THE children’s commissioner has resigned from her post after 4½ years in the role.
Deborah McMillan was appointed in the wake of the damning Independent Jersey Care Inquiry to champion the rights of the Island’s young people.
A States Assembly notice from Chief Minister Kristina Moore outlining Mrs McMillan’s resignation read: ‘The resignation is entirely for personal reasons and is received with regret, although with full understanding. The Chief Minister and president of the Scrutiny Liaison Committee [Deputy Sam Mézec] sincerely thank the commissioner for her commitment and dedicated work over the past 4½ years. The commissioner has worked diligently to establish the office, which has led on initiatives that include the UNICEF Rights Respecting Schools programme, which now encompasses 40 Island schools at various stages of completion, delivered a legislative gap analysis, which now forms the basis for the Island’s ongoing benchmarking of its compliance with the UNCRC, and has been a pioneer for youth participation as evidenced in the publications of Life on the Rock and the Jersey Youth Manifesto. The office is now well placed to continue and develop that work well into the future.’
A recruitment process will begin in the autumn. Andrea Le Saint, who works within the commissioner’s office and is a qualified social worker, has been appointed as acting commissioner.
Full story in Wednesday’s JEP.
