Understanding Children’s Rights: A Training Programme on Children’s Rights and Effective International Advocacy – Dublin, 16 – 17 October 2014

Ireland will appear before the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in 2015/2016 to report on its record for children under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. In advance of this examination, the Children’s Rights Alliance is providing an exciting opportunity to upskill on children’s rights and effective international advocacy. This training programme is the first of four key activities that it will undertake in advance of Ireland’s examination which includes: conducting a nationwide consultation, drafting a national parallel/shadow report, coordinating a children and young people’s report and advocating/leading a delegation before the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.

This two-day interactive training programme will take place on Thursday 16 and Friday 17 October 2014. The programme will cover:

• Understanding childhood
• Introduction to children’s rights
• Exploring ways to make children and young people active agents in their rights
• Enforcement of children’s rights in Ireland
• Understanding the UN Human Rights Reporting Process and the workings of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child
• Writing impactful Parallel Reports and taking part in effective international advocacy

An array of expert speakers will provide interactive, engaging and practically-focussed sessions. Each participant will receive a full training pack and resources for each session. Speakers include:

•  Brian Barrington BL
• Professor Dympna Devine, University College Dublin
• Anne O’Donnell, Department of Children and Youth Affairs, Participation, Play, Recreation and Culture
• Dr. Geoffrey Shannon, Special Rapporteur on Child Protection
• Dr. Liam Thornton, University College Dublin
• Veronica Yates, Children’s Rights Information Network

Venue: Carmelite Centre, 56 Aungier Street, Dublin 2

Cost: Children’s Rights Alliance members: €50; non-members: €100

Places:  Places are limited and preference will be given to Children’s Rights Alliance members. The Irish Council for Civil Liberties will subsidise up to six places for those on limited incomes.

For more information and to book your place contact: Edel Quinn, Children’s Rights Alliance by phone at (01) 6629400 or by email at edel@childrensrights.ie. 

This training programme is kindly co-sponsored by the UN Human Rights Council Legacy Project of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties. For more information, visit www.rightsnow.ie and www.iccl.ie.