Australia’s National Children’s Commissioner, Megan Mitchell, has made international history appearing before the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child for the first time.
Commissioner Mitchell (pictured) discussed her recent report on the state of children’s rights in Australia.
The report details the key human rights concerns for children and young people in Australia and was produced with help from almost 23,000 children, 100 stakeholders and 127 written submissions.
In preparing the report, Commissioner Mitchell met personally with about 450 children around the country in order to learn more about their lives and experiences.
She said the report revealed violence and mental health as issues requiring urgent attention, as well as recommending that the age of criminal responsibility be raised to 14 years.
She said it contained 60 recommendations for action by Australian Governments.
“In Australia today, 5.5 million people are under the age of 18,” Commissioner Mitchell said.
“While most of them grow up in safe and healthy environments, there are too many children whose rights are not adequately protected.
“We have much work to do.”
She said a central message in the report was the need for stronger measures in policy, law and practice to protect children and advance their rights.
Ms Mitchell is Australia’s inaugural National Children’s Commissioner and her 100-page report to the United Nations Committee can be accessed at this PS News link.
