Regional conferences Regional Conference on the UNCRC, Northern Ireland

University of Ulster

18/06/2010 – 20/06/2010

The theme of this ISFL Regional Conference was The Children’s Convention at 21: The Rights of the Child Come of Age? The aim was to examine the significance, scope and practical impact of the 1989 Convention as it reached this milestone age.

Senior members of the judiciary who addressed delegates over the course of the weekend included the Right Hon. Sir Declan Morgan (The Lord Chief Justice), Justice Gemma Loughran of the Northern Ireland County Court and Lady Justice Catherine McGuiness, formerly of the Irish Supreme Court. Keynote speakers included:

  • Professor Javaid Rehman, (Brunel, London)
  • Professor Roger Kay, (Chester)
  • Professor Phil Thomas (Cardiff);
  • Dr Ursula Kilkelly (Cork);
  • Patricia Lewsley, the Northern Ireland Children’s Commissioner;
  • Emily Logan, the Irish Ombudsman for Children

From the NGO sector, speakers included Paddy Kelly, Children’s Law Centre, Belfast.  

Presenters travelled from as far afield as Canada, the USA, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Estonia, New Zealand, and South Africa to share 37 papers on a range of key issues such as child protection, kinship, cultural relativism, the ‘best interests’ principle and the often unheard voice of the child. Delegates included academics, students, and practitioners from the fields of law and social work.  Further details are available here.

Conference committee welcomes Mayor and Mayoress of Derry and Lord Chief Justice, Sir Declan Morgan to the Conference Dinner, Great Hall, Magee
Delegates who attended the Mayor’s welcome reception in the City’s Guildhall
Conference committee members Brian Collins and Alice Diver welcome the Lord Chief Justice and the Head of the School of Law, Dr Murphy to the Gala Conference Dinner
Mayor Cllr Eastwood and Mayoress of Derry Rachael Parkes welcome the Lord Chief Justice to the Magee campus of the University of Ulster