SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN SAFEGUARDS SOCIETY
For more information please go to the website for the Association of Lawyers for Children:
http://www.alc.org.uk
I am currently employed a solicitor-advocate in London. I primarily represent children and parents in care proceedings. Being a dual qualified US/UK lawyer I have had the opportunity to practice in the child care/dependency field in both jurisdictions.
I intend to use my hour on the plinth to voice some comments and concerns of advocates who work in the child care legal arena in respect of children. I also plan to read out the Ten Imperatives for Children from the 'Say YES to Children' campaign (listed below) by UNICEF, United Nations. In addition, I shall juggle, play digeridoo, and swing poi.
Please find below a comment from Barbara Hopkin of Hopkin Murray Beskine:
The family justice system needs protecting in order to ensure that all children have the best chance of a happy and fulfilled life. Adequate legal aid funding should be available so that experienced and dedicated lawyers can be retained to represent children and fight for the best outcome for children in court.
Large numbers of firms have had to stop carrying out legal aid work due to the years without any increase in pay, time-consuming and unpaid bureaucracy, and uncertainty about the future. Children’s guardians are not being appointed in cases for weeks and months because of a large backlog of cases. Government money is being spent paying for experienced guardians to fill in forms rather than working with children who are waiting in the court system.
The UK is in breach of its commitment to respect the rights of children without proper independent representation for children. Noone is policing the massive over bureaucratisation of CAFCASS where there is not enough money to appoint new guardians to tackle the backlog of cases. However there is enough to offer a salary of £100,000 for managing only a part of London.
The issue of publicity for children cases is very concerning for children involved in family breakdown. The last thing they want is for their private life to be reported in their local press. Even without names disclosed schoolfriends will be able to guess who is described and they are vulnerable to, at the least, embarrassment, and even mocking, bullying and aggressive behaviour from peers and neighbours.
The consultation was unanimous from children and organisations dealing with children that publicity is a very unwelcome and damaging change. Research from other countries showed that any benefits were unproven.
Why should children have to face further trauma when they are already having to deal with family break up or being removed from their families?
PROTECT THE CHILDREN. SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN SAFEGUARDS SOCIETY.
For more information please go to www.alc.org.uk.
THE TEN IMPERATIVES FOR CHILDREN - UNICEF - UNITED NATIONS:
1. Leave No Child Out
All forms of discrimination and exclusion against children must end.
2. Put Children First
It is the responsibility of everyone – governments, individuals, non-governmental organizations, religious groups, the private sector and children and adolescents themselves – to ensure that children's rights are respected.
3. Care for Every Child
Ensure all children the best possible start in life.
4. Fight HIV/AIDS
Protect children and adolescents and their families.
5. Stop Harming and Exploiting Children
Violence and abuse must be stopped now. And the sexual and economic exploitation of children must end.
6. LISTEN TO CHILDREN
RESPECT THE RIGHTS OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES AND TO PARTICIPATE IN MAKING DECISIONS THAT AFFECT THEM.
7. Educate Every Child
Every child – all girls and boys – must be allowed to learn.
8. Protect Children from War
No child should experience the horrors of armed conflict.
9. Protect the Earth for Children
Safeguard the environment at global, national and local levels.
10. Fight Poverty
Invest in Children Invest in services that benefit the poorest children and their families, such as basic health care and primary education. Make the well-being of children a priority objective of debt relief programmes, development assistance and government spending.
For more information, please go to: www.unicef.org/say_yes/imperatives.htm
To contact me: vyvymail@yahoo.com
