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Dr Aisling Parkes appointed Special Rapporteur on Child Protection
The Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley, today announced the appointment by the Government of University College Cork's Dr Aisling Parkes as Special Rapporteur on Child Protection for a two-year term.
Dr. Parkes is a senior academic and researcher in domestic child law and international children’s rights in UCC, with over twenty years’ experience in informing policy and legal developments in the areas of child and family law, children’s rights, child protection, and international human rights law.
The Special Rapporteur on Child Protection plays a critical role in examining and reporting to Government on legal, legislative and litigation-related child protection matters.
Dr Aisling Parkes said :
“I look forward to working independently but constructively with relevant stakeholders to examine legal developments in child protection, with a particular focus on ensuring that the perspectives, rights and lived experiences of children and young people inform recommendations for reform.”
Congratulating Dr Parkes on her appointment, Professor Conor O'Mahony, Dean of the School of Law who was Special Rapporteur on Child Protection from 2019 to 2022 said:
"Dr Aisling Parkes has deep expertise in and huge commitment to children’s rights – she is a fantastic appointment as Special Rapporteur on Child Protection. I look forward to seeing the positive impact her work will have on law and policy relating to child protection, and I am delighted to see School of Law staff continuing to be appointed to important roles at national and international level."