The government has introduced proposals to reform the role of the Office of the Children's Commissioner (OCC) – the body established under the Children Act 2004 to promote awareness of the views and interests of children in England. The proposals aim to create a new role for the OCC to strengthen children's rights in line with the UK's obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The proposals are contained in the Children and Families Bill, due to undergo its reporting stage in the House of Lords this month.
What prompted the proposals?
The proposals were influenced by the findings of an independent review of the role of the OCC conducted by John Dunford in 2010. The Dunford review culminated in 46 recommendations which aim to strengthen the remit, powers and independence of the OCC. The government accepted these recommendations in principle, and used them to form the basis of the proposals, which include:
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