The report was published of an independent review of the Children's Commissioner for England. It said that the Commissioner had had a significant impact on the lives of some children and young people: but that the overall impact had been 'disappointing'. This was in large part due to the limited remit set out in the 2004 legislation, and a 'failure to establish credibility' with the government and other policy-makers. It made recommendations designed to strengthen the remit, powers, and independence of the Commissioner – including merging it with the Children's Rights Director (part of the children's services/education inspectorate).
Source: John Dunford, Review of the Office of the Children's Commissioner (England), Cm 7981, Department for Education/TSO
Links: Report | Hansard | DE press release | ADCS press release | ASCL press release | Childrens Society press release | Christian Institute report | CRAE press release | NICCY press release | Unicef press release | Telegraph report | Children & Young People Now report | Community Care report
Date: 2010-Dec
An independent assessment was published of the coalition government's record on children's human rights. Significant progress had been reached on only 9 (8 per cent) of the United Nation's recommendations.
Source: State of Children's Rights in England 2010: Review of government action on United Nations' recommendations for strengthening children's rights in the UK, Children's Rights Alliance for England
Links: Report | Children & Young People Now report
Date: 2010-Nov
A report by a committee of the National Assembly for Wales endorsed, in principle, a measure proposed by the Welsh Government that was designed to compel ministers to have due regard to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child when implementing policy. But it said that ministers should have due regard to the Convention 'when exercising their functions' – rather than solely when making 'relevant decisions' of a 'strategic nature'.
Source: Proposed Rights of Children and Young Persons (Wales) Measure, Stage 1 Report Legislation Committee No 5/National Assembly for Wales
Links: Report | NAW press release
Date: 2010-Oct
An article examined the use of physical punishment in the home. Public/parental opinion was 'less than straightforward'. Parents were often ambivalent about physical discipline, did not view it as an optimal method of behaviour management, and were more prone to smack when stressed or angry. Nonetheless, many parents continued to smack despite the fact they did not believe it to be effective. Lack of parental support for legislative reform should be reconsidered in the light of this ambivalence. The smacking debate needed to be reframed in terms of children's rights.
Source: Lisa Bunting, Mary Anne Webb and Julie Healy, 'In two minds? Parental attitudes toward physical punishment in the UK', Children & Society, Volume 24 Number 5
Links: Abstract
Date: 2010-Oct
An article examined how the role of the Children's Commissioner for Wales should develop in the light of the enhanced legislative powers of the National Assembly for Wales under the Government of Wales Act 2006.
Source: Osian Rees, 'Devolution and the Children's Commissioner for Wales: challenges and opportunities', Contemporary Wales, Volume 23 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2010-Sep
The new coalition government announced that it had commissioned an independent and consultative review (led by John Dunford) of the office, role, and functions of the Children's Commissioner for England (the children's rights watchdog).
Source: Written Ministerial Statement 12 July 2010, columns 17-18WS, House of Commons Hansard/TSO
Links: Hansard
Date: 2010-Jul
The government responded to a report by a joint committee of MPs and peers on children's rights.
Source: Children's Rights: Government Response to the Committee's Twenty-fifth Report of Session 2008-09, Tenth Report (Session 2009-10), HL 65 and HC 400, Joint Select Committee on Human Rights/TSO
Date: 2010-Mar
The Children's Rights Director for England published a survey of children's views on their rights and responsibilities. The participants were children and young people living away from home, including those in children's homes, boarding schools, foster care, residential special schools, and further education colleges. The children identified two key rights that were absent from the Human Rights Act and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child: the right not be bullied, and the right to keep in touch with parents, grandparents, and siblings.
Source: Children on Rights and Responsibilities, HMI 090114, Children's Rights Director for England/Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills
Links: Report | OFSTED press release | Children & Young People Now report
Date: 2010-Mar
The Welsh Assembly Government began consultation on proposals to require it to have due regard to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in areas of its work.
Source: Proposals for a Rights of Children and Young Persons (Wales) Measure, Welsh Assembly Government
Links: Consultation document | BBC report
Date: 2010-Mar