Adopting the UNCRC means a duty will be placed on Swansea Council’s Cabinet to have due regard to children and young people’s rights. An annual Children and Young People’s Rights Scheme will be published to let people in Swansea know what the Council is doing to embed due regard and children’s rights, and the authority will continue to work closely with Swansea University to ensure that what it is doing is both working and transparent. The adoption builds on the council’s long-standing work to realise and support children and young people’s rights through its policy and practices.

To launch this new unique approach to enshrining the rights of children into council policy, Keith Towler, Children's Commissioner for Wales, the Rt. Hon. Rhodri Morgan, Chancellor of Swansea University, Prof. Richard Davies, Vice-Chancellor of Swansea University, the Leader and Cabinet Members of Swansea Council, and local AM's and MP's will gather with children and young people in 'The Hub' at the Swansea University School of Medicine for a celebratory event.

This event will be live streamed across Swansea and appear on the big screen in Castle Garden and be available to school children via school moodle systems.

The media are invited to cover the launch :

Date:  Friday 11 October.

Place: ‘The Hub’, ILS2 Building, School of Medicine, Swansea University.

Time: 1.00pm  –  3.00pm

Programme:

1.00pm to 1.10pm  Opening of the launch: A welcome will be offered by children from Hafod Primary School, followed by a formal opening of the launch event by Mr. Keith Towler, Children’s Commissioner for Wales and a performance by Schools about why children and young people’s rights matter.

1.10pm to 1.25pm Welcome to Swansea University: Speeches by the Chancellor of Swansea University, the Rt. Hon. Rhodri Morgan, the Vice-Chancellor of Swansea University, Professor Richard Davies, and the Registrar of Swansea University, Mr. Raymond Ciborowski.

1.25pm to1.35pm Working together to realise children’s rights: Dr. Anthony Charles, Department of Criminology, Swansea University.

1.35pm to 1.45pm Swansea’s partnership with UNICEF: Mrs. Sarah Hooke, UNICEF Wales

1.45pm to 2.00pm Aspiring to make Swansea the UK’s children’s rights capital: Cllr. Mitch Theaker (Cabinet Member for Opportunities for Children and Young People) and Cllr. Will Evans (Cabinet Member for Education and Lifelong Learning.

2.00pm to 2.15pm Celebrating what the Council is doing to promote children and young people’s rights: Offered by pupils from Pentrehafod Comprehensive School.

2.15pm to 2.35pm Swansea’s ambition: Cllr. David Philips, Leader of Swansea Council – The Leader’s speech will be followed by the signing of the UNCRC and the Council Motion by partner agency representatives and children and young people.

2.35pm – 2.50pm Thank you and goodbye, just for now: Performance by pupils from Blaen y Maes Primary School in which they will thank attendees for coming to the launch and remind everyone in Swansea of their obligations.

For more information about the launch and confirmations of attendance please contact Janis Pickwick, Swansea University Public Relations Office. Tel: 01792 295050, or email:j.m.pickwick@swansea.ac.uk