Policy & Practice: Briefing UK childrens rights under the spotlight

Hang on, first of all can you explain the status of this report? Every country that ratifies the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child thats everyone except Somalia and the US has to report on progress every five years. The convention committee also takes evidence from non-governmental organisations and young people before coming back with a response listing observations and areas of concern. The UK last reported in 1999 this is its consolidated third and fourth report.And do we have to do everything the committee says? The UK Government remains a sovereign body and can file reservations against articles. Last time the committee wanted the Government to remove the reasonable chastisement defence and prohibit all corporal punishment in the family. The Government has removed the defence for actions that amount to actual or grievous bodily harm, but said it was inappropriate to criminalize responsible parents by removing the defence in cases of common assault. It wont always be that clear cut. Opinions will vary on whether a recommendation has been met. The committee wanted the Government to take all appropriate measures to reduce inequalities in health and access to health services. The Government can list targets, legislation, national service frameworks and all the rest. Whether that amounts to all appropriate measures is unclear. But the reporting process has introduced a new layer of accountability. Does the Government report get self-critical? There are certainly areas where it admits not enough has been achieved. Attainment by young people in care still lags far behind children in general, though legislative and policy measures continue to be introduced. Education in custodial settings is another area where it acknowledges it must do better. Ah, youth justice thats an area of controversy isnt it? Its certainly one where groups have been most vocal in their criticism. The Governments response is one of the longest sections of the report and includes the claim that custody is used only as a last resort. In June the Howard League for Penal Reform claimed that the profligate use of prison, the infliction of pain and injury and the use of segregation blocks that resemble modern day dungeons puts the UK in breach of at least 10 articles. In summary then? A long, legalistic document that nevertheless rather thrillingly puts all the recent emphasis on children and youth policy under the microscope of a major international convention. Fact boxThis is the first report to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child since devolution became entrenched and it details progress in each nation of the UKIt has been informed by the outcomes of conferences and a formal consultation with non-government organisations and young peopleThe Childrens Rights Alliance for England claims to have identified 40 breaches. But it has also welcomed changes to government departmental structure and the new cross-cutting role of childrens minister Beverley HughesThe consolidated third and fourth report to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child can be found on www.everychildmatters.gov.uk