Find here a summary of all the activities OIDEL carried out during the 52nd regular session of the Human Rights Council that took place from the 27th of February to the 4th of April.
Annual Debate on the Rights of the Child, March 10
The 2023 Annual Debate on the Rights of the Child focused on children’s rights in the digital environment. In his oral statement, Ignasi Grau referred to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which states that parents have the primary responsibility for the upbringing and development of the child in accordance with his or her evolving capacities. Most, if not all, parents want the best for their children, which is why they should be considered the main allies in the protection of children’s rights in the digital world.
Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Cultural Rights, March 15
The latest report of the Special Rapporteur on Cultural Rights focuses on the cultural rights of migrants. Josyane Zingg took the floor on behalf of OIDEL to draw attention to the cultural rights of migrant children. Although they live in a host country, these children are the bearers and continuers of the history of their people. In order to grant cultural rights to these children, the education they receive must give them access to their own cultural framework, which is why parents must be free to choose their children’s education according to their own convictions and identity.
Interactive Dialogue with the Special Representative of the Secretary General on Violence against Children, March 16
The Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children devoted her report to violence against children in the digital environment, focusing on prevention. The report overemphasized the role of children in their own prevention, without specifying age. Mayca San Andrés, on behalf of OIDEL, recalled recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics, published by UNESCO, on the use of digital media for each age group and pointed out the urgency of informing parents about these recommendations.
General debate on the promotion and protection of all human, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development, March 17
The General Debate was held for a day and a half, with broad participation by States and more than two hundred NGOs. Given the striking tendency to talk less and less about families, due to their imperfections, Mayca San Andrés took the floor to recall that, in fact, families have been and continue to be a pillar for the realization of human rights. She, therefore, called on the international community to make families matter again in the realization of economic, social and cultural rights.
Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues, March 23rd
OIDEL’s last statement at this session of the Human Rights Council was made by Ignasi Grau during the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues. Once again we drew attention to the fact that families or parents were not mentioned even once in the recommendations of the 15th session of the Forum on Minority Issues. With few exceptions, parents are the primary advocates for minority children, therefore, if we are to advocate for the rights of minority children, we must place families and communities as cornerstones in the policy decision-making process.
Co-signing of declarations and follow-up to various resolutions
OIDEL signed the oral statements of other NGOs on the right to development and on human rights education. In turn, a number of NGOs co-signed our five oral statements.
Throughout the five weeks of the Human Rights Council session, OIDEL followed several resolutions.