Ombudsman for Children's Office

Last week, Dr. Niall Muldoon joined representatives from SpunOut, A Lust for Life, the ISSU, and Joe Quinn (St. Patrick's College, Cavan) at the Joint Committee on Education and Youth. Together, they advocated for stronger, rights-based mental health care for children across Ireland 💪🏻

Children's rights matter in the everyday decisions that affect them! From healthcare to school life they attend and the places they call home, the UNCRC sets out rights that should be considered across all of these areas. Find out more at oco.ie

Tá sé léirithe ag Albain, an Iorua agus an tSualainn conas is féidir cearta leanaí a chosaint níos fearr. Leis an bhfeachtas Lean Tríd ar 42 atá againn, táimid ag iarraidh cosaint dhlíthiúil níos láidre do chearta leanaí in Éirinn freisin. #UNCRC

What’s it like taking your views on children’s rights straight to the Oireachtas? 🎤 Recently our Youth Advisory Panel members Holly and Olan spoke to the Joint Committee on Children and Equality about why they believe the UNCRC should be incorporated into Irish law 💙

Ombudsman for Children, Dr Niall Muldoon, addressed Joint Committee on Education and Youth to advocate for enhanced, rights-based mental health supports for children across Irish schools and youth settings. 🔗 Read the complete opening statement below: www.oco.ie/news/opening...

Buail lenár nAmbasadóirí Scoile is nuaí de chuid OCO! Thugamar cuairt le déanaí ar Rang a Sé i Scoil na bhForbacha i nGaillimh le haghaidh ceardlainne faoi chearta leanaí. 👀 Féach orthu le cloisteáil cad a bhí le rá acu!

Last week, our School Ambassadors Reggie and Arrada from St Philip’s Senior School had a very special opportunity at Dublin Castle. As part of their visit for Ireland’s EU Presidency, they got to interview Hildegarde Naughton, Minister for Education and Youth!

Last week Dr Niall Muldoon was in Letterkenny for the opening of the new POD Play Hub. It's a space where children can have fun, make friends, explore and learn through play. Wishing everyone involved lots of success with the new hub!

Scotland, Norway and Sweden have shown how children's rights can be better protected. With our #FollowThroughon42 campaign, we're calling for stronger legal protection for children’s rights in Ireland too. Visit oco.ie to learn more.

From the classroom to Dublin Castle! Our School Ambassadors from St Philip's swapped their usual school day for a behind the scenes visit to Dublin Castle ahead of Ireland's EU Presidency. 🎥 Have a watch to see how their day went!

Is mian linn go mbeadh an chosaint is láidre is féidir ag cearta leanaí in Éirinn. Ach cad go díreach é an UNCRC? Agus cén difríocht a d'fhéadfadh a bheith mar thoradh air? Tá gach rud atá uait curtha le chéile againn ar ár suíomh Gréasáin.

What would stronger protection of children's rights mean for young people in Ireland? We hear from Harrison Rossiter McGuire, Uachtarán of the ISSU as part of our Follow Through on 42 campaign. Harrison gives his perspective on the #UNCRC and what incorporation could mean for children.

What a day for two of our School Ambassadors from St. Philip’s SNS in Clonsilla. We’re at Dublin Castle for the day for a special behind the scenes tour of the castle ahead of a meeting of EU Education Ministers later for Ireland’s EU Presidency. They asked about no homework and more half days!

Over to our School Ambassadors at St Philip’s! 🎤 We recently visited St Philip’s Senior School in Mountview for one of our children’s rights workshops. Have a watch to hear what they made of the day and what being a School Ambassador means to them 💙

Looking back on an eventful September! Here’s a quick recap of what we’ve been up to at the OCO. 🎥 Have a watch as we look back at September's highlights.

