Barbara Esam is a one-woman department at the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) - but it is nevertheless a powerful voice.

Esam has been with the charity for 13 years, lobbying for children's rights within the UK legal system. Last year saw the publication of the first-ever study into how child witnesses are treated in court.

Spearheaded by Esam, the study interviewed 50 young people who had been witnesses in criminal proceedings, examining the way in which they were treated and the effect that being a witness had on them. Esam is hoping the study will help to revolutionise the way lawyers and judges react to younger witnesses.

In the meantime, Esam is turning her attention to issues of disclosure and data protection, which affect children involved in civil cases. In Esam and the NSPCC, children have a powerful supporter for their cause in court.