The British Humanist Association (BHA) has welcomed the introduction of Baroness Walmsley’s ‘Children’s Rights Bill’ into the House of Lords. If passed, the Bill would make the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child part of UK law.
Twenty years ago the UN adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the UK ratified the Convention in 1991 making it legally binding on the UK Government. Bringing the Convention into UK national law would mean that the Government would have to act in the best interests of the child in all policy and practice and new laws would be ‘children’s rights’ proofed.
Naomi Phillips, BHA Public Affairs Officer, commented, ‘As members of the Rights of the Child UK coalition, the BHA fully supports this Bill. We believe that this Bill, if it became law, would help to promote the importance and legitimacy of the human rights of all young people, and help to secure those rights for all, including the most vulnerable children and young people in society.’
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For further comment or information, contact Naomi Phillips on 020 7079 3585.
More information about the BHA’s work on human rights.
More information about Private Members’ Bills.
The coalition, Rights of the Child UK (ROCK), was started by the Children’s Rights Alliance for England. For more information, see www.crae.org.uk/protecting/uk-law.html
The British Humanist Association (BHA) is the national charity representing the interests of the large and growing population of ethically concerned, non-religious people living in the UK. The BHA is deeply committed to human rights and advocates an open and inclusive society in which individual freedom of belief and speech are supported by a policy of disinterested impartiality on the part of the government and official bodies towards the many groups within society so long as they conform to the minimum conventions of the society.