The Green Party has launched an open letter calling on the Minister of Children to adopt seven promises to children in state care.
“We are urging the Minister to ensure no more tamariki fall into harm,” says Green Party co-leader, Marama Davidson.
“Every child in Aotearoa deserves to grow up with safety and stability, wrapped in aroha. Unfortunately, too many of our children in state care are being failed by our Government.
“The Minister of Children’s responsibility is for children in care and children at risk of going into care, yet she has taken every opportunity to undermine that very care.
“The decisions of the Minister, like cutting 400 jobs from OT and cutting funding to safety organisations, have resulted in an increase of urgent and critical reports of concern.
“Today we’re launching an open letter to the Minister for Children calling on her to take some personal responsibility for the safety of our most vulnerable tamariki.
“We’re asking New Zealanders to sign our open letter to the Minister and make this impossible to ignore any longer.
“The oranga of our tamariki and rangatahi must be at the heart of decision-making. It really is as simple as that,” says Marama Davidson.
Notes:
- The seven duties of care are as follows:
1. Every child’s whānau and whakapapa must be centred
2. Every child must be free from poverty
3. Every child must be supported, every step of their journey
4. Every child must be heard, respected, and placed at the heart of decision-making
5. Every child must be protected
6. Every child must have stable, nurturing care
7. Every child must be cared for by a well-supported, skilled workforce.
- The Open Letter to Minister Chhour can be found here: https://www.greens.org.nz/forthechildren