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 prominent in this case. For example, under the new Immigration and Asylum Act (p

“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)

Despite this we have recently seen a more positive moves from the Government, with Margaret Hodge being appointed Minister for children on 13 April of this year, talk of a children’s commissioner for England (as they have in Scotland, Wales and N. Ireland) being introduced, as well as the serious discussion of the convention being integrated into UK law, as was reported in the Guardian on 20 October 2003:

More than a decade after the UK ratified the convention and there was “still no legislative or other changes introduced to promote compliance” (Franklin, 2002:97). It seems that the Government felt that with the introduction of the 1989 Children Act, they were doing over and above what was expected of them by the convention. This being publically reinforced by the government minister in charge,

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, accessed 10/11/03, children’s rights, rights child, uk government, un convention rights, convention rights, convention rights child, recently seen, children people, british law, 1989 children, recently seen positive, 1989 children act,