Adopted in November 2000, the National Children's Strategy was established to progress the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in Ireland. The Strategy is grounded in six operational principles. All actions to be taken will be:

• Child centred
• Family oriented
• Equitable
• Inclusive
• Action oriented
• Integrated

Three National Goals were adopted:

• Children will have a voice.
• Children's Lives will be better understood
• Children will receive quality supports and services

One of the measures involved at local level is the establishment of Comhairle na nÓg to represent youths between the age of 7 and 18 years. Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County was chosen as the pilot county for a Special Strategy Initiative and in 2002 convened a Comhairle na nÓg.

Although a Comhairle did not take place in 2003, representatives did attend and participate in the national forum, Dáil na nÓg which was held in Croke Park on Saturday the 15 th November. This was the first year of the ‘Two Parliament' structure. In future a Dail na nÓg will be convened for the 12 to 18 year olds and a Dáil na bPáistí will be organised for children aged between 7 and 12.

For further information on Comhairle na nÓg please contact Eugene Vesey, Economic Development and Community Department of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council on 01-2054861 or e-mail evesey@dlrcoco.ie.

NATIONAL CHILDREN'S OFFICE

The National Children's Office was established in 2001 as a direct consequence of the National Children's Strategy – Our Children Their Lives. It is part of the new structures designed to ensure the implementation of the Strategy. The National Children's Office is a cross-cutting office which works closely with the Minister of State with Special Responsibility for Children.

If you would like to get a copy of the National Children's Strategy you can find it on the website of the National Children's Office:

http://www.nco.ie/strategy/index.html .

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child is available on the website of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights: http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/k2crc.htm .

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science (with Special Responsibility for Adult Education, Youth Affairs and Educational Disadvantage), Sile de Valera T.D. recently launched the NYCI voter information web-site for young people. The ‘E-2004 Have your say' young voter education and information tool went on line at http://www.youth.ie/elections on the 18 th May 2004.