A children's ombudsman , children's commissioner, youth commissioner, child advocate, children's commission, youth ombudsman or equivalent body is a public authority in various countries charged with the protection and promotion of the rights of children and young people, either in society at large, or in specific categories such as children in contact with the care system. The agencies usually have a substantial degree of independence from the executive, the term is often used differently from the original meaning of ombudsman , it is often an umbrella term, often used as a translation convention (the term is often not used even in countries that do have ombudsmen in other positions) or national human rights institutions , dealing with individual complaints, intervening with other public authorities, conducting research, and – where their mandate permits them to engage in advocacy – generally promoting children's rights in public policy, law and practice. The first children's commissioner was established in Norway in 1981. The creation of such institutions has been promoted by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child , and, from 1990 onwards, by the Council of Europe .
46-405: (Redirected from Children’s Commissioner ) Children's Commissioner is the official or unofficial title of some Children's Ombudsmen , or of the agencies they head. It could refer to: Australia [ edit ] National Children’s Commissioner , Commonwealth Children and Young People Commissioner , Australian Capital Territory Office of
92-563: A Child Rights Section (Bosnian: Odjel za praćenje prava djece ), and is a full member of ENOC. The Republika Srpska has an Ombudsman for Children (Serbian: Ombudsmana za djecu ), also an ENOC member. The office, established in 2008, promotes legislative compliance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child; investigates alleged violations of the rights and interests of children; advocates
138-621: A toll-free telephone line for children. There are also the president of the National Commission for the Protection of Children and Young People at Risk The office of Children's Rights Commissioner for the president of the Russian Federation, also known as Presidential Commissioner for Children's Rights, was first held by Alexei Golovan . By presidential decree on 30 December 2009, President Medvedev appointed Pavel Astakhov to
184-636: A Child Rights Centre. Although Greece does not have a stand-alone office, the Citizen's Advocate (Ombudsman) of Greece ( Greek : Συνήγορος του Πολίτη ), created in 1998 as an independent authority, has in addition to the Ombudsman, six Deputy Ombudsman posts, one of whom coordinates the activities of the Department of Children's Rights, and is sometimes referred to as the Ombudsman for Children’s Rights . The Department
230-810: A European phenomenon, although some exist in other regions, many of the institutions belong to the European Network of Ombudspersons for Children (ENOC). There are also sub-regional networks, including the Children's Rights Ombudspersons' Network in South and Eastern Europe (CRONSEE), created in 2006, and the British and Irish Network of Ombudsmen and Children’s Commissioners (BINOCC), which first met in 2005. Australia appointed its first National Children's Commissioner , Megan Mitchell , in February 2013. Mitchell served two terms in
276-576: A broad mandate to protect human rights and freedoms, was created by law in 2005 and given constitutional status in 2006. The office is a full member of ENOC. In 2016 the Slovak Ombudsman for children appointed a first Deputy with responsibility for, inter alia , child rights. In 2003 the Slovenian Ombudsman appointed a fourth Deputy with responsibility for, inter alia , child rights. The national ombudsman ( Defensor del Pueblo ) and
322-414: A role that had been flagged in the previous year to ensure that the voices of young people were heard by Government. Her appointment, for a five-year term, was designed to "focus solely on the needs of children and their rights and their interests and the laws and policies and services that affect them". She was reappointed for a second two-year term in 2018 and finished the role on 24 March 2020. Mitchell
368-510: A specific mandate (and an internal section) for the protection of the rights of children and families, and there are also some municipal child rights defenders. The Deputy Commissioner in the office of the Parliamentary Human Rights Commissioner handles cases concerning children. Since January 1995, Iceland has a Children's ombudsman ( Umboðsmaður barna ), appointed by the government. In July 2017 Salvör Nordal
414-580: A statutory national institution which is politically independent although administratively linked with the Ministry of Family and Consumer Affairs. The Council works to safeguard the rights of children; it provides information on conditions for children in society and offers advice and consultancy to authorities on issues concerning children. The Human Rights Procurator , or ombudsman ( Spanish : Procurador para la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos ) has an adjunct ombudsman for children's rights. In December 2010,
460-665: The Australian Council of Social Service and Director, Strategic Policy and Planning in the NSW Ageing and Disability Department. She was appointed NSW Commissioner for Children and Young People in 2010, a position which she held for the following three years. On 25 February 2013, the Gillard government appointed Mitchell as the first National Children's Commissioner within the Australian Human Rights Commission ,
