Children’s rights under threat in Aotearoa
CRAANZ is extremely concerned about the rapidly deteriorating situation for children’s rights in Aotearoa. Let’s work together to coordinate on our children’s rights responses.
Under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989, our new Government inherits a long-standing commitment to continuously improve its laws, policies, programmes and investments to improve the situation for all children in Aotearoa. The Government’s obligations under this Convention are a practical guide for governments to make life better for children, to respect children as people and to stop harm from happening to them now and in the future. They are a strong statement that children and young people are important.
Under the Convention, childhood is protected and needs special consideration. It is poor governance to make major changes that will have a detrimental impact on children. The Government therefore has a duty to hear the views of children and to support whānau in the important role of caring for children.
There is a challenging array of non-child-centred policy development at present and multiple rights issues that require the Government’s attention, alongside effective public consultation and adequate timeframes. We are concerned that an absence of proper attention and due process also reflects poor governance for children. Many of our members and others are working hard to address these concerns, including, but not limited to:
Te Tīriti o Waitangi obligations and the rights of Indigenous children to their identity, culture and language, and the right to non-discrimination in all settings. CRAANZ is concerned about the abolition of Te Aka Whai Ora and the disregard shown to te Tīriti and the Waitangi Tribunal process. We welcome the news that an urgent Waitangi tribunal inquiry is underway regarding the proposed repeal of Section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 and that the Government permits this Inquiry to be completed and acted upon.
Ka Ora Ka Ako/Food in Schools. Aotearoa has had a long history of childhood hunger and food insecurity that the Government wishes to improve. This programme meets a basic right, and a universal school lunch is standard practice in many countries around the world. CRAANZ supports the Health Coalition Aotearoa and Action Station’s petition to save school lunches.
Fast-track Approvals Bill closing date for submissions this Friday, 19 April 2024. Rapid de-carbonisation and the protection of ecosystems and native species are of vital importance to children and future generations. This Bill’s objectives overlook future risk for decades. It is at odds with children’s rights, and importantly, the Government’s obligation to consider the views of children. The UN recently released guidance for governments specifically regarding the environment, climate change, and intergenerational equity – see General Comment 26.
There's just a few days left for submissions on the Fast Track Approvals Bill, and if you haven't already made a submission, there are a few great templates out there:
this one from UNICEF Aotearoa aimed at young people, but anyone can use it
The Ram Raid Bill aims to make 12 and 13 year olds involved in ram raids criminally responsible and subject to up to 10 years imprisonment and life-long criminal records. This bill is out of step with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, and fails to address the root causes that contribute to children causing harm in our communities. A collective advocacy group has been set up in opposition to this Bill, with ongoing advocacy planned in the Children in Conflict with the Law space. Learn more about the group and join it here, sign the open letter here, and read more in their joint submission here.
Rapid and widespread public sector cuts across numerous policies, services and programmes that will have a major impact on children and/or their whānau, especially those who already face additional challenges and for whom the system does not currently work well. We are especially concerned about any cuts in evidence-based policy development and in service availability or quality, including at Whaikaha and Oranga Tamariki and in the Ministry for Pacific Peoples.
Loss of funding for the Growing up in New Zealand longitudinal study and the Living in Aotearoa survey (measuring persistent poverty). See the Chief Children’s Commissioners comments here.
Loss of funding for free public transport for children and half-price fares for under-25s.
Boot camps limit the rights of the children, punishing many who have done no wrong – read Prof Elizabeth Stanley’s article here.
We support the ongoing work to restore our world-leading smokefree generation laws and were a signatory to the Health Coalition Aotearoa letter calling that repeal immoral.
Weakened gun control laws will put children at more risk of harm and death.
Proposed deregulation of ECE puts commercial interests ahead of children’s health, safety, and wellbeing and puts at risk much needed improvements in the quality of ECE services.
More welfare sanctions will increase pressures on whānau and increase child poverty. See the body of evidence from the Welfare Expert Advisory Group on how the application of sanctions in Aotearoa is so problematic and see Child Poverty Action Group for more information on getting involved.
Our Alliance would like to see the Government prioritise the best interests of children and future generations in decision-making and involve children, whānau, and communities in the decision-making process.
Please get in touch if CRAANZ can support your advocacy or give advice on specific children’s rights obligations that the Government has a duty to honour. Please take 10 minutes to complete our survey here to help us coordinate on our children's rights responses.