Media Statement
Date: 20/11/2019

Child rights advocates pleased with Government recommitment

Save the Children are extremely pleased by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s announcement today that the Government will recommit to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).

Save the Children Advocacy Strategy and Research Director Jacqui Southey said, “We are extremely pleased to hear this news. We thank the Government for listening to this request and committing to ensure child rights are met in our country.”

The UNCRC, adopted 30 years ago, is a landmark human rights treaty that has been signed by 196 countries including every member of the United Nations, except the United States. It was ratified in New Zealand in 1983.

The UNCRC sets the minimum standards and overarching principles by which every society should treat every child and has played a critical role in catalysing progress for children over the last 30 years.

All UN member states were asked to pledge their recommitment to the UNCRC as part of the 30th anniversary.

Ms Southey said, “The Government can now be held to task if they don’t consider child rights when policies are being written. We would like to see greater recognition of child rights in every day life. All children deserve the right to be listened to and be heard, be protected from harm, have healthy food and access to quality health care.”

“We didn’t do this on our own and we would like to thank the 28 organisations who signed the joint request.”

ENDS

Organisations that signed the letter to Government:
Save the Children NZ
Children’s Rights Alliance Aotearoa
Children’s Commission
UNICEF
Human Rights commission
Barnardos
Amnesty International
Ara Taiohi
CCS Disability Action
Child Fund
Child Poverty Action Group
International Play Association Aotearoa New Zealand
Inspiring Communities
JustSpeak
National Council of Women New Zealand
OMEP
Oxfam New Zealand
Public Health Association
Plunket
Social Services Providers Association
Stand
Talking Trouble NZ
Tearfund NZ
University of Otago Children’s Issues Centre
Variety
World Vision New Zealand
YouthLaw
NZBA – Baby Friendly Aotearoa

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