506-515: The Canadian Council of Child and Youth Advocates (CCCYA). The People's Defender ( Spanish : Defensoría del Pueblo ) or Ombudsman's Office of Colombia has a children's rights unit. Costa Rica was the second country (after Norway) to establish a children's ombudsman, setting up the Defender of Childhood ( Spanish : Defensoría de la Infancia ) in 1987. In 1993, this body was absorbed into
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#1732914000800552-499: The Child Rights Commission , Belgium (Flemish Community)) Commissioner for Children's Rights , Cyprus Children's Commissioner , New Zealand Children's Rights Commissioner , Russia See also [ edit ] Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports (Parliament of India) Topics referred to by the same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with
598-466: The Convention on the Rights of the Child into all areas of society, and is particularly attentive to vulnerable children. The current ombudsman is Inga Bejer Engh , who also is known as the prosecutor of Anders Behring Breivik . The former ombudsman was Anne Lindboe , a pediatrician (appointed in 2012). Dr. Lindboe came to international attention when she called for circumcision to be banned until
644-560: The Croatian Parliament . The office is a member of ENOC and CRONSEE. The Commissioner for Children’s Rights ( Greek : Επίτροπος Προστασίας των Δικαιωμάτων του Παιδιού ) was established by the Commissioner for the Protection of Children’s Rights Law, 2007. Leda Koursoumba was appointed first Commissioner with effect from February 2008. The agency is full member of ENOC. In 2011 the Commissioner presented her first parallel report to
690-538: The Ombudsman for Children in Sweden ( Swedish : Barnombudsmannen ) tasked with public advocacy and the dissemination of information about the rights and needs of children and young people, and should represent children regarding their rights and interests on the basis of the CRC. Megan Mitchell Megan Mitchell AM (born 1958 or 1959) is an Australian public servant and children's advocate who served as
736-677: The Oranga Tamariki system between the Independent Children's Monitor and Ombudsman's Office . The Human Rights Procurator , or ombudsman ( Spanish : Procurador para la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos ) has an office for children's rights. In 1981 Norway was the first country in the world to establish an Ombudsman for Children ( Norwegian : Barneombudet ). The office has statutory powers to investigate individual complaints; it also monitors legislation and policy, and engages in human rights education . It seeks incorporation of
782-630: The Riksdag ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). Sweden was thereby committed under international law to implement the Convention, and around the same time the Government examined the issue of appointing an Ombudsman for Children. In 1993, the Riksdag finally approved the appointment of an Ombudsman, and The Ombudsman for Children's Act 1933.335 came into effect on July 1. According to this act,
828-597: The University of Sydney and Sydney Teachers' College , before obtaining master's degrees in psychology and social policy in 1982 and 1989. After studying, Mitchell held a number of government and other roles, including executive director of the ACT Office for Children, Youth and Family Support, executive director for Out of Home Care in the New South Wales Department of Community Services , executive director of
874-910: The Children's Commissioner , Northern Territory, Australia Office of the Public Guardian , Queensland, Australia Commissioner for Children and Young People , South Australia, Australia Commissioner for Children and Young People , Tasmania, Australia Office of the Child Safety Commissioner , Victoria, Australia Commissioner for Children and Young People , Western Australia, Australia United Kingdom [ edit ] Children's Commissioner for England Scotland's Commissioner for Children and Young People Children's Commissioner for Wales Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People Other countries [ edit ] Commissioner for Child Rights , Belgium (French Community) The head ( commissaris ), of
920-583: The Commissioner and other government agencies in strategic planning and consultation with children and youth. The Children's Commissioner is usually a senior paediatrician or academic. The current Commissioner is Judge Frances Eivers who succeeded Andrew Becroft in 2021. In August 2022, the Sixth Labour Government passed two new laws replacing the Children's Commissioner with the Children and Young People's Commission and splitting oversight of
966-667: The French Government merged the office of the Children's Ombudsman ( French : Défenseur des enfants ) with the main ombudsman agency and other bodies, creating a new body named the Defender of Rights ( Défenseur des droits ). In July 2011 Dominique Baudis was appointed to the office by the Council of State on the nomination of the Prime Minister, for a single six-year term. The Public Defender (ombudsman) of Georgia has established
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#17329140008001012-645: The National Ombudsman and the Ombudsman for Children report directly and independently to the Dutch Parliament. The role of the Ombudsman for Children is to promote the rights of the child in the public and private spheres by providing advice and information; advising the government and Parliament on legislation and policy that affects the rights of the child; investigating complaints or conducting investigations on his own initiative, and monitoring how complaints by children or their representatives are dealt with by
