The Report of the Caribbean Conference on the Rights of the Child: Meeting the Post Ratification Challenge

Abstract

This report chronicles the experiences of delegates, representing all levels of government, the justice system, the police, and non-governmental organizations (NGO) working with and on the behalf of children throughout the Caribbean, on the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and their reviews of their specific in child rights that are of particular importance to the Caribbean region. These include quality of education and poor school completion rates, especially for boys, child neglect and abuse, sexual abuse and exploitation of children, the treatment of children in conflict with the law, and the broad problems caused by family breakdown and poverty. The text of the Belize Commitment to Action for the Rights of the Child is included. This agreement contains a series of specific legislative, administrative and budgetary actions that need to be taken to give effect to the child rights in each country. Twenty-seven annexes, which contain the statements, addresses, and presentations distributed at the conference, are also included.