On 21st of September our written evidence on the human rights impact of Statutory Instrument 445 (SI 445) was published as part of the Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) enquiry into the UK Government’s response to COVID-19.
The Committee pointed to our evidence which focused on the decision to introduce a new law in April that diluted or removed at least 65 children’s rights and protections. This law is called Statutory Instrument 445 (SI 445) and NYAS has been campaigning against it since it was first introduced on 23rd of April. The law by-passed the ordinary 21 day waiting period for secondary legislation to come into force and affected over 78,000 children in care and entering care in England.
In our NYAS submission, we discussed government legislation in light of the rights of children and young people in the Human Rights Act 1998 and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The written submission can be read here, and the full report by the JCHR can be read here.
Rita Waters, Chief Executive, said “We are pleased that our perspective and experience was reflected in the Committee’s report, and look forward to working with the government to ensure that lessons must be learnt going forward. The rights of care experienced children and young people must always be protected, particularly during times of uncertainty, not abandoned or diluted to the detriment of their safety and wellbeing.”
