ABSTRACT
One might wonder why there is such interest in children’s rights if this is all they amount to. And what do these rights mean, for example a ‘right to . . . family life’? Does it mean that a parents’ divorce, which ends a child’s family life, is no longer the parents’ choice? No – see the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 s.1 (2) (e), as amended. Perhaps this right refers to children having the right to a standard of living fit for family life? Certainly not! The Department of Work and Pensions (2002) document Households Below Average Incomes 1994/95-2001/02 shows that, in the last year surveyed, around 14 million people were living below half average income after housing costs. This is three times the number of people in this position in 1979. Perhaps the establishment of a Children’s Rights Commissioner for England will end the child poverty hidden in that figure? There is a Children’s Commissioner for Wales. He has not ended child poverty. His role broadly consists in asking children ‘what you think is most important’ (childcom.org.uk).
