Statutory Duty to future generations (P.56/2026) – Children’s Rights Impact Assessment
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STATES OF JERSEY
STATUTORY DUTY TO FUTURE GENERATIONS (P.56/2026) – CHILDREN'S RIGHTS IMPACT ASSESSMENT
Presented to the States on 19th February 2026 by Deputy K.M. Wilson of St. Clement
STATES GREFFE
2026 P.56 Add.
CHILDREN'S RIGHTS IMPACT ASSESSMENT (CRIA)
PART 1: SCREENING
Name and title of Duty Bearer: Deputy K.M. Wilson of St. Clement Type of Duty Bearer:
(Minister, Elected Member or States Elected Member
Assembly Body)
Assessment completed by (if not
Members' Resources Team completed by duty bearer):
Date: 19.02.2026
1) Name and brief description of the proposed decision Decision' means: • an Assembly proposition • an amendment (or further amendment) to a proposition • for Ministerial duty-bearers, policy under development |
The Statutory Duty to Future Generations Assembly proposition seeks to ensure that when the Government and the States Assembly account for the economic, environmental, social, and financial impact of decisions on future generations when developing policy and laws. |
2) Which groups of children and young people are likely to be affected? Groups of children could include early years, primary or secondary education; young adults; children with additional learning needs; disabled children; children living in poverty; children from particular ethnic backgrounds; migrants; refugees; care experienced children and LGBTQ+ children |
All groups of children will be affected. |
3) What is the likely impact of the proposed decision on children and on their rights? Impacts may be positive or negative, direct or indirect Include whether different groups of children will be affected differently by the decision |
Best interests of the Child (Art 3) to be a top priority • The decision requires assessment of the impact of policies and laws on the future generations which enhances regard for the best interests of the child. Respect for the child's views (Art 12) • The decision would increase emphasis on the views of children and enhance consideration and consultation with children on policy and legislation. Right to health and health services (Art 24) • The decision requires that the impacts of any policies and laws on future generations, including those relating to health services, are accounted for which enhances the preservation of the right to health and health services for children. |
Right to social security (Art 26) • The decision requires that the impacts of any policies and laws on future generations, including those relating to social security, are accounted for which enhances the preservation of the right to social security for children Right to adequate standard of living (Art 27) • The decision requires that the impacts of any policies and laws on future generations, including those relating to standard of living, are accounted for which enhances the preservation of the right to an adequate standard of living for children. Right to education (Art 28) • The decision requires that the impacts of any policies and laws on future generations, including those relating to education, are accounted for which enhances the preservation of the right to education for children. |
4) Is a full Children's Rights Impact Assessment required? If you have identified impacts on children and their rights, a full CRIA should be completed. If no impacts are identified then a Full CRIA is not required, but please explain your rationale and how you reached this conclusion |
Yes. |
If screening determines that a full CRIA is needed, complete Part 2
Part 2: FULL CHILDREN'S RIGHTS IMPACT ASSESSMENT
5) What will be the impacts (positive or negative) of the proposed decision on children's rights?
