Commissioner for Children and Young People

Statement by First Minister and Deputy First Minister

On 29 January 2001, the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister announced to the Northern Ireland Assembly that they intended to set up an independent Commissioner for Children in Northern Ireland.

Consultation Paper on a Commissioner for Children for Northern Ireland

A consultation paper was issued by the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister on 6 September 2001 called "Protecting our Children's Rights; A Consultation Paper on a Commissioner for Children for Northern Ireland". A version of the document was also produced for children and young people. The consultation document said;

"Our aim is simple- to put Northern Ireland at the leading edge of best practice in the protection of children's rights"

The consultation document for children and young people is on the website for the Children and Young People's Unit in the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister at www.allchildrenni.gov.uk.

The Commissioner

The current Commissioner for Children and Young People is Patricia Lewsley. To keep up to date with her work you can go to the NICCY website at www.niccy.org

The Law

A law was passed about the Children's Commissioner on 27 February 2003. This is called The Commissioner for Children and Young People (Northern Ireland) Order 2003.

The Commissioner for Children and Young People (Northern Ireland) Order 2003

The Commissioner will be able to help children and young people under the age of 18, some young people who are leaving care and are aged over 18 and young people under the age of 21 with a disability.

Main Aim of the Commissioner

The main aim of the Commissioner is to safeguard and promote the rights and best interests of children and young people.

Duties of the Commissioner

The Commissioner has a number of duties under the law - duties are things the Commissioner MUST do. The duties of the Commissioner are as follows;

• promote an understanding of the rights of children and young people
• ·Review laws and practices relating to the rights and welfare of children and young people.
• Review services provided for children and young people by the relevant authorities.( like Trusts and Education Boards)
• Advising the Secretary of State and the Assembly about the rights or best interests of children and young people.
• Make sure that children and young people and their parents know about what the Commissioner can do, the location of the Commissioner's office and the ways in which they can contact the Commissioner.
• Make sure that children and young people are encouraged to communicate with the Commissioner.
• Make sure that the content of any information published by the Commissioner takes account, as far as possible of the age, understanding, usual language and any disability of the children and young people who will read the information.
• Make sure that he listens to the views of children and young people about the work he should do.
• Make sure that the Commissioner's services are available in local areas where children and young people live.

General powers of the Commissioner

The Commissioner has powers as well as duties. Powers are things which the Commissioner is allowed to do. The powers of the Commissioner are set out below;

• Carry out or ask other people to carry out research or educational activities concerning the rights or best interests of children and young persons.
• Issue guidance
• Conduct investigations.
• Produce information about the rights and best interests of children and young people
• Provide advice or information on any matter concerning the rights or best interests of children and young people.
• Make recommendations about the rights and best interests of children and young people

For more detailed information about the legislation you can click on the blue link "Commissioner for Children" or go to the website for the Children and Young People's Unit at www.allchildrenni.gov.uk.