The five biggest children's charities in Wales have called on election candidates in the Welsh Assembly elections in May to support a 20-point children's manifesto.

The groups launched a "coalition of concern" on Friday, and have said their top priority is tackling child poverty.

One in three Welsh children are recognised as living in poverty.

The number of children brought up in deprived circumstances remains high, despite government programmes designed to tackle both poverty and social exclusion.

Strategy

Speaking at the launch of the manifesto, Health Minister Jane Hutt announced the setting up of a Child Poverty Task Group.

She said: "I share the priority that the manifesto gives to child poverty.

"I believe that tackling child poverty should be a basic component of the assembly government's broader strategy to improve quality of life and extend opportunity to every community in Wales.

"No one, especially children and young people in Wales, should be disadvantaged or prevented from achieving their full potential because of where they live or their family circumstances."

The task group will conduct an audit of existing assembly policies and programmes which impact on child povery and look at relevant UK government initiatives.

It will prepare a report which the assembly can use to develop proposals for action for 2003-4.

Project

The umbrella organisation, Children in Wales, has called on the next assembly government to put children's rights and childcare at the heart of all policy and service development.

Four charities - NCH Action for Children, Barnardos, Save the Children and the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) all run family projects or programmes for local authorities.

The assembly appointed a children's commissioner

They have acknowledged the work the Welsh Assembly Government has done to promote children's rights.

This has included appointing the UK's first children's commissioner, Peter Clarke.

However, they all say not enough is being done to tackle child poverty.

They have criticised the funding of services for disabled children and those with behavioural and emotional problems.

They are also critical of the help given to minority groups such as gypsy and traveller children.