Wales Behind In Child Care

It has been revealed in a new report that Wales is tragically behind its European counterparts when protecting its children.

Children In Wales, a children's charity published the study by the Child Safety Report Card, which found that the country ranked near bottom, at 21 out of 24 European countries, when it comes to protecting children against accidents.

Each of the 24 countries were giving a card showing their statistical performance in areas such as fall prevention, burn and scald prevention and passenger safety. It then has an overall score which is compared to other countries.

Whilst Wales scored quite well on pedestrian and car safety, it ranked poorly on water safety, burns and scalds, fall preventions and child safety leadership. As a result 81 children and adolescents living in Wales died from personal injuries suffered in accidents.
Reform is needed to protect the young generation

Karen McFarlen, Child Safety Development Officer at Children in Wales, stated that the reason why the country has such a low prevention mark is due to lack of responsibility by the Welsh Government - an issue that needs to be addressed quickly:

"In order to reduce the large numbers of children and young people killed and seriously injured by accidents each year, it is crucial that the Welsh Assembly Government take ownership of all child accidents and lead the way in sustainable and effective prevention measures," she stated.

The one sector that could not agree with this more are injury lawyers, who have called for the government to step up to their responsibilities:

"Children have a right to safe, healthy, and happy upbringings. As parents, caretakers, and responsible citizens, it is our responsibility to work towards providing this for all of our [...] children," said injury lawyer Jeffrey Killino.

As a result, Children in Wales has regularly been meeting with the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) to find a solution to the dire problem. In an attempt to improve the quality of children's lives, the WAG has given the organisation £244,000 until 2011 to reduce the number of child accidents and personal injuries.

"I am delighted to announce that Children in Wales have been meeting with WAG to discuss how to take child safety forward in Wales, ensuring a co-ordinated, effective and long-term solution," MacFarlen said.

Jane Hutt, Welsh Assembly Government Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills said Wales needs to follow the Netherlands lead, when it comes to accident reduction, as the Netherlands witnessed 41% of children being injured or killed.

"We do score well in some areas and we need to build on these as well as taking positive action to address those areas that need more work. We also need to learn lessons from other countries where they have scored better than Wales," Hutt commented.
Reality check

The Children's Commissioner for Wales, Keith Towler, noted that it is important for the country to take on board the key message, so more lives are saved:

"What is important is that this report card does not just act as a measure of the poor progress in relation to some aspects of child safety, but acts as a spur to concerted action on behalf of government, local authorities and other bodies.

"As a nation we have to take on board the key messages and crucially we must engage children and young people about their own safety and how they can be involved."

Listed below are more articles related to the above article from the "Legal" article category.

People interested in the above article "Wales Behind In Child Care" are also interested in the related articles listed below:

 

How to Legally Change Your Name

Changing your name is a simple legal procedure that doesn't require a lawyer. You can't just change your name though, you have to go through the appropriate legal procedure. If you feel uncomfortable handling your own paperwork you can hire a lawyer, but of course that would cost a lot more than handling the paperwork yourself.

How to Divorce Without a Lawyer

In an uncontested divorce you can represent yourself. You don't have to rely on lawyers to resolve every issue. In an uncontested divorce you have full control over the divorce terms (who gets what). Most couples in the end will settle their divorce outside of court without outside assistance anyway because many lawyers are there mainly to fan the flames and extend the divorce as long as possible. Of course that's in order to collect the maximum amount of fees possible. In a contested divorce the divorce terms are out of your hands because those terms are disputed in court by your lawyers.

Ten Tips For Changing Your Name

If you’ve decided you want to change your name, whether due to marriage, divorce or for personal reasons, there are some things you might not have considered. Here a few important and useful tips if you plan on changing your name...

DUI Arizona Laws - Penalties Guide

Being arrested for an offense DUI can be a very upsetting experience. It may be your first time ever being accused of a crime and you may not know what your rights are or where you should turn. It is therefore important to know the basics of the Arizona DUI laws and penalties to ensure that you stay on the right side of the law.

What Is A Prenuptial Agreement - And Who Needs One?

A prenuptial agreement is essentially a legally binding agreement made before a couple gets married or enters into a civil partnership. The agreement deals with what should happen to assets of the couple in the event of divorce, though various additions can also be made including provisions and recommendations for alimony and the division of property. Prenuptial contracts often go by alternate names, such as ante nuptial agreements or premarital agreements; however, the usage is the same.

Top Five Reasons To Sign A Prenuptial Agreement

If you are about to wed, the issue of a prenuptial agreement is likely to be mentioned at some stage. After numerous high profile divorce cases, an increasing number of people are understandably worried about protecting their assets if the worse should happen. Yet talking about a divorce before you've even gotten married seems like a horrible things to do, and the very epitome of romance being dead. But consider this – can you really afford not to have a prenuptial in place? Here are some of the most convincing reasons to sign a prenuptial agreement before you say “I do”:

What to Do Before Saying 'I Do': Six Tips For A Prenuptial Agreement

Considering a prenuptial agreement before getting married may seem unromantic, but considering such an agreement can mean that both parties are entering into a marriage with their assets protected. It helps simplify matters, so a couple can just focus on being together rather than the always messy aspects of finances. If you are considering a prenuptial agreement, here are some tips regarding your own prenuptial agreement...