UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (Hansard, 29 May 2002)

§ Lord Paul
asked Her Majesty's Government:
What steps they are taking to implement the commitments made by the United Kingdom at the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on Children and reflected in the outcome document A World fit for Children.

§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Amos)
My Lords, the Government strongly support the Special Session commitments on the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Domestically, we shall ensure that we continue to take account of our obligations under the convention when developing policies and services for children and young people. Internationally, we shall continue to focus our assistance on the achievement of the millennium development goals and in support of country-owned poverty reduction strategies.

§ Lord Paul
My Lords, I thank my noble friend the Minister for that encouraging Answer. Is the outcome of the UN General Assembly Special Session likely to be a commitment to ensure better education for both girls and boys? I commend the UK Government for launching the Commonwealth Education Fund. How will the fund be distributed and how will the Government ensure that girls in particular are helped?

§ Baroness Amos
My Lords, the Commonwealth Education Fund was launched earlier this year. We are committed to the achievement of the millennium development goals in education, which include gender equality. The fund will be distributed through NGOs. A key part of the fund will be to ensure that girls have equal access to education.

§ Lord Avebury
My Lords, while welcoming the Government's commitment to the outcome document, A World fit for Children, and the statement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in New York, even though there were not any figures attached to it, does the Minister agree that, whereas some of the commitments in the declaration—to health, education and so on—demand enormous resources, others demand acts of political will, such as the injunction for all states to sign up to the declaration on the rights of the child and the optional protocols dealing with 1347 matters such as child prostitution? Will the Government use all their endeavours to persuade other Commonwealth partners to sign up to the convention and protocols? In the case of child soldiers, does the Minister agree that we have acquired particular expertise through our experience in Sierra Leone which might be made available to other members?

§ Baroness Amos
My Lords, I agree with the noble Lord, Lord Avebury, that some elements of the outcome of UNGASS require political will rather than resources. We do everything that we can to encourage other governments to sign up to the declaration. As to the optional protocol, we have signed the optional protocol ourselves and are encouraging other governments to do so. Where we can use our expertise, we will.

§ Lord Hylton
My Lords, does the Minister agree that the children most at risk overseas are street children, whether or not they happen to be fully homeless, and children in danger of sexual exploitation, very often because of the poverty of their families? Does she further agree that these are not matters about which the United Nations, by itself, can do a great deal, but are dependent on the efforts of individual states? Can that message be urged very strongly?

§ Baroness Amos
My Lords, all would agree that the plight of street children and the situation regarding the sexual exploitation of children are very grave indeed, and that international measures are needed to deal with the problems. The Government have signed the new convention against trans-national crime, which includes a protocol on the trafficking of women and children, and we are working directly with NGOs and governments to address this problem. For example, we are providing a £2.9 million project covering parts of Cambodia, China, Thailand and Vietnam. We shall do all that we can to ensure that individual governments take seriously their responsibilities in this area.

§ Lord Dholakia
My Lords, will the Minister comment on the Government's plan to disperse over 3,000 refugee children across the country for the purpose of care? Does the plan meet the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and our commitment as regards the document, A World Fit for Children?

§ Baroness Amos
My Lords, what we are trying to ensure in regard to refugee children—whether in the United Kingdom or elsewhere—is global consideration of such matters. For example, the issue of refugee children is being discussed as part of the UNHCR global consultation. We want to ensure that the plight of refugee children is taken on board. That is a key component of our policy. This is an area in 1348 which the Home Office leads, but I know that it is concerned that refugee children have, for example, adequate access to education and other services.

§ Lord Elton
My Lords, recognising the duty that we have to our own children, should we not be attempting to reduce the large proportion or children in this country who are being drawn into crime, and to prevent it by the most effective means—which is often voluntary agencies, particularly in areas such as Liverpool, where I see today there is a plan to withdraw such help?

§ Baroness Amos
My Lords, I am unable to comment specifically on the programme in Liverpool to which the noble Lord refers. He will know that a key part of the Government's crime prevention strategy is to tackle child crime. We are examining these matters across the board. We have initiatives not only within the Home Office but also within the Department for Education and Skills. We see this as an issue that needs to be addressed across government. It is not simply a matter of criminal activity, but of activity that affects other areas as well.