The report says children growing up in the UK face greater deprivation, worse family relationships and are more exposed to drugs, alcohol and unsafe sex than those in 20 other wealthy nations. And Senator Stuart Syvret believes that children here face similar risks. He has ordered an urgent study by his own Social Services department to compare the findings of UNICEF with the local situation and has invited the Education and Home Affairs ministers to do the same. ‘I believe we should undertake a close reading of this study, as a matter of urgency, and benchmark child welfare standards in Jersey against the countries cited in the report. ‘It will be noticed that the UK comes bottom of the league for the proper care and nurturing of children. This is not, perhaps, a great surprise, as many customary British attitudes and governmental polices seem to be little short of a war on children and childhood. I fear Jersey may fair little better in certain respects,’ he says.
