Children's Law Centre (CLC)
@ChildLawCentre
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Following
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CLC provides a child friendly legal advice & information service unique in NI & work to ensure that all new laws and policies are children's rights compliant.
Belfast, Northern Ireland
Joined November 2014
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The punishment budget must never happen again.
A legal challenge, taken by the Children’s Law Centre, relating to the Secretary of State’s 2023/24 budget will be heard in Belfast’s High Court today for a leave hearing.
Read more at
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NI Budget 2023/24:
CLC has issued a pre-action letter to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the Northern Ireland Office and the Department of Finance
Read our statement:
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Today we're celebrating 25 years of CLC.
We're proud of the children's lives we've changed through that time. We'll keep going until children's rights are guaranteed without discrimination.
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Over 100 organisations and individuals have jointly signed a letter written to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, raising concern around the impact of budget decisions and cuts to services.
Read more:
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"Please listen... We are all speaking with one voice... We say no to your budget cuts."
@C_Fitz_
@NoelPurdy
@ashleiggal
@StRonansPS1
@ayebelfast
@rmloader
@babsmcconnell
@DrJDMcMullen
@CRGMurray
@ProfVicSimms
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Congratulations to Chris Quinn on his appointment as the new Commissioner for Children and Young People in Northern Ireland. We look forward to working with Chris in his new role.
2
10
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Disappointed with your
#AlevelResults
? Feel you've been treated unfairly? For legal advice contact the Children's Law Centre, Freephone 02890245704 or Email: ree
@childrenslawcentre
.org. Free and confidential legal advice.
@BillofRightsNI
@CAJNi
@savechildren_ni
@NIAEducation
2
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The Children’s Law Centre has been granted leave in our case relating to the budget setting process.
CLC felt we had no choice but to take this case to protect children and young people from the harm of budget decisions.
5
28
78
And that’s a wrap. A busy day in Geneva highlighting our concerns around a regression in children’s rights and how that’s harming children and young people in Northern Ireland. We’re looking forward to a strong set of committee recommendations
@UNChildRights1
4
13
74
We’ve been up bright & early this morning with our delegation of young people from
@YouthCLC
,
@IncludeYouth
and
@VOYPIC
to collect our
@UN
passes ahead of meeting with the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child this week. Looking forward to seeing
@NIYF
&
@nichildcom
today too!
4
13
72
It is abundantly clear that transfer tests cannot go ahead. They are not compliant with international children's rights standards in any regular year and it is untenable for them to go ahead in the current circumstances. The
@niexecutive
must be clear on this.
2
29
72
"These are not numbers. They are not statistics...
"They are human beings with feelings and potential and ability that is being wasted and walked over."
Aurelia's story is a powerful reminder of what failed SEND policy in schools means.
Watch in full at
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Many young people under 18 contributed to the response during COVID-19, they should not be excluded from the high street voucher scheme.
1
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And we’re off! CLC is leading a delegation eight of children and young people, as well as child rights experts, to Geneva, ahead of the UK Government and devolved regions examination by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.
Find out more:
0
1
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Motion passed!
The UNCRC LOIPR report lists the disproportionate use of restraint & seclusion in educational settings for disciplinary purposes under 'torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment'.
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Our leave hearing has now been heard. The judgment has been reserved. We look forward to the decision in due course.
The punishment budget must never happen again.
A legal challenge, taken by the Children’s Law Centre, relating to the Secretary of State’s 2023/24 budget will be heard in Belfast’s High Court today for a leave hearing.
Read more at
9
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137
1
16
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*Press Release* Report Reveals Systemic Failure on Children’s Rights in Northern Ireland
Read our release here -
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"We could lead the way in how we should be treating children with special needs and disabilities. We could implement the UNCRC and UNCRPD. So, it's absolutely a golden opportunity".
Find out more:
1
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CLC welcomes the news
@education_NI
are rolling back some of the cuts to children's services and conducting an impact assessment - something the Secretary of State for NI failed to do.
We should never have been in this position and we continue to have serious concerns.
1
14
59
The Children’s Law Centre remains extremely concerned about the PSNI conducting strip searching on children.
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Over 125 organisations and individuals have now endorsed our letter to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland raising serious concern about cuts to children's services.
Listen to why it's so important and sign up:
2
25
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The impact of the Secretary of State’s punishment budget was plain for everyone to see. Our team is at the High Court in Belfast today in relation to a challenge to the 2023/24 budget setting process.
