Latest news with #RacheldeSouza
Spectator
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Spectator
What the kids get right about the assisted dying bill
The brothers Grimm knew that it sometimes takes a child to call out what grown-ups think but dare not say. Whether it is that the emperor wears no clothes or that our parliamentarians show little compassion, you can count on children to speak the truth. Take the latest report from the Children's Commissioner, Rachel de Souza. Asked about the Assisted Suicide Bill, which reaches report stage this week, the teenage respondents' approach is thoughtful and compassionate. In stark contrast to the shallow and weaselly debate that supporters of the Bill have engaged in, here are 15- and 16-year-olds who address the ethical dilemma head-on, pointing out that the legislation risks making 'some lives more valuable than others'. They ask, 'is life with a disability not worth living?' All share an understanding of the potential for coercion and discrimination inherent in the Bill in its current formulation: 'What if', asks one 16-year-old girl, 'it ends up removing people from society that people don't want in society?' Some of the respondents are disabled themselves, while others have family members who are approaching their end of life.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Children's voices must be heard in assisted dying Bill debate, says commissioner
The Children's Commissioner has called for under-18s to have their views considered on assisted dying, branding it 'deeply concerning' they have not been consulted about the proposed new law going through Parliament. Dame Rachel de Souza said the topic is 'one of the most profound moral and philosophical debates of a generation' and said its implications for children in later life are 'undeniable'. Only people aged 18 and older would be eligible for an assisted death under the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill if it became law. It would allow only terminally ill adults in England and Wales, with fewer than six months to live, to apply for an assisted death – subject to approval by two doctors and a panel featuring a social worker, senior legal figure and psychiatrist. ADVERTISEMENT But Dame Rachel said children's views should be heard, saying it must be considered whether, for some young people with additional needs, a change in the law could result in 'a belief in a child that their life somehow has less value than others because of their condition'. Publishing a 10-page report on Wednesday on children's views on assisted dying, she said it was 'deeply concerning to me whenever legislation that affects children's lives passes through Parliament without taking their views and opinions into consideration.' The commissioner added: 'Such is the case for the Assisted Dying Bill. 'The Bill currently before Parliament seeks to legalise assisted dying for terminally ill adults or adults living with life-limiting conditions. 'Though the proposed legislation applies only to those over the age of 18, its implications for children — especially those nearing legal adulthood — are undeniable.' ADVERTISEMENT Dame Rachel acknowledged that the views of the children her office had spoken to do not speak for every child and are 'nuanced and diverse'. But she added: 'Their deep consensus was that whatever their view, they must be engaged in this debate, one of the most profound moral and philosophical debates of a generation. 'I absolutely agree. It is essential to listen, to reflect, and to ensure that policy and law-making does not overlook the perspective of those they will one day impact. 'Whether or not a child would, on turning 18, become within scope of the Assisted Dying Bill's proposals, whether it would allow a family member to end their own life and leave them without adequate support in their grief, or whether it fosters a belief in a child that their life somehow has less value than others because of their condition – all their voices deserve to be heard as part of this conversation.' The commissioner said she has written to Kim Leadbeater, the Labour MP behind the Bill, to share her report. ADVERTISEMENT Among those quoted, anonymously, were a 15-year-old girl who said the 'government gives no social care to people like me and then gives me an option to choose to die if I feel I can no longer live', and a 16-year-old who questioned whether a law might end up 'removing people from society that people don't want in society?'. But another 16-year-old girl said a law could 'relieve pain, suffering' for 'those who are very ill, very sick' and a boy of the same age said 'there might be people who (this is helpful for)' if someone has 'not much quality of life'. Ms Leadbeater has been contacted for comment. The Bill is due to return to the House of Commons for further debate on May 16.
