CYP Now - The battle to recognise children's rights remains

A plethora of reports released over the past few weeks have brought children's rights to the forefront of public debate. While it is important not to lose sight of the fact that most children in the UK enjoy a high quality of life, these reports remind us of the need continually to re-evaluate the interventions in place to serve and protect our children. Inclusion - placing vulnerable young people at the heart of the community and engaging them in the policy-making process on issues which affect them - will be the key to raising children's status.

The Get Ready for Geneva project, run by the Children's Rights Alliance for England, is doing just that. Set up with the aim of engaging children and young people in the reporting process for the UN Convention on the Rights of Child, the project has supported them to undertake their own children's rights investigation. The project culminated in a report written by children that reflects how well their rights are respected and protected in England. Twelve children and young people presented this report to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in Geneva last week (see page 22).

Locally, Cambridge County Council is one authority that is adopting a rights-based approach towards including children in its policy- making and is using the young people's unique insight to create relevant children's policies.

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