A report from the United Nations is expected to be highly critical of the Government's record on protecting children, pressure groups say.

When the committee of international child welfare experts last examined the UK in 1995, it expressed a number of concerns. Child welfare groups expect the UN to say these concerns have not been addressed adequately.

In 1995, the UN called for action against corporal punishment and sexual abuse within families, child poverty, youngsters sleeping rough, high pregnancy rates, and the low age of criminal responsibility.

The Children's Rights Alliance for England and the NSPCC say they expected the report from the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child to conclude that the Government has failed children.

It is alleged that the UK's legal obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child - which the UK ratified in 1991 - have not been met. In May, another UN body, the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, also criticised the UK's treatment of children.

It noted an increase in domestic violence, the lack of minimum wage protection for under 18-year-olds, and the impact of the introduction of tuition fees and student loans on disadvantaged students.

The NSPCC says at least one child a week in England and Wales dies as a result of abuse.

John Denham, Minister for Young People, said: "The Government is proud of its record of achievement for UK children: 1.4 million fewer children are living in poverty than in 1996/97.
"Teenage pregnancy is down and there are more teenage mothers in education and training or work - up from 16% in 1997 to 33% in 2001; significantly more children are achieving level 4 in Key Stage 2 tests in literacy and numeracy.
"We expect the UN to criticise our policy on smacking but we believe our policy reflects common sense views of the vast majority of people."