ADCS Conference: Teather seeks views on 'stronger children's commissioner'

Addressing delegates at the annual Association of Directors of Children’s Services conference, Teather announced the launch of a consultation into legislation that will allow for the adoption of all of the recommendations set out in John Dunford’s review of the children’s commissioner’s role, published last December.

Dunford proposed that the role of the children’s commissioner be merged with that of the children’s rights director and that the role be strengthened by giving it greater independence from government.

Speaking today (7 July), Teather said: "This government is a proud signatory of the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child and we do believe that children’s rights are very important and that all children have rights.

"The UK could be a better place if we have a stronger and independent voice to champion those rights."

She said the government would be launching the consultation today and encouraged the audience of directors of children’s services, which also included current children’s commissioner for England Maggie Atkinson, to offer their responses.

Carolyne Willow, Children’s Rights Alliance for England national co-ordinator, welcomed the news, adding that the alliance would be working with its members over the coming months to support the government in its drive to create a stronger commissioner role.

"We know from previous debates in parliament that there is enormous support among MPs and peers of all political parties to give children and young people in England a children's rights champion on a par with the rest of the UK and the international community.

"We will also be pressing ministers to introduce children's rights duties on other public officials as, clearly, the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child cannot be left to a single body," Willow said.

The news comes as the Office for the Children’s Commissioner (OCC) published its business plan for 2011/12, which will see the commissioner increasingly focus on whether the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) is being met.

Atkinson said the business plan has been designed to challenge the organisation to continue to ensure both the voices and the best interests of children and young people are taken into account in decisions affecting their lives.

She added: "Children and young people’s views were at the heart of our achievements last year, and their testimonies will continue to inform everything that we do.

"We met and listened to thousands of children of all ages in different settings across the country to find out their worries and aspirations and their views on the systems, services and issues that affect them.

"Our focus for the immediate future is to work with the Department for Education and the children’s rights director to see Dr Dunford’s recommendations for a rights-based children’s commissioner for England come to fruition.

"To support this process, the OCC will submit a response to the government consultation launched today on the new Office of the Children’s Commissioner for England."