22Function relating to encouraging children’s and young people’s participation and voices

1. A function of the Commissioner is to encourage children’s and young people’s participation and voices by—

2. promoting, in relation to decisions that affect the lives of children and young people,—
   1. the participation of children and young people in those decisions; and
   2. best practice approaches to listening to the views of children and young people and taking those views into account:
3. developing mechanisms and means to ensure that the Commissioner engages and supports children and young people to participate and express their views and be informed by those views in the performance of the Commissioner’s functions:
4. modelling and promoting best practice in children’s and young people’s participation through the Commissioner’s engagements with children and young people:
5. publishing and sharing the views and voices of children and young people with the general public and relevant groups:
6. providing support and advice to any person, body, or organisation carrying out engagement with children and young people to better hear their views and uphold their rights.