Government gets a telling off by the UN

UNICEF thinks the Government should review its policies to reduce abuse of children, following a UN report out this week criticising the Government for its lack of action in regards to child abuse.

At a UN special session for children in 2002, the Government was asked to develop a national plan of action, including advice on how it would minimise child abuse. That never happened. The problem with our Government is that is it pandering to the UN to emphasise the rights of the child, but the UN also wants the Government to consider the needs of the child as well. At the time Steve Maharey made this statement to the UN It includes this:

"The plan of action for a `World Fit for Children' focuses on three key areas; promoting healthy lives, providing quality education and protecting children. A World Fit for Children requires that we act in the best interests of the child.

We have established an annual Children's Day to celebrate children, and demonstrate how much we value them".

Well. That's news to me.

The UN wants the Government to review the implementation of the Children, Young Persons and their Families Act 1989 and evaluate the act's effectiveness. So why didn't they do this with the Care of Children bill?