Make children’s rights a priority

THE issue of child protection and welfare has been glaringly absent throughout this 2011 general election campaign but the ISPCC has been unyielding in our insistence that parties and candidates be clear about their strategy for government with particular regard to children.

Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Labour, Sinn Féin and the Green Party have all said categorically that if elected to Government, within their first year of office they will action the following proposed fundamental developments in child protection:

* Hold a referendum to place children’s rights in the Constitution.

* Place “Children First” — the national guidelines for the protection and welfare of children — on a statutory footing.

* Develop a time defined implementation plan for the provision of 24 hour social work services for children and families in Ireland.

* Provide additional human resources to the Garda Vetting Unit in order to ensure that it can meet the demands being placed on it.

* Support, through funding, the provision of a missing children’s helpline; and ensure that all children in the care of the state have a social worker.

While these clear commitments from the parties certainly appear to be positive, the ISPCC is urging voters to engage with candidates to ensure that children’s rights and protection do not become lost in the barrage of economic and financial debate.

Ashley Balbirnie

Chief Executive

ISPCC

Dublin 2