UNICEF open letter calls for better protection for children

The UNICEF UK Youth Advisory Board, which represents children and young people across the UK, have written an open letter to the Government calling for three key asks.

Firstly, they call on the Government to make a dedicated direct address to the nation’s children and young people to acknowledge the enormous impact this crisis is having and listen to them about how it is affecting their lives. They additionally ask for the appointment of a Special Envoy for Children, reporting directly to the Prime Minister, who leads an emergency Children’s Taskforce to effectively coordinate across Government departments, service providers, local authorities to ensure children are reached and supported.Lastly, they call for the Government to create a Comprehensive Children’s Recovery Plan which sets out the necessary actions and provides ringfenced resources for schools, local authorities and children’s service providers.

This week, on Monday there was a House of Lords debate on Family Policy whereby Labour Peer Lord Watson of Invergowrie said: “many Parliamentarians have today added their names to a letter from UNICEF UK to the Prime Minister, calling for the reinstatement of the Minister for Children and Families with the right to attend Cabinet, and urging him to deliver a national address directed to children and families to set out his vision of what building back Britain means for them.”

You can read the open letter here.