Together submits shadow report to UN Committee against Torture

Date: 26th March 2019
Category: Equal protection from violence, Restraint, Care Experienced children, Protection from abuse or neglect, Right to life, survival and development, Best interests of the child, UN Convention Against Torture (CAT)

Together has submitted a shadow report to the UN Committee against Torture for consideration as part of its 2019 review of the UK. This report highlights key concerns expressed by our members, and suggests recommendations the UN Committee could make to address these.

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Together receives Scottish Government response to joint letter on minimum age of criminal responsibility

Date: 26th March 2019
Category: Age of criminal responsibility

The Scottish Government has responded to a joint letter from Together and the Centre for Youth and Criminal Justice (CYCJ) calling for the minimum age of criminal responsibility to be increased to 14 in line with minimum international standards.

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2018 ROCK Conference report now available

Date: 26th March 2019
Category: General measures of implementation

The report from the 2018 Rights of the Child UK (ROCK) Conference is now available online.

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Together writes to Minister to call for action on incorporation

Date: 22nd March 2019
Category: General measures of implementation

Together has written to Minister for Children and Young People, Maree Todd to reiterate the call for the incorporation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) within the current parliamentary term. Supported by leading children’s organisations across Scotland, the letter calls on the Scottish Government to present a bill to the Scottish Parliament by November 2019. This would mark Scotland’s commitment to the 30th anniversary year of the UNCRC and would ensure the bill is passed before 2021.

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Call for submissions: Young Human Rights Defenders to spotlight Amnesty’s Write for Rights 2019 campaign

Date: 21st March 2019
Category: Civil Rights and Freedoms, Access to appropriate information, Equal protection from violence, Freedom of association and peaceful assembly, Freedom of thought, conscience and religion, Protection of privacy, Restraint

Closing date : 14th April 2019. This year, for the 30th anniversary of the CRC, Amnesty International’s Write for Rights campaign will be focused on young human rights defenders (aged 25 and under) and they are looking for 10 amazing young people defending human rights to spotlight the campaign.

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Raising Awareness of Children's Rights at the upcoming Rights Cafes

Date: 21st March 2019
Category: Disability, Basic Health and Welfare, Education, Leisure and Cultural Activities, Civil Rights and Freedoms

In December 2019, Scottish Ministers laid before Parliament a report on actions relevant to children’s rights taken over the past three years and an Action Plan for the next three years, in line with Part 1 duties included in the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014. As part of the work towards achieving the commitments laid out in the Action Plan, the Children’s Rights and Participation Team is hosting six, free unconference events, ‘Rights Cafés’, around Scotland.

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Youth workers say community relations negatively impacted since EU Referendum

Date: 20th March 2019
Category: Disability, Basic Health and Welfare, Civil Rights and Freedoms

A new report by YouthLink Scotland and Youth Scotland shows youth workers have witnessed a negative impact on community relations since the EU Referendum in June 2016. The Hear.EU report explores the impact of Brexit on the youth work sector in Scotland.

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Report on children and young people’s mental health echoes young people’s voices

Date: 20th March 2019
Category: Disability, Basic Health and Welfare, Mental health

The Scottish Parliament’s Public Audit and Post-legislative Scrutiny Committee has released its report on children and young people's mental health. Recommendations echo what children and young people themselves have said.

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Consultation: Disability Assistance in Scotland

Date: 20th March 2019
Category: Disability, Basic Health and Welfare, Disabled children

Closing Date: 28th May 2019. From April 2020 the Scottish Government will take full responsibility for all remaining devolved entitlements to disability assistance, with replacement disability payments to start their introduction from summer 2020.

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The 'Keys to Life' Learning Disability Strategy update

Date: 20th March 2019
Category: Disabled children, Disability, Basic Health and Welfare

The Keys to Life framework update has been launched by the Scottish Government and COSLA. The 2015 Keys to Life in its original form focused on improving quality of life for people with learning disabilities, specifically around health outcomes. The latest update of the Keys to Life identifies what will be done to support people throughout their whole life journey. The framework was created in partnership with the Scottish Commission on Learning Disabilities (SCLD) and the Scottish Learning Disabilities Observatory.

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