Let this be the year we put children first

IRELAND should be one of the best places in the world to be a child, but the 1937 constitution is a major stumbling block.

It was written at a time when children were “seen and not heard” and corporal punishment was the norm at school. Times have changed. Ireland has since ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and we understand all too well the importance of respecting children’s rights.

Irish society today, on the whole, values children and childhood. We now need a constitution that cherishes all children in the state equally. Change is also needed to overcome obstacles in our childcare, protection and adoption systems. Rather than waiting for families to fail, the state should be sufficiently empowered to act in a proportionate and timely manner to support families to fulfil their duty towards their children.

In 2009, we were shocked to our very core by the personal stories of broken childhoods. One glimmer of hope for children and their families in the budget was the commitment to hold a referendum in 2010.

Let’s make it a year to remember when we show we understand the lessons of the past and ensure our constitution makes children visible, heard, protected and respected.

Jillian van Turnhout

Children’s Rights Alliance

Upper Mount Street

Dublin 2