Leiden University Celebrates 10 Years of OPIC with Key Contribution at UN Committee on the Rights of the Child's Commemoration Event
On 12 September 2024, Leiden University played a pivotal role at the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child's event commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Optional Protocol on a Communications Procedure (OPIC). Professor Ton Liefaard, Head of the Department of Child Law and Health Law, the UNICEF Chair in Children's Rights and initiator of the Leiden Children's Rights Observatory, delivered a speech highlighting a decade of progress and the ongoing challenges in ensuring justice for children worldwide. In his speech, Prof. Liefaard called for more countries to ratify OPIC, expanding its reach, increasing the credibility of OPIC and stressed the importance of making the procedure more accessible for children, so that they can easily seek redress for violations of their rights. The event was led by Professor Ann Skelton in her capacity as the Chairperson of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, who has played a pivotal role in leadings the Committee's work in advancing children's access to justice.
This contribution built upon the discussions held earlier in the year when Leiden University hosted an international conference (10 Years of OPIC: Pathways of Access to Justice for Children) in April 2024 to commemorate the same milestone. The two-day event, organized in collaboration with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and UNICEF, brought together a diverse range of stakeholders, including representatives from governments, civil society, and academia. The conference aimed to assess OPIC's first decade and chart its future. Participants reflected on OPIC's successes, particularly in enabling children to hold states accountable for violations, while also identifying areas where further progress is needed.
As a direct outcome of this conference, Leiden University has now published a comprehensive report that captures the insights, discussions, and key recommendations made during the event. The report serves as a valuable resource for policymakers, advocates, and scholars interested in improving access to justice for children, both at the national and international levels.
The report is available for download via the Leiden Children's Rights Observatory and provides insight into how OPIC functions and how it impacts children's rights globally. The report also presents participants' suggestions on how to strengthen OPICs future impact.
This year's contributions at both the United Nations and Leiden University mark a significant commitment to advancing children's access to justice. As Leiden University looks ahead, these discussions will help guide efforts to make OPIC a more powerful tool for protecting children's rights around the world.
Prof. Ton Liefaard delivering his address at Palais des Nations. Photo via UN Web TV 
Prof. Ann Skelton in her capacity as the Chairperson of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child with child petitioner Louiza from Spain. Photo Credits: Philip D. Jaffé
