News 
UK Children’s’ Commissioners Call for Redoubling of Efforts to Hit 2020 Child Poverty Target
19 November 2009
Tam Baillie, Scotland's Commissioner for Children and Young People
The four UK Children’s Commissioners have marked the 20th Anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) by calling on the UK Government and devolved administrations to redouble their efforts to end child poverty by the 2020 target.
In a joint statement, released to mark the anniversary, they also warn that children and young people are at risk of being affected disproportionately by the current recession.
The Commissioners point out that economic downturns actually generate an increased need for children’s services, to ensure that children’s life chances are not compromised.
Budget cuts, particularly in early years services, can have a profound effect on children and lead to increased societal costs in future years.
Tam Baillie, Scotland’s Commissioner for Children and Young People said:
“Recognition of children’s rights is not simply a luxury to be enjoyed during affluent times.
“Poverty is a scourge that can overwhelm every aspect of a child’s life and cut them off from realising a safe, whole, healthy and happy future.
“If we want Scotland to remain a nation where children’s’ rights are recognised and respected, then working to end child poverty by 2020 is an ambitious goal that will reward everyone, not just children and young people.”
While the Commissioner welcomed the Scottish Government’s Action Plan on children’s rights [Do the Right Thing, published August 2009] he pointed out that much more needs to be done to make these promises a reality.
“While there is no doubt about the Scottish Government’s commitment to children’s rights, we are only at the start of tackling the priorities it has set out.
“Actions speak louder than words and much more remains to be done to improve children’s rights in Scotland and the UK. I look forward to working closely with The Scottish Government to ensure it delivers on its promises.”
ENDS
Media enquiries Barbara Fraser at Pagoda PR t: 0131 556 0770 barbara.fraser@pagodapr.com
Notes for Editors
- For the Commissioners’ joint statement, follow this link www.sccyp.org.uk
- The Scottish Government’s Action Plan is called Do the Right Thing. Published in August 2009, it sets out a response by the Scottish Government to the 2008 concluding observations from theUNCommittee on theRights of the Child.
