UNCRC reporting takes place when the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child examines the whole UK on how well it’s meeting its promises under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).
This happens about every five years, and is a process our office is involved in.
The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child is the body set up by the UN to monitor the progress that States make in keeping their human rights promises under the UNCRC. It’s made up of 18 independent experts on children’s rights from different countries.
More in the Rights questions and answers section
UNCRC reporting publications
Report of the Children’s Commissioners of the United Kingdom of Great Britain to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child: Examination of the Combined Sixth and Seventh Periodic Reports of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
December 2020. Report to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child as part of its reporting cycle on the UK, setting out 30 issues around children’s human rights upon which the UK and devolved governments need to take action.
“Are We There Yet?” Our Rights, Our Say
December 2020. The Children and Young People’s version of the UK Commissioners’ report to the UN.
CRC Report Annex: Children’s Rights in the UK in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic
December 2020. This annex to the UK Commissioners’ report covers ways in which the human rights of children and young people in the UK have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the response to it.
CRC Reporting: 30 Issues Infographic
December 2020. An infographic highlighting the 30 issues around children’s human rights highlighted by the UK Commissioners’ report to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.
UNCRC reporting is about all the UK’s countries
The UK is unusual in being a UN Member State that contains four countries― Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
UNCRC reporting looks at whether the UK Government is keeping its human rights promises, but also if our devolved governments are as well.
Because of this, the Children and Young People’s Commissioners of all four of the UK’s countries are involved in UNCRC reporting. We currently work together to create joint reports at several points in the reporting cycle.
There are other parts of the UK that aren’t part of these four countries, but they aren’t involved in this joint report. For example, Jersey’s Children’s Commissioner reports to the UN separately.
Many other people and organisations are also involved in the reporting process, including members of civil society like Together Scotland.
Children and young people can report to the UN in any way they choose about the issues that affect them. For example, they might choose to report in a creative way like making a piece of art.
When and how do the UK’s Commissioners get involved in UN reporting?
December 2020: Choosing important issues
At the beginning of the reporting cycle, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child chooses 30 UK children’s rights issues to address.
Our first report of this cycle was released on 18 December 2020 to help the Committee decide what these issues should be.
2022: Responding to the UK Government
In January 2022, the UK Government will submit a report to the Committee on the progress it’s made in addressing the 30 issues, and the challenges faced in doing so.
It will be a report that covers what all the UK’s governments have done, including devolved administrations.
Later in 2022 the UK’s Commissioners will write our second report to the Committee. This will be a response to the UK Government’s report, which sets out where we agree with it and where we don’t.
In 2022 the Committee will also learn more about children’s human rights issues in the UK by:
- asking questions to a wide range of people and organisations, and
- hearing evidence from these people and organisations.
The people and organisations they’ll meet to do this include:
- children and young people,
- the UK’s Children’s Commissioners,
- the UK Government, and
- members of Civil Society.
September 2022: Concluding Observations are released
The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child will review all of the information they have received, then hold a conversation with the UK Government in Geneva and ask them for more information.
After this, they will write Concluding Observations that call on the UK Government to make changes to fix any problems and progress children’s human rights.
Previous reporting cycles
Reports on the 2015/16 UNCRC Reporting Cycle
Report of the UK Children’s Commissioners on Fifth UK Periodic Report
The joint report of the UK’s four Children’s Commissioners on the UK’s fifth periodic report to the Committee on the Rights of the Child.
Young People’s Version: Report of the UK Children’s Commissioners on Fifth UK Periodic Report
Young people’s version of the UK Children’s Commissioners’ report on the UK’s report to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.
UK Fifth Periodic Report: Children’s Commissioners’ recommendations
Recommendations of the UK’s Children’s Commissioners on what should change for the UK to keep its human rights promises to children and young people.
UK Children’s Commissioners’ response to the replies of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the List of Issues of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child
Further evidence from the UK’s Children’s Commissioners in response to UK replies to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child’s list of issues.
