Who protects our vulnerable children?

Take care of our children

Take care of what they hear
Take care of what they see                          
Take care of what they feel
For how the children grow
So will be the shape of Aotearoa
– Dame Whina Cooper 

                         
Whilst discovering and examining the risk factors of child abuse and understanding the causes behind the issue, I came across a video where Paula Bennett, the Minister of Social Development, spoke out about the system she intends to put in place to protect New Zealand's vulnerable children (link provided in my last blog).This left me curious to find out how our children are protected, who acts as an advocate for our children and what polices and organisations protect our children against child abuse?

From here, I researched further into the information Paula Bennett provides about "The White Paper for Vulnerable Children" The white paper was released on the 11th of October 2012 in order to protect New Zealand's vulnerable children. "Protecting vulnerable children is everyone’s responsibility. The White Paper for Vulnerable Children and the Children’s Action Plan set out how everyone can play their part. It is only by working together that we can achieve our goal" (Bennett, 2012).

My question here was, How is the 'The White Paper' going to protect these children?

Further research lead me to gain understanding of what 'The White Paper' was about and how the white paper works with the intention of protecting vulnerable children.

Firstly, here is the link which will allow you to read the statement from the minister in which she states "the most important work I can do as a Minister and that we can do as a country – protect our children" (Bennett, 2012). http://www.childrensactionplan.govt.nz/the-white-paper/statement-from-the-minister

Furthermore, 'The White Paper' is split into two different volumes. Volume one describes what will be done to protect children who are are at risk of maltreatment. It explains how the government will take lead in protecting the children who are suffering deprivation and are unsafe as it is their responsibility to step in when the responsibilities of others is poor. The white paper aims to make a change and highlight the children who suffer abuse, neglect and harm whilst ensuring they get the protection and care they need (New Zealand Government, 2011).

So how does the white paper work?

'The White Paper' plan includes:

• "A phone line, text message service, email service and online system called 'child protect' will be available for anyone who has concerns about a child;
• A new vetting and screening process for people wanting to work with children in a bid to prevent known abusers from doing so;
• Introducing minimum standards of competency for different jobs that involve working with kids;
• Investigating the curtailing of guardianship rights of parents who present an ongoing risk to their children;
• Establishing a list of pre-approved iwi and hapu which are guaranteed to provide a safe home for tamariki who have been taken from an unsafe home;
• An adulthood transition process for people at the end of their Child, Youth and Family care programme" (Bennett, 2012, cited in 3 News, 2012)

Furthermore, this link from '3 News' on the 11th of October 2012, helped me to further my understanding of how it will work http://www.3news.co.nz/Anti-child-abuse-plan-a-lost-opportunity-says-Labour/tabid/370/articleID/272276/Default.aspx 

'The White Paper' includes a multi-agency database which will automatically notify any children that may be at risk. Seven government agencies including the Ministry of Social Development, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and the police will be part of the database. The database tracks children and allows certain people to check out any concerns they may have about a child. Adults who have a history of abusing will also be tracked through the database in order to prevent these adults from repeating the offence (3 News, 2012).

In this video Ian Hassle, former Children's Commissioner, gives his perspective on 'The White Paper', agreeing with the sharing of data and explains that this is long over due. People such as teachers, doctors and social workers should be able to access information because over previous years there have been many cases where children have been abused and have been through a number of agencies but that information was not shared- it is not just a single episode that alarms abuse it is repeating episodes which indicate something is seriously wrong (Hassle, 2012). The sharing of this information allows an overall picture and it doesn't let our children 'slip through the cracks'

"The Government will pass legislation, and enact policies and practises so that:

• parents, caregivers, family, whänau, and communities understand and fulfil their responsibilities towards children
• professionals identify vulnerable children and act earlier
• communities identify and meet the needs of vulnerable children as early as possible
• government education, health, care and protection and justice agencies, and professionals, community organisations and workers share information appropriately to protect vulnerable children
• the lives of vulnerable children in state care is made a priority across government departments and agencies
• people and organisations working with children identify and respond to the need of vulnerable children
• tough new measures are in place to protect children from adult abusers who are likely to continue to hurt children" (New Zealand Government, 2011).

These changes aim to reinforce and reform the way everybody, from the government, to the community, to you as an individual, work together to identify, support and protect vulnerable children.

Moreover, UNICEF is an organisation I chose to research further into. What is UNCIEF and what does this organisation do to protect our children?

 UNICEF's mission "is to create a better world for every child" (UNICEF New Zealand, 2008). 

UNICEF are an organisation that advocate on behalf of a child, protecting and promoting their rights. They articulate that every child has the right to become a respectful and beneficial member of society, whilst having the right to be heard. UNICEF aim to build a world where every child's rights are recognised (UNICEF New Zealand, 2008). 

