NCB celebrates 20 years of child rights
Friday 20 November 2009
NCB celebrates the 20th anniversary
of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) on Friday
20 November and the considerable advances that have been made in
child policy since its ratification by the British government. An
NCB exhibition of artwork celebrating what the Convention means to
children, young people and adults working with children will show
at the Office of the Children's Commissioner for England, 11
Million, at London Bridge tomorrow.
However, while the UNCRC
represented a crucial milestone, significant shortcomings still
exist in the national child rights framework. In order to further
advance the rights of children in Britain and to ensure that all
future policy decisions are made with the best interests of the
child in mind, NCB strongly supports the Children's Rights Bill
which has been introduced by Baroness Joan Walmsley at the House of
Lords today.
The rights enshrined under the
Convention are the golden thread that runs throughout NCB's work,
from Play England's promotion of the right to play (Article 31), to
the National Centre for Excellence in Residential Child Care's work
with children in state care (Article 20), to the Well-Being
Department's projects with children and young people in prison
(Article 37), and a comprehensive participation programme (Article
12).
Barbara Hearn, Deputy Chief
Executive at NCB says: 'Advancement of the UNCRC is at the heart of
all NCB policy priorities. Lobbying for improved transport,
addressing the welfare/justice divide, seeking well-being in
schools and sustainable lifestyles and improving children's early
years are all goals that have wide reaching implications for
children's fundamental and inalienable rights.'
'Children's rights have improved
considerably in the past 20 years but the journey continues. This
anniversary is an opportunity to renew our commitment to ensuring
that the rights of all children are promoted, protected and
advanced, and that parents are supported in their important
role.'v