Epoch Times
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
Commissioners Call for Change in Law to Ban Smacking of Children
The UK's Children's Commissioners have urged the government to introduce a legal ban on smacking children by amending the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill as it progresses through Parliament. In a joint statement, the Commissioners described the current law—which still allows the defence of 'reasonable punishment' in England and Northern Ireland—as 'outdated and morally repugnant.' Their intervention follows renewed public attention on the issue after the murder of 10-year-old Sara Sharif in Surrey. In November 2024, her father, stepmother, and uncle were convicted after years of Sara's abuse that her father reportedly described as 'legal punishment.' 'Let this be Sara's legacy, that all children in the United Kingdom are given the same protection as anyone else,' said Children's Commissioner for England, Dame Rachel de Souza. She urged the government to remove the 'reasonable punishment' defence from both English law and the Children Act 2004. Related Stories 4/17/2024 3/21/2022 During the bill's second reading in the House of Lords on Thursday, Baroness Anne Longfield, former Children's Commissioner for England, echoed the call for change. 'The change has happened in Wales, in Scotland and in Ireland, and the world has not fallen in. It is probably time we caught up,' she told peers. Unequal Protection Across the UK Physical punishment of children has already been banned in Scotland (2020) and Wales (2022). However, children in England and Northern Ireland still do not have full legal protection from physical assault. The government has said it will review evidence from Wales, due by the end of 2025, before deciding on potential law reform. 'We do not intend to legislate on the defence at this stage,' 'We recognise that parents have different views and approaches to disciplining their children. We need to consider their voices, and those of the child, trusted stakeholders and people who might be disproportionately affected by the removal of the defence, in making any decisions. 'Let us also be clear: those children who have been abused or murdered by their parents would not have been covered by the defence of reasonable punishment. Crown Prosecution Service guidance is very clear about what is acceptable within the law to justify reasonable punishment,' she added. Despite the government's stance, the Commissioners argue that the law must be changed to ensure equal protection from assault for all children across the UK. 'The experience of Scotland and Wales, where children are already offered full protection from assault and violence, does not suggest any increase in parents and carers being criminalised – no loving, well-meaning parent has anything to fear from a defence to assault being removed from the law,' their statement said. Children's Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza during an interview with PA Media on College Green, in Westminster, London, on March 27, 2023. Yui Mok/PA Doctors and Charities Back Legislative Change The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) has found that children who experience physical punishment are 2.6 times more likely to suffer mental health issues and more than twice as likely to experience serious abuse. RCPCH Officer for Child Protection Andrew Rowland has argued against 'grey areas when it comes to safeguarding children.' 'Changing the laws in England and Northern Ireland will give us absolute clarity and ensure there are no instances where it is acceptable or lawful to smack a child,' he said in a statement last year. Children's charity Barnardo's and a coalition of organisations have also Opponents Voice Concerns Campaigners opposing the ban say it would criminalise well-meaning parents and overwhelm child protection services with minor cases. The The group argues that the current law already protects children from abuse. 'The amendment would only serve to outlaw the mildest tap on the hand or a gentle smack on the back of the legs. Anything which leaves more than a transitory reddening of the skin is already illegal.' 'It needs to be enforced, not changed,' the group
Scottish Sun
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Ten worrying signs you're putting your phone before your child – and how your screen obsession affects your kids
Read on to see if you're present and engaged with your child, or if your smartphone is becoming an obstacle to your parenting NOT APPY Ten worrying signs you're putting your phone before your child – and how your screen obsession affects your kids ARE you glued to your phone at mealtimes, is your child having to repeat themselves before you listen to them, are you checking your device before giving your little one a cuddle in the morning? You are not alone. Dame Rachel de Souza, the children's commissioner for England has criticised the ever-growing number of parents who spend too much time glued to their mobile phones - and said that we need to look at our own behaviour if we want to protect our children from smartphone usage. 3 Take our quiz to find out if you are putting your phone before your offspring Credit: Getty - Contributor 'As adults we are ourselves dopamine-addicted, stuck in a cycle of scrolling yet we still have no idea of what our children are seeing,' she wrote last month. Are you present and engaged with your child, or is your smartphone becoming an obstacle? Take our quiz, devised by parenting expert Liat Hughes Joshi who wrote How to Unplug Your Child, to find out if you are putting your phone before your offspring. How much do you use yours? 3 What's your solution if your child complains they're bored on a Sunday afternoon? Credit: Getty 1. You're at your child's birthday party and they're about to blow out the candles. What are you doing? A. Trying to get that perfect photo for Instagram, while shouting: 'Wait, do it again', until you get the right shot. B. Filming the moment and watching through your screen – although you do realise that you should be more present. C. Clapping, cheering and singing 'Happy Birthday' without a phone in sight. You'll probably take a few snaps of the party, but you think it's more important to take part in the celebration. 2. Your child asks you to tuck them in, but you're in the middle of scrolling through a viral video. What happens next? A. You tell them: 'One second' and they eventually fall asleep waiting. B. You delay going into their room while you finish the video, but then head in a bit grouchy for having to stop. Your child is annoyed at having had to wait. Bedtime is spoiled. Stop blaming social media billionaires and MPs for kids' mobile phone habits - just be a better parent C. You press pause and put your phone down to focus on their bedtime routine. The video was hilarious, but it'll still be there later. 