Rewiring the Country for children: Embedding children’s rights to build a more preventative state

Eurochild signs joint letter to the new UK Prime Minister calling for stronger children's rights protections in the next 10-year plan.

Following the appointment of the new Prime Minister, Eurochild member Children's Rights Alliance for England (part of Just for Kids Law), UNICEF UK and other 70 organisations have written a joint letter encouraging the new government to place children's rights at the heart of its agenda, in particular by placing Child Rights Impact Assessments (CRIAs) on a statutory footing as an important first step towards full incorporation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).

The most effective way to realise UNCRC rights is through full incorporation into domestic law. This would ensure that impacts to children are considered and their rights are prioritised when developing laws, policies and public services that affect their lives. It also supports a more preventative approach, helping to improve health, education and life chances for children before problems become costly and difficult to address. While we have seen greater recognition of children's rights in law in Scotland, Wales and Jersey, children living in England - and across the UK on reserved matters - continue to experience unequal protection of their rights.

The letter specifically calls on the PM to:

• accept the COVID-19 Inquiry's recommendation to make CRIAs mandatory, and
• to set out a clear roadmap towards incorporation as part of the Government's 10-year plan for Britain.

The coalition looks forward to engaging with the Prime Minister and ministers to discuss how Government can build a more preventative state by taking a rights-based approach to policymaking and ensuring every child has a good childhood and the opportunity to thrive.