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Child Welfare

The evolution of children’s rights in Great Britain

Although children’s rights as we know them have only been around for about seven decades, people have been creating laws, organisations and proposals protecting the interests of children and young people long before that.

In Great Britain, while specific laws vary across England, Scotland and Wales regarding children’s rights and protections – particularly for those in foster care – they all have evolved to ensure that those under the age of 18 have the best start in life and can seek help when needed.

Here’s what you need to know from us at Beacon Fostering regarding the history of children’s rights in Great Britain.

Before the United Nations

The first laws related to child welfare were created in the Victorian era, and initially ensured mandatory education for children from aged 5 to 10 in 1870, with the leaving age being raised to 11 in 1893, then 12 in 1899.

In 1918, the leaving age changed to 14. This was also the year that school fees for elementary or primary education were abolished.

There was also the creation of specialist education for blind, deaf and other disabled children through the Elementary Education (Blind and Deaf Children) Act 1893 and the Elementary Education (Defective and Epileptic Children) Act 1899.

In 1924, the League of Nations adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child.

After the United Nations

When the successor to the League of Nations, the United Nations, was established after World War II, it adopted an expanded version of The Declaration in 1959. 30 years later, The Convention of the Rights of the Child followed, which the UK ratified in 1991. This means the nation is bound to adhere to the rights by international law.