Skip to main content

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child: compliance of draft Laws and training of States of Jersey employees (P.63/2017) – amendment

This content has been automatically generated from the original PDF and some formatting may have been lost. Let us know if you find any major problems.

Text in this format is not official and should not be relied upon to extract citations or propose amendments. Please see the PDF for the official version of the document.

STATES OF JERSEY

UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD: COMPLIANCE OF DRAFT LAWS AND TRAINING OF STATES OF JERSEY EMPLOYEES (P.63/2017) – AMENDMENT

Lodged au Greffe on 19th September 2017 by Deputy L.M.C. Doublet of St. Saviour

STATES GREFFE

2017  P.63 Amd.

UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD: COMPLIANCE OF DRAFT LAWS AND TRAINING OF STATES OF JERSEY EMPLOYEES (P.63/2017) – AMENDMENT

____________

1  PAGE 2, PARAGRAPH (a) –

After the words "legislative changes" insert the words ", in conjunction with the Children's Commissioner,".

2  PAGE 2, PARAGRAPH (b) –

Re-designate paragraph (b) as paragraph (a) and paragraph (a) as paragraph (b); after  the  words  "to  consider"  insert  the  words  ",  in  conjunction  with  the Children's Commissioner,"; and for the words "31st December 2017" substitute the words "10th April 2018".

3  PAGE 2, PARAGRAPH (c) –

After the words "to ensure" insert the words "in conjunction with the Children's Commissioner".

DEPUTY L.M.C. DOUBLET OF ST. SAVIOUR

Page - 2

P.63/2017 Amd.

REPORT

Following a meeting with the Chief Minister, I am proposing amendments to take on board matters raised in our discussions. The main purpose of these amendments is

  • to  take  account  of  the  impending  recruitment  of  the  Children's Commissioner and enable the Chief Minister to work in conjunction with the person who takes up that role. I have thus added a reference in each part of the proposition; and
  • as the Commissioner may not be in post until January 2018, to provide more  time  to  carry  out  the  work  requested  by  this  proposition. Therefore, after seeking officer advice, I have amended the date by which the Chief Minister should report back to the Assembly from 31st December 2017, to 10th April 2018. This is the final States sitting of this term of office and is thus the maximum amount of time available. It is my hope that the new Chief Minister will be able to use the report to make decisions on when and how to bring forward the legislative changes which will fully incorporate the UNCRC into our legislation.

The UNCRC was extended to Jersey in 2014, at which time it was said that "the extension of the UNCRC commits the States of Jersey to protecting and upholding children's  rights  and  to  being  assessed  by  the  United  Nations  on  its progress". The Chief Minister  said  "Extension  of  the  Convention  provides  the States of Jersey with a framework within which we can consider the extent to which our laws,  policies  and  services  protect  and  empower  children  and young  people"  (States  of  Jersey  press  release,  24th  June  2014, https://www.gov.je/News/2014/Pages/UNHCRChildRights.aspx). The proposition, as amended, in conjunction with the views and expertise of the incoming Children's Commissioner, will give effect to the Chief Minister's commitment to ensure that all of our laws protect and empower children and young people.

Financial and manpower implications

There are no financial or manpower costs arising from this amendment.

Page - 3

P.63/2017 Amd.