Make life better for Northern Ireland’s 500,000 children and young people

NICCY Manifesto calls for four promises candidates can make to children 

THE Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People today called on election candidates to make four promises to improve children and young people’s lives.

Today all 250 election candidates will receive a copy of NICCY’s Manifesto – urging them to act, if elected to a devolved Assembly, on behalf of Northern Ireland’s 500,000 children and young people.

NICCY’s Chief Executive, Barney McNeany, said that candidates had a tremendous opportunity to promote and safeguard children and young people’s rights and best interests.

“Over the past three years NICCY has been working hard to fulfil its promises through its 15 priorities,” he said. “Now we want each candidate to consider what they can do, if elected to improve children and young people’s lives.

“Our Manifesto outlines four promises that will start to make a difference to the 500,000 children and young people in Northern Ireland.”

The NICCY Manifesto asks election candidates to promise children and young people that they will work to eradicate poverty, make sure they have a say in decisions that effect their lives, include the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in law, as well as making sure enough money is spent on children’s services.

• Copies of the NICCY Manifesto can be downloaded here:
• NICCY’s Chief Executive, Barney McNeany launched the Manifesto at Derry’s Guild Hall at an event hosted by Derry’s Children Commission. The event saw Mr McNeany quizzed on NICCY’s work by young people from the city
• Implement the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)
• Ensure Article 12 of the UNCRC is fully implemented in all Government decisions
• Commit Comprehensive Funding for children and young people’s services
• Eradicate Poverty – Use existing and new resources creatively to tackle the blight of poverty that affects 32,000 children and young people in Northern Ireland.