So what does UNICEF say when it comes to protecting children against harm, neglect of deprivation and what do they do in order to prevent this?

Protection against things such as abuse, neglect and deprivation is outlined by UNICEF as "a universal right of every child" (UNICEF New Zealand, 2008). Therefore UNICEF abide by the international humans rights treaty called the 'UN Convention on the Rights of the Child' (UNCROC) for the sole purpose of outlining the rights of children and the governments duty to attain them. This document is made up of 54 different articles, however, it is driven by 4 essential principles- 

• "Equality regardless of race, gender, language, religion, disability etc.
• The best interests of the child.
• Survival, development and protection.
• Participation in decisions which affect children" (UNICEF New Zealand, 2008).

The treaty was adopted by New Zealand in 1989 and by 1993 it was legalized. The treaty expresses the significance of children's basic needs being established as rights and that the government has responsibility to ensure their rights are being protected.

Robert Ludbrook (2009), shares his perspective on UNCROC by stating the treaty "has raised public awareness of the rights of children and has set benchmarks by which New Zealand’s laws, policies and practises can be measured" (p. 5).

Lastly, I am going to touch on New Zealand's Anti-Smacking Bill.  The Anti-Smacking Bill was passed and made law by the New Zealand government in 2007, which was two years after it was introduced by Green Parties, Sue Bradford. The Anti-Smacking Law aims to provide a positive, safe and secure household for all children by ending the use of force for the purpose of correction. Similarly, a decrease in child abuse statistics due to fear of prosecution (Yellow, 2009).

However, there were numerous different predictions when the law was passed and multipule perspectives on the issue. One I found extremely interesting, which expresses a understandable perspective for me was a video from '3 News' where Hannah and Brain Johnson explain why the lost the right to care for their grandchildren. http://www.3news.co.nz/The-effect-of-the-anti-smacking-bill/tabid/817/articleID/258454/Default.aspx

I have found discovering the reasoning behind both 'The White Paper', 'UNICEF' and reading numerous perspectives on New Zealand's 'Anti-Smacking Law' very interesting. I agree with Paula Bennett, when she states it is everybody's responsibility to protect our vulnerable children. Children don't have the the option weather they live in deprivation, suffer abuse or neglect, but I believe we have the option of making a difference in their world.

Below is a heart-wrenching video I came across that to me, personally, says it all! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=NnDGqyKwZuQ

Next time..

I wish to explore the effects abuse has on vulnerable children and how the effects impact on their learning and development throughout ECE? I would also like to discover the implications child abuse causes for ECE teachers and their practice.

References

3News, (2012). Anti child abuse plan a 'lost opportunity', says labour. Retrieved 10 April, from  
     http://www.3news.co.nz/Anti-child-abuse-plan-a-lost-opportunity-says-
     Labour/tabid/370/articleID/272276/Default.aspx

Bennett, P., (2012). Poverty 'doesn't excuse' child abuse. Retrieved 10 April, from 
     http://www.3news.co.nz/Bennett-Poverty-doesnt-excuse-child-
     abuse/tabid/1607/articleID/272358/Default.aspx

Bennett, P., (2012). The white paper for vulnerable children: Statement from the minister. 
     Retrieved 10 April, from http://www.childrensactionplan.govt.nz/the-white-paper/statement-
     from-the-minister

Hassle, I., (2012). Anti child abuse plan a 'lost opportunity', says labour. Retrieved 10 April 
     from, http://www.3news.co.nz/Anti-child-abuse-plan-a-lost-opportunity-says-
     Labour/tabid/370/articleID/272276/Default.aspx

Johnson, H., & B., (2012). The effect of the anti smacking bill. Retrieved 10 April, from 
     http://www.3news.co.nz/The-effect-of-the-anti-smacking-
     bill/tabid/817/articleID/258454/Default.aspx


Ludbrook, R., (2009). UNCROC. Retrieved 10 April, from 
     http://www.unicef.org.nz/store/doc/RobertLudbrook_UNCROC.pdf

New Zealand Government, (2011). The white paper for vulnerable children. Retrieved 10 
     April from http://www.msd.govt.nz/documents/about-msd-and-our-work/work-
     programmes/policy-development/white-paper-vulnerable-children/white-paper-for-
     vulnerable-children-volume-1.pdf

UNICEF New Zealand, (2008). Our mission. Retrieved 10 April, from 
     http://www.unicef.org.nz/OurMission

Yellow, (2008). How to understand the New Zealand's anti smacking law. Retrieved 10 April, 
     from http://howto.yellow.co.nz/legal/consumer-law/how-to-understand-the-new-zealand-
     anti-smacking-law/