PART I CANCELLOR OF JUSTICE AS OMBUDSMAN FOR CHILDREN the October meeting the role of the Ombudsman for Children and the advisory body were discussed again. As a result of the joint debate it was found that the Ombudsman for Children can contribute to improving the life of children in several ways: by listening to children and young people and offering advice, information and objective assessments. In the opinion of the advisory body, currently the most topical issues in Estonia relate to the educational system and the curriculum; as well as issues of family, including violence; achieving and securing welfare, including the economic situation of children and families. Writing competition organised by the Ombudsman for Children and the Centre for Children’s Literature in Estonia PART III In order to hear the opinions of children and help children and young people generate discussions on topics important for them in society, the Ombudsman for Children together with the Centre of Estonian Children’s Literature invited children to write and express their views on topics concerning the life of children, their surrounding environment and relationships and to discuss how to improve the life of children in Estonia. The children could choose between four topics on which to write: „Good children grow without punishment“; „Who controls my behaviour – I myself or someone else?“; „My fears and worries“; „A 100-year-old Estonia where I feel good“. Over 280 contributions were received at the competition.129. PART IV PART II 3. The joint team of the Ombudsman for Children and the Centre for Children’s Literature distinguished the works of 20 authors who were acknowledged at the event taking place at the Centre for Children’s Literature on 1 June. In addition to the award ceremony, several other nice events took place at the Centre in the framework of the International Day for the Protection of Children to which also those children who did not participate in the competition but who like reading were welcome. 4. Public address for the involvement of children in shaping local life In October before the local elections, the Ombudsman for Children delivered a public address to support better involvement of children in deciding local issues. The Ombudsman called candidates for local councils to take better account of the needs, wishes and opinions of children and young people in shaping local life. Children who make up almost one fifth of the Estonian population do not have the right to vote, yet they too have different needs and possibilities. The best experts with regard to their needs are children and young people themselves, and interviews with children showed that they are gladly ready to share their thoughts with adults. The Ombudsman for Children in his address emphasised that in order to find out the needs of children and young people, it is necessary to be in constant dialogue with them, to collect regular information about their situation and expectations and explain and justify the decisions also for children and young people in a manner understandable by them. The Ombudsman reminded that the Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which Estonia has acceded, also obliges us to hear and seriously consider the opinion of children and young people. 5. Domestic cooperation During the reporting year, advisers to the Ombudsman for Children also cooperated with several non-profit associations and organisations, in addition to state and local government bodies, for protecting and promoting the rights of children: the Estonian Association of School Psychologists, the Estonian School Student Councils’ Union, the Estonian Scouts Association, 60 129 See in more detail in Estonian: http://lasteombudsman.ee/et/lasteombudsman-eesti-lapsed-vajavad-rohkem-tunnustust-ja-tahelepanu-2.