You are here:
Children’s rights to take centre stage at associated EU Presidency event hosted by the Ombudsman for Children’s Office
November 2026
Leading children’s rights experts and Ombudspersons from 23 countries around Europe will gather in Dublin today and tomorrow (November 4th and 5th) for an associated EU Presidency event hosted by the Ombudsman for Children’s Office (OCO). Children’s rights at the heart of Europe will be discussed over the two days, with a special focus on AI and changes to systems of immigration in the context of the EU AI Act and EU Migration and Asylum Pact. The high-level event will feature presentations from the Vice President of the European Parliament, Ewa Kopaz, the European Commission’s Children’s Rights coordinator Marie-Cécile Rouillon, as well as Ombudsman for Children, Dr Niall Muldoon and Tanya Ward as chair of Eurochild. The day will include roundtable discussions on children’s rights and the insights from Ombudspersons for Children in Norway and Sweden on the benefits of incorporating the UNCRC into their domestic legislation.
Speaking ahead of the event, Dr Niall Muldoon, said:
“We’re delighted to be bringing Europe’s key decision-makers on children’s rights together in Dublin to put a focus on the current status of children’s rights across Europe. Human rights in general are in the balance across Europe at the moment and it is more important than ever that we come together and share what challenges and opportunities we are all facing.
“Ireland’s EU Presidency is a unique opportunity for the State to take the lead on children’s rights. My Office is campaigning for the full and direct incorporation for the UNCRC into Irish law, which we believe would bring about major change to the children’s rights landscape here. If the UNCRC was part of Irish law, children’s best interests would have to be considered at the start of every decision-making process. Ireland ratified the treaty in 1992 but has yet to give it full legal backing.
“I am looking forward to hearing insights from our colleagues in Scotland, Norway and Sweden, all of whom have incorporated the UNCRC into their laws and the benefit it has brought for children there.”
ENDS
- 4 November 2026