On 30 June 2016, the countries that ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child during the 16th Meeting of States Parties will elect nine members to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child to replace those whose terms are due to expire on 28 February 2017. Director of the Centre for Child Law in the University of Pretoria's Faculty of Law, Professor Ann Skelton, has been nominated by the South African government as a candidate for election to one of these positions.

The Committee on the Rights of the Child is composed of 18 members of high moral standing and competence in the field covered by the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Nominations for membership on the Committee were made by states parties to the Convention, in accordance with article 43 of the Convention. The article states that 'The members of the Committee shall be elected by States Parties from among their nationals and shall serve in their personal capacity, consideration being given to equitable geographical distribution, as well as to the principal legal systems'.

On behalf of the Faculty of Law and the University of Pretoria, Dean André Boraine conveyed his congratulations to Professor Skelton on this remarkable achievement and wished her well.