The UN has blasted the UK for failing to get a grip on racism and discrimination towards children.
In its first examination of British children's rights in seven years, the UN's Committee on the Rights of the Child said it “remains deeply concerned about persistent discrimination”.
It slammed “the overrepresentation" of Black, Asian, Muslim, Roma, Gypsy and Traveller children in the criminal justice system and living in poverty.
It also criticised racism and bullying against children in disadvantaged situations "including children belonging to minority groups and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender children".
The UN urged the government to “implement targeted policies and programmes to combat racist and xenophobic activities”.
It also recommended encouraging “the reporting of hate crimes against children” and establishing “clear avenues for children to seek justice in cases of discrimination”.
The extensive report, which was last published in 2016, also highlighted "inequalities" related to school exclusion as it called for a ban on its use in primary schools and for it to be used as a "last resort" in secondary schools.
The committee similarly called on ministers to “address the overrepresentation of children belonging to minority groups, children with autism and children with learning disabilities in inpatient mental health care”.
It added that the UK must “urgently address the long waiting times for accessing mental health services”.
Poverty among British children was another major feature in the review as it noted “with deep concern the large number of children living in poverty, food insecurity and homelessness”.
The UN committee recommended expanding free school meals to all children in disadvantaged situations, increasing adequate and long-term social housing and abolishing the two-child limit and benefit cap for social security benefits.
Louise King, director of the Children’s Rights Alliance for England which is part of Just for Kids Law, said: “This damning UN report shows that this country is failing children leaving many to face mental health issues, live in poverty or experience violence and abuse without the help and support they need.
“The UN also shines a light on how significant discrimination and structural inequality persists for Black, Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children across many aspects of their lives, including that they are more likely to be excluded from school and that racial disproportionality continues in children’s interaction with the police and in all parts of the youth justice system.
“It’s imperative the Government takes urgent action to address the UN’s concerns by publishing a child rights action plan, with a clear road map for how it will meaningfully improve the daily experiences of our most vulnerable children, including setting out how it will address racial discrimination faced by children, and appoint a Cabinet Minister for Children to drive the changes so desperately needed.”
Jon Sparkes OBE, chief executive of the UK Committee for UNICEF, said: “Since the last review of the UK by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child seven years ago, children have faced unprecedented change and challenges that have impacted their rights.
“Along with others we urge the government to respond with a clear and ambitious implementation action plan to address the issues raised and demonstrate its leadership on protecting the rights of all children.”
A government spokeswoman said: “The UK is a proud signatory of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and we will carefully review and consider the committee's recommendations.”
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