Contributions from Latin America to Develop a General Comment on Article 4 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child

This document is the English translation of “Aportes de América Latina a un Comentario General del Artículo Cuarto de la Convención de los Derechos del Niño”, which presents Latin America’s contributions to a General Comment on Article 4 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). This document is the result of a joint effort by the Latin American Regional Technical Team linked to Peru-Equidad, Save the Children, and members of the Global Movement for Children’s Rights/Latin America and Caribbean Chapter. It is a first step to enforcing compliance with the commitment assumed in 2007 in the framework of the annual Days of General Discussion of the UN Committee, aimed to foster a deeper understanding of the contents and implications of the UNCRC. This report seeks to fill the gaps and clarify the scope of Article 4 of the UN Convention, with the objective of contributing towards the elaboration of a General Comment by the Committee on the Rights of the Child. 

The document includes specific proposals that will enable State Parties to more effectively comply with their obligations towards children and adolescents by increasing budgetary allocations for child rights issues. Article 4 of the Convention clearly asserts that states have an obligation to invest in fulfilling children’s right to the maximum extent of their available resources, and that the international community has an obligation to provide additional support where needed.