Children’s Services Co-operation Act (Northern Ireland) 2015

Well-being of children and young persons

1.—(1) The functions conferred by this Act are to be exercised for the purpose of improving the well-being of children and young persons.

(2) For this purpose the “well-being” of children and young persons includes—

(a) physical and mental health;

(b) the enjoyment of play and leisure;

(c) learning and achievement;

(d) living in safety and with stability;

(e) economic and environmental well-being;

(f) the making by them of a positive contribution to society;

(g) living in a society which respects their rights;

(h) living in a society in which equality of opportunity and good relations are promoted between persons who share a relevant characteristic and persons who do not share that characteristic.

(3) In this section “relevant characteristic” means a characteristic mentioned in any of paragraphs (a) to (d) of section 75(1) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

(4) In determining the meaning of well-being for the purposes of this Act, regard is to be had to any relevant provision of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (which is to say, the Convention of that name adopted by General Assembly resolution 44/25 of 20 November 1989).

(5) The Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister may by regulations make such amendments to subsection (2) as it thinks appropriate.

(6) Regulations must not be made under subsection (5) unless a draft of the regulations has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, the Assembly.