The BHA has contributed to a major review of children’s rights in England.
Each year the Children’s Rights Alliance for England (CRAE) produces its State of Children’s Rights in England report, a detailed analysis of government progress in complying with the Convention on the Rights of the Child over the last year. CRAE called upon organisations working in the field of human rights to contribute information they felt relevant to establishing the extent of government progress on children’s rights over the last year.
The BHA contributed an analysis of recent government guidance, policy initiatives and legal judgements related to three key areas: religious discrimination in ‘faith schools’, Sex and Relationships Education and Religious Education. The BHA found that, while progress has been made in the last year, these advances need to be reflected in statutory provisions. The BHA’s contribution also warned that the coalition government’s education reforms may significantly weaken the protection of children’s rights.
BHA faith schools and education campaigns officer James Gray said:
‘We work through our campaigns and with other organisations, including children’s rights organisations and those directly representing young people, to secure robust legal protections for children’s rights not least in the field of education. There are a number of key human rights issues in education and we have concerns that some education reforms of the previous and present governments may in effect have a deleterious effect on children’s freedom of expression and belief. All organisations working to protect children’s rights must be especially vigilant at this time of fundamental change in the school system.’
Notes
For further comment or information, contact James Gray on 020 7462 4993.
Read the BHA’s submission to the State of children’s rights in England report