Statement: The Queen's Speech: Children and Young Persons Bill
06 November 2007
Bob Reitemeier, Chief Executive of The Children's Society, comments:
"The Children and Young Persons Bill offers a welcome and long-overdue opportunity to radically improve the lives of two groups of vulnerable children in the care system.
We hope this bill will introduce a statutory right to independent advocacy for the 13,300 disabled children living in care, thus ensuring that their needs and wishes are listened to and granting them the dignity, respect and independence that many are currently denied.
The Children's Society believes that the bill should also introduce a formal system of guardianship to support unaccompanied asylum seeking children to navigate the care, support and asylum process. Many of these children are currently denied access to their legal, educational and welfare entitlements, putting them at risk of exploitation and other forms of harm."
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