Commenting on Universal Children’s Day, Mor Dioum, Director of VCF said:

“As we mark Universal Children’s Day 2010 on 20 November, it will come as no surprise that celebrations this year are somewhat muted.

The adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989 signalled a new beginning in the way in which we work towards the better recognition, and protection of, children.

Although the UK has ratified the Convention, it is not yet incorporated into domestic law – a missed opportunity to ensure that the principles of the Convention are taken into account in all legislation. The Victoria Climbié Foundation today repeats its calls for the Convention to be incorporated into UK law and actively promoted by local authorities.

While children’s rights and the issues affecting children’s safety remain important, the UK’s reaction to current economic conditions risks damaging much of the success we have already achieved.

The impact of the coalition government’s cuts on public spending looms like a dark shadow over this year’s anniversary. In recent weeks, we have heard numerous local and national organisations that work with children and young people voice fears that their work may be curtailed or stopped completely because of the current economic conditions.

Even worse, children’s rights and child protection does not seem to have been given much of a priority by this coalition government. Instead, we have seen the systematic tearing down of many of the achievements of recent years including ContactPoint and the Independent Safeguarding Authority.

On this notable anniversary, we would urge the coalition government to show its commitment to our children and young people by recognising that the best means towards improving their protection is through building on past achievements. The current system of child protection may not be perfect, but it has positively evolved over recent years and it would be a shame to ignore this.”