Early Learning and Childcare Expansion Consultation

Date: 4th October 2016
Category: Inclusive education

Aberdeen City Council is carrying out a statutory consultation exercise linked to the Scottish Government's programme for expansion of early learning and childcare.

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Together gives evidence to the Equal Opportunities Committee

Date: 20th September 2016
Category: Non-discrimination

At its third meeting, the Equal Opportunities Committee considered its approach to developing its work programme by taking oral evidence from a number of organisations, including Together.

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Themes for 2018 Year of Young People announced

Date: 20th September 2016
Category: General principles

In their final report, published on 8th September 2016, the Interim Planning Group for the forthcoming 2018 'Year of Young People' set out four themes for discussion.

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Scottish Government face legal challenge over Religious Observance in schools

Date: 20th September 2016
Category: Freedom of thought, conscience and religion

The Humanist Society Scotland are to seek a Judicial Review of a decision by the Scottish Government not to allow young people to opt-out of religious observance, as is possible for children in England and Wales and as recommended by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.

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Petition on military visits to Scottish schools to be heard at Holyrood

Date: 20th September 2016
Category: Armed conflict

A petition is calling for more transparency and oversight of visits made by the armed forces to secondary state schools after concerns were highlighted over the unmonitored nature and frequency of the visits, with fears that they are being used as a recruitment tool.

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Scottish children make 934 calls about suicide to Childline a year

Date: 20th September 2016
Category: Mental health

Childline received more than 900 inquiries from children in Scotland contemplating suicide last year, according to a new NSPCC UK report.

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Submission to Day of General Discussion on children’s rights and the environment

Date: 20th September 2016
Category: Right to life, survival and development

The Office of the Children and Young People's Commissioner for Scotland (CYPCS) has submitted a paper to inform the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child's general discussion day on children's rights and the environment on Friday 23rd September.

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UN focuses on refugees, but clause on child detention weakened

Date: 20th September 2016
Category: Armed conflict

For the first time, the General Assembly has called for a summit at the Heads of State and Government level on large movements of refugees and migrants. However, key commitments are missing, including best interests of the child regarding detention.

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The Children's State of the European Union

Date: 20th September 2016
Category: Other human rights treaties and mechanisms

President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker delivered his State of the Union on Wednesday, stating Europe should "champion children and their way of life".

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The Netherlands demonstrates good practice in addressing child poverty

Date: 20th September 2016
Category: Child poverty

The Netherlands EU Presidency has achieved a high grade in the Eurochild scorecard which measures EU presidencies on four key criteria: addressing child poverty, for which it received top marks; mainstreaming children's rights in broader policies, progressing the EU children's rights agenda and listening to children, for which it received above average grades. In Europe, one in four children are at risk of poverty or social exclusion. The adoption of the Council Conclusions on 'Combating poverty and social exclusion: an integrated approach' is an important marker of how European countries can share practices and policies while ensuring integrated approaches are streamlined throughout the EU.

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