Third Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a communications procedure

The Optional Protocol on a communications procedure came into effect in Ireland on 24 December 2014. This Protocol allows individual children, or those acting on their behalf, to submit complaints about specific violations of their rights under the Convention and its first two Optional Protocols directly to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, provided that State is a Party to the treaties.

Any State that has ratified the Convention, or either of the first two Optional Protocols may ratify the Third Optional Protocol.

Complaints made under the Third Optional Protocol must be submitted in writing and attempts at a domestic resolution must be exhausted before a complaint can be submitted to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.

Click here to read the official text of the Third Optional Protocol or here to read the child-friendly version.

For information about making a complaint to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, click here.