Dorset Council becomes rights respecting council for young people

Councillors have unanimously voted to support a motion making Dorset Council a rights respecting council - UN convention on rights of the child.

At the meeting of Full Council on 15 May, members of the Youth Council made a presentation about the United Nations Convention of Rights of the Child (UNCRC), and what it means to children and young people in Dorset.  

The UNCRC is the most widely ratified human rights treaty in history, standing as a universal commitment to the dignity, wellbeing, and development of every child. It recognises that children, by virtue of their age and vulnerability, require specific protections and the freedom to grow, learn, and thrive in safe, supportive environments.

Cllr Duncan Sowry-House proposed the motion. He said:

“I was really proud of our young people who spoke to council and for how well they presented.

“This motion makes a clear, public commitment to becoming a Rights Respecting Authority — an authority that does more than care for its children and young people, it actively empowers them.

“This is not about symbolic gestures. It is about embedding a culture of respect, inclusion, and child-centred decision-making into the very fabric of our policies and services. We already have a strong foundation with Dorset Council’s 10-year plan for children, young people, and families. Now is the time to strengthen that foundation by explicitly aligning it with the UNCRC.”

Cllr Clare Sutton, Cabinet member for Children’s Services, seconded the motion and added:

“Ever since I was first elected I’ve had a nagging concern that children and young people are not as much at the forefront of our collective mind as they should be: they don’t email us about parking or planning issues, and they don’t get to vote.

“By passing this motion, we take a significant step towards putting them at the heart of all we do.” 

Dorset Council is the first unitary authority in the country to pass a motion such as this. As well as receiving an Outstanding rating from Ofsted earlier in May, it marks the start of an exciting journey where the council can hold, support and enable children and young people across Dorset. It is now hoped that partner organisations will also adopt this.