State of Children's Rights in London

Report analysing the extent to which children in London enjoy their rights. Based on statistics, freedom of information requests and focus groups with children and young people, the report uncovers huge disparities across London. 

Read the report.

This report is the result of a year-long project examining the extent to which public bodies in London are ensuring that children enjoy their rights under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). It includes information on:

The nature and scope of local bodies’ obligations under the UNCRC;

Whether local authorities across London have structures in place to ensure children’s rights are taken into account in the development of their policies, practices and spending decisions; and
 

The extent to which children in London enjoy their rights in six key areas on which local authorities have a considerable impact:

  • family life and alternative care;
  • health;
  • standard of living;
  • education;
  • play, culture and rest; and
  • civil liberties and the criminal justice system.


This report compares practice and outcomes in all 32 London boroughs. It is based on:

Official statistics, showing outcomes for children, selected as indicators of whether children’s rights are realised in practice in London;

Information gained via requests made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to all London local authorities and Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCG), as well as the Metropolitan Police; and

The views of 29 children and young people about their experiences in the areas covered by the report, expressed during focus groups.