Saving Childhood Ryan – Eight Irish Organisations Fighting for Children Together
Resource type: News
Saving Childhood Ryan |
Barnardos, CRA, IAYPIC and ISPCC join forces in Ireland today to fight for children.
Dublin, Ireland, 20 May 2010 – Eight organisations concerned with child protection have united to launch the Saving Childhood Ryan campaign on the first anniversary of the Ryan Report today. One year on Barnardos, CARI, the Children’s Rights Alliance, the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, the ISPCC, the Irish Association of Young People in Care, One in Four and Rape Crisis Network Ireland have joined together to insist that Government keep the momentum going on key policy changes promised after the publication of the Report.
Fergus Finlay, Barnardos’ CEO said: “The Ryan Report exposed a horrific history of systemic and colluded abuse of the most vulnerable children living in Ireland. The report lifted the lid on Ireland’s shameful past where many people who could have done something to stop those who abused and harmed these vulnerable children did not act to prevent it. In the past year many promises have been made both to survivors of that abuse and children in Ireland, but have we delivered on them? To date progress has been slow and no lasting legislative or policy change has yet been achieved.”
The organisations are calling for key legislation and policy change commitments to be implemented including placing the Children First child protection guidelines on a statutory footing; introducing legislation for the right of children’s voices to be heard in judicial proceedings affecting them; the statutory provision for aftercare and numerous developments in the provision of services for children in the care of the State.
Jillian van Turnhout, Children’s Rights Alliance’ Chief Executive said: “As a nation, we have closed our eyes to injustices against the children who we should be cherishing; it is time for us to fight for childhood together. We all know what needs to be done to remedy the gaps in our child protection and care systems. Failures on the part of the State continue to damage childhoods that will leave a legacy of hurt and struggle well into adulthood. Important promises have been made to remedy these gaps, and the Government and the arms of the State now have a non-negotiable duty to live up to these promises. Children in Ireland deserve better. It is time that we as a society demanded better.”
Ellen O’Malley-Dunlop, Dublin Rape Crisis Centre’ CEO said: “It is imperative that adequate funding be given as promised to those organisations providing therapeutic services to survivors of institutional abuse. The scars of their past will take a long time to heal and having to endure waiting lists to access services is unacceptable.”
Mr Finlay concluded: “We must ensure that the promises and hopes laid out in the Ryan Implementation Plan are made a reality. They must not get stuck in the bureaucracy of politics or left behind because of a lack of resources. It is time for us all to work together to save childhood for those children who need us to champion their cause. We must fight for an overhaul of the services provided to children across Ireland so that their childhoods will be better, their futures brighter. Some progress has been made, but more is needed. As a society we must prioritise our children, we must prioritise their childhood, and we must demand the changes that will fix our broken child protection system.”
Barnardos, CRA, IAYPIC and ISPCC are Atlantic grantees.
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Watch Videos:
- Fergus Finlay, Barnardos’ CEO – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0KUNW3jOo4
- Jillian van Turnhout, Children’s Rights Alliance’ Chief Executive- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HuQTQQiJ_8
- Ellen O’Malley-Dunlop, Dublin Rape Crisis Centre’ CEO – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41RPyP1F8bg