30th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child

On 20 November 2019, the International Convention on the Rights of the Child will celebrate its 30th anniversary. The CGRS is also celebrating this important anniversary!

The Convention on the Rights of the Child, which is the human rights convention ratified by the greatest number of countries, recognizes the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of the child and has helped change the life of children all over the world. The effects of this convention on children’s daily lives should not be underestimated.

The child’s interest is a decisive consideration that must guide the CGRS in assessing applications for international protection filed by children. This is achieved, among other things, by the use of specialised and specially trained protection officers who use appropriate interview techniques in child-friendly interview rooms. The concept of 'best interests of the child' must be interpreted in the light of the definitions of the refugee and the subsidiary protected person.

The number of applications for international protection filed by children accounts for an increasing share of the work of the CGRS staff. The minors unit works hard to assess  applications for international protection filed by children in an optimal and child-friendly way.

To highlight the anniversary of this convention with the staff of the CGRS, several activities will be organized in November:

  • weekly screening of various films and documentary features about children in exile;
  • a retrospective on 30 years of CRC at the CGRS;
  • a panel discussion with important stakeholders about the best interest of the child within the competence of the CGRS;
  • every child having a personal interview at the CGRS on 20 November will be given a present.

For more information about the 30th anniversary of the CRC and the role of the CGRS, please send a mail to CGRA-CGVS.Mineurs@ibz.fgov.be.

13 November 2019

Information about the asylum procedure, tailored to the asylum seeker, can be found at : asyluminbelgium.be.