Independent human rights institutions
The establishment of independent human rights institutions for children should not substitute for, but rather be complementary to self-monitoring governmental institutions. The Committee elaborates on this issue in its General Comment No.2 on the role of independent national human rights institutions in the promotion and protection of the rights of the child.
These institutions should be geared towards promoting and safeguarding the rights of the child. Increasingly, states are establishing independent human rights institutions for children – either separate children's ombudspeople or children's rights commissioners, or focal points on children's rights within general human rights commissions or ombudsman offices. In Europe, children's institutions from twelve countries joined forces to form the European Network of Ombudspersons for Children (ENOC) in 1997. By 2007, it had grown to include 32 institutions in 23 countries. More information can be found on the ENOC website. For information on the Children's Commissioner for Wales and www.childcomwales.org.uk and the Equality and Human Rights Commission and www.equalityhumanrights.com.