The conference on the role of an independent commissioner for England's 11 million children and young people was hosted by the Children's Rights Alliance for England, and other representative charities. Speakers included Peter Clarke and Nigel Williams, the children's commissioners in Wales and Northern Ireland, and Norway's children's ombudsman, Trond Waage, as well as Margaret Hodge, England's minister for children.
Carolyne Willow, national co-ordinator of the Children's Rights Alliance, said, 'The Government's Green Paper, Every Child Matters, said that the children's commissioner for England will be independent, but it is important to reiterate our campaign's vision of what the commissioner should be.'
She added that the Alliance would like to see the new commissioner have 'similar strong powers' to those of Mr Williams, who has the widest range of powers of any commissioner for children and young people in the world.
The campaign's co-ordinating group outlined six 'essential ingredients' for ensuring the commissioner made a positive difference to children's lives.
They were independence from government, so that the commissioner was able to set his or her own agenda and report directly to Parliament; promoting respect for the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child; actively involving children and young people so they could influence the commissioner's priorities and work programme; improving advice and support by making sure children and their representatives know where to get help; working to ensure that all professionals listened to children and young people and properly respond to their concerns and complaints; influencing laws and policy so that children's interests are put at the heart of the Government's decision-making; and power to undertake investigations in exceptional circumstances.
