One of our key functions, as set out in The Commissioner for Children and Young People (Northern Ireland) Order 2003, we are required to promote the participation of children and young people by listening to them and working with them to challenge and change the world they live in. We promote the awareness of and importance of the rights of children and young people to children and young people, their parents and those who represent them.
Amongst other parts of NICCY's legislation, our powers in Article 2 (2b), (5), Article 6(1) and Article 8(2), (5), confers a requirement to ensure communication and participation involving children, young people, parents, guardians, stakeholders and opinion formers.
Increasingly acceptance of the principle of children and young people's involvement is being turned into practice through a variety of participation activities across a range of organisations. It is also being more and more recognised with our own devolved government through the 10 year Strategy for Children and Young People; through the development of Departmental Children's Champions and through the funding of participation training fro statutory bodies and government departments.
But, in reality some have difficulty in translating their commitment into practice that is meaningful for children and young people, which is effective in bringing about change and which becomes embedded within the organisational ethos. NICCY strive to encourage the establishment of good practice.