Commenting on the response from the Children’s Commissioner to her concerns about children’s rights during the Coronavirus pandemic in Wales, Shadow Minister for Young People – Janet Finch Saunders MS – is publishing the letter.
To accompany it, she said:
“I welcome the fact that the Children’s Commissioner has written ‘… formally where necessary to Welsh Government and UK Government Ministers to bring potential breaches of children’s rights to their attention’.
“it is vitally important for the people – especially the young people – of Wales to learn what these potential breaches are and what action has been taken.
“Also, I learnt from her response that she had not been consulted by the Welsh Government on the impact on children of the controversial and cruel five-mile rule. We – including the Children’s Commissioner – are all surely aware of the essential need for children to enjoy family life and to be able to socialise; it is critical for their development, and mental and emotional well-being.
“I look forward to further co-operation over the effects of the pandemic and lockdown on children and young people, because my great concern is that if we don’t provide the right support now, helping them in the future will be all the more difficult.”
A copy of the Children’s Commissioner’s response is attached.