What is the UN Convention on the Right's of the Child, and what does it mean in a New Zealand context?

This post explores the background of the United Nations Convention On the Rights of the Child (UNCROC), and what this means in a New Zealand context.

 What is the Convention On the Right's of the Child?

According to Reid (2006), UNCROC was adopted by the United Nations (UN) on the 20th of  November, 1989 and came into effect in September, 1990 as the 20th State, but not the last, submitted their "instrument of ratification" (Reid, 2006, p. 115). To give instrument of ratification in an instance such as this means to confirm individual State understandings of the impact that the Convention would have on any future laws, policies, or legislation to be passed and subsequently accept the obligations that come with the Convention.

With three parts and 54 articles, the Convention specifically outlines the rights of the child and explains state ratification terms and obligations.

Interestingly, UNCROC was the first treaty of human rights to be passed which included rights of choice and empowerment (Reid, 2006). Subsequently, children were not only more protected from all forms of abuse and neglect, they were also given the power to become agents of change and I feel that this video clip effectively demonstrates this.

The Convention has received worldwide support and active implementation, with only two states, namely America and Somalia, opting not to give ratification (Muscroft 1996). According to Muscroft (1999), throughout the 1990's worldwide advocacy  for children's rights movement occurred effecting the way in which the we view and treat our children. 

This worldwide children's right's movement supported:

• the establishment of independent and government funded organizations and groups dedicated to uphold children's right's, 
• children becoming increasingly visible through changing perceptions of a global society 
• and a growing awareness of children's right's.

These positive changes and developments have been embraced in both developed and less developed countries. According to Muscroft (1999), although the challenge to educate and advocate children's right's continues, "the Convention has developed a global sense of responsibility and commitment that transcends many of the traditional barriers" (Muscroft, 1999, p. 26) and continues to support children's holistic well being worldwide. 

 

A New Zealand Context:

  Past and present government agencies such as the Children's Commissioner and the Ministry of Youth Affairs (MYA), claim to advocate for children's rights in New Zealand. Some suggest a political agenda behind these claims, deeply entrenching children's rights in New Zealand's in politics and policy making (Reid, 2006). 

Therefore, it can be argued that through claiming to advocate for children, these agencies have made children into a political commodity. 

One non-government agency, Action for Children and Youth Aotearoa (ACYA) actively promotes and advocates children's rights in Aotearoa with more emphasis on the rights of the child rather than on a possible political gain. This is visible on the ACYCA website which contains relevant, comprehensive information for children, parents, caregivers, ngaa whanau and teachers.

In the previous post it was acknowledged that the full periodical report on the rights of the child in New Zealand was released to the media in January 2011. With further investigation I have found that this release of documentation was in fact a media interpretation of the discussions preceding the release of the formal report. The formal report was available for public viewing on the ACYA website from the 7th February, 2011. On the 7th of February 2011, the Committee for the UNCROC released their full 3rd and 4th periodical report of the  concluding observations outlining the way in which the New Zealand government advocates and upholds children's rights in New Zealand.

This report recommends that the State:

• provide more comprehensive training for childcare professionals

• raise public and professional (early childhood) awareness of the Convention,

• take action to promote the views of the child as being valuable to families, education (early childhood) settings and communities,

• prioritize the elimination of violence toward children in all settings (including early childhood),

• that all children have access to quality early childhood education and care and that this care and education should at least be completely free for disadvantaged families,

• strengthen the education of professionals working with children regarding identification and support of abuse victims. This is strongly supported by Kiro and Duncanson (2006) who have identified that New Zealand has an alarmingly high mortality rate due to physical abuse and/or neglect.

The recommendations made by the Committee of UNCROC are intended to increase the safety and welfare of our nations children, and due to New Zealand's ratification of the Convention in 1993, the New Zealand government is obliged to work towards fulfilling these recommendations (Action for Children and Youth Aotearoa Incorperated, 2011; Reid, 2006).

The information found in this post makes me wonder, is our government truly taking an active initiative to protect the young children, infants and toddlers of our nation? 

  Also, what is been done to advocate for infants, toddlers and young children's rights in the early childhood setting? 

Until next time.

Breathe easy, 

Mel.