New Committee for Children

Press, 19 June 1980, Page 13

New Committee for Children

The New Zealand National Commission for International Year of the Child winds up this month, believing that it has created a public impact and involvement probably unequalled anywhere in the world, says the chairman, Mr Jim Belich.

A public opinion survey last December showed unusually high levels of public awareness, support and direct participation. “The side effects are positive, constructive and innumerable,” .he said, “but to ensure that the ripples don’t subside a national, multidisciplinary Committee for Children has been established.”

The main purpose of the committee is to monitor, co-ordinate, and promote the implementation of the hundreds of recommendations considered by the national commission at its final meeting in February. One of the clear messages of I.Y.C. was the need for concern with the child as a whole. '.While excellent work was being done in specific

areas such as health, education, social welfare, no organisation of government department existed which was concerned with children’s overall development. The new structure was LY.C.’s response to this need.

Member organisations of I.Y.C. were asked if they would be willing to support a loose but formal framework — “the base,of a pyramid of concern for our children.”

Already fifty-five national organisations, including several Government departments, have agreed to join, says Mr Belich. Each has nominated convenors and opted for up to 3 out of 12 specific areas of interest.

At its final meeting the T.Y.C. executive selected convenors of 12 task forces, each concerned with a particular field.

The 12 convenors now constitute the executive' of the Committee for Children, who are responsible to the base organisations.

“This will ensure that the momentum of I.Y.C. is

maintained. A balanced, multidisciplinary group of able and dedicated people are available to push it along, acting as advocates for children, in the spirit of I.Y.C. “This structure is required to review, by the end of 1981, the need for its own continuing existence,”' says Mr Belich. It will operate on a shoestring budget. A small secretariat will be housed from about mid-July on the second floor of Turnbull House, Bowen Street, Wellington (728-856). It will inherit the records and modest budget surplus of the commission.