Nursery World - Commissioner will set out action plan

The first-ever children's commissioner in Northern Ireland has started his job by ordering a major study of the state of children's rights and welfare in the province. Nigel Williams, who took up the post last week, said his priorities were 'to listen to children and young people's concerns and needs, and draw up a plan of action'.

Nigel Williams, who took up the post last week, said his priorities were 'to listen to children and young people's concerns and needs, and draw up a plan of action'.

He said he intended to publish in the near future a brief for 'a major research study looking at how well both Government and society more generally are doing in serving the needs of our children and young people'.

Mr Williams was previously chief executive of Childnet International, a charity he founded in 1995 that focuses on promoting the rights and best interests of children on the internet.

In his new role Mr Williams has the widest range of powers of any such commissioner yet. The legislation setting up his office has defined his role as being 'to safeguard and promote the rights and best interests of children and young people', which includes those up to the age of 21 who have a registered disability.

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