Government must deliver on its commitment to Ireland’s children
October 12th, 2009
The National Youth Council is urging Government to deliver on their commitment to hold a referendum on children’s rights. Later this week (October 16th) members of the Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children will be delivering a final report to Government that holds the future of Ireland’s children in their hands.
“The delay in setting a date for the Children’s Referendum, despite a series of commitments in the past is of grave concern to NYCI and its member organisations. Currently, it is reported that there will be an emphasis on the issue of child protection, which is very important. However, the referendum needs to focus much more broadly on strengthening and protecting children’s rights, so that at long last, children will be visible in the Constitution, in their own right. We believe that a robust children’s rights amendment will ensure that children in Ireland will benefit in real and concrete ways.”
“The Irish Constitution reflects the values of Ireland as a society. Historically we’ve shown that Ireland hasn’t always valued its children but times have changed. We were all shocked and horrified by the findings of the Ryan Report, we now have an opportunity to show that every childhood counts and NYCI is urging the Committee to recommend a referendum that expresses constitutionally the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child,” stated Mary Cunningham, Director of the National Youth Council of Ireland.
“The amendment would allow the State to take proper account of children’s rights and needs, to put their best interests at the heart of decisions affecting children and to listen to the voice of the child. The current Constitution is failing to protect children and their rights. We’ve talked about doing something about it for more than 30 years. It’s time to stop talking and start taking action if we are to deliver on a vision of Ireland being one of the best places in the world to be a child,” concluded Ms Cunningham.
ENDS
For further information, please contact Clodagh O’Brien, Communications Officer at the NYCI on 087 781 4903 or 01 425 5955 or email communications@nyci.ie
Notes to Editors:
National Youth Council of Ireland
The National Youth Council of Ireland is a membership-led umbrella organisation that represents and supports the interests of 55 voluntary youth organisations and uses its collective experience to act on issues that impact on young people.