Save the Children welcomes the Governments commitment to repeal Section 59 of the Crimes Act but emphasises that corporal punishment is just one of the concerns identified by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in its recent report.

The report outlines New Zealand’s compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, adopted by New Zealand in 1993.

Save the Children New Zealand’s Executive Director said today that the significant proportion of New Zealand children living in poverty and the lack of opportunities for children and young people to be heard, are also important issues identified by the Committee.

“These issues should not be overlooked. One in 3 New Zealand children live in relative poverty. Single parent families headed by women as well as Maori and Pacific Island families are disproportionately affected by poverty. This unacceptable situation requires urgent attention.

“The Convention states that children have a right to an opinion, to be listened to and taken seriously on all matters that affect their lives. This right should be taken into account in all administrative and judicial processes affecting children and young people.

“The Committee points out that at present, this right is not included in legislation and regulations. Save the Children urges the Government to change legislation so that children’s views are systematically heard."

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child is the world’s most widely ratified human rights treaty in history. The Government has a responsibility to comply with the Convention, said Mr Bowis.

“But the report indicates that we are also failing to ensure the well-being and safety of children, with high rates of infant mortality and injuries amongst children, and high rates of youth suicide, teenage pregnancy and alcohol abuse. Immunisation is not universal and our minimum age of criminal responsibility (10 years) is well below the internationally acceptable level.“

Every country that has adopted the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child must report to the UN Committee every five years. The report process enables the Government and civil society to assess New Zealand’s progress towards achieving the articles set out in the Convention.

Once the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child has reviewed the report, it provides observations on the country’s achievements, comments on its main areas of concern, and makes recommendations that will help the country implement the Convention.

ENDS

For more information contact Save the Children on 04 385 6847.