House of Lords Paper Ser.

Posts of Children's Commissioners already exist or are the way to being established for Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland. The Committee's report recommends that a similar post should be established for England, as it believes this can help promote the welfare and protection of children. Although this will not provide a panacea for all the problems that children face, it can act as a channel through which the voice of children can be heard more clearly. It finds that a commissioner could be a champion for children's interests at the national level of decision-making, help children assert their rights in a positive and constructive way, and help create a culture of respect for the fundamental principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child within public bodies responsible for looking after children.