These reports summarise key developments in England - positive as well as negative - in relation to the UN's 118 recommendations for improving children's human rights. The reports examine significant developments in law and policy and official data relating to children's well-being, as well as covering relevant research and consultations with young people. The 2013 report takes each of the UN's recommendations, and assesses whether improvement, deterioration or no change has been made in UK law or policy over the last 12 months. It states that recommendation number 50, "Ensure support to children with one or both parents in prison, in particular to maintain contact with the parent (unless contrary to the child's best interests) and prevent stigmatisation and discrimination" has been assessed as having deteriorated in terms of law and policy over the last 12 months. Research about the impact on children of parental imprisonment, and relevant government policy is summarised - with a mention given to the Department for Education's funding of funding i-HOP. See State of Children's Rights in England. The 2014 report again considers the rights of children of prisoners, highlighting that the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child recommended in 2008 that governments ensure support for the children of parents in prison, and help maintain contact between parent and child. The report also includes 2 recommendations regarding the children of prisoners: - Oblige courts to ask about the children of parents sent to prison to ensure that adequate child care arrangements are in place - Ensure that prisons take into account the needs of children of all ages to maintain relationships with their imprisoned relatives, and establish family contact policies and procedures that allow this to happen
See State of Children's Rights in England below:
