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xCelebrating World Children’s Day
Date: 16th December 2021
Category:
Incorporation
On 20th November 2021, we celebrated World Children’s Day. To mark this special day, Scottish Government published various reports, guidance and a video. Read our roundup here!
Scottish Government shared an Action Plan to progress the rights of children across Scotland, new introductory guidance for public authorities, guidance on how to complete a Child Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessment, a video update from the Deputy First Minister.
Action Plan 2021-24
The Action Plan sets out sets out what Scottish Government aims to do between 2021-24 to progress children’s human rights. It includes the following aims:
- To incorporate the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) to the maximum extent possible as soon as practicable.
- To enable all children in Scotland to be aware of and understand their rights.
- To ensure all children in Scotland experience public services consistently upholding their rights.
- To bring about a fundamental shift in culture in Scottish society which will deliver a revolution in children's rights.
Children from the Interim Consortium helped inform the development of the Action Plan, supported by Together and its project partners.
Introductory guidance on the UNCRC
The second publication included new introductory guidance on how to embed a children’s rights-based approach in public services. This guidance was developed in partnership with public bodies and the third sector, including Together.
This new guidance will support public authorities to fulfil the duties set out in the UNCRC Incorporation Bill, as passed by the Scottish Parliament. These duties include:
- Public authorities will not be allowed to act in a way which is incompatible with the UNCRC requirements.
- Other authorities listed in the Bill will have to report every three years on what they are doing to meet the UNCRC requirements.
This is the first instalment in a phased approach to guidance. More detailed guidance for public authorities will follow in 2022.
- Read the guidance, “Children’s Rights and the UNCRC: An Introduction”
Updated CRWIA guidance
The third publication is a more accessible guidance on how to complete a Child Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessment (CRWIA). It includes practice examples, which can be used to assist public authorities to take a child rights-based approach in decision-making in policies, legislation, service delivery and budgeting.
- Access the guidance on how to complete a Child Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessment (CRWIA)
Deputy First Minister video
Finally, Deputy First Minister, John Swinney celebrated the day by reemphasising Scottish Government’s determination to incorporate children’s rights into Scottish Law to the maximum extent possible.
Watch the Deputy First Minister’s video here.