Today, the final civil society report to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, as part of its examination of the UK, has been published. 97 children’s charities from across England have warned that critical children’s rights issues must be urgently addressed by the UK Government to prevent worsening impacts on the most vulnerable children.

This month marks 2 years since we launched as the Alliance for Youth Justice! Our Interim CEO Saqib Deshmukh reflects on our achievements over the past year.

Find out what we’ve been up to in the months of December and January!

On Tuesday 24th January, the AYJ hosted our quarterly Members’ Meeting, featuring the Children’s Commissioner for England Rachel de Souza, and her Director of Policy, Planning and Delivery Juliette Cammaerts.

In line with our goal, as highlighted in our Strategy, to expand our communications to a greater variety of audiences, we are delighted to unveil the new AYJ Instagram account.

The AYJ has worked with members, stakeholders and children and young people to identify four priority areas for our policy influencing work across 2023-25: Rethinking policing; Explaining and reforming racial disparities; Ensuring custody is a last resort; and Reframing violence.

Read about our new strategic priorities for 2023-25

Introducing our new three-year project funded by the Barrow Cadbury Trust, examining the experiences of children and young people turning 18 while in contact with the justice system, exploring issues spanning youth and adult systems.

Find out what we’ve been up to in the month of November!

The AYJ has joined over 80 organisations in making Joint Statement in response to Universal Periodic Review, which highlighted a wide range of areas where the UK Government is failing to meet its international legal obligations.

On 15th November, the AYJ team, Leaders Unlocked and one representative from the Young Advocates met with Change Factory. Representatives from Change Factory were visiting London, and other countries, to build an international network for youth justice.

Find out what we’ve been up to in the month of October!

Find out what we’ve been up to in the month of September!

Our quarterly Members’ Meeting featured a panel on the harms posed to children by stop and search, with an emphasis on strip searching. Panellists were Yolanda Lear, Project Officer at Hackney Account; Dr Ian Joseph, Research Associate at the Open University; and Chris Bath, Chief Executive at the National Appropriate Adult Network.

AYJ comment on HM Inspectorate of Prisons progress report on HMYOI Wetherby and the Keppel unit. The report has highlighted a lack of improvement and continued uncertainty about Keppel’s role

AYJ has responded to the Children’s Rights Alliance for England’s (CRAE) call for evidence on the UK’s adherence to its obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).

Comment from AYJ Interim Chief Executive Saqib Deshmukh following the publication of HMIP’s thematic review of outcomes for girls in custody.

The AYJ hosted a meeting between the Ministry of Justice and AYJ members and the Young Advocates, to help the Ministry of Justice advise Ministers about the recommendations in the Independent Care Review.

Find out what we’ve been up to in the month of July!

The AYJ has signed a joint letter calling on Greater Manchester Police, Manchester City Council, and the Independent Advisory Group to retract a discriminatory letter sent to a number of individuals, including children, banning them from entry to the Caribbean Carnival of Manchester due to perceived ‘gang’ affiliations.