A manifesto for children in Northern Room for improvement A manifesto for children in

Every child deserves the chance to reach their full potential and no child should be forgotten or invisible in our society. All children and young people should have someone to turn to for help, support and advice whenever they need it.

Barnardo’s Northern Ireland, NCH Northern Ireland, the NSPCC Northern Ireland and Save the Children have been campaigning together to improve children’s lives for many years. In the run up to the general election we have come together again to ensure the needs and rights of the most vulnerable children and young people in our society are given the highest political priority. To that end we have prepared this Manifesto for Children in Northern Ireland.

Since 2001 the UK Government and the Northern Ireland Assembly, while power was devolved, have taken many steps to improve children’s lives. This includes pledging to eradicate child poverty by 2020; establishing the Office of the Commissioner for Children and Young People with strong powers and functions; introducing new safeguarding legislation on employment checking, with unique provisions on accreditation; setting up the Children’s Fund and the Northern Ireland Assembly Inquiry into child protection services and the development of a 10-year strategy for children and young people.

However, child and infant mortality rates in Northern Ireland are still extremely high; child poverty levels continue to be unacceptably high; inequalities in educational attainment persist, impacting particularly on those children who are most disadvantaged; and the gap between children’s needs and policy and service responses remains too wide.

Child and family services in Northern Ireland are historically under-funded. The most recent budget for Northern Ireland will effectively reduce the spend on children’s services and lead to the removal of the Children’s Fund, thereby limiting resources available for family and children’s services. The lack of dedicated resources and transparency in relation to the delivery of targeted outcomes for children in Northern Ireland, compared to Britain, increasingly compounds the situation.

We call on all political parties to ensure that:

• a minister for children is appointed to co-ordinate and act as champion for children’s issues across government in Northern Ireland • significantly more resources are directed towards children’s policy and services • children in trouble with the law are treated as children in need of protection and support • refugee children are given the same rights to protection and support as other children • children are given the same legal protection from assault as adults • priority is given to improving the educational attainment of children in care • the minimum income for all families is raised to guarantee the health and well-being of their children. Much has been achieved but to reach our goal of being a society where all our children are valued and their well-being is prioritised, the next five years will be crucial. If we wish to give our children the opportunities they are entitled to in life, change has to happen. There is room for improvement.

Lynda Wilson Barnardo’s Northern Ireland

Jan Leightley NCH Northern Ireland

Ian Elliott NSPCC Northern Ireland

Sheri Chamberlain Save the Children

A manifesto for children 2 Contents Introduction

Contents 3 Children have the right to live their lives free from fear, discriminated against; in particular, children living in abuse, persecution and prejudice. They are entitled to poverty, refugee children, children in the youth justice grow up knowing they are valued and are important system, children in care and those in need of Introduction 4 members of our society. safeguarding from abuse and exploitation. Many of these children experience multiple disadvantages as a result of We are four of the UK’s leading children’s charities. What their race, ethnicity, religion, sexuality, disability or Youth justice 5-6 follows is our analysis of the current situation and our membership of a minority group, such as Travellers. Their recommendations for change. We hope that these voices are frequently unheard or forgotten in the lead up Refugee and asylum 7-8 recommendations will be helpful to those who have a to a general election. Westminster focus and in respect to matters when The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child seeking children devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly. It is our belief (UNCRC) applies to all children and young people aged that every child in the UK is entitled to the same support under 18, and provides the fundamental principles and and protection, no matter where they live. Children’s policy Protecting children: framework for meeting children’s rights the world over. In must be consistently strong across the jurisdictions. safeguarding from harm 9-10 2002, while praising the UK Government and the devolved administrations on their progress for children’s rights, the In producing this manifesto, we are seeking to focus sexual exploitation and trafficking 11-12 UN drew up a report which highlighted breaches of attention on the need for change and to argue for a children’s economic, social, cultural, civil and political strong agenda for children in the next parliament. We rights and made strong recommendations for change. In Children and young people in care 13-14 welcome the progress that has already been made by the this manifesto we have included their concerns, as we present UK Government and the previous Northern believe it is essential that the Office of the First Minister Ireland Assembly, to improve the lives of children in this Poverty: and Deputy First Minister ensures the full implementation jurisdiction, in particular, through the establishment of the of the UNCRC in Northern Ireland. The structures and children and families 15-16 Office of the Commissioner for Children and Young monitoring arrangements for the strategy must reflect People. We also welcome the Northern Ireland gaining independence 17-18 cross-departmental and sectoral working. Executive’s decision and the Government’s continuing commitment to develop and implement a 10-year Improving the lives of children and young people must List of recommendations 19-20 strategy for children and young people in Northern be the cornerstone of any agenda for change. Ireland. However, much more needs to be done. Incorporating the rights, principles and provisions of the Other organisations 21 Our focus is on those children and young people in UNCRC into domestic law is vital if we are to achieve a supporting the manifesto Northern Ireland who are the most disadvantaged and better future for all children and young people.

