The rights of children in Scotland and duties of public bodies after the UNCRC: what does your organisation need to do now?

Date: 24th September 2024
Time: 9:25-12:50pm
Location: Online

Cost: £149 (including video recording) video recording alone £99 use discount code TS10' for a 10% discount (Together members only)

This conference will explore the legal and service delivery implications for all Scottish public authorities following the incorporation of the UNCRC into Scottish law. It aims to guide public sector bodies and service providers in aligning their operations, culture, practices, and policy-making with the requirements of the Act.

The conference examines these issues over three sessions:

• UNCRC incorporation into Scots law – the strategic and policy context
• What does UNCRC incorporation mean for your organisation?
• What actions do you need to take next?

The conference is divided into three sessions.

Session 1: UNCRC incorporation into Scots law – the strategic and policy context;

Understanding UNCRC objectives and implications

• What are the objectives of the UNCRC and its incorporation into Scots law?
• What does this mean for how we centre the rights and roles of children in Scotland?
• The implications for public authorities under the Act and those acting on behalf of those authorities.

Embedding children's rights in Scottish public services and beyond

• Drilling into UNCRC specifics – freedom from, rights to, access to, listened to and play and rest;
• Who in public authorities and beyond needs to act and respond to the requirements of the law?
• Where we are now and where law, policy and practice are set to take us.

Session 2: What does UNCRC incorporation mean for your organisation?

• Understanding and fulfilling duties under section 6 of the Act;
• Your public duties and the culture of children's rights;
• When and how duties under section 6 of the Act apply to public services and functions;
• Developing and delivering public services in compliance with the Act.

Achieving compatibility with UNCRC in practice

• Getting beyond plans and policies – centering children's rights throughout service delivery;
• Thinking about the gap and journey between where we are now and where we need to be;
• What does a best practice approach look like and who needs to be involved?

Session 3: What actions do you need to take next?

The legal position – getting it right and getting it wrong

• Being proactive and the duty not to act incompatibly – acting and failing to act;
• Non-court remedies;
• The rights of redress.

Reporting duties under the Act and next steps

• What are the reporting requirements under the Act?
• The Children's Rights Scheme and impact assessments;
• Thinking longer term about embedding rights culture and practice.

Speakers for this conference include:

• Juliet Harris, Director Together (Scottish Alliance for Children’s Rights)
• SallyAnn Kelly, Chief Executive Aberlour
• Katy Nisbet, Head of Legal Policy Clan Childlaw
• Rami Okasha, Chief Executive CHAS

This conference is essential for anyone involved in planning and delivering children's services in Scotland, including those working with children and young people more broadly. It targets public authorities, third sector partners, and service providers involved in planning, funding, commissioning, and delivering services, as well as those in legal, policy-making, and service transformation roles.

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• Click here to book your place