Young people to have their say as committee looks at new law to protect the rights of the child
28 June 2010
Let your voices be heard – that’s the message to young people from the National Assembly’s Legislation Committee No.5 as they begin the consultation process on the proposed Rights of Children and Young Persons Measure.
This proposed new law will for the first time compel the Welsh Government to have due regard to the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child(UNCRC) in any strategic policy that concerns children and young people.
Committee Chair Mark Isherwood AM is meeting students at Alun School, in Mold, this afternoon (28 June – see diary note below) in a bid to kick-start the consultation process with young people.
Under the legislation, Welsh Ministers would also have a duty to prepare a Children’s Scheme which would list those strategic areas where the UNCRC will apply.
“This is a Government Proposed Measure which recognises that the rights of children and young people have to be central when Government is making policy,” said Committee Chair Mark Isherwood AM.
“It’s all about putting the rights of young people in Wales at the top of the agenda to ensure that everyone in Wales is getting equal access to public services.
“That’s why this committee wants to put young people at the centre of the scrutiny process of this new law.
“So our message today is come and have your say, after all this is a new law for young people so young people should help form it.”
As well as imposing a duty on Welsh Ministers to pay due regard to the UNCRC it also makes provision about:
- the preparation of a Children’s Scheme to identify strategic areas where UNCRC will apply,
- the Welsh Government being required to report about its compliance with the duty,
- promoting knowledge and understanding of UNCRC
- amending legislation to give further or better effect to the UNCRC,
- consultation on the possible application of the proposed Measure to persons who have reached 18 but are not yet 25.
As the proposed Measure affects children and young people, Legislation Committee No. 5 would also like to here their views and they can get involved by completing the online questionnaire.
A word version of the consultation letter and the questionnaire is available upon request. Please contact the Legislation Office (legislationoffice@Wales.gov.uk) if you require one.