Media Release

23 August 2005

Every Child Counts announces its Challenge Card

While pledge cards and promise cards are now the norm for general elections, Every Child Counts has entered the political foray with its Challenge Card.

The Challenge Card is to be unveiled at a forum in Wellington today (subs: midday Tuesday 23 August at Connolly Hall, Guilford Terrace) at which the political parties will each have ten minutes to present their policies as they relate to children.

Every Child Counts spokesperson, Murray Edridge said the cards would be used by Every Child Counts supporters at all political meetings from today until 17 September.

"It is time to challenge all candidates, irrespective of party, to acknowledge the impact on children in all they promise and pledge."

The Every Child Counts Challenge Card calls for all candidates to: Place children first in government planning; Fully fund policies/services that give every child a good start; Demonstrate that all violence in families is unacceptable; Develop and implement a plan to end all child poverty; Act on these pledges.

"It's very simple, the time has come to do something about it. No more words, no more petty point scoring. We want constructive discourse and concerted action when it comes to the future of children in this country.

"Why has no party built its policy and election strategy around children? Why does the thinking voter have to search hard to find the specifics of what any party plans for children? Why the piecemeal approach?" he said.

Mr Edridge said Every Child Counts had amassed five thousand organisations and individuals as supporters since it launched four months ago.

ENDS

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