The Commissioner for Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2003 was passed by the

Scottish Parliament The Scottish Parliament ( gd, Pàrlamaid na h-Alba ; sco, Scots Pairlament) is the devolved, unicameral legislature of Scotland. Located in the Holyrood area of the capital city, Edinburgh, it is frequently referred to by the metonym Holyro ...

in March 2003 to make provision for a

Children's ombudsman A children's ombudsman, children's commissioner, youth commissioner, child advocate, children's commission, youth ombudsman or equivalent body is a public authority in various countries charged with the protection and promotion of the rights of chil ...

. It established the

Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland The Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland is a post in Scotland whose main task is to promote and safeguard the rights of children and young people. The position, equivalent to the Children's Ombudsman agencies of many other countrie ...

with the general function of promoting and safeguarding the rights of children and young people.

History

The Education, Culture and Sport Committee looked into the need for a Children’s Commissioner in 2001. The consultation period ran from May 2001 and children were invited to give evidence in Holyrood. A report was published in February 2002. A further report published in July 2002 by the Education, Culture and Sport Committee proposed a Bill to appoint a Children’s Commissioner. The bill was published on 5 December. The bill was introduced to Parliament on 15 January 2003. A subordinate legislation subcommittee was convened. The legislation was passed towards the end of the

1st Scottish Parliament This is a list of members (MSPs) returned to the first Scottish Parliament at the 1999 Scottish Parliament election. Of the 129 members, 73 were elected from first past the post constituencies with a further 56 members being returned from eight ...

on 26 March 2003. It received Royal Assent on 1 May 2003.

References

{{Reflist

External links

Session 1 Bills: Commissioner for Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2003
at www.parliament.scot Acts of the Scottish Parliament 2003 Children's rights in Scotland