General News
Anniversary calls for new national Childrenโs Commissioner
Todayโs 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) is the perfect time to revisit the idea of establishing a national Childrenโs Commissioner, President of the Australian Human Rights Commission Cathy Branson QC, said today.
Ms Branson said a national Childrenโs Commissioner would be an important step Australia could take towards improving the protection of childrenโs rights.
โThe Convention on the Rights of the Child is one of the worldโs most important human rights treaties, and the most widely ratified treaty in the history of the United Nations,โ Ms Branson said.
โThe 20th anniversary today is a cause to celebrate the achievements of the Convention as a global milestone in the recognition that human rights are childrenโs rights. However, we cannot afford to be complacent.โ
Ms Branson said the need for a national Childrenโs Commissioner seemed to be reinforced by the events of this week, which have included the Prime Ministerโs apology to the Forgotten Children and former child migrants, and the release of figures showing an almost 40 per cent increase in numbers of children reported as victims of child abuse over the last three years.
โThe right to an adequate standard of living, the right to health care, the right to education, or the right to protection from violence might seem to be a given in 21st Century Australia. But we know from recent experience that these rights are still not enjoyed by many children and young people in Australia today,โ Ms Branson said.
Ms Branson said there was no better time to act than now, given the first National Framework for Protecting Australiaโs Children endorsed by the Council of Australian Governments in April this year.
โWe, as a nation, must take positive measures to promote the safety and well-being of our children,โ Ms Branson said.
โEstablishing a national Childrenโs Commissioner would be a significant step we could take immediately.
โWhile there are Childrenโs Commissioners and Guardians set up in each of the states and territories, there is no one dedicated to ensuring a comprehensive approach to protecting childrenโs rights across Australia, or to advocating for the rights of children who fall through the gaps, such as children in immigration detention.
โNow, almost 20 years after we ratified this ground-breaking document, it is time to put in place mechanisms to protect the rights and well-being of all our children.โ
Email from: Maria Karagiozakis
Additional Information
Country: Australia
Website: http://www.humanrights.gov.au/about/media/media_releases/2009/114_09.html
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When: 23/11/2009