1058-676: The Parliamentary Finance Committee appropriated 383,000 euros to the Chancellor of Justice , the approximate equivalent of a national ombudsman, to establish a children's ombudsman office. Finland recently established the Office of the Ombudsman for Children ( Finnish : Lapsiasiavaltuutettu ). Previously, within the Parliamentary Ombudsman's Office , there was a specialist ombudsman for children's welfare. In May 2011,
1104-629: The President, the Seimas (Parliament), the Government or a municipal council on violations of legal acts or shortcomings in the law. As in Greece, the function of Ombudsman for Children ( Dutch : de Kinderombudsman ) is embedded in the National Ombudsman office. Under legislation enacted in June 2010, and effective from April 2011, a Deputy Ombudsman, Marc Dullaert , was designated the first Ombudsman for Children. Both
1150-591: The Republic of Lithuania ( Lithuanian : Lietuvos Respublikos Vaiko Teisių Apsaugos Kontrolieriaus Įstaiga ) was established in September 2000. It seeks to improve legal protection of children, to defend the rights and interests of children, and to exercise supervision and control of the actions of public authorities in relation to children. The Ombudsman can conduct investigations, require the production of information and evidence, propose legislation and policy, and report to
1196-457: The Rights of the Child, has since March 2004 promoted the establishment of an Independent Children's Commissioner for Bangladesh. He led a Government delegation to France, Norway and Sweden in February 2004 to study the Children's Ombudsman institutions in those countries. Belgium has two agencies, both members of the ENOC network. The Child Rights Commission ( Dutch : Kinderrechtencommissariaat )
1242-588: The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child . In February 2011 the Danish government turned down a renewed request from a United Nations committee to create the position of Ombudsman for Children ( Danish : Børneombudsmand ); the UN body had in 2001 suggested as an alternative the creation of a child rights focal point within the national ombudsman office There is a National Council for Children ( Danish : Børnerådet ),
1288-423: The age of 15, and for Jews and Muslims to replace it with a symbolic ceremony. Dr. Lindboe succeeded Reidar Hjermann (2004-2012), Trond Waage (1996-2004), Trond-Viggo Torgersen (1989-1995)) and Målfrid Grude Flekkøy (1981-1989) In addition to Defenders of the Child and Adolescent ( Spanish : defensorías del niño y del adolescente ) established at local level and supported by municipalities and NGOs,
1334-633: The corresponding bodies in the autonomous communities have competence over matters affecting children and young people, and the national agency can bring cases to the courts. In Andalusia the regional ombudsman agency (the Defensor del Pueblo Andaluz ) has a deputy ombudsman (the Minors' Defender, Defensor del Menor ) for children and young people, as does the equivalent in Catalonia (the Síndic de Greuges ). In 1990
1380-591: The creation of the office in 2010, and the Commissioner is based within the AHRC. The Commonwealth Ombudsman and State ombudsmen retain some jurisdiction over matters affecting children. Children's commissioner offices, varying in remit, have been created at the state and territorial levels. Most have a limited remit, focussing on disadvantaged children such as those in government care, or children with no one to act on their behalf. The Federal Children’s Ombudsman ( German : Kinder- und Jugendanwaltschaft des Bundes )
1426-405: The first Australian National Children's Commissioner (within the Australian Human Rights Commission ) from 25 February 2013 to 24 March 2020. She previously held the role of New South Wales Commissioner for Children and Young People between 2010 and 2013. Mitchell was born at St Margaret's Hospital, Sydney to a single mother, Florence Pianta, who had moved to Sydney from Queensland when she
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1472-596: The main Defender of the Inhabitants (ombudsman) agency, which created a specialist child rights section. The Ombudsperson for Children (Croatian: Pravobranitelj za djecu ) aims to ensure protection of the rights of children; to influence the legislative and executive authorities to take child rights into consideration; to promote the acknowledgment of children’s opinions and attitudes, and to inform adults and children about child rights. The Ombudsperson, currently Mila Jelavić, has about 10 staff and submits annual reports to
1518-613: The national Public Defender (ombudsman) ( Defensor del Pueblo ) deals with exceptional cases. The Children's Ombudsman ( Polish : Rzecznik Praw Dziecka ) was established by the Law on the Ombudsman for Children passed on 6 January 2000, implementing article 72(4) of the Constitution of the Republic of Poland. The position is appointed by the parliament , and is currently held by Monika Horna-Cieślak . The Portuguese Ombudsman ( Portuguese : Provedor de Justiça , Justice Provider) offers
1564-657: The office of Ombudsman for Children’s Rights on 8 April 2016. Presidential decree was issued on 25 March 2016, appointing Deputy of the Majilis of the Kazakh Parliament Zagipa Baliyeva as Children's Rights Ombudsman of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The national Youth Ombudsman of Korea ( Korean : 대한민국 청소년옴부즈만 ) was existed under the Prime Minister's Office from 2004 to 2006. This had its brand name Ombudsteen . The Children’s Rights Ombudsman Institution of
