Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People facts for kids
The Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People (NICCY) is an important office in Northern Ireland. It's like a special helper for all children and young people up to the age of 18. NICCY's main job is to make sure that children's rights are protected, just as they are described in the Convention on the Rights of the Child. This office started in 2003, and the first Commissioner was Nigel Williams.
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What NICCY Does
The Commissioner works independently, which means they can decide what issues are most important to focus on. Their main goal is always to make sure children's rights come first. They also consider the role of parents in a child's life.
Helping Young People
NICCY works with many different public groups and organisations that affect children and young people. This includes groups that deal with things like schools, health, and even juvenile justice agencies (which are groups that work with young people involved in the law). The Commissioner can also look into complaints from individuals if they feel their rights haven't been respected.
Who Are the Commissioners?
Here are the people who have served as the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People:
- Nigel Williams (2003 to 2006)
- Patricia Lewsley (2007 to 2015)
- Koulla Yiasouma (since 2015)
More About Children's Rights
- Children's Commissioner for England
- Children's Commissioner for Wales
- Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman
- Scotland's Commissioner for Children and Young People
- Ombudsman for Children, Ireland
- Timeline of young people's rights in the United Kingdom
