Knowing the history of the office will let you help the Commissioner write the next chapter.
The UN and you
The United Nations (UN) is a worldwide association of governments working together to make progress on issues like international law, human rights, and peace.
In 1989 they created an international agreement – the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). This agreement showed that the UK was committed to achieving more for children.
You can read more about the UNCRC here.
A new voice for young people in Scotland
The creation of Scotland’s Commissioner for Children and Young People happened after a 10-year campaign by organisations that wanted to create a new voice to represent children and young people's rights in Scotland.
In 2002, many of these organisations gave evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s Education Culture and Sport Committee. Its report led to The Commissioner for Children and Young People (Scotland) Act which meant the job of Commissioner was set up.
Scotland’s first Commissioner, Kathleen Marshall, began work in April 2004.
Welcoming Kathleen
Kathleen spent her first year traveling around Scotland. She spoke and listened to children and young people like you to help her decide what she would do to make life in Scotland better.
She then set up an office in Edinburgh’s Holyrood Road, close to the Scottish Parliament.
Since the office was opened the Commissioner’s staff have worked hard and accomplished a lot.
Tam takes over
In 2008 Kathleen announced that she was going to step down as Commissioner after five very successful years in the post.
Tam Baillie, who previously worked for children’s charity Barnardo’s Scotland, was nominated as the new Commissioner for Children and Young People in Scotland.
Tam started work in May 2009.
Help write our next chapter
You can help write the next chapter in the story. Tam works for you, but he can only really make a difference if you tell him what’s important to you and what needs to be improved to make your life as a young person in Scotland better.
Tam will then tell the Scottish Government, the Parliament, the UN and other people who can help change things for the better.
There are lots of ways of getting in touch. You can leave a comment, vote in one of our polls or talk to Tam.