Malta is among the twenty-four countries, including 12 from Africa , who are vying for 18 seats on the Geneva-based UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC), UN sources said.

The countries contesting the election on 21 February in New York , include Paraguay , Nigeria , Tunisia , Italy , Bosnia and Herzegovina , Egypt , Panama , Benin , Guinea , Ghana , Rwanda , Germany , Togo and Chile . Others are Hungary , Algeria , Lesotho , Lithuania , Philippines , Malta , Lebanon , Madagascar , Guatemala and Jamaica .

The sources told Pan-African news agency (PANA) that initially, 27 countries had filed nominations for membership of the CRC, but Costa Rica , Argentina and Tanzania , later withdrew their candidature.

The term of office for the serving 18 member-countries expires this month. The outgoing members include Qatar , Kenya , Jamaica , Netherlands , Algeria , Egypt , Tunisia , Germany , Republic of Korea , Argentina , Paraguay , Burkina Faso , Canada , Serbia and Montenegro and Switzerland , Angola Press reported.

Members are elected for a four-year term by States Parties in line with Article 43 of the Convention on the Rights of Child. The CRC groups independent experts that monitor implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child by the States Parties.

It also monitors implementation of two optional protocols to the Convention on the involvement of children in armed conflicts and sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child was ratified by UN General Assembly in November 1989, but it only came into force in September 1990.