Maud Frouke de Boer-Buquicchio, Deputy Secretary-General, Council of Europe will present this year's lecture entitled: Justice for Europe's Children.

The lecture has been organised by The Glasgow Centre for the Child & Society based in the University of Glasgow, in conjunction with the Scottish Executive.

The Principal of the University, Sir Muir Russell, will introduce the lecture and Peter Peacock, Minister for Education and Young People, will propose the vote of thanks.

Mr Peacock said: "We are committed to ensuring the best possible service for Scotland's vulnerable children. Our children's hearings system is unique - it tackles offending and addresses care and protection issues together. We are proud of its achievements and grateful to the people who volunteer their time and effort to help our young people through difficult circumstances. The system has adapted to change over the years, but we must ensure it continues to meet children's needs in the 21st century. That is why our Partnership Agreement commits us to review and improve children's hearings. We expect to begin consulting on this early next year."

Mme de Boer-Buquicchio is the first woman to be elected to her post by the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly. Having steadily progressed in her career in Human Rights, she is in particular committed to the cause of children's rights as well as that of advancing the cause of vulnerable groups in our society.

Her lecture will follow in the tradition of eminent and influential individuals who have previously been invited to speak, including Professor Sir Neil MacCormick , Professor Anthony Clare and the late Donald Dewar. In her lecture, Mme de Boer-Buquicchio will make an analytical presentation of modern European standards and policies regarding children and in particular their rights under international treaties, especially the European Convention on Human Rights.

In addition, she will also be speaking on the standard setting role of the Council of Europe in current developments in this field. At a time when Scotland is considering the appointment of its first Commissioner for Children, the protection of children's rights through such institutions as the Commissioner for Human Rights and Ombudspersons for children will be examined.

She will address the topical issue of juvenile justice in Europe and the priorities of the Council of Europe, notably with respect to the fight against the trafficking in human beings, and the protection of children against sexual exploitation.

The lecture has been organised primarily by The Glasgow Centre for the Child and Society (GCC&S). Its work reflects and acknowledges the recent prioritisation of children and young people's issues by governments. Policy makers at local, national and international level increasingly wish to engage with academics to inform policy and strengthen the evidence base for decisions.

The GCC&S is an academic centre working in the areas of child welfare and child protection, children's rights and young people and crime. The Centre conducts research about and alongside children and young people for government and for large and small organisations.

Anne Stafford, Depute Director of the Centre, said: "Given the recent and increasing interest in children's rights, here in Scotland and elsewhere, we are delighted to be able to welcome to Glasgow and the University someone with such a commitment to children and their rights and who is a major player in the European political scene."

The Kilbrandon Lecture will take place tonight, 1 December 2003, at 6pm in the Bute Hall, University of Glasgow.

Media Relations Office (media@gla.ac.uk)

The Kilbrandon Lecture is held to mark the significance of Lord Kilbrandon?s far-sighted initiative in introducing children's hearings over thirty years ago. His commendations radically changed the face of juvenile justice ? moving away from the courts system, primarily concerned with establishing guilt and imposing punishment to a way which had the welfare of the child as its overriding concern.

For further information please contact the University Press Office Tel: 0141 330 3535.

First published: 1 December 2003