We want children’s rights to have the strongest possible protection in Ireland. That’s why we’ve launched Follow Through on 42, our campaign calling for the #UNCRC to be incorporated into Irish law. But what exactly is the UNCRC? Visit oco.ie to learn more about the UNCRC

Cad is brí leis an #UNCRC do leanaí i ndáiríre? Clúdaíonn na 42 cheart beagnach gach cuid den óige, ó oideachas agus cúram sláinte go dtí éisteacht, cosaint agus tacaíocht. Faigh eolas ar na 42 cheart ag oco.ie

Our Youth Advisory Panel (YAP) met with members of the Joint Committee on Children and Equality today at the Oireachtas to discuss the importance of incorporating the UNCRC into to Irish law #UNCRC

During our recent visit to Scoil na bhForbacha in Galway, we met some of our newest OCO School Ambassadors. One of the students, Emily, put pen to paper and wrote this lovely poem, I Have a Right, about the importance of having a home, being heard and knowing your rights. Well done, Emily! 👏

Here are some of the key moments from the session, showcasing our panel members sharing their perspectives, experiences, and recommendations with policymakers on incorporating the #UNCRC into Irish law.

A big day for our Youth Advisory Panel at the Oireachtas💙 Holly, Olan and fellow Youth Advisory Panel (YAP) members were at Leinster House as Holly and Olan spoke to the Joint Committee on Children and Equality about the #UNCRC and strengthening the protection of children’s rights in Ireland.

What would incorporating the #UNCRC actually mean for children in Ireland? Our Youth Advisory Panel members Holly, Olan, Amelia and Rohan took that message directly to the Oireachtas. 📖 Read our opening statement here: www.oco.ie/.../opening-...

Members of our Youth Advisory Panel, Holly and Olan, are before the Joint Committee on Children and Equality today to talk about incorporating the UNCRC into Irish law. 🎥 Watch live: www.oireachtas.ie/en/oireachta...

Another stop for our School Ambassador Programme! We headed to Eureka Secondary School in Kells for a children’s rights workshop with our newest OCO School Ambassadors. The First Year class got to learn more about their rights and how they can share what they’ve learned in their school.

What does the UNCRC actually mean for children? The 42 rights cover almost every part of childhood, from education and healthcare to being heard, protected and supported. Get to know the 42 rights at oco.ie #UNCRC #ChildrensRights #FollowThroughon42

Tá sé de cheart ag leanaí go n-éistfí leo. Agus ciallaíonn sé sin níos mó ná a dtuairimí a iarraidh. Beag beann ar scoil, sa bhaile nó ina bpobal féin, ba chóir go mbeadh deis ag leanaí labhairt amach faoi na rudaí a théann i bhfeidhm orthu agus a fhios a bheith acu gur éisteadh leo.

We’ve been hearing a lot about the rights of LGBTQIA+ children and young people at ENOC in Barcelona this week. Dr Niall Muldoon shares some of his thoughts from the conference, including why it matters that young people’s own experiences help shape the discussions.

Dr Niall Muldoon is in Barcelona along with the OCO's Head of Participation and Rights Education, Timmy Hammersley for the 30th Children #ENOC - The European Network of Ombudspersons for Children annual conference, where this year’s focus is the rights of LGBTQIA+ children and young people.

Turas go Gaillimh chun bualadh lenár nAmbasadóirí Scoile is nuaí! 🙌 Thugamar cuairt ar rang a sé i Scoil na bhForbacha sna Forbacha, áit ar bhuail muid lena múinteoir Aonghus Ó hEochaidh agus thug foireann OCO ceardlann ar chearta leanaí dóibh as Gaeilge!

Last week, we visited Scoil Éanna to meet teacher Jane Andrew and her brilliant 6th class, who are joining this year’s OCO School Ambassador Programme. Have a watch and meet the class who’ll be helping to promote children’s rights in their school this year!

Children have a right to be heard. That means more than simply asking for their views. Children should have the chance to speak up about the things that affect them and know they’ve been listened to. Find out more about children’s rights at oco.ie #UNCRC #ChildrensRights #FollowThroughon 42

Dr Niall Muldoon, Ombudsman for Children, is at today’s EU Presidency Civil Society Youth Event in Dublin. It’s an opportunity to hear directly from young people and make sure their perspectives are part of the conversation about Europe’s future. @consilium.europa.eu @gov.ie

Is féidir le cinntí móra tionchar mór a imirt ar leanaí. Sin é an fáth go bhfuil sé chomh tábhachtach go mbeadh cearta leanaí mar chuid den chomhrá ón tús. Faigh tuilleadh eolais faoinár gcuid oibre ar oco.ie.

