MARGINALISED CHILDREN, CORRUPTION AND THE ABUSE OF HUMAN RIGHTS

Early day motion 1310, tabled 19 April 2007 by Edward Leigh (Conservative). Signed by 92 members.

That this House recognises that one of the main sources of the suffering endured by former child soldiers, street children, children in conflict with the law and other marginalised people in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and other developing countries is corruption and contempt for human rights on the part of politicians, officials, police and soldiers; notes in particular that police, soldiers and prison staff regularly subject these children to extortion, beatings and worse and that round-ups of street children by local government officials are often extremely violent; welcomes the Government's commitment to help the people of these countries to tackle the twin problems of corruption and impunity and notes that the establishment of specific, visible, proactive agencies such as community-based anti-corruption and impunity commissions involving government, the judiciary, civil society, the international community and especially the media can make an important contribution to this end; and calls on the Government to work for the establishment of such agencies, as part of an intensified effort to stop the abuse of the rights of the millions of marginalised children worldwide.

Signatures by party: Labour 49, Liberal Democrat 23, Conservative 11, DUP 4, Social Democratic and Labour Party 3, Independent 1, Plaid Cymru 1.