UK's children's commissioners call for focus on children's needs in party manifestos

The assessment by the Children's Commissioners for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, published today, marks the 30th anniversay of the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).

It looks at how the UK Government and devolved administrations have progressed towards giving every child the opportunities and protections enshrined in the UNCRC since it was introduced.

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Progress highlighted in the document includes plans in place across much of the UK to improve help for children with mental health needs, new measures for tackling domestic abuse, which affects hundreds of thousands of children a year, and Scotland’s legislation banning physical punishment of children.

The commissioners also praise the UK promise to protect children online with the introduction of the Age Appropriate Design Code.

However, they warn that recent changes to welfare have pushed more children into poverty, which in turn increases demand for services for children, and highlight deficiencies in keeping children safe from violence and abuse. 

The Children’s Commissioner for England, Anne Longfield, makes a number of specific demands to politicians fighting a general election, including:

• The full, direct and urgent incorporation of the UNCRC into domestic law in England.
• Increased funding for families in ‘challenging circumstances’ and schools opened to communities outside normal school hours.
• A trained NHS counsellor in every school and access to mental health support for every child who needs it.
• Urgent action to reduce child poverty and homelessness.
• Protection for children at risk of serious violence
• A change of law so the ‘reasonable punishment’ defence for assaulting children no longer applies.
• Adequate levels of funding for children with special needs.
• A cabinet committee for children.

Comment

Ms Longfield said, ‘The thirtieth anniversary of the UNCRC is a moment to reflect and assess children’s rights in the UK. While some progress is undoubtedly being made, there are still serious concerns about the way we treat children in our country. Too often they remain an afterthought for politicians.

‘Over the next few weeks, those who want to win power will talk a lot about issues like Brexit. But there are 12 million children in England who would like to hear what the next government will do to improve their lives. I want to see all the political parties signing up to proposals we have put forward in our children’s manifesto, which would protect the most vulnerable children as well as helping every child in England to thrive and do well in life.

‘The millions of vulnerable children in England need to know that whoever wins the next election will not ignore their needs and will put the protection and advancement of children’s rights at the heart of their government.’

• The children's commissioner's assessment is available here