Charities urge Ministers to put children’s rights at the heart of UK law

The coalition, which includes UNICEF UK, Save the Children, Just for Kids Law and the Children’s Rights Alliance for England, is pressing Ministers to back amendments to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill being debated in Parliament today by Baroness Lister.

The proposals would require Ministers to consider children’s rights in all decisions relating to children’s wellbeing, social care or education, and introduce a statutory duty to publish a child rights impact assessment on any new legislation, policy or budgetary measure.

Supporters argue that England is falling behind Wales and Scotland, where governments have already taken steps to embed the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) into law and policymaking. The UNCRC sets out fundamental civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights for every child up to the age of 18, including access to healthcare, education, safety from violence, freedom of expression, and an adequate standard of living.

Sam Whyte, Associate Head of Policy at the NSPCC, said: “To put children at the heart of our society means delivering the rights and protections they are entitled to. This must be an absolute priority for Government. The changes put forward today are simple but powerful. They’d make sure Ministers think about the rights of children every time they make a decision that affects young lives.”

Louise King, Co-Lead at Just for Kids Law, including the Children’s Rights Alliance for England, added: “In recent years, we’ve seen how children’s rights have been overlooked in key Government decisions, from Covid-19 policies to reforms to welfare and asylum. These proposals would help ensure that children’s rights, interests and voices are not overlooked in decision-making – especially those of the most disadvantaged.”

With 4.5 million children in the UK currently growing up in poverty, campaigners argue the need for reform is urgent. Joanna Rea, Director of Advocacy at UNICEF UK, said:
“Right now, the government makes choices every day that affect children’s lives. Yet, unlike decision-makers in Scotland and Wales, UK Ministers are still not legally bound to consider children’s rights. This Bill is a crucial opportunity to change that.”

In the longer term, the coalition is calling for the full incorporation of the UNCRC into UK law to ensure parity across the UK and provide the strongest possible protections for children.