Interesting facts and figures
If, like us, you love to collect facts and figures about children’s rights, here are some to get you started:
Children's rights in other countries
Fact no 1
Young people can vote from the age of 16 years in Brazil, Cuba, Nicaragua and the Isle of Man.
Fact no 2
Eighteen countries have changed the law to stop parents hitting their children (the date in brackets is when the law was changed) – Sweden (1979), Finland (1983), Norway (1987), Austria (1989), Cyprus (1994), Denmark (1997), Latvia (1998), Croatia (1999), Germany (2000), Bulgaria (2000), Israel (2000), Iceland (2003), Romania (2004), Ukraine (2004), Hungary (2005), Greece (2006), The Netherlands (2007) and New Zealand (2007).
Fact no 3
England has one of the lowest ages in Europe for when children can be charged by the police of committing a crime and taken to court – just 10 years. Young people cannot legally buy a pet or fireworks until they are 18 years.
Fact no 4
There are over four billion children and young people in the world.
Fact no 5
Babies born in the richest countries are expected to live until they are about 79 years; in the poorest countries life expectancy is just 53 years.
Fact no 6
There are 3.4 million children and young people in the UK living in poverty.
Fact no 7
The first country that agreed to follow the Convention on the Rights of the Child was Ghana in Africa (February 1990). The UK agreed to follow it in December 1991.
Fact no 8
For every 100,000 children and young people in the UK, 23 are locked up. This is nearly four times the number of children and young people locked up in France and over 100 times the number of children locked up in Finland!
Fact no 9
Over 8,600 children and young people were permanently excluded from school in 2006/07. Almost a thousand of these students attended primary school and 40 of them were aged just 5.
Fact no 10
Norway was the first country to appoint an independent Children’s Ombudsperson (in 1981) – a powerful person separate from government who can push for the rights of children and young people.
Fact no 11
In 1669, children and young people petitioned Parliament to ask for an end to harsh and brutal treatment from teachers. Yet it wasn’t until 1986 that a law was passed to stop teachers from using any kind of physical punishment. The proposal was won in Parliament by just one vote!
Fact no 12
Iran did have the lowest voting age, at 15, but raised it to 18 in 2007.
Fact no 13
Estonia in Northern Europe has the smallest child population in the world, at less than half a million. China and India have the biggest populations of children and young people, at nearly 345 million each.
Fact no 14
There are moves in Austria to lower the voting age to 16.
Fact no 15
In England, the voting age was last reduced in 1967, from 21 to 18.
Fact no 16
England has over 11 million children and young people – about one in five of the population!
Facts about Parliament
Fact no 1
There are 646 elected Members of Parliament. They work in the House of Commons.
Fact no 2
The oldest MP in the Commons is Ian Paisley, MP for North Antrim. He was born on 6 April 1926.
Fact no 3
The youngest MP in the Commons is Jo Swinson, Liberal Democrat MP for East Dunbartonshire. She was born on 5 February 1980.
Fact no 4
The average age of MPs at the last general election (in 2005) was 51 years old.
Fact no 5
MPs first received a salary in 1911 when they earned £400 a year. An MP’s salary is now £61,820.
Fact no 6
There are 735 members of the House of Lords.
Fact no 7
The average age of members of the House of Lords is 68 years old.
Fact no 8
The longest ever debate in one sitting in the House of Commons lasted for 41 hours and 30 minutes. The debate started at 4pm on 31 January 1881, and didn’t finish until 9.30am on 2 February 1881!
Fact no 9
When the Queen visits Parliament for the State Opening every year, it is traditional for an MP to be “held hostage” at Buckingham Palace. In the past, this was to make sure the king or queen returned safely, and was not kidnapped or executed by MPs.
Fact no 10
All animals except for dogs and horses are banned from the grounds of the Houses of Parliament.
Fact no 11
MPs are not allowed to die in the House of Commons. This is because it is a royal palace and they are commoners!
Fact no 12
In 1983, John Golding MP talked for over 11 hours at an all-night sitting in Parliament (BBC website).
Fact no 13
In 1828 Henry Brougham set the all-time record for speaking in one session of the House of Commons – he spoke non-stop for 6 hours!
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