Damning report blasts government's children's rights record

The report by the parliamentary Joint Select Committee On Human Rights says that a concerted plan is needed to address UK's poor record on children's rights.

It points to a 2007 Unicef report on children's wellbeing, covering schooling, poverty and health in which the UK came bottom out of 21 developed countries.

The report calls for reforms such as an end to recruiting under-18s into the armed forces and action to address negative stereotyping of children and young people.

The high numbers of vulnerable children in the criminal justice system and the continued use of painful restraint techniques on young people in detention are also called into question.

The committee's chair Andrew Dismore MP, said: "Tackling the level of wellbeing and negative perception of children in society needs positive and practical action. Children themselves should be seen and heard in that process."

The Children's Society's parliamentary advisor Katherine Hill said: "It is a disgrace that children in this country are still being treated as second-class citizens, facing excessive criminalisation, negative stereotyping and infringements of their rights.  It is the most vulnerable children in our society who are experiencing the greatest harm."

Children's minister Delyth Morgan has promised an action plan to uphold children's rights. However, she did not specify whether this will address the committee's concerns surrounding the treatment of young offenders or negative perceptions of young people.

Morgan said: "A nation is rightly judged by how it treats its children and young people and much has been done to improve their standing in our society. But we know there is more to do to ensure they are supported to deal with the challenges they face in the 21st century."