Assaulting Children is Wrong

By Peter Newell, Co-ordinator, Children are Unbeatable! Alliance

A Message to Readers

Children are Unbeatable!, the alliance which campaigns for the UK to modernise the law on assault to afford children the same protection as adults, needs your help in circulating a call-out. We are particularly interested in contacting children and young people in care, and the adults who work with them.

The Baby P affair has initiated a fierce debate on child protection. It seems very likely that legislation on child protection will be introduced in the current session of Parliament. This will provide a logical opportunity for pursuing equal protection.

Given the new focus on child protection in the context of this issue, we are keen to ensure that the voices of children who have experience of the care system are heard in this debate. So we are writing to ask you to circulate this call for help among your contacts, especially any who may have contact with children in care.

A Message to Children and Young People in Care

Speak up about physical abuse of children!

Every child has the right to be protected from violence. But in the UK, the law doesn’t give children the basic protection from being hit and hurt that all adults have.

The Children are Unbeatable! Alliance (CAU) think that this is wrong. We want to change the law so that nobody will be allowed to hurt children, and we want YOU to work with us!

We are looking for children and young people with experience of the care system to speak up about physical abuse of children.

This would probably mean being quoted in CAU publicity materials or in newspapers. Of course, you would choose what you say, and whether or not we used your name. If you want, you can be completely anonymous.

This could be a very small job if you want – you could just talk to us on the phone or write down what you think. Or you could come and meet us to talk about it. It’s up to you. Either way, it would be great experience and you’d have the chance to make your voice heard and make a real difference to children in the future.

If you come to any meetings with us we will pay for all your travel and accommodation, and give you food.

To do this, you need to…

  • be under 18.
  • have experience of the child protection/care system. (For example, you could be living in care now, or have been in care in the past.)
  • want to change the law to make it illegal to hit children.

We will…

  • always treat you with respect.
  • listen to you and answer any questions you have.
  • always respect your decisions.

A Message to All Children and Young People

All children and young people, whether in care or not, are invited to sign up to the campaign at www.childrenareunbeatable.org.uk/children. They will receive a free campaign pack and occasional emails or letters telling them about fun opportunities for children to be involved in the campaign.

If you are interested or have any questions about this, just get in touch with Elinor Milne, Children’s Campaign Co-ordinator:

email: [email protected]

phone/text: 07504 738 741

web: www.childrenareunbeatable.org.uk

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