Living in poverty undermines children’s rights guaranteed by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). For example, it has a negative impact on children’s right to life and survival, and to develop to their maximum potential (Article 6 UNCRC), to an adequate standard of living, e.g. to adequate food, clothing and housing (Article 27 UNCRC), to the highest attainable standard of mental and physical health (Article 24 UNCRC), to education (Article 28 UNCRC), to participate in forums and spaces to influence decisions (Article 12), to play and enjoy recreational activities and culture (Article 31 UNCRC); and to access essential services without discrimination (Article 2 UNCRC).
As reported by the End Child Poverty Network, the child poverty rate has risen in Wales; rising to more than 1 in 3 children in Wales, with at least a quarter of children in every Welsh local authority living in poverty. Karen McFarlarne author of Children in Wales 6th Annual Child and Family Poverty survey (September 2022) comments:
‘34% of children and young people in Wales now live in poverty. The impacts of poverty can be far reaching and touch every aspect of children’s lives. Right now, as you are reading this many families in Wales are having to make the decision to either feed their children or use electricity.’
