Really Useful Reports - 2011

Letting Children be Children - Report of an Independent Review of the Commercialisation and Sexualisation of Childhood [Reg Baily Review]

Department of Eduation

www.education.gov.uk

June 2011

Reg Bailey was appointed by the Secretary of State for Education on 6 December 2010 to lead an independent review of the sexualisation and commercialisation of childhood. His report, published on 6 June 2011, stated: "What we would like to see - that sexualised images used in public places and on television, the internet, music videos, magazines, newspapers and other places are more in line with what parents find acceptable, and that the public space becomes more family friendly." Specific key recommendations from the report are:

1. Ensuring that magazines and newspapers with sexualised images on their covers are not in easy sight of children.
2. Reducing the amount of on-street advertising containing sexualised imagery in locations where children are likely to see it. The advertising industry
3. Ensuring the content of pre-watershed television programming better meets parents' expectations.
4. Introducing Age Rating for Music Videos.
5. Making it easier for parents to block adult and age-restricted material from the internet.

Download the full report and appendices from the Department of Education website:
Letting Children be Children - Report of an Independent Review of the Commercialisation and Sexualisation of Childhood

Call to end violence against women and girls: action plan

Home Office

www.homeoffice.gov.uk

March 2011

This action plan provides an overview of the wide range of actions the Government will be taking forward with key partners to deliver its strategy to tackle Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). The overarching strategic narrative was set out in Call to End Violence Against Women and Girls on 25 November 20101. This provides the framework for this action plan and makes a long-term commitment to work towards the prevention of VAWG. It also recognises that it is an international issue which occurs in all countries and crosses borders. Both the strategic narrative and action plan build on extensive consultation with the statutory sector, voluntary organisations, women and girls and the wider public.

Download the report:
Home Office call to end violence against women and girls: action plan

Government response to the Stern Review

Home Office

www.homeoffice.gov.uk

March 2011

The government's response to Baroness Stern's review (see further below) into how rape complaints are handled by public authorities in England and Wales was published on 8th March 2011.

To download the report and link to related information, visit:
www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/crime/call-end-violence-women-girls/government-stern-review

Minority Rights: International Standards and Guidance for Implementation

United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner

www.ohchr.org

February 2011

The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in February 2011 released the report "Minority Rights: International Standards and Guidance for Implementation." The report highlights that the rights of minorities, although defined in international human rights law, are far from being realized, particularly the rights of minorities that are victims of armed conflict or internal strife. In general, minorities, whether ethnic, religious or linguistic, continue to experience discrimination and may lack access to services, land and property, or even nationality, the report notes.

The report is aimed to raise additional awareness among staff of UN organisations and specialised agencies of minority rights and the impediments minorities face in the enjoyment of these rights. It looks at minority rights protection in relation to international human rights law and mechanisms and examines how to improve the situation of the world's minorities.

Download the report:
Minority Rights: International Standards and Guidance for Implementation (PDF 637KB)
This report is a PDF file requiring Adobe Reader / Access Reader accessibility.

From Rights to Action - using international rights and mechanisms on violence against women in the UK

Rights of Women

www.rightsofwomen.org.uk

January 2011

From Rights to Action provides a practical introduction to the international human rights law, policy and mechanisms relevant to combating violence against women and how they relate to law and practice in the United Kingdom (UK). It is a vital resource for non-governmental organisations (NGOs), such as women’s organisations, working to support women affected by violence in the UK.

To download the report and link to related information, visit:
From Rights to Action - using international rights and mechanisms on violence against women in the UK (PDF 966kB)
This report is a PDF file requiring Adobe Reader / Access Reader accessibility.

Please also note the following errata to the report:

• Page 43 - Please note that the Beijing Platform for Action was adopted in 1995, not 1994 as stated in Chapter 4, page 43.
• Page 12 - On 24 July 2007, the Government of the United Kingdom notified the Secretary-General of the United Nations that it had decided to withdraw the following reservation made upon ratification to the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women: "(d) The United Kingdom reserves the right to continue to apply such immigration legislation governing entry into, stay in, and departure from, the United Kingdom as it may deem necessary from time to time and, accordingly, its acceptance of Article 15 (4) and of the other provisions of the Convention is subject to the provisions of any such legislation as regards persons not at the time having the right under the law of the United Kingdom to enter and remain in the United Kingdom."