Madam, – One has to wonder whether the eight so-called child advocacy groups are joking in their call for a “children’s rights referendum” (Front page, May 21st).
They have been rightly critical of the State’s behaviour towards children over the decades, and yet ask the parents of Ireland to hand over the responsibility for vindication of their children’s rights to this same State. One only has to read the proposed amendment to see that it will not insert a children’s rights clause into the Constitution, (that already exists under Article 42.5). What it will do is make the State the sole vindicators of children’s rights, with parents relegated to the role of guardians of their children’s welfare on behalf of the State.
From the abuse of children in State-run institutions in the past, to the deaths of children in care today, the history of the State’s dealings with children is a litany of sins of commission and omission.
Maybe Barnardos, Cari, ISPCC, et al, should tell the parents of Ireland why they believe the State is so deserving of the tremendous, awesome and wonderful privilege of vindicating our children’s rights. – Yours, etc,