Call to Enshrine Children’s Rights in Welsh Law with Launch of ‘Bil Pob Plentyn’

This week marked a significant milestone for children’s rights in Wales with the official launch of Bil Pob Plentyn (Right for Every Child) on Wednesday 4 June 2025 at The Senedd. This bold new legislative proposal is the result of work by Jane Dodds MS, Voice from Care Cymru, Children in Wales, BASW Cymru and twenty other organisations. It calls on political parties to commit to adopting the proposal to enshrine a legally protected Right for Every Child in Welsh law in their manifestos.

Bil Pob Plentyn calls on parties to commit to placing a statutory duty on public bodies to actively listen to, protect, and support every child in Wales – regardless of their background or circumstances. This landmark legislative proposal calls on parties to guarantee that the rights of children are no longer treated as optional, but as fundamental.

The campaign behind Bil Pob Plentyn stems from a growing recognition that despite progress, too many children, especially those in care, in Wales still face barriers to being heard, safe, and properly supported. The proposed law aims to change this by embedding children’s rights into the heart of public decision-making and accountability.

Jane Dodds MS, the Chair of the Cross-Party Group, said:

“This is about building a Wales where every child knows their voice matters, where their safety is protected by law, and where their future is shaped with dignity and care.

“We believe that children’s rights should be non-negotiable – and Bil Pob Plentyn is how we make that a reality.

Professor Samantha Baron, BASW Cymru national director, added:

“BASW Cymru is proud to have supported the two cross-party groups in The Senedd to help shape Bil Pob Plentyn. This is a great example of allied organisations coming together and collaborating to help improve access to early intervention and prevention services, strengthening corporate parenting, enhancing housing, education, and care quality, and asking for the establishment and publishing of anti-poverty targets.

“We call on all political parties to include this proposed legislation in their upcoming Senedd Election manifestos, fostering a nation where every child and young person feels valued and heard.”

Deborah Jones, the CEO of Voices from Care Cymru, said:

“The proposal is grounded in the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), to which Wales is already committed. However, Bil Pob Plentyn would ensure these rights are not just aspirational, but fully enforceable.

“The campaign is now calling on supporters across Wales – from individuals and families to schools and organisations – to back the proposal and urge their Members of the Senedd to act.