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xTogether launches its State of Children’s Rights Report
Date: 11th March 2020
Category:
Disability, Basic Health and Welfare, Civil Rights and Freedoms, Education, Leisure and Cultural Activities, Family Environment and Alternative Care, Funding, General measures of implementation, General principles, Other human rights treaties and mechanisms, Reporting to and monitoring the UNCRC, Special protection measures
More than 50 charities and experts contributed to the report which considers the extent to which children in Scotland are able to exercise their human rights as set out in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).
The State of Children’s Rights report plays an essential role in enabling the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child to hold the Scottish and UK governments to account. It details a number of areas where substantial progress has been made in recent years, while also drawing attention to areas in which Scotland currently falls short of ensuring children’s human rights are being met.
In particular, the report highlights the importance of delivering a key government pledge to incorporate the UNCRC into Scots law by 2021. The Scottish Government has promised children and young people that a Bill that directly incorporates the UNCRC provisions that fall within devolved powers will be passed before early 2021. For this promise to be kept, the Bill must be introduced to the Scottish Parliament within a matter of months. The report calls for urgent action to ensure that incorporation of the UNCRC into Scots law is accompanied by a real change in the way children and young people experience their rights.
Together was joined by almost 100 supporters at the launch on 28th February 2020, including Maree Todd MSP Minister for Children and Young People, the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland, members of the Children’s Parliament and Scottish Youth Parliament. The event jointly celebrated the launch of the Observatory of Children’s Human Rights Scotland of which Together is part and for which the newly published report will serve as a roadmap for action.
Professors Jennifer Davidson (University of Strathclyde) and Kay Tisdall (University of Edinburgh) introduced the new Observatory which aims to bring together children and experts from across Scotland to amplify the impact of research on policy debates, both nationally and internationally. It will work to improve the day to day lives and experiences of children and young people. The Observatory was initiated by University of Edinburgh, University of Strathclyde, Children’s Parliament, Scottish Youth Parliament, Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland, Together (Scottish Alliance for Children’s Rights).
Speaking at the launch event, Emili and Arden MCPs, Members of the Children’s Parliament and Jack Dudgeon MSYP, Chair of the Scottish Youth Parliament shared their work and brought children and young people’s perspectives on the key rights issues in Scotland. Emili and Arden also shared their first impressions of the child-friendly version of Together’s report.
Maree Todd MSP Minister for Children and Young People, welcomed Together’s State of Children’s Rights Report, shared her excitement at the launch of the Observatory and reiterated Scottish Government’s commitment to furthering children’s human rights.
Thank you to all our members and supporters who attended the event, and to those who contributed their knowledge, experiences and wisdom to the creation of the report.