A manifesto for children 4 Youth justice UN concerns • The age of criminal responsibility should be raised considerably. • No child should be tried as an adult, irrespective of the circumstances or gravity of his/her offence. • The privacy of all children in conflict with the law is not fully protected. • The use of custody, conditions of detention and the lack of the “safeguarding and welfare” principle in Key facts youth justice, legislation and policy are detrimental to children. • 880 young people under 18, in Northern Ireland, had a legal finding against them in • The detention of children should be a measure of last resort and for the shortest appropriate period of time. respect of an offence in 2004. • Children should be separated from adults in detention, and alternative measures to the deprivation of • 323 young people in Northern Ireland were admitted to a juvenile justice centre in 2002. liberty should be used. • Since 2001 the number of young people in Northern Ireland given a custodial sentence • The conditions of detention need to be urgently reviewed so that all children who are deprived has been steadily increasing. of their liberty have an equal statutory right to education, health and child protection as other children. • The only Young Offenders’ Institution in Northern Ireland is equivalent to a category C prison. • £19,000 is the average cost of keeping a young person in custody for a year in Northern Ireland compared to £3,900 for a community based alternative.

Children have a right to privacy We are increasingly concerned that the introduction of The age of criminal responsibility Anti-Social Behaviour Orders will lead to growing Northern Ireland has one of the lowest ages of criminal numbers of young people in custody as a result of responsibility in , with children being held breaches of such Orders – a trend we have already responsible for their actions from the age of 10. Our clearly seen in England and Wales. criminal justice system is based on an adult model, which is often intimidating for children and fails to take their These Orders promote the naming and shaming of particular needs into account. Children involved in individual children, and in our local context this could put criminal court cases often have no understanding of the children at real risk of serious physical harm by identifying proceedings and are therefore unable to fully participate them. It may also lead to them having to live with a label in them. Although the Justice (NI) Act 2002 introduced they find hard to escape. some improvements, such as the restorative justice arrangements, the system still fails to recognise children as children first and foremost. This is so pervasive that a fundamental review is needed.

Children in custody Recommendations A custodial setting is no place for children and conditions Political parties must press the Government to: in custody remain completely unsuitable for them. • raise the age of criminal responsibility Northern Ireland’s only Young Offenders’ Institution is a • review the use of restraint and solitary confinement Category C prison with a higher level of security than • invest in alternatives to custody for children many adult prisons in England. The Government extend the legal protections to 17 year-olds for the purposes of arrest and detention continues to permit solitary confinement and the physical • restraint of young people in custody and fails to ensure • establish a statutory right to education for children in custody and ensure that such education is their right to an equal education. It costs almost five compatible with the Northern Ireland curriculum times more to keep a young person in custody than it • listen to the views of children and young people in all matters in the criminal justice system that affect them does to provide a community-based alternative. • legislate to exclude children from the Anti-Social Behaviour (NI) Order 2004.

