UN once again criticises UK Government on its treatment of children

The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child has slammed the UK Government as failing to meet international standards on how children should be treated.

The UN made 124 recommendations to the UK Government in key areas – from juvenile justice to the rights of disabled children, from the protection of young asylum seekers to the right of children to privacy.

The Government is failing to meet its obligations under international law.

Some of the recommendations included:

• The review and removal of ASBOs orders for children

• For tighter rules about reality TV programmes that feature babies and children

• The UN also urges the Government to ban smacking – this is a top priority.

Carolyne Willow, national co-ordinator of CRAE, said:

‘We now call for the Government to take immediate action to remedy breaches in the Convention on the Rights of the Child and we want the Convention brought into UK law as a matter of urgency. Given the severity and breadth of the criticisms made by the UN Committee, Ed Balls must now make a statement to the House as soon as possible after Parliament resumes next week.’

Posted on Friday, October 03, 2008 in