LAW COMMISSIONER and head of human rights’ support group ETHNOPAD Leda Koursoumba has been appointed Commissioner for Children’s Rights.
Koursoumba’s new mission imposed by the Cabinet is to defend and promote children’s rights.
According to the specific law, the Cabinet chose the Commissioner based on the fact that she is a permanent resident in Cyprus with a high ethical code and with excellent academic and professional knowledge and experience in matters involving children.
Before taking on her duties, Koursoumba will have to give assurances to the President of the Republic that she will execute her duties faithfully and with children’s best interests at heart.
Her responsibilities include:
l The representation of children and their best interests at all levels
l To inform and sensitise society so that it practically secures children’s rights within the family, school, community and society in general
l To spot and promote children’s opinions, where they cannot be heard
l To organise campaigns to improve the position held by children in Cyprus society
l To submit applications on behalf of children for the appointment of representatives in court proceedings, in cases where the court deems the involvement of the children’s parents as harmful to the child’s case.
The Commissioner for Children’s Rights has the authority among others, to organise educational events for children’s rights, carry out surveys on the way children are treated in Cyprus, promote legislative alterations she deems necessary for the protection of minors and to launch a self-appointed investigation into complaints made against authoritative bodies, while monitoring the outcome of the investigation into the complaints.
According to the relevant law, “Each person, authority or organisation, governmental or not, is obliged to supply the Commissioner with any information she considers necessary to complete her mission.”
In the first trimester of each year, Koursoumba will conduct and submit her annual report to the President of the Republic, describing the cases she had investigated in the previous year.
In her report, the Commissioner will be able to point out amendments that may need to be made to legislation to improve children’s rights, while she will also submit her own suggestions on how to improve and promote their rights better. The report will be available to the public.
When carrying out her duties, Koursoumba will “act independently adhering only to the law, morality and her conscience”.
She is also subject to strict confidentiality, which will continue to apply after she has stepped down from her duties (her service will last six years). All members of her office will also sign confidentiality agreements that will apply during and after their service.
If the Commissioner or any member of her staff breeches confidentiality, it will be considered a criminal offence and they will be subject to a year in jail and/or a £10,000 fine.
A further three violations could result in a £5,000 fine and/or one year in prison. Examples of violations include:
l Omitting any information that was requested by the Commissioner or purposefully delaying offering information, without a legal excuse
l Knowingly submitting incorrect information
l Insulting the Commissioner and preventing her from doing her job.
Finally, the Cabinet will appoint an Advisory Committee that will offer the Commissioner advice on matters of policy. The Committee will consist of representatives from the Attorney-general’s office and representatives from the Labour, Education, Health and Justice Ministries, while there will also be members from non-governmental organisations involved in matters concerning children’s rights and a spokesman from the Pancyprian Coordinating Committee of Pupils.
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