Transcript Monitoring the concluding observations of the UN Committee

Ombudsman for Children’s Office
Focus Ireland Conference on Youth
Homelessness
Mánus de Barra
Policy and Human Rights Officer
Ombudsman for Children’s Office
• Established in 2004 under primary legislation (the
Ombudsman for Children Act, 2002)
• Ombudsman for Children is appointed by the
President and is accountable directly to the
Oireachtas
• Overarching function of the OCO is to promote and
monitor the rights of children in Ireland
• The OCO is independent in the performance of its
functions
OCO Functions
• Provide an independent complaints handling service
regarding public bodies
• Actively promote children’s rights - including the
provisions of the UN Convention on the Rights of the
Child – through participation and communications
activities
• Monitor law and policy affecting children, and provide
advice to Ministers of Government on matters relating to
their rights and welfare
International Human Rights
Obligations
– OCO is guided by Ireland’s international human
rights obligations in its work, particularly the UN
Convention on the Rights of the Child
– The OCO seeks to ensure that law, policy and
practice in Ireland comply with our human rights
obligations
– Engage with international monitoring mechanisms,
such as the UN Committee on the Rights of the
Child and the Universal Periodic Review process
established by the UN Human Rights Council
Handling Complaints
• Handle complaints made by or on behalf of children
• Public bodies, schools and voluntary hospitals
• Independent and impartial complaint-handling
• Respect for local procedures
• Considerations:
- adverse affect on the child
- maladministration
2009 Complaints
Who is bringing complaints
Parents
Professionals
Concerned adults
Extended family
Child/young person
Other
68%
12%
8%
6%
4%
2%
2009 Complaints
What complaints are about
Over 900 complaints in 2009:
•
•
•
•
•
Health
Education
Justice
Housing / Planning
Other
43%
38%
7%
4%
8%
Aftercare
Issues arising from complaints to OCO:
– Delays in or absence of aftercare planning
– Lack of an allocated social worker
– Wide variation in aftercare service provision,
with some areas having an aftercare policy
and dedicated staff to work with young
people leaving care, while others had no
clear policy and limited services available
– Need to amend Child Care Act 1991
Homeless young people accessing
out-of-hours services
Issues arising from complaints to the OCO:
– Difficulties in accessing appropriate services
to address complex needs; social workers
have raised concerns about accessing
placements because of waiting lists or
unavailability.
– Restrictions in accessing out-of-hours
services
– Availing of out-of-hours service for extended
periods of time
Ombudsman for Children’s Office
Millennium House
52-56 Great Strand Street
Dublin 1
Tel: 8656800
Email: [email protected]
www.oco.ie