Getting it Right: a step in the right direction
Getting it Right, the first report from the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child Monitoring Group (UMG) marks a new era in realising
children’s rights in Aotearoa New Zealand.
For too long, a significant proportion of children in Aotearoa NZ have been denied their rights to the same quality of
life as their peers. As ACYA has reported many times, almost 25 years after the Children’s Convention was signed by New
Zealand, the lack of understanding, awareness and implementation of the Convention at the highest level has impacted
negatively on our children and young people.
ACYA’s most recent civil society, parallel report recommended that Aotearoa NZ implement the Children’s Convention to protect
and promote the wellbeing and inherent dignity of all children through policy development, public spending and practices
that
• are underpinned by the general principles of non-discrimination, best interests, maximum development and
participation
• encourage data collection, research and monitoring of indicators to ensure well-informed decision making
• give effect to the principles of proportionate universalism; and,
• have a clear focus on prevention and equity.
ACYA believes child rights can, and should, underpin and guide Government’s understanding about, and response to the
wellbeing and circumstances of all children in Aotearoa New Zealand. The Children’s Convention provides a common
framework for discussing, developing and implementing policies aimed at improving outcomes for children. As a permanent
member of the UMG, ACYA is fully supportive of the recommendations in Getting it Right.