Children’s Ombudspersons/Commissioners for Children’s Rights

An ombudsperson is an independent monitoring institution which is intimately connected to the principles of democracy and the rule of law. The institution plays a significant role in the protection of human rights. Children’s ombudspersons (also known as Commissioner for Children’s Rights or Independent National Human Rights Institutions for Children) are defined as public institutions acting on behalf and in the interests of a single child or a group of children, and as an intercessor between a single child or a group of children and a public or private authority. It can be said to be a public watchdog for children’s human rights, as it is mandated to independently monitor the implementation and the full respect of children’s rights. This entry examines the development and ...