Ombudsman for Children’s Office welcomes the publication of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child Concluding Observations

Ombudsman for Children’s Office welcomes the publication of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child Concluding Observations

The Ombudsman for Children’s Office (OCO) welcomes the publication of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (Committee) Concluding Observations (Thurs, Feb 9) on the combined fifth and sixth periodic reports of Ireland. It follows the constructive dialogue between the Committee and the Irish State about its progress in fulfilling children’s rights under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) on the 24^th and 25^th January 2023.

The OCO welcomes the attention given during the constructive dialogue to the issues raised in two reports submitted by the OCO: Pieces of Us, a report by children living in Ireland, and a report by the OCO, which were submitted to the Committee in August 2022.

Two overarching areas of concern that came across from our reports were:

1. Delays and shortfalls in measures taken by the State to mainstream children’s rights, including measures to strengthen legislation, interagency coordination, data collection, resource allocation, and awareness raising and training.

2. Persistent barriers that particular groups of children in Ireland face to enjoying their rights on an equal basis with other children, including children in poverty, children in care, children in the child justice system, children with disabilities, asylum-seeking and refugee children, Traveller children, Roma children, LGBTQI+ children, children with mental health difficulties and homeless children.

As acknowledged by the OCO in our report to the Committee, there have been positive developments in relation to the fulfilment of children’s rights under the CRC since the Committee last examined Ireland in 2016. While this progress is acknowledged in the the Concluding Observations, the Committee also identifies many areas of concern that are having a negative impact on the rights of children in Ireland and makes recommendations in relation to these areas where action is needed by the Irish State to strengthen and improve the rights of children in Ireland.

The inclusion of many recommendations relating to the areas of concern contained in the OCO’s report and Pieces of Us is welcome, as is the attention given to issues faced by children experiencing different types of disadvantage. The focus on delays and shortfalls in measures taken by the State to mainstream children’s rights highlights a number of issues the OCO has raised, and continues to raise, with different Government Departments. The OCO also welcomes the attention given, and recommendations made in relation to the areas covered in our Strategic Plan 2022 – 2024. In particular, the OCO believes that the identification of non-discrimination, violence against children, mental health, standard of living, education and child justice as areas of particular concern for the Committee should encourage the State to prioritise these key areas.

The recommendations contained in the Concluding Observations will be a valuable resource in holding the Government to account and in seeking positive change for children over the coming years.

 

• 20 February 2023
• Type: Press Release
• Topic: Children in Care, Education, Housing, Mental Health