Children in England are being left behind as Scotland and Northern Ireland follow in the footsteps of Wales and edge closer to appointing Children's Commissioners.
Eighteen countries worldwide, from Iceland to Australia, have Commissioners or Ombudsmen who act as national independent watchdogs for children by monitoring, promoting and safeguarding children's rights, as laid down in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
It is argued that because children do not have the right to vote, and have little access to the media or any other power in society, they should have a spokesperson, otherwise their rights can be forgotten or ignored when in conflict with adult interests. But the post requires funding, can mean more bureaucracy, and governments do not necessarily have to heed the Children's Commissioner's advice.
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