Senedd will host first lecture in memory of Rhodri
THE first in a series of annual lectures in memory of former First Minister Rhodri Morgan will be held at the Senedd next week.
The first lecture on Tuesday will focus on children’s rights to honour Mr Morgan’s “passionate commitment to the rights of children” and the progress Wales made under his leadership, including establishing the office of Children’s Commissioner for Wales.
The Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland, Bruce Adamson, will compare progress on delivering on the human rights of children and young people across Wales and Scotland since devolution, focusing on what has been achieved and highlighting what more needs to be done.
Wales’ Children’s Commissioner, Sally Holland, will respond to Mr Adamson through the vote of thanks.
The event will be chaired by Professor Mike Sullivan, director of the Morgan Academy and former special adviser to Mr Morgan, who is writing a political biography of him.
Prof Sullivan said: “The Morgan Academy and the university, in establishing our partnership, including this series of lectures, decided that the lectures would focus on any issues of particular interest to Rhodri. His huge range of interests, political, social, cultural and sporting, gave us vast scope.
“Given his passionate commitment to the human rights of children and young people, and the progress on these issues that Wales achieved under his leadership, including the establishment of the office of the Children’s Commissioner for Wales, it seemed appropriate for this first Rhodri Morgan memorial lecture to focus on children’s rights.
“Bruce Adamson will bring an interesting international perspective to what has been achieved, and to the challenges that we still face.”
Mr Morgan, who was the longestserving First Minister of Wales and a chancellor of Swansea University, died in May 2017 after collapsing while cycling on Cwrt yr Ala Road in Wenvoe, near his home.
Llywydd of the National Assembly for Wales, Elin Jones AM, said: “We are delighted to be hosting this first commemorative annual lecture here in the Senedd.
“There is no doubt that history will remember Rhodri as one of the towering figures of the early years of devolution, and it is entirely appropriate that these two institutions, our National Assembly and Swansea University, both of which meant so much to him, should be working together to remember him in this way.
“It is particularly fitting that this first lecture focuses on the issue of human rights of children and young people in the year in which the National Assembly is establishing Wales’ first Youth Parliament. I’m looking forward to hearing the challenges that the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland will place before us as we work together to make children’s rights a reality.”
Mr Adamson said: “It is a huge privilege to have been invited to deliver this inaugural lecture in commemoration of Rhodri Morgan.
“Progress towards delivering on the children’s rights agenda will always need champions in the political world and there is no doubt that Rhodri Morgan was an outstanding champion.
“While much has been achieved since devolution to embed rightsbased approaches and culture in both Scotland and Wales, there is still much to be done. I look forward to contributing to the debate around what needs to happen next.”
Attendance at the lecture is by invitation only. However, people can apply to be placed on a reserve list if tickets become available.