1610-497: The post. He was followed by Anna Kuznetsova in 2016, whose controversial views led the founding editor of the business newspaper Vedomosti to interpret her appointment as a sign that President Vladimir Putin was becoming more ideological. On 27 October 2021, Maria Lvova-Belova was appointed to the position. In 2023, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine and various investigations surrounding alleged child abductions during
1656-687: The relevant bodies. The Office of the Children's Commissioner ( Māori : Manaakitia A Tatou Tamariki ) was founded under the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 , and the Children's Commissioner Act 2003 reformed the institution while bringing into domestic law the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child . The Commissioner promotes awareness and understanding of the views and interests of children, conducts research and inquiries, and can investigate individual cases. A Young People’s Reference Group (YPRG), comprising young people between 12 and 18, assists
1702-401: The rights and interests of children, and conducts public information and education work. The Canadian provinces and territories have a variety of agencies that serve as more or less independent advocates of the rights of children, particularly those that have been clients of social services. They differ in mandate but share a commitment to child rights, and co-ordinate their activities through
1748-413: The role until 2020 and was replaced by Anne Hollonds . The Commissioner's role is to promote public discussion and awareness of issues affecting children; conduct research and education programs; consult directly with children and representative organisations; and examine Commonwealth legislation, policies and programs that relate to children's human rights. The Australian Human Rights Commission proposed
1794-501: The title Children's Commissioner . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Children%27s_Commissioner&oldid=1242068497 " Category : Disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Children%27s Ombudsmen Largely
1840-447: The war , Lvova-Belova and Putin were issued arrest warrants by the ICC . The first children's ombudsmen began to appear in the regions in 1998 within the framework of cooperation between Russia and UNICEF. By 2010, children's ombudsmen were operating in 50 regions of the Russian Federation. The Protector of Citizens of the Republic of Serbia (Ombudsman), an independent state authority with
1886-637: Was appointed in 2009. Bernard De Vos is the Commissioner for Child Rights of the French Community ( French : Délégué général de la Communauté française aux droits de l’enfant ), which has a more or less identical range of functions but was created by, and reports to, the Parliament of the French Community . The Human Rights Ombudsman of Bosnia and Herzegovina has as one of its seven departments
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1932-690: Was appointed the fourth Icelandic Children's ombudsman. Emily Logan became Ireland’s first Ombudsman for Children in March 2004, following the passage of the Ombudsman for Children Act 2002. The main areas of work of the Office of the Children's Ombudsman (OCO) are complaints handling; communication and participation; and research and policy. The OCO is a member of the British and Irish Network of Ombudsmen and Children’s Commissioners (BINOCC). Law number 112 of 12 July 2011 set up an Ombudsman for childhood and adolescence as an independent institute. Kazakhstan created
1978-447: Was discovered she was pregnant, and had changed her name by deed poll to Toni Mitchell and told staff she was pregnant to avoid questions about her marital status. She was raised by her mother with the support of an extended network of friends. In 2012 Mitchell made contact with her brother for the first time. She has credited her upbringing to her view that children should be seen as well as heard. Mitchell originally studied education at
2024-571: Was established by the Flemish Parliament in June 1998. The Commission's services include mediation, information, complaints about possible violations of child rights and policy advice. It conducts public information and education campaigns, conducts and monitors research, and offers views on legislative initiatives that may affect minors. The Commission reports annually to the Flemish Parliament. The current Commissioner, Bruno Vanobbergen ,
2070-637: Was established by the Federal Youth Welfare Act 1989, since when each of the nine Bundesländer (states) have set up an Ombudsman for Children and Youth. The federal office is funded through the Federal Ministry for Social Security, Generations and Consumer Protection. Although no office has yet been established, the social scientist Kamal Uddin Siddiqui , a former member of the UN Committee on
2116-704: Was established in 2003, by law 3094/2003, to investigate alleged acts and omissions by individuals and legal entities that violate the rights of children or endanger their wellbeing. Currently, the Greek Deputy Ombudswoman for Children’s Rights is Theoni Koufonikolakou. Within the office of the Human Rights Procurator (ombudsman), a member of staff is designated to serve as Childhood Rights Defender ( Spanish : Defensor de los Derechos de la Niñez ). The National Human Rights Commissioner ( Spanish : Comisionado Nacional de Derechos Humanos ) has
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