3. You're waiting to collect your child at the school gates. They run towards you, excited to share news about their day. What's your reaction? A. You barely look up from your phone and say: 'Hang on, let me just finish this message.' B. You give them a quick hug and half-listen while 'just answering a quick email'. C. You put your phone away when they approach the gates, greet them enthusiastically and show interest in their tale asking: 'What happened next?' 4. It's tea time and you're eating with your kids at the table. Where's your phone? A. Right there with you, obviously. You eat with one hand and use your phone with the other, while your child watches YouTube. B. On the table 'just in case'. You keep looking at it longingly out of the corner of your eye when chatting to your child. It's distracting even when it's not being used. C. In another room. Meals are a great opportunity to chat and catch up with your little one about their day. 5. Your child wants to ask you a question. What's the usual sequence of events? A. Your partner shouts to get your attention as you've been so engrossed in your phone that you have not heard your child call your name. B. Your child literally puts their head between you and your phone to ask the question. C. Your child asks once and you answer - with a follow up question to continue the conversation. 6. Your child proudly shows you a drawing, Lego creation, or handmade craft. How do you respond? A. Say: 'Oh that's nice', without looking up from your phone. B. Take a quick picture of it to share with friends, but forget to praise their work directly. C. Put your phone aside, ask about what they created and how and why they made it. 7. You've agreed to play a family board game, but halfway through, you hear message notifications and feel the urge to check your phone. What happens? A. You sneakily look at it, then get sucked into scrolling and miss your turn. Several times. Your child needs to tell you to play your move and gets annoyed. B. You check your phone 'just for a second', but do so more than once and seem a bit distracted. C. You stay fully engaged, even if that Monopoly game feels like it's lasting forever. 8. It's sports day and your child is competing in a few events. What are you doing? A. Posting a live play-by-play to your WhatsApp group instead of cheering. You barely look up for their races. B. Watching, sort of, while sneakily checking your phone for work messages. C. Shouting their name and celebrating their efforts at the finish line with a big hug – whether they came first or last. 9. You're on holiday, surrounded by beautiful scenery. The rest of the family wants to explore a hidden trail. What do you do? A. Stay behind to upload beach photos to Instagram. B. Go along, but keep stopping to take pictures for your social feed. C. Leave your phone behind – or at least on silent in your bag – and immerse yourself in the adventure together. 10. Your child complains they're bored on a Sunday afternoon. What's your solution? A. Hand them a phone or tablet so they'll leave you alone to look at yours. B. Suggest something fun, but keep checking your messages while they play. C. Brainstorm a creative activity together, like building a fort or baking cookies, and put your phone away. What your answers mean 3 If you're constantly glued to your phone, your kids will eventually be too Credit: Getty Parenting expert Liat Hughes Joshi shares her advice, based on your answers: Mostly As: The Screen-Obsessed Parent Your phone is clearly in charge of your parenting and, more seriously, of you. Do you really want to miss out on your little one's childhood because you were too busy viewing celebs' social posts? You're also setting a poor example, as kids naturally copy their parents' behaviour. So if you're constantly glued to your phone, chances are they eventually will be, too. And it'll be harder to set boundaries. Now's the time to pledge to cut down the screen interference. Are there parts of your day that you can commit to keeping screen-free? Maybe the hour before and after school, during meals and at the kids' bedtimes? Write your new rules down and stick with them. Ask others in the family to keep you accountable. Putting your phone out of sight and silencing all but essential notifications will cut the urge to scroll. Mostly Bs: The Distracted Parent You have good intentions, but your phone just keeps creeping in, preventing you from being fully 'present' with your child. You're aware of the problem, but can't ignore that urge to scroll. It's like an itch that needs scratching. Find ways to reduce the importance of your phone in your life. Keep notifications turned off, or switch to allow phone calls only when you're spending quality time with your child, or during specific parts of the day/week. Screen-free Sundays work for some families. Leave your phone plugged in, out of reach to reduce temptation. If you have an essential task to do, such as checking work messages, explain to your child that Mummy or Daddy has to do this, but won't be long. Then put your phone away immediately – no sneaking a look at Facebook or football scores. Mostly Cs: The Present Parent You've nailed the parenting and technology juggle, using gadgets when it suits you and adds something to your lives, rather than allowing them to take over family life. You're also setting a healthy example to your child. Ofcom's 2022 report highlights the role of parents in shaping children's digital habits and the impact of parental modelling. If you, the grown-up, are setting your phone aside and not in its thrall, you are helping your child to be less reliant on phones. It is worth remembering that even if you're doing a good job here, other family members, and people they see around them a lot may still be using their phones too much in front of your youngster. Make sure where possible these loved ones follow your lead when it comes to careful phone use and are aware of how they might be influencing your child. Keep up the great work and enjoy those precious moments with your child – they're fleeting after all, although it seems you've already realised that for yourself. HOW COULD MY PHONE USAGE HARM MY CHILD? Parenting expert Liat Hughes Joshi said: 'Talking to parents, the most common concern is their child's screen use, but the reality is parents are often just as glued to gadgets as kids – sometimes more so – and that's pretty harmful too. 'If you seem more interested in your favourite influencer or chatting to online friends, than you are in your children, they might well feel rejected. "They could start behaving badly as a way to get your attention. "Other potential harms of excessive smartphone use include hampering your parent-child bond, and your little one ending up with poor social skills; you're teaching them that when someone tries to talk to you it's okay to ignore them. You're also being a poor role model about screen use which won't set them up well for their teens and beyond." SMARTPHONES RULING YOUR HOME? HOW TO DIAL DOWN USAGE… By Liat Hughes Joshi CATEGORISE phone activities into 'essential', 'enjoyable' and 'pointless'. The first can stay, the second if they're not getting in the way of real life, and the third get ditched. SET yourself and the household rules and keep each other accountable. CONSIDER powering down during particular times of the day or week such as meal times, when watching films, or Sundays. SET up a phone bin or charging station and encourage all family members to leave gadgets there in evenings, especially when they go to bed. GO back to an alarm clock, read offline and remove your phone from the bedroom. Avoid grabbing your device first thing when you wake up. SWITCH to phone calls only mode for certain periods. Look at apps which limit access to non-essential phone functions, such as the Freedom app. WRITE a reminder not to reach for your phone - it could be a post-it stuck on your device.
Epoch Times
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
Children's Commissioner Calls for Ban on AI ‘Nudification' Apps
The children's commissioner has called on the government to ban tools using deepfake technology to create naked images of children. Bespoke nudification apps enable users to generate sexually explicit images of real people, bringing 'alarming risks' to children's safety online, Dame Rachel de Souza has warned. In a The report highlights how girls and young women are disproportionately targeted by such technology. One 16-year-old girl While it is illegal to possess AI-generated sexual images of children, current laws do not prohibit the AI models that produce them. Related Stories 4/24/2025 3/3/2025 De Souza has called on ministers to outlaw nudification apps entirely and to tighten regulations to hold technology providers accountable. 'The online world is revolutionary and quickly evolving, but there is no positive reason for these particular apps to exist. They have no place in our society. 'Tools using deepfake technology to create naked images of children should not be legal and I'm calling on the government to take decisive action to ban them, instead of allowing them to go unchecked with extreme real-world consequences,' she said. Existing Legislation In early 2025, the government announced plans to extend protections against AI-generated sexual content involving adults through the Data Use and Access Bill, alongside measures in the Crime and Policing Bill. Both pieces of legislation remain under parliamentary review. However, these laws focus on criminalising individuals who create or share such content and stop short of banning the AI technology itself. Under the Online Safety Act 2023, online platforms must prevent UK users from accessing illegal material, including child sexual abuse content. The Act also requires tech companies to protect children from harmful material, such as pornography. Further protections are due in July 2025 when The children's commissioner's report warned that without decisive legislative action, children will remain at risk from emerging AI threats. Growing Risks of Deepfake Technology An estimated 99 percent of sexually explicit deepfakes circulating online feature women and girls. These AI tools are often trained on vast datasets of solely female bodies. While high-profile women, like Emma Watson, Scarlett Johansson, and Millie Bobby Brown are frequent targets, the report warned of risks to ordinary women and schoolchildren. Children themselves are being exposed to this harmful material at alarming rates. A 2024 survey by Another study by Girlguiding found that more than a quarter of 13-18-year-olds had encountered sexually explicit deepfakes of celebrities, friends, teachers—or even themselves. The report also found that children with vulnerabilities are disproportionately at risk, with 25 percent reporting exposure to sexually explicit deepfakes—more than twice the rate of their non-vulnerable peers. The document cited cases where victims have experienced PTSD, suicidal thoughts, and in tragic instances, death—such as The Commissioner's Office found nudification apps openly advertised on social media platforms like Instagram, Telegram, and X (formerly Twitter), with some accounts holding X Premium status—traditionally associated with verified users. Searches on major app stores also returned nudification tools, despite previous crackdowns, while Google and Bing searches for terms like 'deep nude' or 'undress app' frequently led to explicit content within a few clicks. The rise of what Ofcom has termed the 'deepfake economy'—a network of websites, app developers, and individual users profiting from non-consensual sexual imagery—has only worsened the threat. Open-source AI models, which can be freely adapted, are being exploited to create customised nudification services, with little oversight or accountability. De Souza said children who took part in focus groups for the report had voiced fears about the misuse of nudification app technology. 'They fear that anyone—a stranger, a classmate, or even a friend—could use a smartphone as a way of manipulating them by creating a naked image using these bespoke apps,' she said.
