Children Put Others First

Children want Tony Blair to provide better care for children and tackle homelessness, according to a survey released by UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, today.

When asked what message about children's rights they wanted to send to the Prime Minister, 16% of children put being looked after, cared for and loved as the top priority. 11% said provision of food, ensuring people are fed and a further 11% put reducing homelessness and providing shelter. Stopping bullying (9%) and improving education (8%) were the next most common messages.

The poll, conducted by MORI, questioned 315 children aged between 8-14 years. Released on the eve of the 10^th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (Saturday 20 November 1999), it gives a snapshot of what children think about their rights.

Results reveal a generation of youngsters who know they have rights (85%) and who think deeply about issues, putting others before themselves.

When asked the question what message do you want to give to Tony Blair, one 13-year-old girl replied:

"Something for the homeless - young teenagers and small children whose parents have nowhere to live should have hostels instead of things like the Millennium Dome."

And an 11-year-old boy replied:

"Stop bullying and racism. No adult has the right to bully a child or treat them with disrespect and threaten them."

More than three-quarters (78%) of those questioned said they had stood up to someone who was bullying their friend, while more than two in five (43%) have stood up for their friends' right to be treated equally.

Significantly more girls (41%) than boys (30%) have stood up for their right to have a say or do what they believe in, for example, by becoming vegetarian.

However, only 7% of children had heard of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child - the most widely adopted human rights treaty in history - ratified by every country in the world except two (the US and Somalia).

David Bull, UNICEF UK Executive Director, said:

"The results of this survey show that young people are aware of rights in various forms, although it is disappointing that so few have heard of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child." "Children are clearly concerned about the welfare and rights of others - particularly those who are disadvantaged through poverty or homelessness" he continued. "Given their existing concern for rights, how much more powerful it would be if young people were made aware of the document that sets out their rights - the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. As it is the UK Government's duty to promote the Convention widely, UNICEF believes that children should learn about the Convention in school."

On this significant anniversary, UNICEF is joining with other children's organisations to call on the Government to establish a Children's Rights Commissioner - who would be an independent and forceful voice for children.

Said David Bull:

We still have huge problems facing children in the UK. There are four million children living in poverty; abuse and neglect are all too common." "Children cannot vote, and lack access to the political process which is available to adults, so it is especially important that there is a Commissioner who can be a voice for children." "Many other European countries have Children's Rights Commissioners, who have proved effective and popular with both children and parents."

View the Childrens' Rights Survey on the UNICEF website: www.unicef.org.uk/crc10/survey.htm

Technical details

The methodology is composed of both qualitative and quantitative elements.

Quantitative - With regard to the quantitative side of the study, 315 young people aged 8-14 were interviewed face-to-face in home between 16-31 October 1999.

Qualitative - The children were interviewed in paired depths, i.e. two friends were interviewed simultaneously. In total, four paired depths were conducted with young people aged between 9 and 13 years. The interviews were conducted on 26 October 1999 in the London area. A topic guide which was devised in consultation with the client was used to guide the discussion.