'Every day is children’s day at NYAS'

From Rita Waters, NYAS Group CEO, and Sharon Lovell, NYAS Cymru CEO:

It is crucial that upholding the rights and wellbeing of children and young people is not just understood as a guiding principle. It is a fundamental duty of any society and country committed to justice and equality. While today is officially World Children’s Day, every day is children’s day at NYAS. As a leading children’s rights charity, we are proud to have stood side by side with children everyday for over 45 years to support, safeguard and empower them to thrive, access their rights and ensure their voices are heard.

At NYAS we are driven by Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and believe every child must have their views, wishes and feelings heard in any decisions being made that impact them – whether this is in a care review, court proceedings or new Government policy.

This World Children’s Day, we want to celebrate the importance of advocacy to helping children and young people achieve this. Our advocates work with children and young people across England and Wales to help get things stopped, started or changed, and make sure their voices are at the heart of decision making.

All children should be empowered to be active participants in shaping their own futures, recognising their voice and expertise in the things that matter most to them. They should be provided with the right support, and positive, stable relationships that will enable them to thrive as they grow up and then transition into adulthood.

We have the power to create a society and communities where every child equally, no matter where they come from, has the tools, replace tools with rights care and love needed to thrive. No child should ever be restricted from accessing their rights, and we will never stop in our efforts to ensure the rights of all children are a reality. At NYAS, we will continue to be on the side of every child until their rights are a reality.