CYP Now - New act heralds momentous time for children's rights

I am a fortnight away from the "go-live" point of a change on which we have been working since 2010. On 1 April, as a result of the royal assent to the Children and Families Bill 2013 making it the 2014 Act, the children's commissioner for England's primary function will change from "representing the views and interests of children" to "the promotion and protection of the rights of the child", with particular but not exclusive regard for the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

We can then spend a few months readying ourselves for the parts of the act that will not go live until after the summer – vital time given how far reaching many of the changes in the act will be for practice and the life chances of young people.

The changes to my role are important for children and young people, the adult world – they go way beyond me and my excellent team. It's about time we had a rights-based commissioner, as many people across the children and young people's communities have said many times. Strengthening my role will happen after many years of work by them, me, the other UK commissioners and many influencers in Europe and further afield.

Register Now to Continue Reading

Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:

What's Included