20 years ago the UK signed up to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. In that time, some great advances have been made. However, many children still don’t receive the support and protection they need. The NSPCC has launched its All babies count campaign because babies are particularly vulnerable. Here we highlight the key developments in policy and services for babies in the last 20 years which have led to improvements in their outcomes and better protection of their rights.
11
20 years ago the UK signed up to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. In that time, some great advances have been made. However, many children still don’t receive the support and protection they need. The NSPCC has launched its All babies count campaign because babies are particularly vulnerable. Here we highlight the key developments in policy and services for babies in the last 20 years which have led to improvements in their outcomes and better protection of their rights. NSPCC registered charity numbers 216401 and SC037717. All content is either owned by NSPCC, cleared by the copyright owner for our use, where known. 20 years of babies’ rights
Transcript
20 years ago the UK signed up to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. In that time, some great advances have been made. However, many children still don’t receive the support and protection they need. The NSPCC has launched its All babies count campaign because babies are particularly vulnerable. Here we highlight the key developments in policy and services for babies in the last 20 years which have led to improvements in their outcomes and better protection of their rights.
NSPCC registered charity numbers 216401 and SC037717.All content is either owned by NSPCC, cleared by the copyright owner for our use, where known.
20 years of babies’ rights
Britain signs up to the first worldwide treaty of human rights for children. The Convention sets out, among others, the child’s right to freedom of expression, protection from all forms of abuse, privacy and the right to a family life. Just two countries have failed to ratify the Convention: Somalia and the US.
In an office at UNHQ, (left-right) UNICEF Executive Director James Grant, boy scout Brian, Under-Secretary-General Jan Martensen, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Audrey Hepburn and boy scout Michael make a collective telephone call to children at UN offices in Geneva, Switzerland, to announce the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child that day. On receiving the news, the children in Geneva held a torch-lit procession through the city streets.
UK government ratifies the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
‘Baby-friendly’ hospitals and healthcare services must meet standards that cover the support, encouragement and information given to new mums about breast feeding. A survey in 2000 showed that ‘baby-friendly’ hospitals had increased breast-feeding rates by 10 per cent in four years.
UNICEF baby-friendly initiative launched in the UK
1994
With
kin
d p
erm
issi
on o
f Uni
vers
ity o
f Gre
enw
ich.
Initially developed in areas of high deprivation, Sure Start children’s centres combine childcare, early education, health and other children’s services with the aim of improving outcomes for children and families. In 2010, there were 3,600 centres throughout England, although numbers have recently fallen due to cuts in funding.
Sure Start launches in England
1998
A B
aby
Sig
ning
Les
son
at D
over
s G
reen
Chi
ldre
n’s
Cen
tre
in S
urre
y.
The Commissioner is responsible for protecting children’s rights, raising awareness of children’s rights and ensuring children’s voices are heard. In 2011, Wales continued to lead on children’s rights: becoming the first UK country to fully incorporate the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child into domestic law.
Wales appoints the UK’s first Children’s Commissioner
2001P
eter
Cla
rk w
ho w
as C
hild
ren’
s C
omm
issi
oner
in W
ales
from
200
1 un
til h
is d
eath
in
200
7. P
hoto
grap
h co
urte
sy o
f the
Chi
ldre
n’s
Com
mis
sion
er fo
r W
ales
.
This was the first time fathers had legally been entitled to paid leave to support their partners and bond with their babies. In 2011, the government went further, passing a law allowing fathers to take up to 26 weeks’ leave to care for their child once the mother returned to work.
Fathers receive two weeks’ paid paternity leave
2003
This landmark legislation ushered in the Every Child Matters agenda, with the sole purpose of improving outcomes for all children. Directors of children services were established in each local authority, the role of Children’s Commissioner was created in England and Local Safeguarding Children’s Boards were introduced.
The Children’s Act passed in England and Wales
2004
This ruling makes it an offence to prevent, or stop, a mother from breastfeeding their child in public.
Breastfeeding Act passed in Scotland
2005Im
age
by
kora
tmem
ber
.w
ww
.free
dig
italp
hoto
s.ne
t/im
ages
/vie
w_p
hoto
g.p
hp?p
hoto
gid
=
A stark reminder of the vulnerability of babies and the role we all play in protecting them. Peter’s mother, her boyfriend and his brother were all convicted of causing or allowing the death of a child. But children’s services and health professionals were also held to account – they had repeated contact with Peter but failed to spot the warning signs.
Baby Peter Connelly dies
2007
The Healthy Child Programme sets out the health services and support that children and their families should receive from birth. This includes screening, immunisations, reviews of a child’s development and support around a child’s wellbeing. The programme places significant emphasis on providing support for parents and the early identification of need.
Healthy Child Programme launched in England
2009W
ith k
ind
per
mis
sion
of N
HS
Nor
tham
pto
nshi
re
20 years after the UK ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, babies remain at risk. On average, one baby is killed every two weeks in the UK. Many more are at risk of abuse and neglect. The NSPCC believes all babies count and is calling on the government to do more for those who need it most. Back our campaign at www.nspcc.org.uk/allbabiescount
