Glenties teen is leading voice at national conference

Glenties student Karolina Byrne (16) is paving the way for children’s rights after hosting a national conference attended by over 100 people.

Karolina played an important run in Pieces of Us – What’s Next? – an event run by the Ombudsman for Children’s Office (OCO) and attended by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.

Karolina also panelled a discussion between the Ombudsman for Children, Dr Niall Muldoon and Prof Phillip D. Jaffé, a UN Committee member.

Pieces of Us is a report which highlights the voices of the 5,515 children who took part in a national online survey and 200 who participated in focus groups. It was presented to the UN Committee in 2022 by our Youth Advisory Panel and this event is an opportunity for children to have their say on what should happen next. Pieces of US – What’s Next was an event where 100 children got the chance to share their views on what the Government should now prioritise for children.

The Ombudsman for Children, Dr Niall Muldoon commented: “We were delighted to have Karolina and the other members of our Youth Advisory Panel involved in this important children’s rights conference. They asked strong and challenging questions, particularly in relation to children’s mental health and how Ireland is ensuring that all children have equal opportunities.”

Dr Carmel Corrigan, OCO Head of Participation and Rights Education who led in coordinating the Pieces of Us report added: “The Pieces of Us- What’s Next event was unique in that it gave a children’s perspective on the Concluding Observations of the UNCRC and the concerns that were raised. The children who worked on our Pieces of Us report were the heart and soul of the report- it was their voices and their insights, and so it’s important that they also have a say on what happens next.”