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A Children's Law Centre briefing on UN Committee recommendations on key issues for children and young people in Northern Ireland.
Monday 17 November 2008
Monday 17 November 2008
2.00pm
4.30pm
Children's Law Centre
Free
Event
Following a period of substantial consultation with NGOs across NI, the Children's Law Centre and Save the Children submitted the NGO Alternative Report to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (for consideration during the Committee's scrutiny of the UK Government Report), in March 2008.
Having submitted this Alternative Report, the Children's Law Centre and Save the Children have engaged heavily around the examination process; providing oral evidence, followed up by written evidence at the pre-sessional meeting with Committee members in June. We hosted a visit to Northern Ireland by the Chair of the UN Committee Ms Yanghee Lee in March 08, as well as jointly hosting a visit by the Country Rapporteur Ms Lucy Smith in September 08. We also attended the examination as observers and facilitated a group of young people to also attend.
The UN Committee has made strong recommendations across a number of key issues for children and young people in NI, which directly reflect issues raised by the NGOs who were consulted. These include:
- the impositions of restrictions on the freedom of movement and peaceful assembly by children as a result of ASBOs,
- the failure to protect children from physical punishment in the home,
- the continued low age of criminal responsibility,
- the operation of a "two-tier culture" in the education system in NI as a result of academic selection,
- poor mental health service provision for children and young people in NI,
- ongoing social exclusion of vulnerable groups of children
- the proposed introduction of Tasers and the fact that they can be used on children,
- the extent and impact of persistent poverty in NI,
- the need for the implementation of a Bill of Rights for NI, to incorporate the Convention into domestic legislation.
The briefing session will enable stakeholders to:
- gain a brief overview of the UNCRC reporting and examination process,
- examine and provide feedback on the Committee's recommendations,
- consider their implications for your area of work
Please confirm your attendance by phoning Kirsty Waterworth on 028 9024 5704 by Monday 10 November.
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