Read more at
0
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Delighted to be one of five incredible organisations, and the only one from NI, to be awarded this funding from the Paul Hamlyn Foundation. Most importantly, we're looking forward to working to increase our impact on children and young people's rights in NI.
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Many children and young people, as well as parents, guardians and carers, are already at breaking point. Yet budget cuts are targeting children directly.
That's why over 100 organisations and individuals signed our letter to the Secretary of State for NI:
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23
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Celebrating 20 years of CLC. Happy birthday to us!
11
16
46
The High Street Voucher Scheme excludes around 450,000 children and young people. Is this fair?
We don't think so, and neither do the young people we have been assisting with complaints to the
@EqualityCommNI
-
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25
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This is utterly unacceptable, potentially unlawful & contrary to the recent independent Ipsos report. The adverse equality impacts are clear. Capacity to access & coordinate SEND provision in schools is being dismantled when transformation is most needed -
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Watch to find out why CLC have issued pre-action correspondence in relation to the 2023/24 NI budget.
Read more here -
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By excluding young people under the age of 18 from the high street voucher scheme their contribution to the economy and the adverse impact suffered by them throughout COVID-19 is being forgotten.
0
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UN to be Told Budget Cuts Will Compound Growing Number of Children’s Rights Breaches
Read more:
@UNChildRights1
@IncludeYouth
@VOYPIC
@NIYF
@phf_uk
@ChildRightsCnct
@BragiGudbrands1
@lexpsy
@askelton_CCL
@SophieKiladze
@BVanKeirsbilck
@NenePedernera
1
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Thank you to
@bbctheview
and
@MarkCarruthers7
for discussing our letter to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, now signed by over 150 organisations and individuals, including
@WSN_NI
Organisations are continuing to sign up and endorse the letter:
0
20
42
Yesterday we met with SDLP MLA
@MatthewOToole2
, leader of the opposition in
@niassembly
to discuss a range of pressing children’s rights issues and the need for any new Assembly and Executive to promote, extend and defend the rights of children.
5
12
40
Now 175 signatures on our letter to the Secretary of State for NI highlighting serious concerns over budget cuts and the impact on children.
We'll be raising these concerns with the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in Geneva next week.
Sign up:
2
23
39
We will be hosting a free webinar looking at the Mental Capacity Act (NI) 2016 and the implications it has on children's rights. Everyone welcome but particularly useful for social workers, practitioners and legal professionals.
Book online at:
1
27
38
How does the Human Rights Act actually protect children and young people? Here are some examples.
*Spoiler* They mostly involve children who are incredibly vulnerable, at risk of losing access to services or treated in appalling ways because of a disability.
1
17
39
Our Director, Paddy Kelly, recognised as highly commended in the
#CO3Awards
Hugely deserved after a big year when she led CLC's work to protect children here.
Included securing key concluding observations, challenging budget processes & tackling disadvantage & discrimination.
Congratulations to Paddy Kelly from
@ChildLawCentre
for getting highly commended in Inspirational Leader of the Year - brill recognition of Paddy's leadership for children's rights.
5
3
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3
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We have some exciting news! our brand new website and Child Law Hub for young people is live! Find out more at:
1
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Great turnout today to discuss raising the age of criminal responsibility. There’s huge interest in this, with many arguing for years for NI to catch up with international standards. We need to aim high a raise the age to 16, becoming world leaders in protecting all our children.
0
12
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Rachel Hogan, SEN expert at Children’s Law Centre, outlining the steps CLC has taken to protect children and young people from the cumulative harm of the cuts & outlining recent pre-action correspondence to the Secretary of State for NI, the Department of Finance and the NIO.
0
10
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The hard work starts now. Any contingency plan must be equality proofed to ensure they are children's rights compliant and do not amplify existing inequalities. This should include consultation with children, parents and the sector. Speed of action is essential.
0
12
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We have reached a point where the basic human right of going to school is not being met for some of our most disadvantaged young people.
Watch what our special educational needs expert had to say on
@ViewFrmStormont
Full piece from 30 mins -
0
18
36
This afternoon we met with UUP Deputy Leader
@RobbieButlerMLA
to discuss a range of issues that we’re urging for action to be taken on to close the gap in children’s rights in the new Assembly mandate.
You can more about our priorities here:
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5
33
Packed room at Currie PS, with Dr Mark Browne, Permanent Secretary for the Department of Education now addressing the room.
0
5
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Today our Director and Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) expert met with Diane Dodds MLA in Stormont to talk about the challenges facing children and young people.
2
3
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The responses to the
@Justice_NI
consultation on changing the age of criminal responsibility shows overwhelming support for raising the age.
