A/HRC/34/27
D.
Challenges to protecting child rights in the implementation of the 2030
Agenda
43.
A number of wider challenges at both global and national levels risk compromising
the realization of children’s rights and must be taken into consideration. For example, the
global impacts of climate change and natural disasters are increasing in frequency and
intensity, and children suffer the consequences of this disproportionately due to their
particular life stage and heightened physical vulnerability. 15 Similarly, children living in
situations of conflict or humanitarian crisis are at heightened risk of being subject to
violence and multiple further rights violations, and migration linked to conflict and
humanitarian crises worldwide places children and their families on a precipice, with
children potentially facing separation from their caregivers, economic insecurity,
marginalization and discrimination.
44.
Financial crises, economic recession and associated austerity measures have had a
major impact on children and pose an ongoing risk to rights-based implementation of the
2030 Agenda. In accordance with the principle of non-retrogression and State obligations
under article 4 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, States should not take
retrogressive measures or allow the existing level of enjoyment of children’s rights to
deteriorate in times of economic crisis. In addition, private actors including business, have
the potential either to support or undermine child rights-based implementation of the 2030
Agenda. Business activities that do not respect children’s rights pose a risk, including in the
case of business enterprises that have adverse impacts on the livelihoods and rights of local
and indigenous communities, or on the environment. In addition to the challenges noted
here, other circumstances particular to different national contexts have the potential to pose
risks and barriers to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda in a manner in which child
rights are protected.
V. A child rights-based approach to financing and investment in
the implementation of the 2030 Agenda
45.
Insufficient public spending on children which is not adequately inclusive is a
central barrier to the realization of the rights of the child. Sustainable, equitable and broadbased investment in children is essential to fulfil the obligations of States to implement
their rights, as are the relevant commitments contained in the Addis Ababa Action Agenda
of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development and throughout the
2030 Agenda, including its vision of “a world which invests in its children”. This is
consistent with the obligation for States under article 4 of the Convention on the Rights of
the Child to dedicate the maximum available resources to investment in children. As is
further elaborated in the general comment No. 19 (2016) of the Committee on the Rights of
the Child on public budgeting for the realization of children’s rights and in Human Rights
Council resolution 28/19, States must ensure effective, efficient, equitable, transparent and
sustainable public budget decision-making to realize all children’s rights, especially for
those in vulnerable situations.
Mobilizing adequate international and domestic resources and combating corruption
46.
Domestic resource mobilization is a key source of revenue for implementing the
2030 Agenda and, as set out in target 17.1, States should mobilize domestic resources
15
12
See UNICEF Office of Research, The Challenges of Climate Change: Children on the Front Line
(Florence, 2014).
Select target paragraph3
Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents