UN convention signed to protect rights of local children
A LEGALLY binding undertaking to keep local children safe and secure has been signed by Guernsey and Alderney.
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child has now been formally extended to the islands.
It is the most widely ratified piece of international human rights legislation in history.
Extending the convention to Guernsey and Alderney has been a priority action for the States, with the Children and Young People’s Plan stating signing up to the UNCRC as one of its overarching actions in the 2016-2022 plan.
The CYPP also saw all Guernsey and Alderney schools achieve the Rights Respecting Schools awards through Unicef.
Following a significant piece of work alongside the UK Government, the UNCRC was formally extended to Guernsey and Alderney last month.
Policy & Resources vice president Heidi Soulsby said the convention was very important.
‘Putting children’s rights at the centre of everything we do as a government and island community is naturally essential,’ she said.
‘This convention ensures a legally binding undertaking exists to keep our children safe and secure. They are the future of this island and we are proud to formally introduce this most important of conventions.’
In total, there are 54 articles in the convention, covering every aspect of a child’s life – setting out the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights which all children everywhere are entitled to.
It also explains how adults and governments must work together to make sure all children can enjoy all of their rights. The convention is designed to be seen as a whole, with all rights linked and of equal importance.
However, there are four articles within the convention which are seen as special, known as the General Principles – non-discrimination, best interests of the child, right-to-life survival and development, and the right to be heard.
Health & Social Care president Al Brouard said the States must not only remember but demonstrate its commitment to the next generation.
‘Extending this convention to Guernsey and Alderney is the most fitting way to exemplify that this is a priority,’ he said.
Education, Sport & Culture president Andrea Dudley-Owen was delighted to see the convention extended to Guernsey and Alderney.
‘Children and young people in all our schools are already aware of the articles through the successful implementation of the Unicef Right Respecting Schools Award that teachers are leading on with our Youth Commission colleagues,’ she said.
‘Extending the UNCRC to Guernsey and Alderney underlines our commitment to listen to and act upon what children and young people are telling us about their concerns and goals for the future.’
Youth Commission CEO Charlie Cox said the convention meant that if someone was born here or moved here, they would know there was a set of globally-accepted standards applied locally for all children.
‘It is a great step and we want to thank everyone who has worked hard on seeing this convention extended to Guernsey and Alderney and the work already done by children in school to understand their rights,’ she said.
