What are Child Impact Assessments?
Child Impact Assessments involve the identification and scrutiny of Bills coming before Parliament, which impact on children. Bills are assessed according to their impact on children and child rights. When undertaking the Child Impact Assessments, we aimed to:
- improve the understanding of children's issues in Parliament and Government;
- contribute to policy development for children;
- increase knowledge and awareness of international standards and norms relating to children;
- contribute to the work of the new Children's Commissioner and report to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child; and
- identify issues which inhibit shared policy development across Government departments.
The Child Impact Assessments were conducted in four stages:
1. Analysis of legislative proposals and Bills in relation to existing provisions as they are likely to affect children and young people.
2. Substantive scrutiny of Bills, comparing provisions to other relevant legislation and policy drives originating elsewhere in Government.
3. Seminars with interested parties to discuss relevant issues arising from legislative proposals and Bills.
4. The formulation of a response and recommendations for improvement to proposed secondary legislation and guidance.