Read this joint briefing '10 Reasons Why Ten Is Too Young' to find out why:
2
13
35
Along with
@IncludeYouth
,
@niacro
&
@VOYPIC
, in partnership with
@ChildRightsQUB
, we've organised an event to discuss why raising the age of criminal responsibility is the right thing to do. Spaces are filling fast so register soon.
Registrations:
0
15
32
The issue of post primary transfer still needs urgent attention. The Education Minister must now exercise his emergency powers to direct selective schools on fair criteria, which should be consulted upon.
3
16
35
The Secretary of State's budget is playing politics with our children’s futures. At the very moment we need investment to stabilise & transform services the
@NIOgov
's budget will cause immeasurable harm to our most vulnerable children. Withdraw the budget and
#StopTheCuts
.
Hundreds from community and youth groups turn out to Belfast protest over gov budget cuts, which they say will limit if not destroy the services they all supply or avail of.
@UTVNews
5
10
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16
34
We're thrilled that an open letter from one of our clients will be read out at
@belfastcc
tonight. The letter is from a young person who arrived in Belfast as an unaccompanied asylum seeking child and was assisted by our immigration legal practitioners
#ChildsVoice
0
7
35
Preparation for reporting for the next
#UNCRC
examination of the UK govt has commenced. If you would like to contribute to the next NI NGO report, please get in touch for more information. Email: claire
@childrenslawcentre
.org (Please RT)
2
29
34
Today
@ChildLawCentre
@IncludeYouth
@VOYPIC
and
@niacro
launch ‘Tracing the Review’, jointly commissioned academic research undertaken by Dr Nicola Carr and Dr Siobhan McAlister, on progress against the recommendations of the Youth Justice Review of 2011
@NicolaCarr
@siobhanmc74
0
8
33
CLC welcomes the debate due to take place next week highlighting the sustained failure to meet the needs of children with special educational needs and disabilities.
We will continue to engage with MLAs across the Assembly to reinforce the urgent need for investment and reform.
The Assembly will next sit on Monday 26 February and Tuesday 27 February 2024.
You can view the Order Papers and indicative timings for the sittings by following this link -
#AssemblyBusiness
1/5
1
4
3
0
10
34
It’s International Day to End Corporal Punishment and here at the Children’s Law Centre we’re once again calling for
#EqualProtection
for children in Northern Ireland.
Read more:
#EndCorporalPunishment
@GPtoEndViolence
1
17
32
We hope these landmark declarations serve as a significant reminder to public authorities and duty bearers more generally that disabled children and young people are entitled to equal treatment and equality of opportunity in all aspects of life.
Northern Ireland's Education Authority breached the human rights of two disabled schoolchildren, a judicial review has found
0
8
14
4
14
34
We're in Geneva along with members of our youth panel youth
@CLC
to give evidence to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.
We want to thank
@phf_uk
and
@nichildcom
for making it possible to take a group of young people to Geneva and helping give young people a voice.
We've arrived in Geneva, ready to give evidence to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.
Today, we're also launching 'Rights Here, Right Now: Summary for Children and Young People'. Find it here and please share -
0
2
9
1
5
32
The Children’s Law Centre has sent pre-action correspondence to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the NIO and the Department of Finance, outlining failures in the budget setting process for the year 2023/24.
Read more:
1
12
33
CLC Director Paddy Kelly closing the day with some examples of children who may come into contact with the criminal justice system. Vulnerable children who need our help and support.
0
8
32
Congratulations to NGO colleagues and children and young people in Scotland on the passing of the UNCRC bill at its final stage.
Children's rights change children's lives. Incorporating international children's rights standards into domestic law should be a priority everywhere.
⏰Time 2 celebrate🎉
@ScotParl
MSPs voted YES for incorporation of children's rights into law
Congrats 2 all children & young people, past & present, who have championed for their rights over the last decade, ensuring protection for current & future children of🏴
#UNCRCScotland
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286
0
9
33
Next stop Geneva.
We’re leading a delegation of young people to visit the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.
Find out why:
1
3
31
CLC’s case relating to the budget setting process is listed in the High Court tomorrow morning, when Mr Justice Humphries will deliver his decision on whether leave has been granted in the case.
2
11
32
Well done to everyone involved in raising awareness of this, particularly the parents at front and centre. Now time for a child rights compliant solution.
