Rhodri Morgan to make major speech on children's rights

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Rhodri Morgan, Chancellor of Swansea University and former First Minister for Wales, is to make a keynote speech at a major international conference on children's rights.

The 5th World Congress on the Rights of Children and Adolescents is being held in San Juan, Argentina, from October 15th to 18th with the theme, "A World Fit for Children".

Mr Morgan addressed the founding conference of the Wales Observatory on the Human rights of Children and Young People at Swansea University earlier this year.

He said: "The very last piece of legislation I brought in as First Minister was a Measure placing a duty on Welsh Ministers to have due regard to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) when carrying out all their functions. This makes Wales the first country in the world to enshrine the UN Convention in law.

"One of my top priorities as First Minister was to ensure that children are protected and nurtured. Wales was the first UK country to appoint a Children's Commissioner. Other UK countries followed our lead. I hope this Measure on the UN Convention will also be a useful model for other countries in progressing children's rights."

While in Argentina, Mr Morgan, who became Chancellor in October 2011, will also sign a Memorandum of Understanding between Swansea University and Rosario National University. The MOU is aimed at establishing beneficial links to encourage and facilitate collaboration on research and teaching in the field of human rights for children and young people. Both Universities have established Observatories on the rights of children and young people.

Mr Morgan said: "We will be working together to develop research, exchange information and disseminate knowledge. Both institutions wish to contribute to public policy having an impact on the human rights of children and young people to the benefit of society.

"This has been a passion of mine throughout my political life and I am glad to be able to continue this work in my role as Chancellor of Swansea University."