2008 a bad year for children, says CARE

As MPs and Peers returned to Parliament today after the summer recess, Christian social policy charity CARE released a disturbing new publication, 'Wither Children's Rights?'

Highlighting how Parliament's Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill decisions before the summer break have "seriously compromised" children's rights, Wither Children's Rights? draws unfavourable and very disturbing comparisons between early 21st and early 19th century Britain.

Dan Boucher Director of Parliamentary Affairs said, "When I was at school we were told how children's rights had improved dramatically over the last 180 years.

"Historical comparison with 19th century speeches and votes, however, suggest that rather than having a high regard for the rights of children, our Parliament places far greater emphasis on the whims of adults."

Nola Leach CARE's Director of Public Affairs continued, "Given that MPs and Peers return to parliament today for the first time during the 175th anniversary of the abolition of slavery (the beginning of which Parliament marked in their absence in August) comparing the approach of antislavery campaigners and parliamentarians to the value of human life with that espoused by legislators today really concentrates the mind."

Wither Children's Rights? highlights what it sees as the failings of recent parliamentary decisions and also draws attention to the opportunities parliamentarians now have to demonstrate that the 21st century is indeed a better place for children than the 19th "by making good their earlier failings in the remaining Human Fertilisation and Embryology votes which must take place before the end of November".

Boucher concluded, "Quite apart from anything else, MPs will have the opportunity to vote against the Government's proposals to permit, for the first time, the deliberate creation of children through IVF with the intention they should be denied a father for the duration of their childhood and deliberate creation of children through IVF with the intention they should be denied a mother for their childhood from as young as six months."