Date: 1st May 2025
Category: Child rights impact assessments, Best interests of the child, Respect for the views of the child, Incorporation, Policy and strategy

Together is pleased to be one of more than 110 organisations backing a joint parliamentary briefing ahead of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill Second Reading in the House of Lords on 1 May. 

Date: 1st May 2025
Category: Inclusive education, Education, including vocational education

The Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights (CRER) has developed a new online resource exploring the links between anti-racism and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. This free, accessible resource supports teachers and educators in embedding anti-racist principles into their everyday practice. It connects human rights education with practical approaches to tackling racial inequality.  

Date: 1st May 2025
Category: Child justice system, Child victims and witnesses

The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child is currently inviting feedback on the draft of General Comment No. 27, focusing on children’s right to access to justice and to an effective remedy. This is a significant opportunity to influence international standards and ensure children’s voices are heard in justice systems around the world. 

Date: 1st May 2025
Category: General Comments

Closing date: 18th May (for organisations) and 8th June 2025 (children’s submissions) 

Date: 1st May 2025
Category: Children in armed forces families

Starcatchers’ newly-appointed Co-Chief Executive, Heather Armstrong has drafted a blog in celebration of babies, children and young people in forces families.  

Date: 1st May 2025
Category: Freedom of thought, conscience and religion, Incorporation

The Scottish Government introduced a new Bill to parliament on 30th April 2025. The Bill proposes certain changes around the process for withdrawing pupils from religious observance.

Date: 30th April 2025
Category:

Tomorrow begins a new month and we are delighted to officially launch our new campaign throughout May called Membership May…including a competition! 

Date: 30th April 2025
Category: Scotland-specific monitoring and reporting, Reporting to and monitoring the UNCRC, General measures of implementation

As part of our #RightsOnTrack campaign, Together is gathering real-life examples of how children’s rights are being upheld - or not - in communities across Scotland. These insights are crucial for helping us track progress, identify gaps, and understand how things are changing over time. 

Date: 30th April 2025
Category: Civil Rights and Freedoms

Together and Clan Childlaw are delighted to announce that we are beginning our three-year project, funded through the Human Rights Fund, which will both support the children’s sector to use informal means to challenge decision making and will establish a new collaborative model to use strategic litigation to address systemic UNCRC rights breaches in Scotland. 

Date: 30th April 2025
Category: Children in armed forces families

In celebration of Month of the Military Child, Together has published a blog celebrating the strengths and contributions of forces children in their communities.  

Date: 30th April 2025
Category: Education, including vocational education, Inclusive education, Education, Leisure and Cultural Activities

The report titled, ‘This is our lives, it matters a lot” by the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland (CYPCS) emphasises the necessity of embedding children’s rights within Scotland’s education system. Drawing on the perspectives of children and young people, the report identifies systemic shortcomings and proposes actionable recommendations to ensure education aligns with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).  

Date: 30th April 2025
Category: Scotland-specific monitoring and reporting, Care Experienced children

The Scottish Government has released the latest data on child protection in Scotland for 2023-24. The report provides data on children who were subject to child protection processes.  

Date: 30th April 2025
Category: Recreation, play and cultural activities

On 24th March, Scottish Government launched its Play Vision Statement and Action Plan 2025-30, alongside an announcement of £25 million for play park renewals over the coming year. 

Date: 30th April 2025
Category:

This is the first edition of the Scottish Government’s Human Rights newsletter which provides updates on topics such as the Delivery Plan, the creation of the Oversight Board and new Working Groups, as well as information about the recent ICESCR Interactive Dialogue attended by colleagues in the Division. 

Date: 30th April 2025
Category: Family Environment and Alternative Care, Violence against children

The guidance which applies to decisions made in courts in Wales and England was developed with the Family Justice Young People’s Board, as individuals shared their personal experiences of proceedings and their thoughts on communication from judges. 

Date: 30th April 2025
Category:

The Youth Select Committee published a report into the links between youth violence and social media. Led by 12 young members aged between 14 and 19 and supported by the House of Commons, the inquiry heard evidence in December 2024 and received 14 written submissions.  

Date: 28th March 2025
Category:

An exciting secondment opportunity is coming up at Together! We are seeking a Legal and Policy Manager to provide sabbatical cover for six months (May to October 2025), on a part-time basis.

Date: 19th March 2025
Category: Northern Ireland-specific monitoring and reporting, Policy and strategy

The Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People (NICCY), Chris Quinn, has voiced disappointment over the lack of focus on children’s needs in the newly published Programme for Government 2024-27.

Date: 19th March 2025
Category: Equal protection from assault

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recognised corporal punishment of children as a major public health concern. At the 156th session of the WHO Executive Board, Kenya led the shared statement calling for an end to corporal punishment, with support from 11 other countries, including Romania, Sierra Leone, Brazil, and Spain.

Date: 19th March 2025
Category: Child poverty, Policy and strategy

Closing date: 28th March 2025