Young People in Jersey Raise Concerns on World Children’s Day

On World Children’s Day, young individuals in Jersey led discussions concerning the challenges they encounter. A number of young participants collaborated with the Children Commissioner’s Office during an event that included charities, government ministers, and a representative from the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. Their discussions encompassed topics such as disabilities, housing, and the availability of accessible and affordable recreational activities, among other subjects. World Children’s Day is observed globally, and this year marks a decade since the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) was implemented in Jersey. Eliana, aged 17, stated: “I have a dynamic disability which means my disability can change on a whim so one minute I can be fine walking around without mobility aids, then the next I might need my walker or wheelchair.” During her speech at the gathering, she underscored her personal experiences. Elianna commented: “We need more tolerance for disabilities in Jersey because people do treat me differently and that isn’t right.” Tino remarked: “One of the big problems is housing, and finding a suitable house for a family in Jersey is quite a challenge.” The 18-year-old added: “There’s a lot of small one or two-bedroom homes going up and I think more affordable family homes are really needed.” Tino also introduced attendees at the Children’s Commissioner’s event and conducted an interview with the Children’s Minister, Constable Richard Vibert, regarding housing issues. She stated: “For change to happen and things to get better then governments need to listen to young people at events like this to hear what they think, take on the criticism then do something about them.” Georgia, aged 16, expressed: “I do love living in Jersey but I think there’s quite a lot of things that could be better in the island for children.” She continued: “There’s not a lot for young people to do in Jersey and there should be more things we can do especially with our families and everything is so expensive now so there needs to be more free activities for children and their families to do, so their lives aren’t boring in Jersey.” At the event, Georgia also interviewed Prof Philip Jaffé. She remarked: “I think key people in Jersey do need to listen to children and think about them more when they make decisions in the island.” Constable Richard Vibert, the Minister for Children and Families, listened to the children and other attendees present at the event. He acknowledged the presence of “issues that we need to address”. The minister stated: “On the plans for more play areas – I will come back to the government with a plan for that next and for housing we do need to feedback to children that we are taking their views into account.” He further added: “I think there’s nothing more important than having a good family home and I think every child should be entitled to that.” For updates, follow BBC Jersey on X and Facebook. Story ideas can be submitted to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.