since 2021 | |
| Office of the Children's Commissioner | |
| Nominator | Secretary of State for Education[1] |
|---|---|
| Appointer | Department for Education |
| Term length | 6 years |
| Formation | 2005 |
| Website | www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk |
The Office of the Children's Commissioner for England is a non-departmental public body in England responsible for promoting and protecting the rights of children as set out in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, as well as other human rights legislation, such as the Human Rights Act 1998. The Children's Commissioner was established under the Children Act 2004 to "represent the views and interests of children", and the office was further strengthened by the Children and Families Act 2014 providing a legal mandate to promote and protect the rights of children. According to the Commissioner's website, the role's purpose is to facilitate long-term improvements for all children, and in particular for the most vulnerable, and involves “being the eyes and ears of children within the system and the country as a whole", as well as acting with political independence from government, children's agencies and the voluntary and private sectors. The Children's Commissioner also has a duty to speak on behalf of all children in the United Kingdom on non-devolved issues, which include immigration, and youth justice in Wales.[2]
Dame Rachel de Souza started her term as Children's Commissioner in March 2021.[1]