Expert By Experience Youth Mentors Advocate in Geneva to the UN committee
After weeks of preparation, last week our Expert By Experience Youth Mentors Heaven & Ihab along with young people from Children’s Law Centre, VOYPIC and NIYF travelled to Geneva to meet with the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child UK Taskforce members to highlight issues where they felt the UK were letting young people down, ahead of the Committee’s examination of the UK Government.
The UN Committee members then took the concerns raised by the young people to the UK Government examination sessions and the UK Government delegation were challenged on a range of issues. Questions were asked of UK officials and they were held to account on how they are upholding the rights of the child.
Areas raised included the needs of unaccompanied asylum seeking children, the minimum age of criminal responsibility, support for care experience young people leaving care and the impact that budget cuts are having on young people’s services.
We are incredibly proud of all the young people who spoke boldly, passionately and advocated for change. We are committed to continuing the conversations started in Geneva. It is only the beginning.