What do children’s rights look like when they go online? Alex Cooney from CyberSafeKids shares her perspective on online safety and why the rights children have under the UNCRC matter just as much in the digital world. #UNCRC

The proposed EU Kids Act is an important recognition that children should not have to encounter harmful content, addictive features or unsafe experiences online. The OCO will be looking closely at the proposals as more details emerge. Read our full statement here: www.oco.ie/library/stat...

YAP members Aoibhinn and Hannah met with European Commission Executive Vice President Henna Virkkunen, for the Online Safety Conference where they talked about the EU Presidency and put some of their own questions to her. #OnlineSafety #ChildrensRights #YouthVoice

Big decisions can have a big impact on children. That’s why it’s so important that children’s rights are part of the conversation from the very beginning. Find out more about our Follow Through on 42 work on oco.ie. #UNCRC #ChildrensRights #FollowThroughOn42

Have you seen the news? The OCO is campaigning for the full and direct incorporation of the UNCRC into Irish law. To make children’s rights real. Find out how YOUR organisation can get involved in our campaign by clicking the link on our website below: www.oco.ie/childrens-ri...

How do we make the online world a safer place for children and young people? 📱 Ombudsman for Children, Dr Niall Muldoon and members of our Youth Advisory Panel are at Dublin Castle for an event focused on online safety for children and young people. Watch the video to learn more.

Why do children’s rights matter in everyday life? In our latest video, Teresa Heeney from Early Childhood Ireland shares her perspective on why the UNCRC matters for children in Ireland. Watch the video and find out more about Follow Through on 42 on oco.ie.

Tá cearta ag gach leanbh. Ba chóir go mbeadh na cearta sin mar chuid dá saol laethúil. Ag an OCO, ba mhaith linn go dtuigfí, go mbeidh meas orainn agus go léireofaí cearta leanaí sna cinntí a théann i bhfeidhm orthu. Faigh tuilleadh eolais faoin UNCRC agus faoinár gcuid oibre ar oco.ie.

Every child has rights. Those rights should be part of their everyday lives. At the OCO, we want children’s rights to be understood, respected and reflected in the decisions that affect them. Find out more about the UNCRC and our Follow Through on 42 work on oco.ie.

Have you seen the news? The OCO is campaigning for the full and direct incorporation of the #UNCRC into Irish law. To make children’s rights real. Find out how YOUR organisation can get involved in our campaign by clicking the link on our website below: www.oco.ie/childrens-ri...

Tá cearta leanaí mar chuid den saol laethúil. Ó éisteacht lena dtuairimí go sábháilteacht, tacaíocht agus cóir chóir a bheith acu, leagann an #UNCRC amach 42 cheart do leanaí agus do dhaoine óga. Tabhair cuairt ar oco.ie chun tuilleadh eolais a fháil.

August was a big month at OCO! We continued pushing to fully incorporate the #UNCRC into Irish law with support from key and Dr. Niall Muldoon joined panel experts at the Kennedy Summer School to tackle Children, Clicks & Consequences: Online Safety in a Digital Age.

A busy week talking children’s rights in Geneva. Dr Niall Muldoon has been at the University of Geneva Summer School, sharing ideas on how we make sure children’s rights are part of the decisions that affect them. Niall looks back on the week and some of the conversations that stood out.

Dr Patricia Keilthy is calling for real, urgent action in Budget 2027 at today’s Children’s Rights Alliance webinar on child homelessness. We're calling on Government to make Budget 2027 a true Children’s Budget #EndChildPovertyWeek

We are inviting all LGBTQ+ young people under 18 to take part in a unique opportunity to have their voices heard. This national survey is part of the CLEAR: Children’s LGBTQ+ Equality and Rights research. Take the survey here: lnkd.in/dmcjbXDC

Former OCO Child Talks speakers Sarah Ann, Kaleb and Aoibheann joined RTE Radio One Reignite on Saturday, bringing some of the issues they first spoke about at Child Talks to a new audience. Well done Sarah Ann, Kaleb and Aoibheann! 👏

Children’s rights are part of everyday life. From having their views heard to being safe, supported and treated fairly, the #UNCRC sets out 42 rights for children and young people. Visit oco.ie to discover more about the UNCRC and what children’s rights mean in practice.