JERSEY should take another step in moves to protect young Islanders, a leading advocate for children’s rights has said.
Visiting recently as part of events to mark World Children’s Day and the tenth anniversary of Jersey signing up to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, Professor Philip Jaffé hailed the Island’s progress over the past decade, but said further steps should be taken.
In a speech to ministers, teachers, charity officials and others who work with children, and a group of young Islanders, Prof Jaffé highlighted the benefits of adopting the convention’s Optional Protocol on a Communications Procedure, known as OPIC.
The protocol is an international human rights treaty that allows the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child – of which Professor Jaffé is an elected member – to hear complaints alleging that a child’s rights have been violated.
More than 50 countries have signed up, he said, including his home country of Switzerland.
“The Swiss are known for being averse to any foreign interference, not part of the European Union etc, but by some miracle this protocol was ratified and it is really very helpful,” he said.
“If you are acknowledging the existence of children’s rights, then there is the possibility there will be violations and there should be a mechanism for complaining.”
Prof Jaffé said that in establishing the role of children’s commissioner, Jersey had moved ahead of some other jurisdictions.
“The very fact that you have a commissioner, that’s really remarkable. I say this with a lot of jealousy as a Swiss citizen – we don’t have one and are one of the last countries in Europe that doesn’t,” he explained.
Jersey’s requirement that any legislation cannot proceed before a children’s rights impact assessment has been produced was also praised.
“You have a wonderful tool and it’s something I’ll report to as best practice – I don’t know any other jurisdiction that has this process,” he said.
A day of events based at the Hotel de France in St Helier also included presentations by members of the action group set up by the children’s commissioner, Dr Carmel Corrigan.
Issues raised included disabilities, housing and accessible and affordable play.
The event was attended by Chief Minister Lyndon Farnham and Children’s Minister Richard Vibert, who said he was committed to delivering improvements on topics such as play areas and housing standards.