5 A manifesto for children A manifesto for children 6 Refugee and asylum UN concerns • Detaining refugee children is not compatible with the principles and provisions of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. seeking children • There needs to be a review of the availability and effectiveness of legal representation and independent advocacy for refugee children. • Placement in temporary accommodation may infringe children’s basic rights. • Children’s particular needs and situations are not properly addressed in Key facts the asylum system. • 3 children and 45 adults were held in prison as immigration detainees between March 2003 and February 2004 in Northern Ireland. • More than £1 million was spent on imprisoning immigration detainees between March The system discriminates against asylum 2002 and February 2004 in Northern Ireland. Children interpret and express their experiences seeking children • Approximately 2,000 refugees and asylum seekers lived in Northern Ireland in 2002. differently to adults. Immigration officials often have Asylum seeking families are discriminated against in • On average, there are 400 new cases of refugees and asylum seekers in difficulty in establishing whether or not children meet the terms of the financial support and accommodation they Northern Ireland each year. criteria for refugee status. Children involved in asylum receive. They are given less than the minimum benefit determination procedures currently have no right to level, which means their standard of living is lower than access legal representation or an independent advocate that of other families in Northern Ireland. Recent All children deserve equal rights Unaccompanied refugee and asylum or guardian. They are further disadvantaged in that the legislative changes will result in the complete withdrawal and protection seeking children Office of the Commissioner for Children and Young of support to families if they are unsuccessful in securing People in Northern Ireland has lesser powers in relation to refugee status – leaving them with no support, and at risk Children, regardless of their nationality, deserve equal Northern Ireland experiences very small numbers of ensuring their rights are protected. of being separated from their children. rights and protection. However, when the UK ratified the unaccompanied refugee and asylum seeker children each UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in year (fewer than 10) and they will usually be taken into 1991, it entered a wide-ranging reservation on all matters care. The experience that these children have in care can relating to immigration and nationality, including the often be a lottery. There is only one Health and Social treatment of refugee and asylum seeking children. This Service (HSS) Trust in Northern Ireland with substantial means that these children do not benefit from the same experience in dealing with these vulnerable children. levels of protection as other children. When children are placed in a Trust area that is inexperienced in the specific needs and requirements of Unlike in Britain, asylum seekers in Northern Ireland are refugee or asylum seeker children, it can be difficult to Recommendations held in prison while their claims are processed. This ensure they are given appropriate care or are treated with Political parties must press the Government to: represents a worrying criminalisation of innocent people. adequate cultural sensitivity. • remove the reservation to the UNCRC Male and female asylum seekers are kept in separate ensure that no immigration detainee, child or parent, is held in prison prisons and if children are detained this will usually be in • HMP Hydebank Wood with their mothers. Families have • urgently develop a non-custodial alternative to detention in prison to endure the trauma of separation and imprisonment. • ensure that unaccompanied children are appointed an independent guardian who can advise, support and protect them in legal proceedings Over the last five years both the Northern Ireland • provide access to independent advice, assistance and advocacy for all refugee and Assembly and the House of Commons Northern Ireland asylum seeking children Affairs Committee have added their calls to those of • require that all Northern Ireland HSS Trusts are provided with training and information to enable them others for the Government to develop a non-custodial to provide a culturally appropriate care response to refugee and asylum seeking children alternative to detention in prison for immigration • provide financial support for asylum seeking families equal to that for other families detainees in Northern Ireland. • ensure refugee and asylum seeking children have access to mainstream education and all other services • provide guidance on specific forms of persecution experienced by children to healthcare professionals, immigration officials, social services, schools, the police and prison officers.

7 A manifesto for children A manifesto for children 8 Protecting children: UN concerns • On average between one and two children are killed each week by their parents or carers. • There is a high prevalence of violence, including sexual violence, against children within families, in safeguarding from harm schools, institutions, in the care system, and in detention. • Levels of child neglect continue to grow. • There is no co-ordinated strategy to reduce the rates of abuse and neglect. Key facts • There are no consistent safeguards for children who are privately fostered. • The Government persists in retaining the defence of “reasonable chastisement” and continues to allow • In March 2004, 1,417 children were on the Child Protection Register in Northern Ireland, physical punishment within the family. a proportionately higher number than that for England. • There is a lack of public education on the role of the child protection system. • Statutory child protection teams are struggling to meet the demands of service and worrying backlogs are occurring. • In 2002, more than 100 families with children in need were on a waiting list for a social worker assessment. legislation and attached funding that have been There are currently three different sets of legislation developed by the UK Government in England and Wales. across the UK in relation to the physical punishment of There have been a significant number of child deaths in Northern Ireland where abuse • Investment in family and child care services remains children by their parents. The Government changed the has been a factor. chronically low. The expected move from child protection law in England and Wales to retain the defence of There is no adequate process or mechanism to address north-south child protection issues. • to an emphasis on prevention, promised by the Children reasonable chastisement for common assault and (NI) Order 1995, has not happened. Only when this removed it only for the more serious charges of assault, significant shift in focus takes place can we make wounding and ill treatment. In Northern Ireland the full Preventing abuse and affording children progress in safeguarding our children. However, for this to defence of reasonable chastisement still stands. adequate protection happen there is a need for a clear strategy in relation to In recent years, the Government in Northern Ireland and family support and a willingness to make the required It is unacceptable that the Government has failed to give other agencies have invested in new systems and resources available. children in Northern Ireland the same legal protection arrangements to protect children. These include the from assault as adults. It has yet to put in place a creation of a high-level child protection advisory group at Children’s human rights strategy for children in need and a comprehensive family the Department of Health, Social Services and Public We need to create a culture in which children are respected support strategy. Both these strategies will require Safety (DHSSPS), new regional Area Child Protection and treated as equal citizens with rights of their own. investment to ensure effective services are available. Committee (ACPC) guidance, the development of a regional child death review protocol and new vetting legislation that contains provisions, unique in the UK, on Recommendations accreditation. The DHSSPS’s publication and widespread distribution of the Safe Parenting Handbook, with its Political parties must press the Government to: emphasis on prevention, is widely welcomed. • prioritise a Northern Ireland strategy for children in need Despite these developments, children continue to be • develop a Family Support Strategy which has an emphasis on supporting parents’ use of abused and a number have died as a result of abuse by non-violent methods of discipline parents or carers. Northern Ireland has not benefited • give children the same legal protection from assault as adults from the host of child protection policy initiatives, • strengthen the safeguarding functions of Area Child Protection Committees • introduce robust legislative arrangements for interagency co-operation and information exchange • fully resource across Government the implementation of the new accreditation provisions in the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults (NI) Order 2003 • ensure the development of adequate statistical information on child protection and the creation of child well-being indicators • ensure the development of cross-border child protection structures • provide comprehensive investment in children’s services.

