Annual cabinet meeting with children and young people

Date: 16th June 2023
Category: Respect for the views of the child

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On 6^th June 2023, Members of Children’s Parliament (MCP) and Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYP) took part in their annual takeover of the Scottish Cabinet. In this meeting, the MCPs and MSYPs spoke directly to the First Minister and Cabinet Ministers on key issues that are important to children and young people across Scotland.

To prepare for the meeting, MCPs took part in discussions, workshops and a national survey to find out the important issues facing children. From here, the children agreed on key calls to action to be raised at the meeting, namely:

• UNCRC incorporation – including that rights in law translate into rights in practice and culture change.
• Reducing the impact of the cost-of-living crisis – including access to basic needs, improving access to clubs and activities, reducing isolation, and preventing adult’s worries from becoming children’s worries.
• How we learn – including action to prioritise dignity in schools, making learning active and relevant, and valuing friendships in learning.

MSYPs spoke on a range of issues, including:

1. UNCRC incorporation and embedding rights
2. Funding for youth work
3. Abortion buffer zones
4. Right to food – including calls for universal free school meals
5. Contraception and women’s health
6. Bereavement support
7. Climate and the circular economy

The Cabinet will publish a formal response that will set out the actions that the Scottish Government will take forward over the coming year. This will be followed by a progress report on these actions ahead of the 2024 meeting.

• Read Children’s Parliament’s summary here.
• Read the latest Progress Report from Scottish Government here.