Action on Rights for Children believes that children are valuable members of society - not merely trainee adults, a minority interest group or some kind of problem to be managed.

We work for children’s rights, in particular their civil liberties and data protection rights.

We think that:

• Children’s opinions should be sought and considered on every matter that affects them.

• Effective child protection is essential, but so is ensuring that children are not segregated from adults, or that their privacy is not invaded by intrusive monitoring systems. We work to ensure that the balance is maintained.

• Children are born into families and most parents do a very good job of loving and caring for them and protecting their rights. It is only when they don’t that the state should intervene.

• The law is important, and it applies to everyone – including government ministers, local authority agencies and the police. The law should be clear enough for young people to understand if they commit an offence, and to exercise their legal rights in relation to their private information and their public freedoms.

• Emerging technologies are exciting and have many benefits for children and young people. While keeping alert for potential dangers, we should ensure that children and parents are educated about them, and that they are made as safe and simple as possible for children to use.