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A report by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child has criticised the UK Government for failing to meet international standards on the treatment of children. In a number of vital areas - from juvenile justice to the rights of disabled children, from the protection of young asylum seekers to the right of children to privacy - the Government is failing to meet its obligations under international law.

On the programme this evening Andrew Bomford has a report on one area likely to be highlighted for particular concern - that's the numbers of young offenders being locked up. More than five times more 10 - 14 year olds are imprisoned now than twelve years ago and England and Wales now has the worst record in Europe. But one area bucking the trend is Sunderland which has gone from one of the highest rates of child custody to among the lowest - mostly through a series of innovative schemes for young offenders. In these pictures two young offenders are being supervised on a painting and decorating programme in which they refurbish a derelict house now being used by a community group for the families of drug addicts.

We can't show you their faces but you can hear their views and from other young offenders on tonight's PM programme.

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