9 A manifesto for children A manifesto for children 10 UN concerns Protecting children: • The Government criminalises children who are sexually exploited. • The Government has not yet ratified the Optional Protocol sexual exploitation and trafficking to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.

Wales in sex offences legislation. We urgently require the Key facts review of such legislation promised by the Northern • 23 people were prosecuted and 20 were convicted in Northern Ireland for offences Ireland Office, to ensure that children in this jurisdiction related to obscene publications involving children and young people in 2002 and 2003. are afforded the same protection. This should include the • Of the 20 people convicted, five were given custodial sentences and the rest had creation of new offences and stronger sentences in one suspended sentences, community supervision or fines. Northern Ireland Order. Sentences ranged from six months to under four years. Providing help to sex offenders • New legislation is also required to strengthen the The Government needs to find ways of encouraging sex • A third of all sexual offences are committed by young people under 18. operation of assessment and risk management offenders to seek help and to offer adequately resourced arrangements for sex offenders, including a statutory duty treatment to all sex abusers, not just those who are of co-operation between the PSNI, probation and prison Trafficking children convicted. Preventative measures and community sex services, and a range of other agencies. Increasing numbers of children are being trafficked for offender treatment programmes are welcomed. There prostitution and used in abusive images. This trend will needs to be investment in a range of accommodation Treatment for young people who display sexually harmful continue unless the Government works more closely with options for convicted sex offenders. behaviour is vital and there should be equal access to EU and other governments to share information and track Northern Ireland continues to lag behind England and specialist treatment programmes across Northern Ireland. dangerous adults. It is particularly important to address this issue on a north-south basis, where the border Protecting vulnerable children presents an opportunity to move easily from one Recommendations There is clear evidence that there are children in Northern jurisdiction to the other. Ireland who are abused through commercial sexual Political parties must press the Government to: Treating children as victims exploitation and trafficking. Children and young people • decriminalise children’s involvement in prostitution and make resources available to identify, protect and have a right to be protected from economic and sexual Children who are abused through prostitution still commit support children who are sexually exploited, including victims of trafficking exploitation and abuse, and to be kept safe in their an offence in the eyes of the law. Although the number of • ensure that proper child protection procedures are put in place to identify children who are victims of child homes, at school and in the wider community. children prosecuted is now small, any child punished for trafficking, remove them to a place of safety and provide ongoing support their involvement and abuse is one child too many. • ensure all Internet Service Providers and mobile phone providers block all child pornography websites and Child abuse online Vulnerable teenagers in particular are at risk of falling work with Northern Ireland’s four ACPCs in prevention and awareness raising with children and parents The internet is fast becoming one of the main mediums through the child protection safety net. Area Child • allocate resources to set up a 24-hour National Referral Point for parents, professionals and Internet Service for the distribution and consumption of abusive images of Protection Committees need to ensure there are Providers that helps to protect children at risk of being sexually abused on the internet children, as evidenced by the number of police mechanisms in place for addressing the needs of • enact legislation to strengthen the operation of multi-agency sex offender management arrangements operations and seizures of such images in Northern vulnerable children in their local areas. urgently carry out a comprehensive review of Northern Ireland’s sexual offences legislation Ireland. It also provides the means for the sexual abuse of • children through the production of pornography and Children who are abused through prostitution must be • ensure that all children who engage in sexually harmful behaviour are treated as children in need of protection, that they are assessed and have access to special treatment programmes online grooming in chatrooms. The new grooming effectively identified, protected and supported, both as offence, contained in the Sexual Offences Act 2003, is a victims and as witnesses, in bringing their abusers to • ensure the Public Prosecution Service develops a protocol with child protection agencies to access welcome development, but this form of abuse will only be justice. The Government and the Police Service of assessment and treatment information on children who engage in sexually harmful behaviour before making decisions on prosecution tackled with adequate resources. Internet Service Northern Ireland (PSNI) need to ensure that priority is Providers have a key role to play through monitoring the afforded to bringing perpetrators to justice. It is also • ensure that combating the sexual exploitation of children is a priority in the Northern Ireland Policing Plan content appearing on websites. The UK Government essential to help these children start rebuilding their lives • ratify the UN’s Palermo Protocol to prevent, suppress and punish trafficking in persons, especially women must also fund information campaigns that reach parents, by providing safe accommodation and access to health and children, and adopt a co-ordinated response to the root causes of child labour. carers and children. and education services.

