WIREDGOV

Children and young people need the best start in life and the Welsh Government is committed to placing children’s rights at the heart of all it does, the Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty Jeff Cuthbert has said.

The Minister outlined our progress in placing children’s rights at the core of Welsh Government in a report for the United Nations, which was published yesterday.

To mark Universal Children’s Day the Minister met pupils and staff at Llanrhidian Primary School, Swansea, where the youngsters have taken the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) to their hearts.

They have written an open letter to promote the convention that has been sent out nationally and internationally. They have received positive feedback including some from Europe. The children have also written a song to promote UNCRC, “Our Rights”, which they performed for the Minister.

Minister Jeff Cuthbert said:

“The Welsh Government believes every child and young person is important. They should have the best start in life, the best possible chance to grow up free from poverty or harm and with the support they need to reach their full potential.

“Our report to the United Nations reflects Wales’ progress as a country leading the way internationally in placing children’s rights and outcomes at the heart of everything we do. It also sets out our ambition to go further.’’

Our report to the UN outlines some of our achievements that include:

• the Rights of Children and Young Persons (Wales) Measure 2011 which is the first domestic legislation in the UK and Wales is one of a few countries in the world to enshrine children’s rights in law. 
• Wales was the first nation in the world to legislate for play in 2012, directly in support of article 31 of the UNCRC.
• A child poverty duty placed on public bodies in Wales.
• School nurse for each secondary school in Wales.
• School-based counselling available in all secondary schools in Wales and placing the provision of this service in law.

Minister Jeff Cuthbert praised the Swansea youngsters for their work in highlighting children’s rights and the work of the UN.

“It was a pleasure to celebrate Children’s Rights Day with the pupils of Llanrhidian who only last Friday raised money for Children In Need Day to help a child they sponsor in the Phillippines,” said Mr Cuthbert.

“These children are showing that they care about other children wherever they may live. Their teachers in teaching them about their rights are helping them to have an understanding about respect for all people.”