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Kate is passionate about contributing to public debate on a wide range of important issues. Here are some of the issues she has touched on in the past.
- Should successful athletes have to pay back the AIS 10 Jun 2009
- Let's give youth voice now for a better future 12 Oct 2008
- Organ donation it's the greatest gift of all 21 Sep 2008
- Is safe sex message falling on deaf ears 31 Aug 2008
- Grassroots funding is key to Olympic glorys 10 Aug 2008
- Easy to overlook big issue of homelessness 20 Jul 2008
- Trailblazer Natasha leaves lasting legacy 29 Jun 2008
- Heavy hitters boost our World Cup hopes 01 Jun 2008
- Youth Forum Discussion Paper 17 May 2008
- We can't take sport for granted 11 May 2008
- Women truly can do anything be anything 20 Apr 2008
- Let the Games begin with all our athletes 30 Mar 2008
- Proud past but future a challenge for women 09 Mar 2008
- Young people will be heard at highest level 17 Feb 2008
- Our nation has changed dramatically in three weeks 16 Dec 2007
- Mobile Phone Towers 23 Sep 2007
- Bradken Foundry 01 Jul 2007
- Full Fees 03 Jun 2007
- Eating Disorders 17 Dec 2006
- Iraq 27 Jul 2006
- Electoral Laws 26 Jun 2006
- Dental 08 Jan 2006
- Make Poverty History 18 Sep 2005
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
Media Releases
2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 200820 Nov 2009 - Twentieth Anniversary Of The Convention On The Rights Of The Child
The Hon Kate Ellis MP
Minister for Early Childhood Education, Child Care and Youth
20 November, 2009
Joint Media Release
Twentieth Anniversary Of The Convention On The Rights Of The Child
Joint Media Release with The Hon Jenny Macklin MP, Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and The Hon Robert McClelland MP, Attorney General
The Australian Government today welcomed the twentieth anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Australia was among the first nations to become a party to the Convention in December 1990, which has now been ratified by over 190 countries.
The Convention clearly demonstrates the international community's commitment to ensuring the protection of children's rights.
The Rudd Government is committed to ensuring children in Australia live in safe and supportive environments, free from abuse and neglect through The National Framework for Protecting Australia's Children 2009-2020, endorsed by the Council of Australian Governments in April.
The Framework seeks to involve children and young people in decisions affecting their lives and the potential for a National Children's Commissioner is currently being explored by the Community & Disability Services Ministers' Advisory Council.
The Government is continuing to address the difficulties faced by children in vulnerable situations, including Indigenous children, children living without homes and children from homes which have been unable to provide for all their basic needs.
The Government's apology this week to those who suffered abuse and neglect as children in institutional care: the Forgotten Australians and former child migrants recognised that the protection of our children is paramount.
The Government is committed to helping Australia's more than 2.7 million young people play a full role in Australian life. It is very important we continue to ensure young Australians reach their full potential and that the most effective policies, programs and services are in place to respond to their specific life circumstances and needs.
The Australian Government also paid tribute to the work done by non-government organisations to improve the lives of children, both in Australia and abroad.
Australia is also a party to the Convention's Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict and the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.
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