11 A manifesto for children A manifesto for children 12 UN concerns Children and young • The majority of children in the care system do not attain basic qualifications. • The principle of non-discrimination is not fully implemented people in care for all children and children in care particularly do not enjoy full economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights.

Key facts • Almost 2,500 children were in care in Northern Ireland in 2003. • 11 per cent of children in care in Northern Ireland achieved five GCSEs compared to 59 per cent of all children in 2003. • Over 50 per cent of care leavers left school with no educational qualifications compared to 5 per cent for all school children. • A high proportion of children in care have diagnosable mental health conditions or disorders. • 290 children were on waiting lists for fostering placements and 68 were on waiting lists for residential care placements in 2002.

health services (CAMHS) to ensure that these specialist Delivering equal standards of education services are available to meet the needs of children in care. There is still a significant gap between the educational attainment of children in care and that of other children. Protection by law and resources Education has a direct impact on a child’s future life Children and young people in care should have access to chances. More action is required to ensure that children independent visiting and advocacy support when they in care are able to access the education they deserve and need it. This is not currently the case. Plans made with that their educational attainment levels increase. the active involvement of the child are proven to lead to better outcomes and having the support of an advocate Frequent placement moves in decision-making meetings has been shown to ensure Frequent placement moves are detrimental to children in better decisions and fewer complaints. Provisions for care. There are examples of children under the age of 10 independent advocacy services, similar to those in the who have already experienced 10 care moves. There is a Adoption and Children Act 2002 in England, are needed wide variation in the availability and standards of for children in care and care leavers in Northern Ireland. Recommendations placements across Northern Ireland. Action is needed to Political parties must press the Government to: Implementing the Children (Leaving Care) (NI) Act 2002 address these disparities and to ensure children are • require all schools and colleges to promote the educational attainment of those in care and leaving care will require additional resources and close monitoring to placed with carers who can provide them with a safe and • increase efforts to ensure that children and young people in care are able to maintain stable, secure ensure the needs of those leaving care are met. More secure experience for the duration of their childhood. and enjoyable placements needs to be done to enable young people to stay in require CAMHS to ensure appropriate provision for children in care/secure accommodation and care leavers Addressing mental health problems foster placements when they wish to do so. For those • High proportions of 5-17 year-olds in care have mental young people leaving care there should be guaranteed • require Health and Social Service Trusts to provide appropriate independent visiting and advocacy support as and when children and young people in care want it health problems. Many of the children in care have come suitable accommodation and support along with setting from vulnerable backgrounds and have suffered abuse, up home or leaving care grants to enable them to make • introduce a national minimum leaving care grant of £2,000 neglect or trauma. Many will also have suffered bullying, as the transition to independence. If we are to offer these • increase accommodation options, including extending the use of supported lodgings and enabling a result of the stigma attached to being in care. The young people adequate levels of protection, the more young people to stay in foster placements associated negative impact of bullying on a child’s self- Government’s Northern Ireland Priorities and Budgets • ensure additional and adequate resources are committed to address the needs and rights of children confidence and self-esteem is well documented. Extra (2005-2008) must not lead to cuts in mainstream funding and young people in care in Northern Ireland. funding is needed for children and adolescent mental for family and children’s support services.

