National Independent Human Rights Institutions for Children

Following the 30th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in 2020, and the creation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, there is increased interest in and a need to develop national human rights bodies for childrens rights. This book provides an in-depth look at one domestic independent childrens rights institution: the Irish Ombudsman for Childrens Office, to highlight the learnings for an international audience and the methodologies that can be used to promote and protect childrens rights at a national level. Co-authored by Irelands first Ombudsman for Children and a childrens rights professor, the book will present an original and informed analysis of how a national human rights institution can advocate, most effectively, for the rights of children. By using illustrative case studies, the book will highlight how the powers of a national human rights institution can be put to strategic use to address specific childrens rights deficits in areas of child protection, youth detention and public awareness about childrens rights. Each chapter focusses on a case study, identifies a problem, the approach or intervention by the Ombudsman for Children, the outcome and reflects on lessons learned. It ensures that the cases can be extracted, examined and replicated in other jurisdictions by an international community interested in the promotion, monitoring and protection of childrens rights. It speaks to those interested in Human Rights; Childrens Rights; Socio-legal studies, Social Work; Childhood Studies; Administrative Law, Constitutional Law and International Law, and to practitioners and policy-makers in this field.