NI to host conference on children's rights

A major conference to discuss the rights of children throughout the world, is to be held in Belfast this week.

The Waterfront Hall, in Belfast will play host to the World Congress of the International Association of Youth and Family Judges and Magistrates from Monday to Friday, which will be attended by over 500 delegates from across the globe.

The congress is held every four years, however this is only the second time it has taken place in the UK or Ireland after Belfast successfully competed against Thailand to bring the convention to Northern Ireland.

Those attending the conference include people whose work supports the courts dealing with children, families and youth justice.

Throughout the week, the delegates will discuss the welfare of children across the world and their rights to speak, be heard, listened to and protected.

Discussions will focus on a child's place in the family and community; a child's right to survival and development and children in conflict with the law.

The opening ceremony is being attended by the Lord Chief Justice for Northern Ireland, Sir Brian Kerr, the Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs and Lord Chancellor, Lord Falconer and Irish President Mary McAleese.

Commenting on the meeting, Lord Falconer said: "This congress aims to get across some simple and powerful messages about the rights of children in all circumstances.

"This is particularly important if we are to address domestic abuse and neglect, which have too frequently gone unheard and unseen in the past.

"Thankfully, these and other problems are becoming more widely acknowledged as governments are working with agencies to prevent crimes against children and bring more perpetrators to justice."

President McAleese said: "This conference presents us with an opportunity to reconsider and refreshen with new shared wisdom how the law in all its office, but also in all its humanity, can work to diminish the fall out from the problematic lives of children and young people.

"The international and multi-disciplinary nature of the audience provides the conference with a broad and deep well from which to draw. "

The congress will draw up a set of recommendations which will be presented to the United Nations and the Council of Europe before the end of 2006.

(EF/KMcA)