13 A manifesto for children A manifesto for children 14 Poverty: children and families UN concern • The UK Government is not doing enough to accelerate the eradication of child poverty. Key facts • 149,000 children in Northern Ireland are living in poverty – more than one in three. • Child deprivation is more severe and more prevalent in Northern Ireland; 38 per cent of children live without basic necessities compared to 20 per cent in Britain. • 20 per cent of households in Northern Ireland with dependent children have no adults in employment. • Families with disabled children are more likely to live in poverty.

Spiral of debt Families who are not working, those in low paid work and those experiencing persistent poverty often sink deeper into debt. Debts can also include monies owed to private loan companies, mail order companies and the Social Fund. The system of loans used by the Social Fund, in Poverty creates vulnerable children particular, results in severe hardship for families when Children from poor families are more likely to grow up their repayments come from already inadequate benefits. socially excluded, homeless, to have problems with drugs or alcohol and become victims of crime. Living in a poor Reaching further family can reduce children’s expectations of their own The UK Government has a target of reducing child lives and lead to a cycle where poverty is experienced poverty by half by 2010 and eradicating it by 2020. While generation after generation. This can be exacerbated if 600,000 children across the UK have been lifted out of families also suffer discrimination, for example, Traveller poverty it is unclear exactly how many of these children families or families with a disabled child or adult. live in Northern Ireland. Radical solutions are required to achieve positive change for those children suffering the Benefits are insufficient most severe and entrenched hardship. Recommendations The route out of poverty is not easy. Families living in Political parties must press the Government to: While we welcome the development of a Northern Ireland poverty continue to struggle despite recent changes to • publish a co-ordinated strategy which sets out how child poverty in Northern Ireland will be eradicated the benefits system. The minimum level of benefits is not anti-poverty strategy, it must set out clearly how child in a generation poverty is to be eradicated in a generation. In particular it decided on the basis of what it actually costs to meet a • identify sufficient resources to implement the strategy to end child poverty family’s basic needs. A family with two adults and two must address the need for affordable childcare; levels of • set out how resources will be targeted to reach those least likely to be lifted out of poverty, such as large children surviving on benefits in Northern Ireland will joblessness and unemployment; the impact of disability families and families with disabled children and parents receive £178 per week to live on – the poverty line is on poverty; and access to services including leisure • ensure that families have a guaranteed minimum income, calculated on the basis of the real costs of £242 per week. In order to protect children from poverty, services. The strategy should also take account of the nurturing children in a safe and healthy home families need a guaranteed minimum income that meets higher cost of living in Northern Ireland. Government • radically reform the Social Fund so that alleviation from poverty doesn’t mean becoming caught up in more debt the demands of everyday life. This must satisfy the needs must ensure that Exchequer funding, provided to target of all families including those with disabled children, child poverty across the UK, is not reallocated for other • ensure that every child, without exception, has access to appropriate good quality inclusive public services. refugee families and those without permanent homes. uses under the Barnett formula in Northern Ireland.

15 A manifesto for children A manifesto for children 16 Poverty: gaining independence UN concerns • The national minimum wage does not apply to children aged 16-17. • Children aged 16-17 are at risk of being economically exploited. • The policies currently in place discriminate against children aged Key facts 16-17 who must work. • In 2003, there were 54,420 young people aged 16-17 in Northern Ireland – 3 per cent of the population. • Young people aged 16 and 17 have no automatic right to welfare benefits, even though they may have to live independently. • 41 per cent of households headed by a young person aged 16-24, were living in poverty.

