United Nations, Open Meetings and Merlin 15th May 2015
Dear All More news... United Nations “See it, Say it, Change it” In 1991 the UK government made a promise to the United Nations (UN) that it would make sure children have their rights by agreeing to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). The CRC gives children over 40 major rights including the right to have a say in decisions; the right to be safe and free from violence; the right to stay in touch with the people who are important and the right to play and take part in activities. CRAE’s (The Children’s Rights Alliance) “See It, Say It, Change It” project will help children and young people tell the UN their side of the story, and campaign for things to change. This year the UN wants to hear about what life is really like for different groups of children and young people living in England and whether their rights are being met. One (disabled) young person in Richmond Borough is involved in the CRAE steering group and has been tasked with helping the group with its research and has chosen to focus particularly on the views of disabled children and young people. We are sending the link to this survey out on her behalf and on behalf of CRAE. Please could you ask your child or young person to complete the form if they would like their views on their rights to be heard- it is fine to help them with it if they need it - but it is for children and young people to complete not their parents. The deadline for the survey is Friday 22 May. The link to the survey is here https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Seeitsayit CRAE will take all the information they receive from this survey and write a report, which they will give to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in July 2015. What they tell the UN will put pressure on the Government to make things better for children and young people in England. You can read more about CRAE's “See It, Say It, Change it” project and children’s rights here The Young Champions are making films The Richmond and Kingston Young Champions (coordinated by Tom Quilter (tom.quilter@achievingforchildren.org.uk) are conducting an extended consultation among young people and children in 6 schools to get their thoughts on the Local Offer and how it could be improved. They are aiming to get input from around 350 children and young people through this process. The Young Champions are also aiming to make a series of videos over the half term holiday that will be available through the Young People’s Zone on the Local Offer website to help explain aspects of the SEND reforms. The topics they are planning to cover are: