The Gulbenkian Foundation commissioned its unique inquiry and report into Effective Government Structures for Children in 1996. This Review looks at progress towards developing a children’s perspective in government across the UK in the period up to 2001 and makes further detailed recommendations.

In England, the Government announced new structures in 2000 – including a Cabinet Committee, A Minister for Young People and a cross-cutting Children and Young People’s Unit – which in outline go a long way towards fulfilling the recommendations of the 1996 Report. In Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales there have been a variety of developments and commitments for children in the new context of devolution.

‘The Gulbenkian Foundation here presents a clear and detailed report which aims to encourage a second-term Labour Government to be ambitious in working for all children.’ Social Policy Focus

Rachel Hodgkin currently works as a children’s rights consultant for various children’s organisations. She has worked actively in children’s advocacy since 1979 when she helped set up the Children’s Legal Centre; in 1993 she moved to the National Children’s Bureau where she was principal policy officer and clerk to the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Children.

Peter Newell chairs the council of the Children’s Rights Alliance for England and is coordinator of EPOCH – End Physical Punishment of Children. He also works as a consultant for UNICEF on implementing the Convention on the Rights of the Child and is Adviser to the European Network of Ombudspeople for Children.