Report of the Workshop Discussions Comhairle na nÓg Showcase November 2016: “Comhairle is like one big family”

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) (1989) enshrines young people’s voice within an international legally binding agreement, positioning children’s rights at the core of the decision-making process, particularly in relation to having their views heard about matters that directly impact on their lives. Since the ratification of the convention in Ireland in 1992 the Irish government has sought to provide structural (such as the establishment of the Ombudsman for Children, and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs) and policy measures to ensure children’s rights are embedded, practised and realised. These policy measures include the National Children’s Strategy (2000), Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures: The national policy framework for children and young people (2014–2020) and the National Strategy on Children and Young People’s Participation in Decision-Making (2015–2020).