How we work

We use a range of methods in the Policy and Research team to help us do our work...

We plan and carry out our research and policy work in keeping with the UNCRC. An important part of this is ensuring that children and young people’s rights to participate and have their say are protected, respected and fulfilled.

When we undertake research or develop advice to government, it is very important to us that we speak directly to children and young people – after all, they will be the ones who are best able to tell us how their rights can be met. We encourage others who are investigating issues related to children’s lives to do the same.

How we do research work

The research or reviews that we do enable us to produce evidence as to whether or not children’s rights and best interests are being met. Often we present this evidence by writing a report, but we can also use other techniques to best get across the evidence – for example, our Youth Panel created a DVD outlining the evidence collected from our Children’s Rights Review.

We use the evidence from our research and reviews as a tool to ensure government puts in place actions to improve the lives of children and young people, and to better meet their rights. We always make recommendations to government through our research that we believe will make positive changes for children.

We use participatory research methods as far as possible, ranging from engaging children and young people in advising on a project, to supporting young people led initiatives, such as peer research.

We can carry out research ourselves within the team, but also “commission” others to conduct research for us – this allows us to benefit from the expertise .

How we do policy work

Our policy work is about advising government on actions they can take to improve the lives of children and young people and promoting and understanding of their rights and best interests.

We do this in a number of ways:

We respond or reply to government consultations that affect children and young people. A consultation is where government asks people’s opinions about what it wants to do on a certain issue. Where the issue affects children and young people, the policy and research team will give advice on how the government should act, while ensuring that it meets children’s rights.
We also write policy papers on issues that affect children and young people’s lives. Our policy papers are short papers with key information on the issue in question, alongside recommendations to government advising it how to best meet children and young people’s rights around the issue.
NICCY also provides evidence to Assembly and Westminster committees as well as other bodies such as the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child

Children’s Rights Impact Assessment (CRIA)

NICCY has developed a step by step guide on how to conduct a children’s rights impact assessment. It begins by outlining what is meant by a children’s rights impact assessment, why this type of evaluation is necessary and how, given the specific focus on the issue of rights, this assessment process can provide a more robust, transparent and evidence-based approach to policy development and law making in Northern Ireland. You can view it here.

For more information please contact a member of the team here.