Children's Plea

Press Release: Children's Plea

A plea has been sent to all Members of Parliament, regardless of party affiliation, to accord urgency and priority to children's issues. These issues include vulnerability, safety and childhood poverty.

The Plea is supported by a background paper reinforcing both the perceived need and the urgency.

The Plea has been initiated by Graeme MacCormick, a retired Family Court Judge and former Proceedings Commissioner and Alternate Chair of the Human Rights Commission; but he considers it to be basically an attempt by an ordinary rather elderly senior citizen to add his voice to those speaking up on behalf of children; that segment of our community adversely affected by having no electoral voice.

He states: "The end goal must be a positive start for every child. Not an equal start, because that is impossible, but a positive one. Too many of our children are not receiving that. A poor start in life for a large number of children ultimately impacts upon us all. It goes right to the heart of the future welfare of our society."

He further considers the goal of a positive start for every child to be distinctly achievable if there is the political will to achieve it.

Political will to address these issues with urgency, priority and far-sightedness needs, however, to be supported and encouraged by community will.

All members of the public are invited to read the background paper, which can be accessed at www.childrensplea.org.nz ; and to support the Plea itself using the same website.

Alternately a copy of the Plea and the background paper can be obtained by sending a stamped addressed envelope to Children's Plea, P.O. Box 41527, St. Lukes, Auckland 1346

© Scoop Media