Children's Law Centre & Save the Children Welcome the Executive's Moves on the Establishment of Children's Commissioner

The Children's Law Centre and Save the Children today welcomed the Executive's "Agreement in Principle" to the establishment of a Children's Commissioner for NI.

"We are delighted to see this important first step on the road to establishing a Children's Commissioner. The rights of children have been severely neglected here and until now they have had no voice, so we are greatly encouraged that the Executive is grasping the opportunity of the Belfast Agreement to make a real difference to the lives for all our children" commented Paddy Kelly, Director of the Children's Law Centre.

"The importance of a Children's Commissioner as a Champion for out most vulnerable and abused children cannot be over-emphasised. It is therefore essential that this Chamption has all the powers and resources necessary to act effectively for children when their rights have been denied. A Commissioner must be able to take cases on behalf of children, they must be empowered to investigate effectively when there has been denials of children's rights and they must be able to monitor how we treat our children" Paula Rodgers, Save the Children's Policy and Research Manager added.

The Children's Law Centre along with Save the Children and other Children's rights organisations have been campaigning for the establishment of a children's commissioner since the signing of the Belfast Agreement in 1998.

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