Children's hearings and pre-hearing panels - composition changes: child rights and wellbeing impact assessment (CRWIA)

2. What impact will your policy/measure have on children's rights?

Positive – in the main, the change will ensure operational flexibility and continuity, with lawful decisions continuing to be made where a mixed hearing cannot be convened. The impact is therefore broadly neutral, though it may mean that on some occasions there is less delay in convening a hearing. It is possible that there could be positive impacts in relation to Article 3(1) best interest to be a primary consideration. Feedback from children and young people has indicated that retaining a rigid requirement for mixed gender panels is of limited importance.