Every Child Counts
Media Release
10 October 2016

UN report hammers home need for urgent action - where to from here?

The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child has reported back on its examination of New Zealand’s compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCROC).

“In reading the report, it concerns us that a number of the issues raised have been the subject of repeated calls for action by the committee” says Lisa Woods, Executive Officer of Every Child Counts

The report acknowledges progress in several areas, but raises serious concerns in others, including the high number of children living in poverty, continuing high levels of violence against children, the wellbeing of children in care and youth justice issues.

“This matters greatly. There are very serious humanitarian considerations here, and economic consequences. Infometrics have calculated that poor outcomes for children cost the New Zealand economy $6 billion every year. This is especially concerning given that as the population grows older, we will be more dependent on today’s children and young people to pay taxes and keep our economy going.

“We can’t afford socially or economically to stay where we are now. We need a game changer and a first step is to commit to a national plan of action for all children based on child rights – something the committee has recommended several times.

"A national plan of action is critical to pull together different threads, identify gaps, and ensure accountability. Too often successive Governments have taken a piecemeal approach to policies for children, when we know from research that meaningful change will only come from comprehensive action across a range of areas.

“Without an overarching plan, individual policies, no matter how positive, will not add up to the fundamental change we need to see” says Lisa.

Where to from here?

The report provides a blueprint for action and Every Child Counts would like to see specific steps taken to action the recommendations in the report, including:

• The Government beginning work on a national plan of action for all children. To kick start action the UNCROC Monitoring Group, which monitors and reviews progress in implementing the Convention, could recommend to the Government the development of a comprehensive action plan for all children.

• The Government agreeing measures of child poverty and reviewing the functions of the new Ministry - Oranga Tamariki against the recommendations in the report.

About Every Child Counts

Every Child Counts is a coalition of organisations working to improve the status and wellbeing of NZ children, driven by Barnardos, Plunket, UNICEF, Save the Children, and Mana Ririki.

© Scoop Media