Young people aged 16 and 17, who opt for work-based training, are paid a weekly training allowance of £40 per week, regardless of their circumstances. For those young people with little or no family support, this is simply not enough; only if they are enduring severe hardship, for example ill health or pregnancy, can they apply for financial support. They may also qualify for income-based Job Seeker’s Allowance (JSA) if they are available for training or work. However, young people receive a lower level of JSA Insufficient support for under 18s or Income Support than those 25 and over, regardless of The benefits and legislative restrictions aimed at helping the circumstances they may be living in. young people out of poverty are insufficient; some even place young people in danger. Those young people who Education doesn’t pay Recommendations have to live independently of their families because of We welcome the UK Government’s announcement to Political parties must press the Government to: estrangement, can only claim housing benefit for shared reform the benefits system for young people in the Child • extend the right to benefit support to those aged 19 and over until they finish their courses accommodation, such as hostels. This type of Benefit Bill. Presently, those young people who have • examine levels of deprivation faced by younger family members resulting from the lack of welfare support accommodation is frequently unsuitable and can put chosen to remain in education face a major disincentive. for 16-17 year-olds who are not in education or training children and young people at risk of exploitation and abuse. Those who turn 19 while they are still studying, see their • review the guidance on JSA, severe hardship and estrangement to be rolled out with training from spring 2005 benefit entitlement cease on their 19th birthday. In • increase training allowances to reflect the living costs of young people living independently Even in employment young people face obstacles. The 2002/2003, 74 per cent of 16 and 17 year olds were in • review housing benefit so that it does not discriminate against young people minimum wage for 16-18 year-olds is £3 per hour, full time education or vocational training in schools or • increase the minimum wage for 16-17 year-olds to the same amount that is paid to those aged 18-21, and regardless of their circumstances. There is a sharp further education colleges. More needs to be done to rationalise this with the amounts paid to apprentices and those on Government training schemes. reduction in housing benefit of 60p for every pound earned encourage young people to remain in or return to further over £48.70 per week. education and training.

