Yvonne Terlingen , Amnesty International's representative at the UN, stated, ” What should have been a momentous occasion for the protection of child rights turned out to be a set back.”

In a disappointing turn of events, the Outcome Document of UNGASS missed a crucial opportunity to make the Convention on the Rights of the Child, ratified by virtually every country in the world, into the framework for all future work of the UN on children. Instead the document does no more than acknowledge the Convention's existence.

"It is highly ironic that the Outcome Document which sets the promotion of healthy lives of children as one of its key priorities, does not call for a halt to the execution of child offenders," stated Ms Terlingen.

In particular, Amnesty International is concerned that the Outcome Document does not rule out the death penalty for children because of obstruction by the USA -- a government that described itself during the Special Session as "the global leader in child protection".

It is sad that the EU did not achieve a stronger text to reflect its strong opposition to the execution of juvenile offenders.