{"id":1218,"date":"2015-05-22T10:35:27","date_gmt":"2015-05-22T10:35:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.oco.ie\/?p=1218"},"modified":"2017-11-08T10:35:44","modified_gmt":"2017-11-08T10:35:44","slug":"ombudsman-children-publishes-report-un-committee-rights-child","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.oco.ie\/ga\/news\/ombudsman-children-publishes-report-un-committee-rights-child\/","title":{"rendered":"Ombudsman for Children publishes his Report to UN Committee on the Rights of the Child"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Ombudsman for Children, Dr. Niall Muldoon, has published his Report to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.\u00a0 Dr. Muldoon submitted his Report to the Committee in April and will meet with the UN Committee at a preparatory meeting to be held in Geneva in June. The Ombudsman for Children\u2019s Report relates to the period from the UN Committee\u2019s last examination of Ireland to the end of March 2015.<\/p>\n

Speaking on the publication of his Report, Dr. Muldoon said: \u201cAs Ombudsman for Children, I have statutory responsibility for monitoring the rights and welfare of children living in Ireland. My Office has submitted this independent report to the UN Committee on our experiences thus far and we look forward to outlining these experiences to the Committee in Geneva in June.\u201d<\/p>\n

Among the issues raised in the Ombudsman for Children\u2019s report are education, mainstreaming the best interests principle and children\u2019s right to be heard in relevant legislation, homelessness among children, child protection, mental health services for children and direct provision.<\/p>\n

Since Ireland ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in 1992, the Government has been obliged to submit periodic progress reports to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child outlining how the State is fulfilling its commitments to children and young people. The State reported to the UN Committee in 1998 and 2006 and the plenary meeting associated with the third review is due to take place early next year.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy Report has been informed primarily by the statutory investigations undertaken by my Office.\u00a0 It reflects the trends emerging from the complaints made to my Office by, or on behalf of, children.\u00a0 It also refers to the advice given by my Office to Government on legislative change affecting children and the Office\u2019s direct engagement with children and young people. In addition it contains excerpts from a complementary publication entitled\u00a0\u2018A Word from the Wise<\/i>\u2018, which sets out the stories behind seven cases that have been examined or investigated by my Office and that highlight systemic issues affecting children in Ireland.\u201d<\/p>\n

Concluding Dr. Muldoon said: \u201cThe period since the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child\u2019s last examination of Ireland has been marked by significant change. Ireland is emerging from a severe economic crisis that has had a wide-ranging and negative impact on children\u2019s enjoyment of their rights. As Ireland now appears to be moving into a period of greater economic stability and growth, the State must act in accordance with its obligations under the UNCRC to progressively realise children\u2019s rights.\u00a0 Putting the rights and best interests of children at the heart of decision-making affecting them is not simply a question of prudent social policy. It is also a matter of international legal obligation.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Notes for Editors:<\/b><\/h2>\n

For further information please contact Sin\u00e9ad Fennell, 086 6075266<\/p>\n