DAVEY SIGNS UP TO END CHILD ABUSE DEATHS

26.3.02

Edward Davey, Liberal Democrat MP for Kingston and Surbiton, is backing the NSPCC's campaign to put pressure on the Government to take greater steps to end the killing of children by their parents or carers.

Mr.Davey has signed an Early Day Motion which calls on the Government to take measures to stop these horrific deaths within a generation, as well as set specific targets for reducing such killings by half over the next decade.

"According to official Home Office figures, 1-2 children a week are killed by their parents or carers in England and Wales," explained Mr.Davey. "This is a truly shocking statistic which we should all want to change. The NSPCC has been running an excellent campaign to highlight the issue, and many of the local residents in Kingston & Surbiton have been taking part."

The NSPCC campaign calls for a systematic review of all child deaths to identify abuse and prevent it in the future, better systems and safeguards for trained professionals to work to in this field and the introduction of a Children's Commissioner to give the protection of our children the national prominence it deserves.

"The protection of children, as some of the most vulnerable in our society, should be of paramount importance," said Mr.Davey. "Central and local government - and indeed everyone in the local community - must do all they can to work towards the NSPCC's aims in this campaign."

Text of the motion

EDM 915 - NSPCC CAMPAIGN TO END CHILD CRUELTY WITHIN A GENERATION

That this House notes with alarm that one or two children are killed every week by their parents and carers; congratulates the NSPCC on its powerful advertising in support of its FULL STOP campaign to end child cruelty; accepts that we must all take responsibility for stopping child abuse; and calls on the Government to make a commitment to end child abuse deaths within a generation with a specific target of reducing such deaths by half in 10 years.