The Department of Education has launched a public consultation on the Children Bill that aims to strengthen support and protection for the Island's children and young people, particularly those who are vulnerable.

It is being billed as a major milestone in the move to more closely integrate and improve children's services in line with the recommendations of an independent commission of inquiry.

The inquiry was set up to investigate the circumstances surrounding the 2002 murders of teenagers Samantha Barton and George Green at an Island children's home.

Among the measures outlined in the 31-clause bill is the introduction of Children's Commissioner to promote and safeguard the rights of children and young people.

The commissioner will hold investigations, conduct research, review law and promote understanding of the rights of children and young people, among other tasks.

Statutory status will also be given by the bill to two bodies that have already been introduced - the children's committee which plans children's services and co-ordinates services providers and the Safeguarding Children Board, which conducts serious case reviews with the aim of protecting children from harm and neglect.

The bill places a duty on government departments to work together so that young people can aspire to be healthy, to stay safe, enjoy and achieve and make a positive contribution and prosper.

Education Minister Anne Craine MHK said: 'The Isle of Man is, for most children, an ideal place to grow up. However, as in any society, there are exceptions to the rule and we cannot divorce ourselves from the fact that not all Island children enjoy the childhood we would wish them to.

'It is intended that a Children's Commissioner be appointed to hear the voice of children and represent their best interests.

'In addition, we are creating a Safeguarding Board that will have the necessary legislative powers to protect children. These two bodies will have the independence to critically assess the extent to which the Departments of Government that have the role to provide children's services are doing their job.

'We have been working in this "virtual" state for some time and so I very much welcome the fact that we are now able to bring forward the legislation that will be a major step forward in preventing children falling through the net.'

The department is inviting the views of the public and those working with children over the legislation.

The consultation document can be found at www.gov.im/consultations or can be obtained from the Department's offices at St George's Court, Upper Church Street, Douglas, IM1 2SG.

Views should be submitted to John Gill, head of legal and administrative services, at the above address or john.gill@doe.gov.im and must contain the author's name, together with the name of any organisation they represent.

The deadline for the return of views is 5pm on Friday, April 16.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Send your comments to newsviews@newsiom.co.im

YOUR COMMENTS

This sounds like another job for the boys type appointment! Do we not already have a huge social security department with dozens of people looking after the nations kids? do we need to pay someone £60k a year to tell them what they are already doing? Think not.
T TASH

I agree T TASH, another job for the boys, a complete waste of money ! Government seems to be creating more jobs than ever out of thin air at a time when they should be doing the opposite. It's another vote of no confidence from Joe Public but the top brass don't care as they are busy feathering their own nests!
JP

Has this woman ever lived in the real world; introduce some more Statutory Legislation, throw in a few more Civil Servants and a couple of Committee's for good measure and the Islands problems will melt away. A milestone indeed sounds more like a millstone, if you want to do something worth while sort out the spiraling drug and alcohol problems on the Island.
JC

About time -----------today being the 8th anniversary of my nephew Georges brutal murder. (8th February 2002)
VAL LACE

Accusations of cronyism only serve to trivialise the negative impact that The Childrens' Bill could possibly have on all parents! Interested parties would be wise to view the report published by Dr. Eileen Munro of The London School of Economics and Political Science, concerning the English version of this Bill: www.tracking-children.lse.ac.uk She highlights a plethora of potential concerns such as data security, data overload and data mis-interpretation that could lead to placing a child unintentionally at risk or lead to misplaced suspicion of innocent parties. Part 2, Sections 11 (f), (g) & (h) of the Bill especialy give cause for concern as to what additional information a Minister may order onto the database without the requirement for further legislation, let alone parental consent!
MICKA