This section contains information about how children’s rights are protected in Scotland. It is important that children's rights as set out in the UNCRC are protected in law, policy and practice. 

Law

On 16th March 2021, the Scottish Parliament unanimously passed a bill which will incorporate the UNCRC into Scots law. The UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill will fully enter into force six months after Royal Assent. 

There are also other laws that protect or promote children’s rights, including:

• The Human Rights Act 1998 protects the human rights of people of all ages, including children.
• The Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 places duties on Scottish Ministers and public bodies to report on what they are doing to further children’s rights. 

Policy

Scottish Government can use child rights and wellbeing impact assessments (CRWIAs) to assess how Scottish Government policies and legislation impact children’s rights. Learn more about CRWIAs here.

Practice

Real change for children and young people can only happen when adults listen to them and act on what is heard. Read more about the ways in which children and young people are involved in decision-making in Scotland here.

The Scottish Government has produced a ‘10-minute training tool’ to help people learn about children's human rights under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Access the tool here. 

Scotland’s National Action Plan for Human Rights (SNAP)

SNAP is a roadmap towards a ‘Scotland where everyone can live with human dignity’. The Scottish Government has given a strong commitment to the Plan. Read more about SNAP here.