Safeguarding Children's Best Interests

A photo of speakers from the conference with Ms Otani (fourth from left in front row) and Mr Dennis Ho (fifth from left in back row)

The CIF organising committee was well represented at the recent Conference on Safeguarding Children’s Best Interests organised by (PLAN International, CCPL HKU and HKU Law Faculty) with Dennis Ho participating in a panel discussion. 

The keynote address was given by Ms Mikiko Otani (member of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child). She spoke of the key importance of local implementation of international treaties. In particular she referenced the recent establishment in Hong Kong of the Children’s Commission and how this topic had been raised and discussed at CIF 2 at which Ms Otani had been a speaker. 

Many of the speakers referenced the establishment of the Children’s Commission and several had specific requests for the practical steps which should be taken by the Children’s Commission to improve Hong Kong’s responsiveness and resources to safeguard children’s best interests.