Glenties teen Karolina Byrne hosts event on UN Committee’s observations

A Glenties  teenager was involved in hosting an event by the Ombudsman for Children’s Office (OCO) that saw over 100 children from across Ireland in attendance.

The panel discussed the action they expect from the government as a result of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child’s Concluding Observations to the State. 

Karolina Byrne, 17, is a member of the OCO’s Youth Advisory Panel, which has played a key role in assisting the OCO in this process. The OCO Youth Advisory Panel is made up of 20 people aged 12-17 who advise the OCO on its work.

The panel has published several advisory reports which include Pieces of Us, the children’s report to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, A Piece of My Mind which is a consultation on youth mental health service and the most recent report, Pieces of Us: What’s Next?

Pieces of Us; What’s Next? details what children now want to happen on key issues and it is the final report reflecting on the UN Committee’s Concluding Observations. 

“As a host of Pieces of Us  - What’s Next? It gave me insight on what other children thought. It has also helped me see how much the children of Ireland have to say,” Karolina said. “As a teenager at this event hosting I think that it made me more aware of what children have to share. It makes you wonder why the government haven’t listened to the children of Ireland”

Some 5,515 children took part in a national online survey and 200 children participated in focus groups for Pieces of Us, the children’s report that went to the UN Committee in August 2022. Karolina and the Youth Advisory Panel travelled to Geneva to share the findings of Pieces of Us. 

This latest report Pieces of Us: What’s Next? is the final part of the process where children reflected on what the committee said and focused on the key actions they feel the Government now needs to take. 

Karolina hosted the event in Croke Park hearing directly from children on what they had to say about the issues children care about in Ireland. 

Education, mental health, equality, play and leisure, hearing children’s voices and protecting the most vulnerable were the key themes for children. Children are calling for a series of changes in schools and education settings. They want to take the pressure out of the Leaving Certificate; remove the stigma around the Leaving Cert Applied and Leaving Cert Vocational Programme. 

They are calling for cultural awareness training for teachers and better disability services.  In mental health children want more, and better staff for CAMHS, shorter waiting lists and an understanding that you cannot be ‘too young’ to experience mental health issues. Additionally, more mental health support services in schools and improvements in transgender healthcare have been requested.

“Hearing directly from children and considering their views in the decision making process is essential. Pieces of Us: What’s Next? provides Government and policy makers with a clear insight into children’s priorities,”  The Ombudsman for Children, Dr Niall Muldoon said.

“The OCO Youth Advisory Panel led this whole process and their hard work and commitment have been key not only to the success of the report, but to the impact that it has had in influencing the concluding observations. 

“We will continue to share the messages from Pieces of Us: What’s Next? and to support the Youth Advisory Panel in bringing these messages directly to decision makers.”