17 A manifesto for children A manifesto for children 18 Protecting children: sexual exploitation and trafficking Recommendations If children are to be offered complete protection from sexual exploitation and trafficking, the political parties must press the Government to: Incorporating the rights, principles and provisions of the UNCRC into domestic law • decriminalise children’s involvement in prostitution and make resources available to identify, protect and support children is vital if we are to achieve a better future for all children and young people. who are sexually exploited, including victims of trafficking • ensure that proper child protection procedures are put in place to identify children who are victims of child trafficking, remove them to a place of safety and provide ongoing support • ensure all Internet Service Providers and mobile phone providers block all child pornography websites and work with Youth justice Northern Ireland’s four ACPCs in prevention and awareness raising with children and parents allocate resources to set up a 24-hour National Referral Point for parents, professionals and Internet Service Providers that The youth justice system is not working for children. Children in trouble with the law should be treated as children in need of • protection and support. Political parties must press the Government to: helps to protect children at risk of being sexually abused on the internet enact legislation to strengthen the operation of multi-agency sex offender management arrangements raise the age of criminal responsibility • • urgently carry out a comprehensive review of Northern Ireland’s sexual offences legislation review the use of restraint and solitary confinement • • • ensure that all children who engage in sexually harmful behaviour are treated as children in need of protection, that they • invest in alternatives to custody for children are assessed and have access to special treatment programmes • extend to 17 year-olds the legal protections for the purposes of arrest and detention • ensure the Public Prosecution Service develops a protocol with child protection agencies to access assessment and treatment information on children who engage in sexually harmful behaviour before making decisions on prosecution • establish a statutory right to education for children in custody and ensure such education is compatible with the Northern Ireland curriculum • ensure that combating the sexual exploitation of children is a priority in the Northern Ireland Policing Plan ratify the UN’s Palermo Protocol to prevent, suppress and punish trafficking in persons, especially women and children, listen to the views of children and young people in all matters in the criminal justice system that affect them • • and adopt a co-ordinated response to the root causes of child labour. • legislate to exclude children from the Anti-Social Behaviour (NI) Order 2004. Children and young people in care Refugee children and asylum seeking children To overcome the discrimination and disadvantages faced by children in care the political parties must press the Government to: • require all schools and colleges to promote the educational attainment of those in care and leaving care All children, regardless of their nationality, deserve equal rights and protection, therefore the political parties must increase efforts to ensure that children and young people in care are able to maintain stable, secure and enjoyable placements press the Government to: • • require CAMHS to ensure appropriate provision for children in care/secure accommodation and care leavers • remove the reservation to the UNCRC • require Health and Social Service Trusts to provide appropriate independent visiting and advocacy support as and when • ensure that no immigration detainee, child or parent, is held in prison children and young people in care want it • urgently develop a non-custodial alternative to detention in prison • introduce a national minimum leaving care grant of £2,000 ensure that unaccompanied children are appointed an independent guardian who can advise, support and protect • increase accommodation options, including extending the use of supported lodgings and enabling more young people to • stay in foster placements them in legal proceedings • ensure additional and adequate resources are committed to address the needs and rights of children and young people in • provide access to independent advice, assistance and advocacy for all refugee and asylum seeking children care in Northern Ireland. • require that all Northern Ireland HSS Trusts are provided with training and information to enable them to provide a culturally appropriate care response to refugee and asylum seeking children Poverty: children and families • provide financial support for asylum seeking families equal to that for other families • ensure refugee and asylum seeking children have access to mainstream education and all other services To deliver on its promise to eradicate child poverty by 2020, the political parties must press the Government to: • provide guidance on specific forms of persecution experienced by children to healthcare professionals, immigration • publish a co-ordinated strategy which sets out how child poverty in Northern Ireland will be eradicated in a generation officials, social services, schools, the police and prison officers. • identify sufficient resources to implement the strategy to end child poverty • set out how resources will be targeted to reach those least likely to be lifted out of poverty, such as large families and families with disabled children and parents • ensure that families have a guaranteed minimum income, calculated on the basis of the real costs of nurturing children in Protecting children: safeguarding from harm a safe and healthy home • radically reform the Social Fund so that alleviation from poverty doesn’t mean becoming caught up in more debt To create a culture where children are respected and protected, the political parties must press the Government to: • ensure that every child, without exception, has access to appropriate good quality inclusive public services. • prioritise a Northern Ireland strategy for children in need • develop a Family Support Strategy which has an emphasis on supporting parents’ use of non-violent methods of discipline Poverty: gaining independence • give children the same legal protection from assault as adults To enable young people to make the transition to independence, free of poverty, the political parties must • strengthen the safeguarding functions of Area Child Protection Committees press the Government to: • introduce robust legislative arrangements for interagency co-operation and information exchange • extend the right to benefit support to those aged 19 and over until they finish their courses • fully resource across Government the implementation of the new accreditation provisions in the Protection of Children • examine levels of deprivation faced by younger family members resulting from the lack of welfare support for 16 -17 year-olds and Vulnerable Adults (NI) Order 2003 who are not in education or training • ensure the development of adequate statistical information on child protection and the creation of child well-being indicators • review the guidance on JSA, severe hardship and estrangement to be rolled out with training from spring 2005 increase training allowances to reflect the living costs of young people living independently • ensure the development of cross-border child protection structures • review housing benefit so that it does not discriminate against young people • provide comprehensive investment in children’s services. • • increase the minimum wage for 16-17 year-olds to the same amount that is paid to those aged 18-21, and rationalise this with the amounts paid to apprentices and those on Government training schemes.

19 A manifesto for children A manifesto for children 20 Other organisations supporting the manifesto:

ACET Mencap

An Munia Tober (formerly BTEDG/BTSG) Mornington Community Project

Association for Spina Bifida and National Youth Advocacy Service (NI)

Hydrocephalus NDCS

Ballymacarrett Arts and Cultural Society NIACRO

Belvoir Players Amateur Dramatic Society NICVA

Brook NICHS

Cedar Foundation NIMBA

Children are Unbeatable! Northern Ireland North City Training Ltd

ChildLine Northern Ireland Northern Ireland Women’s Aid Federation

Children’s Express Oak Healthy Living Centre

Children’s Law Centre Omagh Support and Self Help Group

Children’s Programme of Northern Ireland Opportunity Youth

Citizen’s Advice Parent’s Advice Centre

Clarawood Community Association Peninsula Community Transport Ltd

Contact Youth Counselling Services PHAB NI Inclusion Matters

Discovery 80 Ltd/Share PlayBoard

Extern PRAXIS

FACT NI Simon Community NI

Fermanagh Early Years Partnership Spanner in the Works Theatre Company

Fermanagh Volunteer Bureau Starting Point (NI) Ltd

Fostering Network The Royal Lifesaving Society – Ulster

Foyer Federation Branch

Hannahstown Community Association Ulster Cancer Foundation

Include Youth Ulster Quaker Service Committee

Lifestart Foundation Volunteer Development Agency

Lisburn YMCA VOYPIC

Lurgan YMCA

21 A manifesto for children A manifesto for children 22