The Office of the Children’s Commissioner for Jersey (OCCJ) has launched a new website designed to make information about children’s rights easier to find, understand and use for children, young people, families and professionals across the Island.

Providing accessible information about children’s human rights is a core part of the Commissioner’s statutory role. The new website has been developed to ensure that children and young people in Jersey can more easily learn about their rights, understand the work of the OCCJ, and find guidance and support when they need it.

The project also reflects the priorities set out in the OCCJ’s Strategic Plan 2024–2027, particularly the commitment to promoting awareness of children’s rights and ensuring that children and young people are meaningfully involved in the work of the Commissioner.

Children and young people were directly involved in shaping the new website. Members of the OCCJ Youth Advisory Group contributed to the design process, took part in user-testing, and provided advice on content to help ensure the site is clear, engaging and relevant for young audiences.

The website has also been designed with accessibility and usability in mind, recognising that the majority of young people now prefer to access information, services and advice online. By strengthening its digital presence, the OCCJ aims to ensure that information about children’s rights in Jersey is available in the places where young people are most likely to look for it.

As well as providing information about children’s rights, the new website will act as a central hub for the Commissioner’s work, including publications, research, consultations, news and opportunities for children and young people to share their views.

Children’s Commissioner, Dr Carmel Corrigan, commented:

‘All children and young people should be able to access information about their rights, as well as information that helps them understand and exercise those rights. This new website is an important step in our ongoing work in this area.

‘In developing the site, it was essential that children and young people themselves were involved in shaping it. Our Youth Advisory Group provided key insights at the user-testing phase that have helped ensure that the finished product speaks to them in a way that is clear, relevant and useful.

‘The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child recognises children’s rights to access information, to express their views, and to be heard in matters that affect them. By strengthening our online presence and making information easier to access, we are supporting those rights and helping to ensure that children and young people in Jersey can better understand and claim them.’

Youth Advisory Group member, Georgia, added:

‘As members of the Youth Advisory Group, we know how important it is that organisations working with children and young people provide easily accessible online spaces, and a well-designed website helps make sure of this. The new website helps get information out there clearly, and is the next step towards children and young people feeling more empowered about their rights.’

The new website also supports the OCCJ’s wider strategic work to raise awareness of children’s rights across Jersey and to encourage greater participation of children and young people in decisions that affect their lives.

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Notes to Editors:

• For further information or to request an interview with the Children’s Commissioner, please contact Sam Le Quesne on (01534) 867312 or samleq@occj.org.je