Government failing on children's rights
Cathy Wallace
Monday, June 9, 2008
Millions of children in Britain are being failed by the government, according to the UK's four children's commissioners.
A joint report released today (June 9) raises serious concerns over breaches of children’s rights in the UK.
According to the four commissioners, children’s rights have worsened in some areas and in others there has been no change since 2002.
The report flags up 18 areas of concern including child poverty, inequalities experienced by children, the youth justice system, the treatment of asylum-seeking children, increasing rates of depression and mental health problems and fear of crime.
However the commissioners have also welcomed commitments to improve the lot of children and young people in recent years.
Kathleen Marshall, Scotland’s children’s commissioner, said: We have highlighted areas that remain a concern and also identified some success stories, including how we have challenged discriminatory practices such as the use of the Mosquito device on young people.
This week the four commissioners will present their case to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, ahead of the committee’s next report on the UK’s child rights record.
David Laws, Liberal Democrat shadow children’s secretary, said: This report confirms that Britain is still failing millions of its children. For all the government’s pledges and bluster Britain is still one of the worst countries in the developed world in which to be a child.
A separate report by the Children’s Rights Alliance for England is also due to be published today and is expected to back the commissioners’ findings.
The joint children's commissioners report can be seen at http://www.11million.org.uk.
