Children International with Ms. Najat Maalla M’jid, Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children, Ms Meskerem Geset Techane, Chair of the Working Group on Discrimination Against Women and Girls and Ms Ann Skelton, member of the Committee on the Rights of the Child (14.30-16.30 – Room XXI)
• The States’ obligation to provide support to families – how well are they doing in Europe? – led by ATD Fourth World (14.30-15.30 – Room XXII)
• Global Child Indicators – led by Dr Ziba Vaghri, Global Child Network (15.30-16.30 – Room XXII)

World café (Room XXIV) 

In English only 

Come and learn about the work of different organisations and initiatives:

• The situation of children with incarcerated parents: what happens to a child when their parent goes to prison? – led by Quakers United Nations Office
• Supporting children during parental separation: presentation of a local multidisciplinary initiative – led by Réseau Enfants Genève
• “Its Time to Talk! – Children’s Views on Children’s Work” : presentation of a global children’s participation project and campaign – led by Terre des Hommes Germany 
• Promoting children’s rights through daily education – led by Graines de Paix 

Hackathon 

(Room VII)

During 2h30, interested participants will work together to identify action plans and solutions to a specific issue presented by other participants (adults and children).

Topic(s) will be confirmed during the conference.

Closing of the day – plenary session (Room XX)In English and French

Moderation: Ms Gerison Lansdown

Reception and launch of the publication “30 Years of Children’s Rights” – Exhibition Gallery (opposite Room XX)

Launch of the Global Study on Children Deprived of Liberty - reception event hosted by the Independent Expert, at the Intercontinental Hotel in Geneva (7-9 Chemin du Petit Saconnex, 1209 Geneva). With the participation of several Ambassadors of the group of friends to the Study, performances by the Youth Choir of the International School Geneva/Musicians for Human Rights and various video screenings.

Time

Activity

Looking forward: commitments and messages from civil society for children’s rights [closed session for participants who attended the first 2 days of the conference]

Based on the discussions held during the first two days of the conference, interested child and adult participants will discuss and decide on the key messages, recommendations and commitments they will share during the official anniversary ceremony in the afternoon. 

Official anniversary ceremony – Room XX 

In English and French – live webcast

Under the guidance of Mr. Darius Rochebin, Journalist, Swiss Radio Television (RTS)

Opening of the ceremony 

Opening performance: the CRC Preamble.

Ms. Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Afshan Khan, UNICEF Regional Director, Europe and Central Asia, Ms. Pascale Baeriswyl, State Secretary of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA, Switzerland, Mr. Yves Flückiger, President of the University of Geneva, Mr. Jean Zermatten, former Chair of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child and President of Association 30 Years of Children’s Rights.

30 Years On: Where are we now? What needs to change?

Key messages, recommendations and calls for actions based on the two first days of the conference.

What future for children’s rights? High-level roundtable

With Ms. Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr. Philip D. Jaffé, Member of the Committee on the Rights of the Child and two children human rights defenders.

Looking forward: pledges for children’s rights 

Ms Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, will deliver her message to the UN General Assembly from Geneva and children will deliver their messages for the future of children’s rights.

Selected States representatives, UN agencies, the Committee on the Rights of the Child and civil society representatives will share their pledges and messages for the future of children’s rights. 

Closing of the ceremony 

Closing speeches: Ms. Ann Skelton, Member of the Committee on the Rights of the Child, Ms Maria Herczog, President of Child Rights Connect and Association 30 Ans de Droits de l’Enfant.