Carolyne Willow, national co-ordinator of the Children's Rights Alliance for England, said she expected the Lords to vote to establish a "rights-based commissioner".
The Lords had strengthened the powers of the commissioner during their initial scrutiny of the Bill. But during its committee stage, children's minister Margaret Hodge used her power to reduce the commissioner's general function from "promoting and safeguarding the rights and interests of children" to "promoting awareness of the views and interests of children".
Willow said: "Nobody accepts the Government's claim that England's commissioner is different but equal."
George McNamara, policy officer at charity NCH, said: "It was disappointing that gains made in the House of Lords to improve the effectiveness of the children's commissioner were removed."
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