CHILDREN

Safeguarding the Wellbeing of Children and Young People

[Name of the Institute]

Safeguarding the Wellbeing of Children and Young People

TASK 1: Current Situation and Policies

How Far does the UK meet the human rights of children? That is the question that Parliament's Joint Committee on Human Rights has been asking and has found a number of areas where this country comes up short. The committee has scrutinized the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the UN's recent comments on further steps the UK should take to comply with the convention.

Main problems faced by children in UK

Over 20% of children, under 18 years of age, live below the poverty line in the UK. This is especially true of young people from immigrant or minority groups.

It is estimated, for example, between 5 and 10% of girls are victims of sexual abuse against less than 5% for boys.

Despite the presence of equipment and personal quality healthcare in this country, some health indices are still too high. Indeed, an estimated 6% of babies are underweight at birth.

The UK is not immune to the trafficking of children. Generally girls are victims of this problem. They are forced to work for men and subjected to daily violence and forced sex.

Since the adoption of legislation in 2003, FGM is considered offensive, punishable by imprisonment for 14 years (Cleaver, Cawson, Gorin, Walker, 2009, pp. 131-138).

Rights, Autonomy and Advocacy of Children and Young People

Children's Act (1989)

The Act incorporated the Gillick principle and was heralded as a breakthrough for children's rights. However, s100 (3) gives the Court authority over the child if there is a question over their consent or if parents and doctors disagree.

Education Act (1996)

The Act requires local authorities, leisure and extracurricular learning opportunities (youth services) to make ready for the youth.

Sexual Offences Act (2000/2002) 

The Sexual Offences Act of 2000 is similar to the statutory provisions for sexual activities of heterosexual and homosexual persons. For both groups, sexual acts are now allowed from the age of 16. 

Children Act (2004) 

With the Children Act of 2004, a new framework for youth policy in England was created on the welfare of children and adolescents up to 19 Age are aligned. The Children Act 2004 laid the foundation for fundamental changes in the field of youth services and had to implement new, binding structures at all levels to follow. These include the creation of local, cross-agency administrative offices, new testing requirements for all state support and an integrated approach to staff training / youth workers (Stafford, 2005, pp. 89-95).

Education and Inspections Act (2006) 

This Act requires local authorities, all 13 - to 19-year-olds to ensure access to so-called positive educational and recreational activities, and appropriate facilities. In addition, local authorities must take into account the views of young people in decisions that affect these activities and facilities.

TASK 2: Partners and Organizations

Child protection in UK is highly dignified task and responsibility of the authorities. However, there are a number of issues still present in our society and there is a need to take effective measure for the protection of children rights. A concept of child cantered approach has been emerged in recent times, which highlights the importance of quality ...