The UK’s compliance with key anti-torture treaty

Date: 16th May 2017
Category: UN Convention Against Torture (CAT)

The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture has released a report on the UK's compliance with a key anti-torture treaty, claiming that none of the prisons visited by the delegation last year "could be considered safe for prisoners or staff".

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Briefing paper: the non-punishment of trafficked children

Date: 16th May 2017
Category: Child trafficking

Children who have been trafficked may also find themselves in conflict with the law through e.g. immigration or criminal offences. This briefing paper assesses the early impact of the new 'non-punishment' provisions, and considers whether the measures that have been put in place are sufficient to protect trafficked children.

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Consultation on Homelessness

Date: 16th May 2017
Category: Family Environment and Alternative Care

The Local Government and Communities Committee has launched a call for written evidence on homelessness. They want to find out the reasons why people can find themselves homeless or threatened with homelessness and what can be done to tackle this effectively.

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Draft General Comment on the right of persons with disabilities

Date: 16th May 2017
Category: UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)

There is a call for comments from the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on the draft General Comment on the right of persons with disabilities to live independently and be included in the community (article 19).

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Equal Protection from assault

Date: 16th May 2017
Category: Equal protection from violence

John Finnie MSP has launched a consultation on a proposed Bill on Equal Protection for children and young people. The Bill aims to remove the legal defence of "justifiable assault", bringing Scotland in line with UNCRC recommendations and with most other European countries.

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Universal Period Review (UPR) of the UK

Date: 16th May 2017
Category: Scotland-specific monitoring and reporting

On May 4th 2017, the UK was examined on its human rights record under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR).

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The right to food – where are we in Scotland?

Date: 2nd May 2017
Category: Disability, Basic Health and Welfare

The UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, Hilal Elver, recently visited Scotland. Despite encouraging Scotland in its opportunities to lead on the right to food, Scottish charities report increasing hunger issues for children and families.

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LGBTI Inclusive Education

Date: 2nd May 2017
Category: Non-discrimination

After Time for Inclusive Education (TIE) successfully campaigned for LGBTi equality in schools to be reviewed, a working group is being established to examine how the education experience for LGBTI young people in Scotland can be improved.

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Protecting Children Online

Date: 2nd May 2017
Category: Access to appropriate information

A new national action plan to help protect children and young people online has been launched recently.

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Improvement Needed to Keep Children at Heart of Hearings System

Date: 2nd May 2017
Category: Respect for the views of the child

Improvements are needed to ensure that children remain at the heart of the system designed to protect them.

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