UNICEF releases briefing paper on NZ children

Released today, UNICEF NZ's briefing paper 'All children thriving, belonging and achieving – what will it take?' summarises the common themes from 80 organisations’ recent submissions to the Government’s Green Paper on Vulnerable Children. The briefing paper is supported by 80 key New Zealand organisations and child advocates. It is intended to help drive discussion and inform debate ahead of the Government’s White Paper for children, due 31 August 2012.

Key themes include:

• The wellbeing of all children in New Zealand needs to be a priority.
• Government needs to focus on the underlying inequities which exist in New Zealand, especially the high levels of child poverty, if we are to empower families and communities to nurture children and ultimately create a society that puts children first.
• To create tangible and long-term change, the Government needs to create a true Action Plan for all children.

The briefing paper and supplementary information are available on the UNICEF NZ website.

Read 'Agencies fear Govt will chop vital child services', NZ Herald, 12/7/12