A rights based approach to childrens survival and development

The Honourable Catherine Branson QC, president of the Australian Human Rights Commission recently delivered the 2010 “Rights of the Child” lecture.

In this speech Catherine Branson argues that

“The Australian Human Rights Commission believes that the best way to ensure respect for and commitment to the healthy development of all children in Australia is through a rights-based approach.

Children’s rights are not abstract or aspirational. They are grounded firmly in the basic human needs for life, growth and development. Quite aside from its ethical and moral force, the Convention on the Rights of the Child is a legal document which sets out standards, and assigns responsibility for ensuring these standards are met.”

Catherine Branson also puts forward the case for a National Children’s Commissioner. A position that would compliment the role of the state based Children’s Commissioners, arguing that:

“A national Children’s Commissioner operating under the human rights framework would make an invaluable contribution to the well-being of all children in Australia. A national Children’s Commissioner would: operate as a national advocate for children’s rights, ensuring that government decision-making processes and outcomes are consistent with the best interests of children

operate as a national advocate for children’s rights, ensuring that the Government decision making processes and outcomes are consistent with the best interests of children
develop mechanisms to secure the participation of children in decisions that affect them
provide a coordinated approach to children’s rights.”

While in this speech Catherine Branson does not directly refer to issues surrounding disabled children she does state that

“Too often we fail in our responsibilities toward vulnerable children and young people in Australia.”

It is clear that the same principles which Catherine Branson calls upon apply to the situation for children with complex medical needs who need access to services and equipment in order to ensure that they can develop to their fullest potential. Services and equipment which children with complex needs and their families struggle to obtain, or are forced into excessive waiting periods to obtain.

Accordingly the Samuel Morris Foundation also supports the call for the appointment of a National Children’s Commissioner.

Catherine Bransons full speech can be found here.