WRITE A BRIEF CRITIQUE OF THE RESPONSE OF UK GOVERNMENTS TO

‘The UN Convention On The Rights Of The Child’ was ratified by the UK on 16 December 1991. In doing this, the Government agreed to make all laws, policy and practice compatible with the convention. The convention gives all children and young people under the age of 18 set rights, including the “right to express and have their views taken into account on all matters that affect them; the right to play, rest and leisure and the right to be free from all forms of violence” (www.crights.org.uk, accessed 10/11/03). By adopting the Convention the UK government agreed to abide by its aims in protecting children and promoting their rights to participate in decisions that affect them. Despite this being over 10 years ago, repeated research has shown that children and young people are generally unaware that the Convention exists and they have these basic human rights.

The main argument when discussing the UK Government’s response to the convention is implementation, which is a problem affecting almost every policy introduced in the UK, but is particularly pr

Moreover, following the Ratification of the UN Convention on the rights of the child, until recently the UK Government has made very little effort in implementing the convention, it seemed to assume that the 1989 Children Act would suffice as their ‘effort’ to ensuring children’s rights, even though the Act had no direct relation to the convention. More recently we have seen a much more positive move for children’s rights in the UK, with the employment of a children’s minister and the talk of incorporating the convention into the British Law system. Although this is a step forward, it almost seems as if it is too late, particularly for the children that have suffered due to the Governments lack of implementation. I feel the Government should have done more, a lot sooner.

“An influential group of MPs and peers will this week call on the government to incorporate the UN convention on the rights of the child into British law. Such a move would allow children to challenge in the courts any legislation or policy as being against their best interests.” (http://society.guardian.co.uk, accessed 10/11/03)

ominent in this case. For example, under the new Im

Some topics in this essay:
UK Government, Rights Child’, Wales Ireland, UK Gov, Children Act, Convention UK, Asylum Act, Convention” Franklin, Rights Child, British Law, un convention, convention rights, rights child, un convention rights, uk government, children’s rights, convention rights child, accessed 10/11/03, 1989 children act, franklin 200297, british law, children people, children's rights, recently seen positive,