Nursery World - Assembly debate on children's rights

The appointment of a children's commissioner to represent Northern Ireland's 500,000 children and young people came a step closer following a lengthy debate in the country's Assembly last week. The debate was opened by Democratic Unionist Party member Edwin Poots, who is chair of the committee for the children's commissioner. He described the initial announcement in January of the intention to appoint a commissioner as 'a step towards ensuring that our children can grow up in a society, safe from exploitation and abuse, where their rights are protected and where their needs are met'.

The debate was opened by Democratic Unionist Party member Edwin Poots, who is chair of the committee for the children's commissioner. He described the initial announcement in January of the intention to appoint a commissioner as 'a step towards ensuring that our children can grow up in a society, safe from exploitation and abuse, where their rights are protected and where their needs are met'.

Mr Poots explained how the committee had heard hours of evidence from various organisations. A group of young people also said what they thought of the proposal, while representatives from Wales and Norway talked about their first-hand experience of a children's commissioner.

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