Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill introduced

Date: 1st May 2020
Category: Civil Rights and Freedoms

The Bill aims to do three things; update existing laws, bring most of these laws into one bill and add to the groups currently specifically protected by hate crime laws.

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COVID-19: Scottish Government’s recognition of taking a human rights approach to pandemic

Date: 1st May 2020
Category: Disability, Basic Health and Welfare, Civil Rights and Freedoms, Education, Leisure and Cultural Activities, Family Environment and Alternative Care, General principles

Scottish Government has recently published a framework which will guide its decision-making when transitioning out of the current lockdown arrangements. The framework focuses on balancing the requirement to suppress the virus and the need to safeguard human rights and uphold human dignity throughout the transition.

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COVID-19: Surveys reveal children and young people’s thoughts and feelings

Date: 1st May 2020
Category: Disability, Basic Health and Welfare, Civil Rights and Freedoms, Education, Leisure and Cultural Activities, Family Environment and Alternative Care, General principles

The results of the Lockdown Lowdown survey have revealed that 96% of young people worry about the impact of coronavirus on their future, with 77% worried about their mental health and wellbeing. The Children’s Parliament survey indicates that girls are doing less well in boys in several ways, including their general mood, feeling bored, being worried and the feeling that they lack 'energy'.

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Vulnerable pupils not accessing school hubs during COVID-19

Date: 1st May 2020
Category: Education, Leisure and Cultural Activities, Family Environment and Alternative Care

Concerns have been raised by the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland over the “very very low” uptake of childcare and school places set aside for vulnerable children.

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COVID-19: UK Coronavirus rules relaxed for autistic people and people with learning disabilities

Date: 1st May 2020
Category: General principles

The changes by UK Government allow autistic people or people with learning disabilities to leave their home more than once a day, travel beyond their local area if this is important to their health and have carers who do not have to stay two metres away.

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COVID-19: Legal challenge raised to the Department of Education’s guidance for children’s social care services

Date: 1st May 2020
Category: Disability, Basic Health and Welfare, Civil Rights and Freedoms, Education, Leisure and Cultural Activities, Family Environment and Alternative Care, General measures of implementation, General principles

The University College London’s Integrated Legal Advice Clinic has launched a legal challenge regarding the recent COVID-19 guidance issued by the Department for Education which allows local authorities to depart from the usual statutory duties owed by children’s social services.

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COVID-19: Committee on the Rights of the Child issues statement and recommendations

Date: 1st May 2020
Category: Disability, Basic Health and Welfare, Civil Rights and Freedoms, Education, Leisure and Cultural Activities, Family Environment and Alternative Care, General measures of implementation, General principles

The Committee has urged countries to respect children’s rights when responding to the pandemic, noting that lockdown measures can have grave physical, emotional and psychological effects on children.

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COVID-19: Children’s voices and activism in times of COVID-19

Date: 1st May 2020
Category: General principles

World Vision conducted a consultation with 101 children and young people to help organisations better understand their experiences during the COVID-19 crisis; how they would like to contribute to stopping the spread of COVID-19; and how they can be supported, equipped, and encouraged.

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COVID-19: New guidance published on COVID-19 and the rights of disabled people

Date: 1st May 2020
Category: Disability, Basic Health and Welfare, Civil Rights and Freedoms, Family Environment and Alternative Care, Education, Leisure and Cultural Activities, General principles

The United Nations has produced guidance setting out the impact of COVID-19 on disabled people’s rights and daily lives. This has been produced as awareness of the attitudinal, environmental, and institutional barriers which disabled people may face can create a better response to COVID-19.

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COVID-19: Conducting a rapid research response to the pandemic

Date: 1st May 2020
Category: Disability, Basic Health and Welfare, Civil Rights and Freedoms, Education, Leisure and Cultural Activities, Family Environment and Alternative Care, General principles

UNICEF is conducting both short- and long-term research with the intention of using the findings to influence its practice and provide evidence to inform the work of other organisations.

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