CRC concluding observations 2023, paragraph 46
Plain English recommendation
Government should: (a) Do more to end child poverty and give all children an adequate standard of living, including by increasing benefits to deal with the increased cost of living and removing the two-child limit and benefit cap; (b) Deal with the causes of homelessness among children, do more to reduce the use of temporary and ‘contingency’ accommodation, and significantly increase the availability of adequate and long-term social housing; (c) Put the best interests of the child first whenever eviction is a possibility; ensure that minority groups are not targeted with eviction and that alternatives to eviction are always considered; (d) Take a child rights-based approach to combating poverty, especially for children of single parents, disabled children, Roma, Gypsy and Traveller children and those from other minority groups, asylum-seeking and refugee children, children in large families, and children leaving care.
Original UN recommendation
Noting with deep concern the large number of children living in poverty, food insecurity and homelessness, the Committee recommends that the State party: (a) Develop or strengthen existing policies, with clear targets, measurable indicators and robust monitoring and accountability mechanisms, to end child poverty and ensure that all children have an adequate standard of living, including by increasing social benefits to reflect the rising costs of living and abolishing the two-child limit and benefit cap for social security benefits; (b) Address the root causes of homelessness among children, strengthen measures to phase out temporary and “contingency” accommodation schemes, and significantly increase the availability of adequate and long-term social housing for families in need, with a view to ensuring that all children have access to affordable quality housing; (c) Ensure that the best interests of the child are given primary consideration in all eviction matters, that evictions are not targeted at families belonging to minority groups and that any evictions are always subject to adequate alternatives; (d) Ensure that measures to combat poverty comply with a child rights-based approach and include a particular focus on children in disadvantaged situations, especially children of single parents, children with disabilities, Roma, Gypsy and Traveller children and children belonging to other minority groups, asylum-seeking and refugee children, children in large families, and children leaving care.
Date of UN examination
18/05/2023
UN article number
6, 18 (3), 24, 26, 27 (1)–(3), 33
Original UN document
Download the original CRC concluding observations 2023 on the UN website.