Kathleen Marshall

Kathleen Marshall

Kathleen was the first Commissioner for Children and Young People in Scotland.

Scotland's Commissioner for Children and Young People (SCCYP) is a post in Scotland whose main task is to promote and safeguard the rights of children and young people. The position, equivalent to the Children's Ombudsman agencies of many other countries, was established by the Commissioner for Children and Young People (Scotland) Act of 2003.

A Scottish solicitor, who graduated LL.B from Glasgow University in 1973, and B.A.(Hons.) from the Open University in 1979.

Her early experience was in local government in Glasgow. From 1989 to 1994, she was Director of the Scottish Child Law Centre, an independent, national charity providing advice, information and training on children's rights and legal issues.

Since 1994 she has acted as a consultant, providing advice, research, training and assistance to universities, central, local and foreign governments and voluntary agencies. She has written and spoken extensively on children's issues and served on a number of bodies concerned with the rights of children.

She chaired the Edinburgh Inquiry into Abuse and Protection of Children in Care, which reported in 1999. She has undertaken research into children's participation, both in general and within the court system and has written extensively on child protection issues. She co-authored the teacher training resource: 'Education and the Rights of the Child', produced by the Centre in 2001.