It is vital children’s rights are protected in Wales, now more
than ever, during the Coronavirus pandemic, according to the
Senedd’s Children, Young People and Education Committee.
It has been examining the progress of the
Rights of the Child
and Young Persons (Wales) Measure
2011; a law passed almost a decade
ago by the then National Assembly for Wales.
Seen as ground-breaking at the time, this law meant
the United Nations
Convention on the Rights of the Child
(UNCRC) had to be considered as
part of any decisions made by the Welsh Government – about
children’s health, education, the environment and any other
powers devolved to Wales.
The impact of Covid-19 and the lockdown measures that
followed quickly impacted on many children’s rights including the
right to an education, their right to play, and restricted
contact with friends and family for care-experienced
children.
Chair of the Children, Young People and Education
Committee, , said:
“Our recent scrutiny of the impact of Coronavirus on
children and young people leads us to conclude that - now more
than ever - delivering children and young people’s rights must be
the priority for the Welsh Government. It must be central to its
decision-making and evidence of this must be much more
transparent.”
Looking back at the situation since 2011, the Committee’s
report found that the Welsh Government has not always made sure
that children’s rights have had a direct influence on the
services children and young people receive and the decisions
public bodies, like local authorities and health boards,
make.
It also found that there is much more to be done to get
this law working properly and that there must be a renewed focus
on this by the Welsh Government.
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feedback sessions involving more than 800 children and young
people across Wales, told the Committee
how important their rights are to them. Having a good education,
physical and mental health, feeling safe at home and in the area
in which they lived were top of the list.
Being listened to by people who make decisions which affect
them and being respected by others were also crucial
rights.
Some young people knew what their rights were, but the
Committee found there were gaps in the knowledge of children’s
rights among both children and adults.
It said this prevents the law achieving its full potential
and wants the Welsh Government to have a national
awareness-raising strategy to improve this situation.
The Welsh Government told the Committee the law had
influenced a raft of policies and decisions, including how child
poverty is tackled, the change in the law on the physical
punishment of children, and the support given to pupils with
additional learning needs.
But the Committee was also told about policies and services
where the impact of this new law was not seen, including:
-
Whether children and young people get the mental health
support they need
-
The availability of care placements, both foster care and
secure
-
Concerns that there is limited information about racist
incidents in schools and pupils who are excluded because of
this
-
Young people not being able to access youth services
because they are being closed
-
Rates of child poverty
The Committee found that the law and the how the rights of
children were considered was being looked at too late down the
line of deciding on a policy or how to spend Welsh Government
money. It wants things to be much clearer in terms of how the law
on children’s rights is being considered by government
ministers.
, said:
“Our inquiry on children’s rights has led us to conclude
that there is still progress to be made. We heard clear
frustrations from stakeholders about the pace at which the
children’s rights Measure has influenced policy and
spending.
“There is a lack of reference to children’s rights in key
strategic documents, and insufficient evidence that the duties in
the Measure are being considered and exercised across the whole
of the Welsh Government.
“This demonstrates to us that children’s rights are not
driving the Welsh Government’s decision-making as the legislation
intended.”
Helen Dale from Lleisiau Bach/Little Voices said:
“Lleisiau Bach welcomes the committee's inquiry. Hearing
children's voices is essential for future decision-making in
Wales and we are proud that Lleisiau Bach has enabled the
youngest of children to be involved in the process.
“So much has been 'done to' children's daily lives and life
chances since Covid-19 and it is essential for the committee to
continue and accelerate examination into how Covid-19 responses
will comply with the legislation, obligations and commitments of
Welsh Government and other public bodies on the rights of the
child in Wales.”
Children’s Commissioner for Wales, Sally Holland,
said:
“There has never been a greater need to focus on children’s
human rights, as Wales works through the impact of this
devastating pandemic.
“These reasonable and constructive recommendations, all of
which respond directly to the concerns I raised with the
Committee, provide a clear road-map for the Government to place
children’s human rights at the heart of all
decision-making.
“I would urge the Government to accept them all and move to
implementation without delay.”
The Committee makes 16 recommendations in its report which
will now be considered by the Welsh Government.
