Submissions


CRIN works with key officials at the UN and in human rights bodies to get children’s rights on the agenda. We submit our positions, research and evidence directly to human rights mechanisms, and encourage NGOs around the world to do the same. Our submissions include:

2026

  • Input to the Sixth Session of the UN Forum on Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law (May 2026)
    This submission advocates for children's rights to be a key focus within the forthcoming Forum, given its theme of 'Education for civic participation: empowering future generations, fostering knowledge and critical thinking’. It also advocates for the meaningful, inclusive participation of children in the Forum.

  • Submission to the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee (May 2026)

    This submission highlights the implications of plastic pollution for the full enjoyment of human rights.

  • Submission to the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights (March 2026)

    This submission outlines obligations of States with respect to the climate change crisis, providing information and recommendations that can help the Court adopt a child rights-centred approach to answering the posed questions on state responsibility.

  • Forever Chemicals (PFAS) & Human Rights (January 2026)

    This submission to the Special Rapporteur on toxics and human rights provides information and recommendations that can help strengthen policies and practices regarding PFAS.

2025

  • Response to the European Commission's public consultation on the evaluation of the Cosmetic Products Regulation (July 2025)

    This submission explores ways to better uphold children's rights under the Cosmetic Products Regulation for which an evaluation process is ongoing. With this evaluation, the Commission is looking at how the Regulation has been applied, if it has delivered on its objectives, and if it remains fit for purpose.

    Response to the European Commission's call for feedback on the EU Regulation No 649/2012 (August 2025)

    This summary calls on the European Commission to ban the manufacture and export of all pesticides prohibited within the EU, and to stop allowing food imports contaminated with these chemicals. It also calls for additional measures, including, strengthening the Rotterdam Convention.

  • Submission on Draft General Comment No. 27 (June 2025)

    This submission makes recommendations for the Draft General Comment on children’s rights, access to justice and effective remedies.

  • Response to Call for Inputs on the Human Rights Impacts of Administrative Measures to Counter Terrorism and (Violent) Extremism (May 2025)

    This submission focuses on the ways that children’s rights are impacted by administrative measures to counter terrorism and violent extremism, particularly drawing on CRIN’s UK focused work to secure children’s rights respecting counter-terrorism law and policy.

  • Submission to the Special Rapporteur on Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment (April 2025)

    This submission outlines recommendations for how Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) can more meaningfully protect and uphold children’s rights.

  • Alternative report on United States of America for the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (March 2025)

    Evidence covers the recruitment of 17-year olds, military youth activities and organisations, the criminalisation of under-18 recruitment by armed groups, including private security and military companies and paramilitary "militia" groups, and arms transfers.

  • Submission to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (Alternative report on Timor Leste) (March 2025)

    This submission calls for legislation to criminalise the recruitment of persons under the age of 18, and the inclusion of children who had been recruited or used in hostilities in the compensation of victims of human rights violations during the 1975-1999 conflict.

  • Evaluation of the EU Cosmetic Products Regulation (March 2025)

    CRIN’s reply to the European Commission's call for evidence on the evaluation of the Cosmetic Products Regulation (March 2025)

  • Access to justice and toxics (March 2025)

    CRIN's submission to the Special Rapporteur on toxics and human rights, providing a children’s rights based approach to the issue of access to justice and effective remedies in the context of toxics

  • Children and armed conflict (January 2025) 

    CRIN's submission to OHCHR's call for inputs on the rights of the child and violations of the human rights of children in armed conflicts, focusing on the intersection of environmental degradation, climate change and conflict (January 2025)

2024

  • General Comment 27 submission (October 2024)

    Submission on General Comment No. 27 of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on children’s rights and access to justice and effective remedies.

  • Access to information on climate change and human rights (June 2024)

    Submission to the Special Rapporteur on climate change and human rights about States’ international obligations, individually and as part of international cooperation, as well as business responsibility to respect children's rights in the context of access to information on climate change.

  • Sexual violence against children in Argentina en español (April 2024)

    Joint submission alongside a coalition of survivor-led organisations in Argentina to the Committee on the Rights of the Child .

  • Child sexual abuse in institutional settings in Ecuador en español (April 2024)

    Joint submission alongside the Red de Sobrevivientes al abuso sexual institucional de Ecuador to the Committee on the Rights of the Child.

  • Pollution Information Portals and the right to know (March 2024)

    Strengthening access to information on releases of hazardous substances - CRIN's submission to the Special Rapporteur on toxics and human rights about strengthening access to information on releases of hazardous substances.

  • Gender and toxics (March 2024)

    Submission to the Special Rapporteur on toxics and human rights about gender-based impacts of toxics on children, exploring the application of a human rights-based approach to persons and groups that because of their gender find themselves more vulnerable to human rights violations and abuses as a result of toxic exposure.

2023

2022

2021

  • Children’s rights and alternative care (September 2021)

    Submission for the Day of General Discussion of the Committee on the Rights of the Child

  • Sexual violence (January 2021)

    Joint submission alongside Chile’s Survivors’ Network to the Committee against Torture for the adoption of the List of Issues prior to reporting

2020

  • Rights in the digital environment (November 2020)

    Submission on Draft General Comment No. 25 of the Committee on the Rights of the Child

  • Military enlistment and counter-terrorism (October 2020)

    Submission regarding the UK to the Committee on the Rights of the Child for the adoption of the List of Issues prior to reporting

  • Best interests of the child (April 2020)

    Joint third-party intervention in Communication No. 51/2018 (A.B. v. Finland) before the Committee on the Rights of the Child

  • Peaceful assembly (February 2020)

    Submission on the Human Rights Committee’s draft General Comment No. 37

2019

  • Children’s rights and the environment (October 2019)

    Submission for OHCHR’s report on realising children’s rights through a healthy environment

  • Sexual violence (September 2019)

    This submission for the forthcoming report of the UN Special Rapporteur on the sale and sexual exploitation of children argues for the extension of the mandate to cover all forms of sexual violence against children

  • Sexual orientation and gender identity (June 2019)

    Inputs for the report of the UN Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity

  • Surrogacy (June 2019)

    Submission to the UN Special Rapporteur on the sale and sexual exploitation of children to the UN General Assembly on safeguards for the protection of the rights of children born from surrogacy arrangements

  • Rights in the digital environment (May 2019)

    Submission for the forthcoming General Comment of the Committee on the Rights of the Child

2018

  • Voting (May 2018)

    Submission for the Human Rights Council's forum on human rights, democracy and the rule of law

  • Rights in the digital environment (April 2018)

    Submission for OHCHR's report on the right to privacy in the digital age

  • Voting (February 2018)

    Submission for draft guidelines on the implementation of the right to participate in public affairs

  • Voting (January 2018)

    Submission for OHCHR's study on the implementation of the human rights of young people

2017

2016

  • Climate change - Submission to the OHCHR for the report on climate change and the enjoyment of children's rights (December 2016).

  • Health and human rights - Submission to the High-Level Working Group on Health and Human Rights of Women, Children and Adolescents (November 2016); Right to health submission to the OHCHR for the study on Children’s Right to Health, ahead of the 2013 Human Rights Council Annual Day on the Rights of the Child.

2015

  • Freedom of religion - Call for adequate recognition of children’s right to freedom of religion or belief in response to the report by the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief presented to the UN General Assembly (November 2015).

2014

  • Access to justice - Submission to the OHCHR for the study on Access to Justice for Children, ahead of the 2014 Human Rights Council Annual Day on the Rights of the Child.

2012

  • Business and children’s rights - Submission on the Draft General Comment by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child regarding Child Rights in the Business Sector (August 2012) 

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