08 November 2018
States Members have joined Ministers and senior officials in signing the Pledge to Jersey’s Children and Young People.
Chief Minister Senator John Le Fondré and Children’s Minister Senator Sam Mézec launched the Pledge in September, which will hold the government, legislators and the public service to account for improving safeguarding and care and upholding the rights of every child in the island.
The Pledge was launched as a commitment to the States putting children first and speeding up the pace of change, following the Jersey Care Commission’s report on the Ofsted Inspection of Children’s Services and as part of the response to the Jersey Care Inquiry.
So far, 42 States Members, including the Council of Ministers and all Senators, and 11 senior leaders of the public service, have signed the Pledge. The Pledge will now be rolled out as an island-wide campaign in the community for businesses, schools and anyone who works with children to sign and show their commitment to ‘Put Children First’.
Senator Mézec said: “I am delighted that so many States Members have signed up to join our Pledge to Jersey’s Children and Young People. Putting children first is this government’s top priority and all States Members will need to play their part in delivering on this ambition, whether in the Council of Ministers, Scrutiny or from the backbenches. Work will now begin to roll out this Pledge island-wide, so that we can bring people together across our community to help make this an island where all children can thrive.
“Some States Members have not signed the Pledge, and it’s important to me to understand their concerns, respect their position and for us to create a mutual understanding of where they see their role in this bigger picture of supporting children in the island and know how I can work with them.”
Senator Mézec said that he is proud that the majority of States Members have signed the Pledge and has had a mainly positive reaction so far from the public and young people.
“I spoke to young people last week at the YOSCARS – youth awards – and was pleased that many of them had heard about the Pledge and what we are doing. The next phase of this campaign is to further speak to children and young people to find out what this Pledge means to them. We will work with children and young people and listen to what they have to say about the Pledge to ensure that we understand what each promise means to them and so they can understand how they can hold us to account to make sure we put them first.”
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