'State of Children’s Rights in England 2016' Report published

Date: 10th January 2017
Category: England-specific monitoring and reporting

A new report by the Children's Rights for Alliance for England (CRAE) concludes that increasing numbers of children have been let down in 2016 and denied the basic needs to develop and thrive.

The annual report draws on hundreds of sources and responses to Freedom of Information requests (FOIs) to assess how well England is meeting its commitments under the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child, which the UK ratified in 1991. This report is England's counterpart to Together's Scotland-focussed State of Children's Rights reports, also published annually.

The report shows that children in England are bearing the brunt of UK Government spending decisions and welfare cuts. Findings include: increasing numbers of children not having a permanent roof over their head; soaring levels of poor mental health and self-harm amongst children and a failure to care for such vulnerable children properly; poor treatment when children are in contact with the police - as shown by shocking new statistics on the use of Tasers, strip searching and spit hoods; an increase in child poverty; and severe breaches of the rights of refugee children.

• Read the full report made up of eight briefings.