For each of the UNCRC articles described below, click to identify any that may be relevant ☒
Category UNCRC Article Impact? YES NO
Non-discrimination (Art 2) ☐ ☐ Best interests of the Child (Art 3) to be a top priority ☒ ☐
Guiding
Principles Right to Life survival and development (Art 6) ☐ ☐
Respect for the child's views (Art 12) ☒ ☐
Right to birth registration, name and nationality (Art 7) ☐ ☐ Civil Rights
& Freedoms Right to an identity (Art 8) ☐ ☐
| Freedom of expression (Art 13) | ☐ | ☐ |
Freedom of thought, conscience, and religion (Art 14) Every child has the right to think and believe what they choose | ☐ | ☐ | |
Freedom of association (Art 15) Every child has the right to meet with other children and to join groups and organisations | ☐ | ☐ | |
Right to Privacy (Art 16) including family and home life | ☐ | ☐ | |
Access to information from the media (Art 17) Right to access reliable information from a variety of sources, in a format that children can understand | ☐ | ☐ | |
Protection against torture or other cruel, degrading or inhumane treatment or punishment (Art 37(a)) | ☐ | ☐ | |
Family Environment and Alternative Care | Respect for the responsibilities, rights and duties of parents (or where applicable, extended family or community) to guide their child as they grow up (Art 5) | ☐ | ☐ |
Responsibilities of both parents in the upbringing and development of their child (Art 18) | ☐ | ☐ | |
Children must not be separated from their parents against their will unless it is in their best interests (Art 9) | ☐ | ☐ | |
Family reunification (Art 10) | ☐ | ☐ | |
Abduction and non-return of children abroad (Art 11) | ☐ | ☐ | |
Right to a standard of living that is good enough to meet the child's physical and social needs and support their development (Art 27) | ☐ | ☐ | |
Special protection for children unable to live with their family (Art 20) | ☐ | ☐ | |
Best interests of the child in the context of Adoption (Art 21) | ☐ | ☐ | |
Review of treatment whilst in care (Art 25) If a child has been placed away from home for the purpose of care or protection (for example, with a foster family or in hospital), they have the right to a regular review of their treatment, the way they are cared for and their wider circumstances. | ☐ | ☐ | |
Protection from violence, abuse or neglect (Art 19) | ☐ | ☐ | |
Recovery from trauma and reintegration (Art 39) Children who have experienced neglect, abuse, exploitation, torture or who are victims of war must receive special support to help them recover their health, dignity, self-respect and social life. | ☐ | ☐ | |
Basic Health and Welfare | Rights of disabled children (Art 23) | ☐ | ☐ |
| Right to health and health services (Art 24) | ☒ | ☐ |
Right to social security (Art 26) | ☒ | ☐ | |
Right to adequate standard of living (Art 27) | ☒ | ☐ | |
Education, Leisure and Cultural Activities | Right to education (Art 28) | ☒ | ☐ |
Goals of education (Art 29) Education must develop every child's personality, talents and abilities to the full | ☐ | ☐ | |
Leisure, play and culture (Art 31) Every child has the right to relax, play and take part in cultural and artistic activities | ☐ | ☐ | |
Special Protection Measures | Special protection for refugee children (Art 22) | ☐ | ☐ |
Children and armed conflict (Art 38 and Optional Protocol #1) Governments must do everything they can to protect and care for children affected by war and armed conflict. | ☐ | ☐ | |
Children and juvenile justice (Art 40) Right to be treated with dignity and respect, right to legal assistance and a fair trial that takes account of age. | ☐ | ☐ | |
Inhumane treatment and detention (Art 37 (b)-(d)) Children should be arrested, detained or imprisoned only as a last resort and for the shortest time possible. | ☐ | ☐ | |
Recovery from trauma and reintegration (Art 39) Children who have experienced neglect, abuse, exploitation, torture or who are victims of war must receive special support to help them recover their health, dignity, self-respect and social life | ☐ | ☐ | |
Child labour and right to be protected from economic exploitation (Art 32) | ☐ | ☐ | |
Drug abuse (Art 33) | ☐ | ☐ | |
Sexual exploitation (Art 34) | ☐ | ☐ | |
Abduction, sale and trafficking of children (Art 35) | ☐ | ☐ | |
Protection from other forms of exploitation including for political activities, by the media or for medical research (Art 36) | ☐ | ☐ | |
Children belonging to a minority or an indigenous group (Art 30) | ☐ | ☐ | |
Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography | ☐ | ☐ |
| Optional protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict | ☐ | ☐ |
6) Information and research What evidence has been used to inform your assessment? | ||||
Evidence collected (include links to relevant publications) | What did the evidence tell you? | What are the data gaps, if any? | ||
Initiated in June 2022 this is a developing issue of importance to the United Nations with implications for children now and in the future. | N/A | |||
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Children are concerned about the environment - "More environmentally friendly: requests for more green areas, more bins, and more nature trails for children to learn about nature and the environment." (p. 14) Poverty and cost of living impacts upon children's lives – "There is no garden or space in area where I live. We just need a better flat where I can have my one room, and all the children should have the same. But mum says that is to expansive to move to a different place a specially when she is not sure how much money she is going to get in a week. No child should have the same problem as my family." (p. 14) Children want their views on matters taken into account – "Almost half of children (47%) thought that their views would make no | The survey was undertaken in 2018. | |||
