27 June 2001

REPORT INTO CHILD ABUSE CALLS FOR WATCHDOG

NORTHERN Ireland Assembly members unanimously passed a recommendation to nominate a commissioner for children that would protect and defend the rights of vulnerable young people.

The intention to appoint a children’s commissioner was first announced by the First and deputy First Minister in January this year. A committee set up to assess the situation published presented their report on Tuesday, which investigated the viability and remit of such a children’s commissioner.

Edwin Poots, Chairman of the Committee of the centre, who presented the report to the assembly, relayed damning abuse statistics in Northern Ireland to his Assembly members.

He pointed out that there are almost 500,000 children in Northern Ireland, representing 30 per cent of the total population who needed a watchdog to guard their rights. The report states that an average of three children a week are raped in Northern Ireland and another 12 are indecently assaulted. Approximately 11 per cent of children in public care are in residential care and of these, one in five young girls aged 16 to 28 will become pregnant within six months of coming out of care.

Mr Poots said: “Children are one of the largest and yet most vulnerable groups in our society. Unlike adults, they do not have a vote, a union or a complaints system to access. They are wholly dependent on adults to raise and deal with their concerns.”

Ms Lewsley, a member of the Committee of the Centre said they envisaged several distinct roles for the commissioner: “First, promoting a culture of children’s rights through fostering education and acting as a source of information and advice. Secondly, the commissioner should act as an advocate for children - that means taking cases to establish children’s rights and checking that policies, practices and governmental procedures respect the rights of children. Thirdly, the commissioner should have full investigative powers.”

The report also proposed that the remit of the commissioner should extend to all children under 18 but also those up to 21 who were leaving care or receiving post-care services.

The recommendations of the report were widely welcomed by all sections of the Assembly. (AMcE)