The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

A key part of the Alliance's work is focused on the reporting process related to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which includes the production of a shadow report to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child that is examined in tandem with the Irish State’s report. The shadow report is a critical review of the progress made by the Irish Government in implementing the UN Convention and is informed by the Alliance’s member organisations and a variety of independent experts in the field of children’s rights.
The Alliance published its second shadow report, From Rhetoric to Rights,in March 2006, and submitted it to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in June 2006. The Alliance also worked with children living in Ireland to produce a report, entitled 'Our Voices, Our Realities: A Report to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child'.
The formal examination of the Second National Report of Ireland took place in Geneva on 20 September 2006. The UN Committee issued its Concluding Observations and Recommendations for Ireland on 29 September 2006. The Key Recommendations made by the UN Committee are available here.

The State was due to submit its next formal report to the UN Committee in April 2009 but we are still awaiting this.

Keeping a close eye on the Government's priorities and breaking news, we draw attention to inadequacies or progress in relation to the UN Convention through media work.  We also engage in constructive dialogue with statutory and non-statutory agencies, both nationally and internationally, and we also organise education and training sessions, conferences and seminars to raise awareness and understanding about children's rights, specifically among member organisations.

Collaborative Work

The Alliance is able to advance its policy work in a number of areas through working in collaboration with others. The policy team represents the Alliance on a number of fora including:

• Action for Aftercare;
• Separated Children in Ireland;
• Children’s Mental Health Coalition;
• End Child Poverty Coalition;
• Irish Youth Justice Alliance; and
• Eurochild.

The Alliance co-founded the End Child Poverty Coalition and the Action for Separated Children in Ireland and dedicates a significant amount of time to both groups. Comprising other leading NGOs, each delivers high-quality policy analysis and is a leading light in its field.