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Children's champion to step down Children's champion to step down
(41 minutes later)
Scotland's commissioner for children and young people has announced that she will not seek reappointment when her term of office ends next April. Scotland's first children's commissioner has decided not to seek reappointment when her current term of office ends next April.
Kathleen Marshall said it seemed like "the right time to step down" after what would be five years in the post. Kathleen Marshall has become known for her outspoken views on numerous issues, including the treatment of asylum-seeking children.
During her term, Ms Marshall launched a consultation among children themselves and became known as an advocate for the rights of asylum seeking children. Ms Marshall said it seemed like "the right time to step down", after what would be five years in the post.
The Scottish Parliament's Corporate Body (SPCB) will recruit her successor. But she said there were still important issues to tackle before she left.
Ms Marshall said she was grateful for the help and support she had received from many individuals, groups and particularly children and young people. During her time as commissioner, Ms Marshall clashed with the UK Government by saying the state was terrorising the children of failed asylum seekers by carrying out dawn deportation raids.
She added: "It has been a great privilege to be Scotland's first commissioner for children and young people. I hope I have made a difference to the lives of children, especially those whose rights were most under threat Kathleen Marshall
"I hope I have made a difference to the lives of children, especially those whose rights were most under threat, such as asylum seekers, children with disabilities and those in care. Her claims that "wee, quiet families" were suffering because they were easy targets for the Home Office were rebutted.
'Natural break' "It has been a great privilege to be Scotland's first commissioner for children and young people," said Ms Marshall.
"However, I believe 10 years would be too long to stay in the post. This seems the right time to step down as it is a natural break and the office is ready to consult on a new set of priorities." "I hope I have made a difference to the lives of children, especially those whose rights were most under threat, such as asylum seekers, children with disabilities and those in care."
During her time in office she has issued reports on the age at which children leave the care system and the rights of the children of prisoners. She said 10 years would have been too long to stay in the post, adding: "This seems the right time to step down as it is a natural break and the office is ready to consult on a new set of priorities."
Ms Marshall said she would be pursuing issues relating to disability, leaving care and the children of prisoners before she ends her tenure. Ms Marshall marked her first day in office as children's commissioner by questioning the need for anti-social behaviour measures, saying at the time that plans to tag youngsters and disperse groups of youths were punitive.
But she said her time would be dominated by the UN's scrutiny of the UK's record in implementing the Convention on the Rights of the Child. She was also known for her campaign to outlaw the smacking of children, a controversial issue in the early years of devolution, despite ministers later saying most people did not support such a ban.
She has also made calls to grant anonymity to teachers accused of abusing pupils, unless they were convicted.
Ms Marshall said she would be pursuing issues including disability, the children of prisoners and the UN's scrutiny of the UK's record on implementing child rights before the end of her tenure.
Ms Marshall's successor will be recruited Holyrood's management team, the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body.