10. Statement by the Chair of the Children, Young People and Education Committee: United Nations Universal Children's Day

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 7:24 pm on 20 November 2018.

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Photo of Siân Gwenllian Siân Gwenllian Plaid Cymru 7:24, 20 November 2018

(Translated)

rather than those rights being part of the analysis from the very outset, with that then leading to the budgetary decisions.

So, yes, the children's commissioner is very critical, and has every right to be so, but, to be fair, she also said that there are few examples of good practice. There are very few examples of governments working systematically to ensure that priority is given to children and children's rights as they draw up their budgets. So, Wales isn't alone in that regard. There are very few examples of states that are truly successful in budgeting in accordance with their commitments to the rights of children. So, why don't we in the Senedd of Wales show the way? We are the first in the UK to adopt the convention. Why can't we be the first Senedd—the first Parliament in the world—to put children's rights firmly at the heart of our budgetary processes? I would like your view, and, more importantly perhaps, the view of the Cabinet Secretary for Finance on that particular point. It would be excellent if we were able to support that today, on UN Universal Children's Day.