A/HRC/17/46
B.
Plenary discussion
35.
As in the morning session, the Human Rights Council divided the second panel
discussion into two segments. During the ensuing discussion for the second panel,
statements were made during the first segment by Algeria, Angola, Australia, Canada,
Costa Rica, Honduras, Maldives, Mexico, Nepal, Pakistan, Paraguay (on behalf of
Common Market of the South), the Republic of Korea, Switzerland, Ukraine and the
African Union. The National Human Rights Council of Morocco, SOS Kinderdorf
International7 and Defence for Children International8 also made statements. During the
second segment, Afghanistan, Cambodia, Egypt, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan,
Morocco, Norway, Peru, Poland, Qatar, Slovenia, the Sudan, the United States of America,
Viet Nam and the European Union took the floor. Also speaking were the nongovernmental organizations the Consortium for Street Children,9 Human Rights Advocates,10
the International Harm Reduction Association11 and Plan International.12
36.
During the interactive dialogue, speakers again welcomed the presence of youth
representatives in the annual day discussion and reiterated the causes of why children end
up on the street, making them more vulnerable to violence, abuse and exploitation. States
had an obligation to address the issue. Since it was such a complex and comprehensive
problem, responses should be complex and comprehensive. The identification of reasons
for which children found themselves on the street might help in devising response
strategies. In that sense, poverty, particularly in developing countries, was identified as one
of the main reasons. Structural impediments and socio-economic vulnerabilities prevalent
in society had an impact on the well-being of children. External factors such as conflicts,
HIV/AIDS, the effects of climate change and migration aggravated the problem. Some
children on the street were stateless, refugees, internally displaced or children of illegal
immigrants. Homelessness had a severe impact on a child’s development and was a step
towards lifelong disadvantage. Some countries underlined the major role played by
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8
9
10
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Also on behalf of the African Child Policy Forum, the Consortium for Street Children, Defence for
Children International, Foundation ECPAT International, the International Catholic Child Bureau,
International Federation Terre des Hommes, International Movement ATD Fourth World,
International Social Service, the NGO Group for the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Plan
International, Red Latinoamericana de Acogimiento Familiar, the Women’s World Summit
Foundation, the World Movement of Mothers World Vision International.
On behalf of the African Child Policy Forum, the Consortium for Street Children, Covenant
House/Casa Alianza, Foundation ECPAT International, the International Catholic Child Bureau,
International Federation Terre des Hommes, the NGO Group for the Convention on the Rights of the
Child, Plan International, SOS Kinderdorf International, War Child Holland, the Women’s World
Summit Foundation, the World Movement of Mothers, the World Organization against Torture and
World Vision International.
On behalf of Defence for Children International, the International Catholic Child Bureau,
International Federation Terre des Hommes, the International Harm Reduction Association, SOS
Kinderdorf International and the Women’s World Summit Foundation.
Also on behalf of the Consortium for Street Children, Defence for Children International and the
Women’s World Summit Foundation.
Also on behalf of the Consortium for Street Children, Human Rights Watch, the International
Catholic Child Bureau and World Vision International.
Also on behalf of the Consortium for Street Children, Defence for Children International, Foundation
ECPAT International, the International Catholic Child Bureau, the NGO Group for the Convention on
the Rights of the Child, SOS Kinderdorf International, the Women’s World Summit Foundation, the
World Movement of Mothers, the World Organization against Torture and World Vision
International.
11
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