National Charity request re contravention of the Human Rights Act

Added: (Thu Oct 26 2006)

Pressbox (Press Release) - Dear United Nations, we are deeply concerned by the continual and blatant contravention of the following by the two organizations sited and make request that you investigate with a view to enforcement.



Re Family law “Children to speak directly to judges”.



Nagalro, the professional association representing children's guardians, slammed the proposal



11 October 2006

Family law minister Harriet Harman came under attack this week after suggesting children deal directly with trained magistrates during family court battles. http://www.childrennow.co.uk/news/index.cfm?fuseaction=details&UID=f1f072aa-42c9-46e4-8e23-6ad07abb7e5b

It would seem to us at the "National Society for Children and Family Contact" that both Nagalro and the NSPCC are intent to contravene the UN Convention based on the above quoted article and the following comment by the NSPCC and I quote “We also support the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child”. However the charity then goes on to admit that it has and I quote “consistently opposed the idea that both parents have an automatic right to access to children, regardless of the wishes of the child” unquote. This the NSCFC feels to be totally divisive and undermines the traditional family and would remind both organisations that the Human Rights Act Article 6 & 8 is their responsibility to uphold, this to include the Rights of the Child.
Herein lay the contraventions as revealed by both Nagalro and the NSPCC to date:
Article 5 UN Convention clearly states:

Parties shall respect the responsibilities, rights and duties of parents or, where applicable, the members of the extended family or community as provided for by local custom, legal guardians or other persons legally responsible for the child, to provide, in a manner consistent with the evolving capacities of the child, appropriate direction and guidance in the exercise by the child of the rights recognised in the present Convention.

Article 18 states:

Parental responsibilities:
Parents have joint primary responsibility for raising the child, and the State shall support them in this. The State shall provide appropriate assistance to parents in child-raising.

Article 9 states:

Separation from parents
The child has a right to live with his or her parents unless this is deemed to be incompatible with the child’s best interests. The child also has the right to maintain contact with both parents if separated from one or both.

Article 12 states:

States the right of the child to express an opinion and to have that opinion taken into account, in any matter or procedure affecting the child. Parties shall assure to the child who is capable of forming his or her own views the right to express those views freely in all matters affecting the child, the views of the child being given due weight in accordance with the age and maturity of the child.
2. For this purpose, the child shall in particular be provided the opportunity to be heard in any judicial and administrative proceedings affecting the child, either directly, or through a representative or an appropriate body, in a manner consistent with the procedural rules of national law.

We submit therefore that said organisations be held to account for underminding the traditional family and thier true agendas exposed.