Ombudsman for Children publishes his Report to UN Committee on the Rights of the Child

The Ombudsman for Children, Dr. Niall Muldoon, has published his Report to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.  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’s Report relates to the period from the UN Committee’s last examination of Ireland to the end of March 2015.

Speaking on the publication of his Report, Dr. Muldoon said: “As 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.”

Among the issues raised in the Ombudsman for Children’s report are education, mainstreaming the best interests principle and children’s right to be heard in relevant legislation, homelessness among children, child protection, mental health services for children and direct provision.

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.

“My Report has been informed primarily by the statutory investigations undertaken by my Office.  It reflects the trends emerging from the complaints made to my Office by, or on behalf of, children.  It also refers to the advice given by my Office to Government on legislative change affecting children and the Office’s direct engagement with children and young people. In addition it contains excerpts from a complementary publication entitled ‘A Word from the Wise‘, 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.”

Concluding Dr. Muldoon said: “The period since the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child’s 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’s 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’s rights.  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.”

 

Notes for Editors:

For further information please contact Sinéad Fennell, 086 6075266

• View the Ombudsman for Children’s report to the UNCRC
• View the ‘A Word from the Wise’ report

The Ombudsman for Children’s Office (OCO) is an independent human rights institution and was established in 2004 under primary legislation to promote and monitor the rights of children in Ireland. The Ombudsman for Children is appointed by the President of Ireland on the nomination of the Oireachtas (Parliament) and is accountable directly to the Oireachtas.

The Ombudsman for Children’s Act, 2002, states that ‘the Ombudsman must highlight issues relating to the rights and welfare of child that are of concern to children’.

The OCO has dealt with over 10,000 complaints regarding the actions of public bodies since its establishment and has frequently submitted advice to Government on major legislation relating to the rights of children. The Ombudsman for Children is statutorily mandated to promote the principles and provisions of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and aims to ensure that Ireland complies in full with its international human rights obligations.

Background to the UN Committee report:

• Ireland ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1992.
• Compliance with the Convention is monitored by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child which sits in Geneva.
• Each State Party to the Convention is required to submit periodic reports to the Committee setting out how the State is adhering the Convention.
• Ireland’s first report to the Committee was examined in 1998.

• 22 May 2015
• Type: Press Release