NI Commissioner vows to speak up for local youths

THE North’s Commissioner for Children, Chris Quinn, has visited Omagh Library as part of an ongoing exhibition focusing on raising awareness of young people’s rights.

The ‘For Every Child… Every Right’ exhibition has been travelling around the North displaying information on the rights of children and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

On Thursday afternoon, Mr Quinn met with children from primary schools all across Tyrone and outlined his aims and ambitions to them in his role as Commissioner.

Offering them the opportunity to learn more about the rights covering all aspects of their lives and explaining how adults and government must work together to make sure all children can enjoy all their rights, Mr Quinn said, “My main priority is to put children and young people’s voices at the centre of the policy-making process, especially given the difficult challenges they have been facing through Covid, the ‘cost-of-living’ crisis and the recent announcement of budget cuts.”

Mr Quinn said that, as their Commissioner, he wants children and young people to know that he works for them.

“I want young people to understand what their rights are, how they should be upheld, and what my office can do to help them,” he said.

Speaking with the Tyrone Herald at the exhibition, Mr Quinn said, “As Commissioner of Children and Young people, one of my big priorities is to enshrine their rights in law.

“Today was a big part of that process.

“It’s great to be here in Omagh Library today and I want to extend a massive ‘thank you’ to Libraries NI for hosting us.”

Deputy Head of Service with Libraries NI, Kim Aiken, said, “We are honoured to have the opportunity to assist the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People in their mission to protect and promote the rights of children.

“The exhibition will reach many young people as it travels to libraries across Northern Ireland, and we hope it has a positive impact on those who need it.”