Together responds to consultation on Trauma Training Plan

Date: 5th March 2019
Category: General measures of implementation, Training, Protection from abuse or neglect

Together has responded to a joint consultation by NHS Education Scotland and the Scottish Government on a new Trauma-informed Training Plan.

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Together’s Director presents to Cross Party Group about raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility

Date: 5th March 2019
Category: Civil Rights and Freedoms, General measures of implementation, Special protection measures, Age of criminal responsibility

Together’s Director spoke at a recent meeting of the Cross-Party Group on Children and Young People. The meeting on 6th February 2019 was convened to discuss the Age of Criminal Responsibility (Scotland) Bill. The Bill currently proposes raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility from 8 years old (the lowest in Europe) to 12.

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Briefing papers on the incorporation of human rights in Wales

Date: 28th February 2019
Category: Civil Rights and Freedoms, General measures of implementation

Associate Professor at Swansea University, Dr Simon Hoffman, and member of Together's Incorporation Advisory Group, has published three briefing papers on the incorporation of human rights in Wales. Dr. Hoffman contends that human rights have been agreed by the community of nations, the United Nations, as basic entitlements which should be available to everyone. This sets the tone for the first briefing, Incorporation of International Human Rights, which discusses how human rights may be incorporated, and demonstrated and why this should be the objective in Wales.

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Brexit: Letter to the Government from the UK’s Children’s Commissioners

Date: 28th February 2019
Category: Civil Rights and Freedoms, Equal protection from violence, Family Environment and Alternative Care, General measures of implementation, General principles, Other human rights treaties and mechanisms

A joint letter from the Children’s Commissioners for Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland was sent to Rt. Hon Stephen Barclay MP, the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union. This letter seeks assurances on some of the immediate issues facing children arising from Brexit.

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UN General Assembly: “Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of woman human rights defenders” includes references to the challenges faced by children rights defenders.

Date: 28th February 2019
Category: Civil Rights and Freedoms, Equal protection from violence

The latest report of the Special Rapporteur, Michel Forst, reports on the situation of human rights defenders in which he reviews the situation of women human rights defenders making comparisons to children’s rights defenders.

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Good Food Nation Proposals for Legislation

Date: 28th February 2019
Category: Civil Rights and Freedoms, General principles, Disability, Basic Health and Welfare

Closing date: Friday, 29th March 2019. The Scottish Government is asking for views on their Good Food Nation public consultation. In 2014, Becoming a Good Food Nation, set a new vision for Scotland: that by 2025 Scotland will be “a Good Food Nation, where people from every walk of life take pride and pleasure in, and benefit from, the food they produce, buy, cook, serve, and eat each day.” This consultation is all about what laws we should have to achieve this.

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Together responds to hate crime consultation

Date: 28th February 2019
Category: Civil Rights and Freedoms

Together has responded to the Scottish Government’s consultation on hate crime legislation in Scotland. The consultation sought views on the recommendations of the Independent Review of Hate Crime Legislation led by Lord Bracadale in 2018.

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Brexit: Children and Young People’s Panel on Europe launch report

Date: 28th February 2019
Category: Civil Rights and Freedoms, General measures of implementation

The Children and Young People’s Panel on Europe launched its report last week. The report sets out Panel members’ views and priorities around Brexit, including recommendations for decision-makers.

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Together submits evidence on Scotland’s progress towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals

Date: 28th February 2019
Category: Disability, Basic Health and Welfare, Education, Leisure and Cultural Activities, Civil Rights and Freedoms

Together has responded to a call for evidence on Scotland’s progress towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs were launched in 2015 and set out 17 Goals with the aim of encouraging all countries to implement the necessary environmental, economic and social change to achieve peace and prosperity for all.

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Consultation: Protective orders for people at risk of domestic abuse

Date: 26th February 2019
Category: Family Environment and Alternative Care, Domestic abuse, Protection from abuse or neglect

Closing date: Friday, 29th March 2019. The consultation seeks views on proposals to create new protective orders that could be used to keep people at risk of domestic abuse safe by banning perpetrators from their homes and on also seeks views on whether changes are needed to the current system of exclusion orders which allow a victim of domestic abuse to apply to suspend the right of their partner to live in the family home.

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