13 June 2008
Two new reports have attacked the government's record on children's rights. The four children's commissioners in the UK and the Children's Rights Alliance of England have submitted reports to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, which is scrutinising how well the UK lives up to UN obligations.
Both reports criticise current methods of tackling child poverty and the persistent inequalities experienced by children, despite the UK being the world's fifth richest country. They also highlight the punitive approach taken by the youth justice system and the public, which they say has left children feeling 'demonised'.
The four commissioners say the youth justice system 'is dominated by a punitive approach and does not sufficiently distinguish between adult offenders and children who break the law'.
Paul Cavadino, chief executive of crime reduction charity Nacro, agreed that the youth justice system needlessly criminalised children.
Children's minister Beverley Hughes said: 'We are 100% committed to improving children's wellbeing. Over the course of this government, more than 600,000 children have been lifted out of poverty, almost 3,000 children's centres have been built and school funding has been increased by 87%. However, we are not complacent.'
The commissioners' report says children feel scared in their communities. The CRAE calls for tougher child protection laws, including for children caught up in the youth justice system and child asylum seekers, and major funds for ending child poverty and inequality.
Carolyne Willow, CRAE national co-ordinator, said: 'Although this government has put children at the heart of its programme, it has failed to protect the most vulnerable and has shown very little interest in helping to create a culture of respect for children's rights. 'The Convention on the Rights of the Child should be nailed to the desk of every minister and civil servant.'
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