About Us
Who is the Children's Commissioner for Wales?
Keith Towler is the Children’s Commissioner for Wales. Keith’s job is to stand up and speak out for children and young people. He works to make sure that children and young people are kept safe and that they know about and can access their rights.
Keith has to consider children’s rights and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in all the work that he does. This means that there is a lot of work to do so Keith has a team of people helping him. They work from two offices, one in Swansea and one in Colwyn Bay.
Why do we have a Children’s Commissioner in Wales?
Children's organisations in Wales campaigned for a Commissioner for children for over 10 years. Politicians in the National Assembly for Wales were also keen on the idea. They wanted someone who would speak up for children and young people's rights and help to protect them.
In early 2000, Sir Ronald Waterhouse published his report ‘Lost in Care’ after a long inquiry into child abuse in children's homes in North Wales. He recommended that Wales had a Children's Commissioner to try and stop such things happening again. This speeded up the campaign and legislation was passed by the UK Government in Westminster to create the post and give it the powers needed.
Want to find out more?
- The National Assembly for Wales’ proposals for a Children's Commissioner
- Care Standards Act 2000
- Children's Commissioner for Wales Act 2001
- You can search for other legislation here