A/HRC/4/72
page 5
7. In compliance with the request of the Commission, OHCHR convened three inter-agency
meetings with representatives from ILO, UNICEF and UNHCR, in June, September and October
2005, in order to determine how to proceed with a comprehensive assessment. On one occasion,
the meeting also included an NGO representative. OHCHR met separately with representatives
of NGOs, led by World Vision International, who were interested in participating in, and
donating funds for, the implementation of the resolution. These meetings sought to determine
the nature and timing of their involvement.
8. The inter-agency consultations addressed the definition of abduction to be used,
the methodology to be applied, the division of responsibilities and the time lines for
implementation.
9. On the question of the definition of abduction, the group acknowledged that there is
significant ambiguity, as there is no applicable definition in international law. Moreover, the
language in the resolution is indicative rather than definitive. The group also recognized the
considerable overlap between abduction and other phenomena, such as trafficking, but identified
one distinction in that abduction refers to a particular act, while trafficking refers more to
processes, of which abduction may constitute one element.
10. The group furthermore acknowledged that the drafting of a definition is within neither its
mandate nor its area of competence. It was thus decided to adopt a working definition, drawing
partially from (a) the definition of abduction included in the draft common terminology for the
monitoring and reporting system on children and armed conflict being considered by the steering
committee of the Task Force on Children and Armed Conflict, and (b) the references to
“end-uses” contained in the resolution.
11. As such, the group proposed the following working definition: “Abduction is the removal,
seizure, apprehension, taking, taking custody, detention or capture of a child (under 18 years)
temporarily or permanently by force, threat or deception for involvement in armed forces or
armed groups, for participation in hostilities, for sexual exploitation and forced labour”.
12. On the question of methodology, the inter-agency group agreed to conduct a desk review,
referring to NGO pilot studies, to achieve an understanding of the nature and extent of the
phenomenon of abduction. The desk review would cover all relevant information at the disposal
of the respective agencies, including existing publications and information from the field. The
inter-agency group decided that the desk review would constitute the core of the report to the
sixty-second session of the Commission.
II. ACTIONS UNDERTAKEN BY THE OFFICE OF THE
UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR
HUMAN RIGHTS
13. On 12 September, OHCHR issued a note verbale to all States, drawing attention to
paragraphs 15 and 16 of the resolution and requesting information on the implementation of the
resolution.
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