Advancing children's advocacy work

This article provides an overview of an approach taken to advancing children's advocacy throughout selected regions of Aotearoa. Under a purchase agreement between the Ministry of Education and the Office of the Commissioner for Children, a proactive training strategy was developed that aimed to raise awareness about the United nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and establish a base of advocates within communities who could support young people in health, welfare, education and youth justice. This article outlines both the intent and content of the training programme and provides an insight into some of the concerns held regionally with regard to status and treatment of young people within a children's rights context.