Northern Ireland gets children's advocate

Children's political representation was strengthened last week as Northern Ireland announced it was to follow the lead of Wales and appoint its own independent Commissioner for Children. First Minister David Trimble told the Northern Ireland Assembly that the move was 'the most important proposal in the field of children's rights for many years' in the Province. He said, 'If there is one matter on which there is common ground among all parties in the Assembly, it is our common desire for a better, more secure future for our children.