The findings (Children's Commissioner for Jersey) Children aged 3-18+ were consulted. |
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| difference or very little difference to what happens in their local area." (p. 14) "Make young people feel like their views are important and that we have our voices heard, not just in school but Jersey as a whole. We don't get enough information about our government and voting, and when we do it's often not presented in a way that interests us. It means that we may not have our opinion heard when decisions which affect us and our futures are being discussed in the States." (p.24) Young people are concerned about access to employment opportunities – "More employment opportunities: young people wanted more employment opportunities at the weekend and during school holidays, so that they could earn money but also gain work experience." (p. 16) Affordable health services are important to children – "Being able to go the doctors without it costing my parents lots of money." (p. 22) |
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Office of the Children's Commissioner for Jersey – Annual Report 2024 | Based on consultation outcomes OCCJ identified a number of strategic priorities that reflect the importance of education, combating poverty, and access to health services, including – |
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| "Educational inequality Addressing disparities in educational access and outcomes to ensure every child has the opportunity to maximise their potential." "Children experiencing poverty Combating the effects of poverty on children, aiming to improve their standard of living and access to essential services." "Mental health and wellbeing Enhancing support systems to ensure children and young people have access to mental health resources." (p. 7) |
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7) Engagement with children What groups of children and young people (or those who speak on their behalf, such as social workers, teachers or youth workers) have been directly or indirectly involved in developing the decision? | ||
Groups consulted | How they were involved | What were the findings? |
Children were surveyed | Children were concerned about the environment, poverty, cost of living, affordable health services, being consulted and listened to, and employment opportunities. | |
The findings (Children's Commissioner for Jersey) Children aged 3-18+ were consulted. |
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8) Assessing Impact on children's rights
Based on the information collected and analysed above, what likely impact will the proposed decision have on the specific children's rights identified in question 5)?
Relevant UNCRC Articles (rights) identified in Q5 | Describe the positive or negative impacts on these rights | Which group(s) of children are likely to be affected? |
Best interests of the Child (Art 3) to be a top priority | The decision requires assessment of the impact of policies and laws on the future generations which enhances regard for the best interests of the child. | All children. |
Respect for the child's views (Art 12) | The decision should increase emphasis on the views of children and enhance consideration and consultation with children on policy and legislation. | All children. |
Right to health and health services (Art 24) | The decision requires that the impacts of any policies and laws on future generations, including those relating to health services, are accounted for which enhances the preservation of the right to health and health services for children. | All children. |
Right to social security (Art 26) | The decision requires that the impacts of any policies and laws on future generations, including those relating to social security, are accounted for which enhances the preservation of the right to social security for children | Children experiencing poverty. |
Right to adequate standard of living (Art 27) | The decision requires that the impacts of any policies and laws on future generations, including those relating to standard of living, are accounted for which enhances the preservation of the right to an adequate | All children. |
| standard of living for children. |
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The decision requires that the impacts of any policies and laws on future generations, including those relating to education, are accounted for which enhances the preservation of the right to education for children. | All children. | |||
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9) Is a full Children's Rights Impact Assessment required? If you have identified impacts on children and their rights, a full CRIA should be completed. If no impacts are identified then a Full CRIA is not required, but please explain your rationale and how you reached this conclusion | ||||
A full CRIA has been undertaken. | ||||
10) Conclusions In summary, what are your key findings on the impact of the proposed decision on the rights of Jersey children? |
The decision's focus on the duty to future generations positively impacts on the rights of Jersey children by ensuring the economic, environmental and social impact of policies and legislation on children, as part of those future generations, are accounted for. |