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.
'To achieve that aim, we must act now, to ensure that children can grow and develop in an environment in which their rights are upheld, their safety is secured, and their needs are met.'
Deputy First Minister Seamus Mallon described the appointment as 'the centrepiece of a bold and imaginative strategy (to) ensure that there is an effective champion for children's rights operating independently of Government' in the Province. He said, 'Other elements of the strategy will ensure a joined-up approach to children's matters within Government and the Assembly, and will give children and young people themselves a strong voice to influence policy.'
Children and young people will be invited to have their say in a wide-ranging consultation on what powers and responsibilities the office will have, said Mr Trimble. He said the commissioner's role may include challenging public authorities and investigating complaints, and advising Government on policy, including measures needed to meet commit-ments under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The decision to appoint an independent commissioner was welcomed by the Northern Ireland branch of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, which has campaigned with other charities for such a post. Its regional director, Lynne Peyton, said, 'It is important now to ensure the role and responsibilities of the commissioner's office are sufficient to adequately promote children's rights and ensure their protection.'
The NSPCC said the office had a responsibility to ensure adequate information and statistics on the state of children's services in Northern Ireland. There also needed to be efficient and effective cross-departmental working, to make sure recommendations on inquiries into deaths of and in-juries to children were carried out.
Calls came from other quarters to follow Northern Ireland's example. Susan Elsley, assistant director at Save the Children Scotland and a member of the Scotland for Children umbrella group of charities, said, 'Surely Scotland cannot lag behind now. We need our own children's champion to make sure we are always doing our best for all children and young people.' Liberal Democrat shadow health spokesman Paul Burstow said England should appoint its own independent commissioner instead of a children's rights director. He said, 'We need an independent commissioner for all children, but the excuse given by the Government is that we'll have a children's rights director within the National Care Standards Commission. This post will have a less visible profile and be constrained from representing all children, only those in care.'
