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State of Children's Rights in England

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State of Children's Rights in England State of Children’s Rights in England [2009] SPECIAL UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY EDITION Making Children’s Rights Everybody’s Business The picture on the front cover shows Audrey Hepburn and two boy scouts at the official signing of the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child on 20 November 1989: (Copyright) UNICEF/NYHQ1989-0089/Ruby Mera The Children's Rights Alliance for England (CRAE) seeks the full implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in England. Our vision is of a society where the human rights of all children are recognised and realised. CRAE protects the human rights of children by lobbying government and others who hold power, by bringing or supporting test cases and by using national, regional and international human rights mechanisms. We provide free legal information and advice, raise awareness of children’s human rights, and undertake research about children’s access to their rights. We mobilise others, including children and young people, to take action to promote and protect children's human rights. Each year we publish a review of the state of children's rights in England. This publication is the seventh annual State of children’s rights in England report in the series, the first being published in 2003. Gordon Brown MP, Prime Minister and leader of the Labour Party …the values of fairness and responsibility [are those] that we teach our children, celebrate in our families, observe in our faiths, and honour in our communities. David Cameron MP, leader of the Conservative Party … I know there are children growing up in Britain today … who will live the life they’re given, not the life they want. That is what I want to change … I want every child to have the chances I had. Nick Clegg MP, leader of the Liberal Democrat Party Giving children the best possible start in life is at the heart of everything [we] believe in. CONTENTS FOREWORD ................................................................................................................................................................. 7 PROGRESS OVER 20 YEARS OF CHILDREN’S RIGHTS ........................................................................................ 8 WHERE THE UK MUST IMPROVE ........................................................................................................................... 12 UK Children’s Commissioners ........................................................................................................................ 12 Bringing legislation into line with the Convention ......................................................................................... 12 Co-ordination at government level ................................................................................................................ 13 Best interests ................................................................................................................................................ 13 Non-discrimination ....................................................................................................................................... 13 Child poverty ................................................................................................................................................. 13 Child protection ............................................................................................................................................ 13 Equality ......................................................................................................................................................... 15 Participation ................................................................................................................................................. 15 Privacy rights ................................................................................................................................................ 16 Children in care ............................................................................................................................................. 16 Children with disabilities ............................................................................................................................... 17 Juvenile justice .............................................................................................................................................. 17 Physical restraint in custody .......................................................................................................................... 18 Use of physical punishment ........................................................................................................................... 18 Young refugees and asylum seekers .............................................................................................................. 19 Plans of action ............................................................................................................................................... 19 ORGANISATIONS ON THE STATE OF CHILDREN’S RIGHTS .............................................................................. 21 GENERAL MEASURES OF IMPLEMENTATION ..................................................................................................... 29 Address previous recommendations ............................................................................................................. 29 Legislation ..................................................................................................................................................... 30 Co-ordinating implementation ...................................................................................................................... 31 Budget allocation and child rights assessments ............................................................................................. 33 Children’s rights impact assessments ............................................................................................................ 34 Powers of the Children’s Commissioner ........................................................................................................ 35 Dissemination ............................................................................................................................................... 36 Engagement in policy development and human rights monitoring ................................................................ 39 GENERAL PRINCIPLES ............................................................................................................................................ 41 Status of children and young people in society .............................................................................................. 41 4 | STATE OF CHILDREN’S RIGHTS IN ENGLAND (2009) Discrimination ............................................................................................................................................... 42 Children’s best interests are not a priority ..................................................................................................... 46 Protection of the right to life ......................................................................................................................... 47 Reviews of unexpected deaths ...................................................................................................................... 48 Tasers and harmful devices ........................................................................................................................... 48 Respect for children’s views .......................................................................................................................... 49 CIVIL RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS .............................................................................................................................. 52 Anti-social behaviour measures .................................................................................................................... 52 Protection of children’s privacy rights ........................................................................................................... 54 Protecting children’s privacy in the media ..................................................................................................... 56 The use of restraint ....................................................................................................................................... 57 Ending violence against children ................................................................................................................... 59 FAMILY ENVIRONMENT AND ALTERNATIVE CARE ............................................................................................ 63 Supporting parenting .................................................................................................................................... 63 Avoid taking children into care ...................................................................................................................... 64 Complaints remedy ....................................................................................................................................... 64 Children in public and institutional care ........................................................................................................ 65 Children with disabilities ..............................................................................................................................
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