This is a summary report of the Emerging patterns in place-based approaches: International perspectives roundtable, hosted by the Centre for Community Child Health in July 2017.

The report looks at how New Zealand is putting the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (Children’s Convention) into practice, and where it can do better.

Attempting to keep and reunite children with even highly dysfunctional parents at almost all costs has swung the pendulum of child protection systems too far in favour of defending parental rights at the expense of protecting children’s rights and best interests.

Oranga Tamariki aims to put children’s and young people’s needs at the centre. Children and young people need different responses depending on their circumstances and characteristics.

The Attorney-General’s Department welcomes comments and feedback on Australia’s draft combined report on the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict, and the Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.