RCNI Press Release 15 January 2008
Children’s Committee Chair, Mary O’Rourke, puts children’s rights on the back burner
Rape Crisis Network Ireland (RCNI) said it was shocked to read the chairperson of the Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children not only neglect to champion the rights of children but declare that she was not in favour of holding the children’s referendum anytime in 2008 (Irish Times, 15th Jan.).
Fiona Neary, RCNI Director, said ‘it is clear to the RCNI that, regrettably, Child Protection is urgently in need of champions within the Dáil. Instead the very person whom we expect to champion child protection, Deputy Mary O’Rourke chair of the Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children, is leading the government retreat. This essential referendum has been delayed on a number of occasions since May 2006 and promises have been repeatedly broken. This is not good enough.
As chair Deputy O’Rourke has declared her position even prior to the closing date for submissions to the Committee. She has cited widespread support for her position of taking the children’s referendum off the agenda for 2008. It is disheartening to be engaging with this vital Committee when their commitment to the issue appears to be lacking. If this Committee does not recommend immediate action once it has fulfilled its remit and reported to the government at the end of April, what an unforgivable waste that will have been. Child protection will again have been sacrificed to political convenience.
We call on the chair to enter into the Committee with an open mind and to reconsider the priority this issue should be approached with. We call on the government to treat its committee which it has charged with advancing its duty to child protection, seriously.
All across Ireland people are aware of how urgently this children’s referendum is needed to rebuild the zone of protection from sexual exploitation for our children.
Notes:
• The RCNI is the national Rape Crisis Sector body, which provides a strong voice for survivors and is a catalyst for social change to end rape and all forms of sexual violence.
For information contact:
Cliona Saidlear: 087 2196447
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