Cabinet Ministers commit to 18 actions following 3rd Annual Cabinet Meeting with Children and Young People

Date: 25th June 2019
Category: General measures of implementation, Civil Rights and Freedoms

In a letter to third sector stakeholders, the Deputy First Minster, and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, announced Scottish Government's commitment to take forward 18 actions agreed with children and young people. This follows the third annual Cabinet meeting with children and young people from the Children’s Parliament and the Scottish Youth Parliament which took place in March 2019.

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The Age of Criminal Responsibility (Scotland) Bill receives Royal Assent

Date: 25th June 2019
Category: General measures of implementation, General principles, Civil Rights and Freedoms, Disability, Basic Health and Welfare

The Age of Criminal Responsibility (Scotland) Bill received royal assent on the 11th June 2019. The (now) Act will increase the minimum age at which a child can be found criminally responsible from 8, the lowest in Europe, to 12 years old.

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Public Inclusion Network Scotland publishes guidance on School attendance and exclusions

Date: 25th June 2019
Category: Education, Leisure and Cultural Activities

Scottish Government, Education Scotland and partners recently updated guidance on school exclusion and attendance in its report called Included, Engaged and Involved. Part One refers to school attendance and Part Two refers to school exclusion. The Part Two Guidance on exclusion was published last year and this week sees the publication of the new Part One on school attendance.

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State of Scotland's Foster Care report launched by The Fostering Network

Date: 25th June 2019
Category: Civil Rights and Freedoms, Disability, Basic Health and Welfare, General measures of implementation

The survey of 500 foster carers covered key practice and workforce issues such as placement stability, training and support for carers, and status and authority of the workforce.

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Table of Views adopted by the Committee on the Rights of the Child and Follow-up status

Date: 25th June 2019
Category: Reporting to and monitoring the UNCRC, General principles, General measures of implementation

The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child is now publishing on its website a table with the summaries of adopted decisions on individual communications under the Third Optional Protocol of the UNCRC and the follow-up status by States.

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Round table with CRC Chairperson Luis Pedernera

Date: 25th June 2019
Category: General measures of implementation, General principles, Reporting to and monitoring the UNCRC

Notes from the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child roundtable have been published. The Round Table raised serious concern regarding the UN Budget crisis, which the roundtable refers to as an “attack to the Treaty Bodies” and the possible cancellation of the third session as having a “strong impact on the backlog of the work of the CRC Committee and other Treaty Bodies”.

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Together’s recommendations to the First Minister: Incorporate UN treaty rights into Scots law

Date: 24th June 2019
Category: Incorporation, General measures of implementation, Civil Rights and Freedoms, Policies & procedures, Reporting to and monitoring the UNCRC

Together, along with our civil society partners, has written to the First Minister calling for a strong and effective legal framework to progress human rights in Scotland.

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Equal Protection Bill passes at Stage 2

Date: 24th June 2019
Category: Special protection measures, Family Environment and Alternative Care, Protection from abuse or neglect, Disability, Basic Health and Welfare

Together is pleased to see the Children (Equal Protection from Assault) (Scotland) Bill pass at Stage 2 in the Scottish Parliament on 20 th June 2019.

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Scottish Government responds to review of mental health services at Polmont

Date: 24th June 2019
Category: Civil Rights and Freedoms, Disability, Basic Health and Welfare, Family Environment and Alternative Care, Child justice system, Special protection measures

Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf’s response included a commitment to develop a bespoke mental health strategy for young people, end the routine use of strip searches and to “explore options” for a pilot of in cell phones to support family contact.

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Children & vulnerable adults still being detained at Dungavel

Date: 24th June 2019
Category: Civil Rights and Freedoms, Disability, Basic Health and Welfare, Refugee , migrant and asylum-seeking children, Special protection measures

New figures show that 21 children were detained in Dungavel Immigration Removal Centre between 2010-2018. Some of the young people were held there until they were moved to immigration centers in England.

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