School restraint and seclusion policies in Northern Ireland "outdated"
6
17
43
2
8
31
This week CLC gave evidence to the Committee for Education on Dyslexia Services. Key points included:
- Funding
- Denial of support
- Changes needed
- Call for an independent audit
Read our briefing here:
@daniadvocacy
8
10
32
Today at our AGM we're looking back at some of our achievements over the past year. Never under estimate the impact a small dedicated team can achieve even through difficult times. We're looking forward to continuing and increasing our impact in to the future.
2
8
31
Our case relating to the 2023/24 budget setting process was heard in court on Monday. A decision on the application for leave has been reserved and will be handed down in due course.
We want to thank everyone for their messages of support over the last number of days.
Disadvantaged children affected most by so-called punishment budget, court told
0
4
7
0
7
31
We were delighted to hear the Rt Hon Sir John Gillen discussing the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child being made law in NI & referencing CLC & the UNCRC report submitted this week.
1
9
31
A number of teenagers have submitted formal complaints to the Department for the Economy for failing to comply with its equality scheme in relation to its decision to exclude young persons under 18 from the High Street Voucher Scheme.
Read more:
0
12
30
CLC represents the majority of unaccompanied asylum seeking children in this jurisdiction, in their application for asylum. Almost every young person has recounted the horror of small boat crossings at some stage of their journey.
Read our release here:
0
10
30
UN Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons, Siobhán Mullally, now speaking about the political rhetoric around a 'migration crisis'. Says we should be looking at it in terms of crisis in protection. "We need to guard against the misuse of language around trafficking."
1
7
29
Today CLC published three major reports sent to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.
Read our assessment of children's rights here:
0
24
29
*This* We're seeing the damage every day through our advice line. Our legal team have never been as busy trying to safeguard children's rights. Covid has exposed a long standing gap in the proper provision & funding of children's services, with the most vulnerable hit hardest.
Who is speaking up for kids at the minute?
How do we not have education as a priority in yesterday's roadmap?
News all day asking when do golf, garden centres, hairdressers, churches and coffee shops open.
Let me tell you some stories about the kids...
10
65
303
0
10
29
Only those with knowledge, support & resources can access appeal rights & challenge a decision. With such high rates of success at appeal, how many children are missing out on entitled support? How many are left behind? We raised this today at the
@NIAEducation
Committee.
3
14
29
Thank you to
@ChildRightsQUB
for hosting our wide ranging discussion between CRC Vice Chair Bragi Guðbrandsson and representatives of the children and human rights sectors in Northern Ireland, exploring the profound challenges faced by children and young people in NI today.
2
3
29
We will be at the
@NIAEducation
committee tomorrow morning, giving a briefing on Special Educational Needs. Listen in from 9:30am
0
8
29
Really important survey showing that over 70% of parents support a change in the law to end physical punishment and give children
#EqualProtection
. We're lagging behind other jurisdictions on this. Parents agree, let's protect our children.
0
6
28
For those who never had the privilege of meeting Monica, she was an amazing, powerful, fearless and inspiring advocate for human rights, especially disability rights. Her loss will be deeply felt.
Yesterday we heard the devastating news that our dear friend, former CEO + leading Disability Rights Activist Monica Wilson passed away. We have reflected and spoken with Monica's family. Our CEO
@AndreaBrownNI
has written the following tribute:
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18
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2
2
27
We spoke to
@BBCNolan
yesterday about the strip searching of children by the PSNI. We will continue to raise our concerns around this practice and look forward to the completion of the review by the NI Policing Board.
0
8
29
"Unprecedented, shocking and frankly embarrassing"
@NoelPurdy
highlighting the recent budget recommendation from the
@UNChildRights1
Concluding Observations.
Read more about the Concluding Observations here:
0
14
28
Young people with experience of the criminal justice system at a young age have outlined how they felt at the time. We’re failing them by criminalising them.
Read why we’re arguing for the age of criminal responsibility to be raised to 16 –
0
16
27
Terrible news. CLC's immigration solicitors have consistently raised concerns around the lack of safe and legal routes. The Nationality and Borders Bill will make the situation even more perilous.
Find our most recent briefing on the NABB here:
0
7
27
This week we presented evidence to the Committee for Education on dyslexia services, highlighting key issues and possible solutions. We've also worked with
@daniadvocacy
to ensure key issues are heard. Now we need to see action to improve things for children who are being failed
2
8
27
Aurelia wanted to go to a mainstream school. Instead she watched her friends attend the schools she chose while she was stuck at home. Aurelia uses a wheelchair & she wants the people in charge to know her story.
At
@Education_NI
committee tomorrow CLC will tell Aurelia's story.
