Lords debates children and the internet on 25th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
The Prime Minister's digital adviser, Baroness Shields, will be make her maiden speech tomorrow, during a debate on how the United Nation's Convention on the Rights of the Child impacts on children's and young people's online and digital interactions.
The debate will be opened by Baroness Kidron, who said:
“The 20th November 2014 is the 25th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child – a legally binding international agreement that carefully balances the necessity for children to be guardians of their own interests, alongside our need to act as responsible guardians to them. The 54 articles of the convention cover a complex matrix of scenarios but combine to provide that the “best interests of the child must be a primary consideration in all actions concerning children”.
“Also twenty-five years ago in March 1989, Sir Tim Berners-Lee's proposal for the world wide web gave birth to a revolution, which has changed almost every aspect of young people's lives, their expectations and their behaviour.
“Today's debate is not a question of whether web and digital technologies are good or bad – these technologies bring with them unparalleled opportunity, breathtaking imagination and the tantalizing promise of a better world. The question of today's debate is whether we are fulfilling the rights of children and young people where they interact with digital technologies – those rights enshrined in the UNCRC to which we are signatories.
“I am looking forward to hearing the contribution of Baroness Shields, the Prime Minister's Adviser in the Digital Economy, who is making her maiden speech during today's debate – and of other colleagues who I am sure will contribute to a debate that has a broad sweep of interest given that the 54 articles of the Convention cover all aspects of a young person's life.”
Other Members scheduled to speak include:
- Baroness Benjamin, Vice President of Barnardo's;
- Baroness Lane-Fox of Soho, Chair and Trustee of Go ON UK;
- Lord Knight of Weymouth, former Minister at the Department for Children, Schools and Families, and Chairman of the Tinder Foundation Ltd; and
- Earl of Listowel, Trustee of the Michael Sieff Foundation.
Baroness Warwick of Undercliffe, Baroness King of Bow, Baroness Grey-Thompson, Lord Cormack and Baroness Uddin, are also expected to take part.
Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth will respond on behalf of the Government.
