All mokopuna have the right to be safe
Every child in Aotearoa New Zealand has the right to be safe and protected from harm wherever they live, learn, play and grow. This right, set out in Article 19 of the Children’s Convention, reflects the mana and inherent dignity of all mokopuna. New Zealand agreed to the Children’s Convention in 1993, making a promise to uphold children’s rights. While government is the duty-bearer, all adults and communities have a part to play in keeping children safe and making their rights real in our country.
Dear Children
Our Dear Children campaign is centred around an open letter written by the Children's Commissioner, Dr Claire Achmad. The letter affirms the right of every child and young person in Aotearoa New Zealand to be safe, and calls on every adult to step up and fiercely protect that right.
Our Dear Children microsite has resources with clear, up-to-date information about the magnitude of child maltreatment in our country, along with evidence-based practical guidance for individuals to act to prevent maltreatment.
The UN's Concluding Observations to Aotearoa New Zealand
The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child assesses Aotearoa New Zealand's implementation of the United Nation’s Convention on the Rights of the Child to ensure effective protection of children's rights.
It then makes recommendations, called 'Concluding Observations', to our Government to improve life for all mokopuna - children and young people - in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Ngā ara rerekē ki te pupuri motika
Different ways rights are upheld
Mokopuna have rights in different ways. The rights of mokopuna Māori come from whakapapa mātauranga Māori, and tikanga Māori. These rights existed long before they were recognized by the Crown in Te Tiriti o Waitangi, the founding document of Aotearoa.
Through the United Nations, the government has also agreed to promote and protect the rights of children, indigenous peoples and disabled people. Mokopuna have the same rights as any of these population groups, whether it comes from whakapapa, legal instruments, or both. Rights matter and should be respected and upheld at all times.