1
10
27
We are saddened to hear of the death of Anne Moore. Our sincere condolences to her family, friends and colleagues at
@savechildren_ni
1
2
27
Today our youth panel
@youthCLC
launched their 'Rights Here, Right Now' children's rights survey for 12-17 year olds. If you are 12-17 years old then please tell them your views. If you work with children and young people, please share and encourage them to complete it.
Our 'Rights Here, Right Now' survey is now live. If you're age 12-17, please tell us your views. If you work with 12-17 year olds, please circulate the survey and encourage children and young people to take part -
@ChildLawCentre
@SCUKNI
2
26
18
3
30
26
Want to know what your rights are as a transgender young person? We worked with
@TransgenderNI
@CaraFriendNI
&
@bakermckenzie
to give you answers about your rights in school, medical rights, right to change your name and more
#LGBTAW2021
Find them here:
0
23
26
In two landmark cases, the High Court in Belfast has declared that the human rights of disabled children were breached when they were refused access to school transport, which denied them access to education.
Read more:
@Angeleyes_ni
0
12
25
Today is the start of Anti-Bullying Week 2021. We'll be supporting
#AntiBullyingWeek
by posting some resources, stories and information about bullying on our social media. Keep an eye out and don't forget - be kind!
#OneKindWord
0
9
26
CLC met with Alliance Party MLAs this afternoon at Stormont to discuss a range of children’s rights issues that we believe need to be prioritised and addressed in the new Assembly mandate to close the gap in children’s rights.
You can find out more here:
2
8
25
🧵 The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child will begin their questioning of the UK and devolved governments shortly (at 2pm UK time).
We will be tweeting some live updates on this thread and you can watch live via this link:
#UNCRC
@UNChildRights1
1
5
25
NI Children’s Commissioner
@ChrisNICCY
responds to today’s event:
“Systematic failure after systematic failure after systematic failure”
“The answers are all here, it’s the Concluding Observations”
“Withdraw the budget”
“The concluding obs will feature in my day to day work”
0
6
25
"This is the level that we have actually sunk to in our education system...
"This child was in primary school for seven years and we could see her coming. And she gets a draft statement in the middle of July."
Watch the full evidence session at
1
11
25
Withdraw the 2023/24 budget for Northern Ireland
@chhcalling
This could not be any clearer from the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.
The budget will cause active harm to children and young people and breach children's rights. We need urgent action.
0
11
25
Thank you to
@williamcrawley
for having us on BBC Radio Ulster's Talkback show yesterday to discuss the Policing Board's investigation of PSNI strip searches on children.
You can hear the full show here:
0
14
25
Today we met with
@CommissionerHR
Dunja Mijatović to discuss human rights, with a special interest in children's rights. We were joined by
@IEFNI
@NIHRC
@rjjoconnell
@qubschooloflaw
@GTeggart
@AmnestyNI
@CAJNi
@claire_kemp_
Hugely important time to discuss rights challenges.
3
5
24
Today at 12pm the
@niassembly
meets to discuss school absences in relation to COVID-19. The debate must include recognition that children with SEND are often worst impacted and that their needs must continue to be met.
Read more here:
0
9
25
🧵CLC has taken time to carefully consider the Department’s analysis and their newly published guidance to schools following the consultation on changes to RSE which closed in November last year. (1/6)
1
16
24
Any diminution of rights will have a direct impact on children and young people, especially those most marginalised, disadvantaged or vulnerable.
You can find the CLC response to the
#HumanRightsAct
consultation here -
⚠️WARNING: POWER GRAB OF YOUR HUMAN RIGHTS IMMINENT⚠️
Speak up to
#SaveYourRights
(Location:
#QueensSpeech
)
77
2K
2K
2
21
24
This morning we accompanied the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child’s Vice Chair Bragi Guðbrandsson to a series of high level meetings with senior officials from a number of NI Government departments, including
@ExecOfficeNI
, to discuss the Committee’s recent recommendations.
1
3
24
Thank you
@nbrogan087
,
@EnnisSinead
and
@SheerinOfficial
for meeting with us this morning alongside
@sinnfeinireland
policy staff to discuss a range of children’s rights issues needing urgent attention.
Read our 'Close the Gap' priorities briefing here:
0
9
24
The latest JJC inspection report raises some frustratingly familiar issues that have been raised in previous inspection reports, in the youth justice review over a decade ago, and in Tracing the Review by CLC,
@IncludeYouth
,
@niacro
,
@voypic
and
@siobhanmc74
last year.
0
10
24