Part 1

Children’s Commissioner

Primary function: children's rights, views and interests
2
1
The Children's Commissioner's primary function is promoting and protecting the rights of children in England.
2
The primary function includes promoting awareness of the views and interests of children in England.
3
In the discharge of the primary function the Children's Commissioner may, in particular—
a
advise persons exercising functions or engaged in activities affecting children on how to act compatibly with the rights of children;
b
encourage such persons to take account of the views and interests of children;
c
advise the Secretary of State on the rights, views and interests of children;
d
consider the potential effect on the rights of children of government policy proposals and government proposals for legislation;
e
bring any matter to the attention of either House of Parliament;
f
investigate the availability and effectiveness of complaints procedures so far as relating to children;
g
investigate the availability and effectiveness of advocacy services for children;
h
investigate any other matter relating to the rights or interests of children;
i
monitor the implementation in England of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child;
j
publish a report on any matter considered or investigated under this section.
4
In the discharge of the primary function, the Children's Commissioner must have particular regard to the rights of children who are within section 8A (children living away from home or receiving social care) and other groups of children who the Commissioner considers to be at particular risk of having their rights infringed.
5
The Children's Commissioner may not conduct an investigation of the case of an individual child in the discharge of the primary function.
Ss. 2-2C substituted for s. 2 (1.4.2014) by Children and Families Act 2014 (c. 6), ss. 107, 139(5)