Campaigning for a strong, inclusive and enforceable Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland that offers maximum rights protections to children and young people

Children's Law Centre, along with Save the Children, convenes a Bill of Rights Group for the Children and Young People's Sector. The group was established in autumn 2002 to advocate for the inclusion of the maximum rights protections for children and young people in the Bill of Rights. Such protection is needed because:

• Children's rights are not adequately protected by existing law. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child is not directly enforceable in Northern Ireland and the Human Rights Act contains few rights specific to children and young people

• Children and young people make up over a quarter of the population and as the most vulnerable members of society they have been particularly adversely affected by the conflict and violence

• Securing a better future for children and young people growing up in Northern Ireland goes to the heart of any peace building process. The guaranteeing of protection of and respect for children's rights are essential elements in securing a better future for them.

Who is involved in the group?

It has a membership of 20 organisations ( click to view membership list) drawn from children's organisations, young people's organisations, Traveller groups, disability groups and other community and voluntary organisations. The group works closely with the Human Rights Consortium, a coalition of over 100 non-governmental organisations, community groups and trade unions campaigning to secure a strong and inclusive Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland .

What does the group do?

The group has been very active in campaigning for the inclusion of the maximum children and young people's rights protections in the Bill of Rights.

It has drawn up a Statement of Support (link ) for the drafting of a strong, inclusive, effective and enforceable Bill of Rights for all communities by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and in particular for the inclusion of the maximum children's rights protections in this Bill of Rights.

The statement provides reasons why such protections are needed. It also outlines how children's rights can best be protected in the Bill of Rights by the provision of a separate chapter containing their rights, coupled with references to their rights throughout the other chapters of the Bill where appropriate.

To date almost 200 organisations, representing 18,000 people from right across Northern Ireland have signed this statement of support ( click to view a list of organisations ).

One of the most remarkable aspects of this huge list of supporters of children's rights is the diversity of organisations represented. It includes organisations from Dundonald to Dungiven and from Carrickfergus to Carrickmore. It includes organisations who work directly with children and young people such as the Northern Ireland Pre-School Play Association and Girlguiding Ulster to those who don't : Age Concern NI, Mother's Unioin and the Police Federation of Northern Ireland. It includes community based organisations and organisations working with specific groups of people such as Disability Action, Mencap and the Belfast Travellers Education and Development Group.

Pay the Bill – You owe it to us Event

The Statement of Support was presented to Professor Brice Dickson , Chief Commissioner , Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission at an extremely successful event held in the Linenhall Library on 20 August 2003 . The event was attended by members of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, the DUP, SDLP, Sinn Fein, Alliance , Women's Coaliton , the PUP, and over 100 members of children's organisations, young people's organisations and other non-governmental organisations. It was chaired by Carolyn Stewart DJ with Cool FM and long time supporter of children and young people's rights in the Bill of Rights. Copies of the Statement of Support and the list of signatories were also given to all of the political parties present. Speakers at the event included Mr. Ross McCrea Children and Young People's Sector Bill of Rights Group, Ms. Sheri Chamberlain Director Save the Children, Michael Leathem and Roisin Bradley youth@clc. (Click for press release, text of speeches, photos)

Meetings with political parties

The group has met with all of the political parties since the beginning of 2003 and has used the meetings to outline the key requirements from a children's rights perspective in the Bill of Rights. It has also drafted a briefing note for political parties ( click to view ). Following the presentation of the Statement of Support to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission in August 2003 the group intends to hold further meetings with political parties to encourage them to clearly recognise and promote the need for the maximum children and young people's rights protections in the Bill of Rights.

Resources

The group has produced two separate briefing papers: one for the NGO sector ( click to view) and one for young people ( click to view).