UN Human Rights Committee recommends repeal of ‘justifiable assault’ defence

Date: 4th August 2015
Category: Equal protection from violence, Age of criminal responsibility

The UN Human Rights Committee has published its recommendations (Concluding Observations) to the UK on its implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which include equal protection from assault and raising the age of criminal responsibility.

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Lack of awareness of UNCRC amongst minority ethnic children, says roshni

Date: 21st July 2015
Category: Respect for the views of the child, Non-discrimination, Awareness-raising

Findings from a research project seeking the views of minority ethnic children and young people have been published in a Children's Rights Report, which contains a number of recommendations including for more work to be done to raise awareness and understanding of the UNCRC and the Children's Commissioner.

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CYP Act Guidance needs to give more prominence to child rights

Date: 21st July 2015
Category: General principles, General measures of implementation

Government analysis of responses to draft Statutory Guidance for the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act refers to the need for a rights-based approach.

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Concern over small percentage of mental health budget spent on children

Date: 21st July 2015
Category: Mental health, Health and health services

Findings that only 0.45% of NHS Scotland expenditure on mental health in 2013-14 was on child and adolescent health has raised concern & a call for rebalance.

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Lead the Way: the Scottish Youth Parliament's manifesto consultation 2016-2021

Date: 21st July 2015
Category: Respect for the views of the child

The Scottish Youth Parliament has launched a consultation entitled ' Lead the Way ' which seeks to gather the views of thousands of young people across Scotland to develop a 2016 - 2021 Youth Manifesto.

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Consultation on the Pregnancy and Parenthood in Young People Strategy

Date: 21st July 2015
Category: Parental responsibilities, Parental guidance, Disability, Basic Health and Welfare

This consultation seeks views on a range of actions in relation to the development of a Strategy focused on pregnancy and parenthood amongst young people.

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Scotland, the Sewel Convention and the Human Rights Act

Date: 17th July 2015
Category: Other human rights treaties and mechanisms

A new blog article explores human rights protections in law in Scotland in the context of devolution, specifically focusing on Scotland's relationship with the Human Rights Act and the Sewel Convention.

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Members of UK Joint Committee on Human Rights formally appointed members

Date: 16th July 2015
Category: Scotland-specific monitoring and reporting, Other human rights treaties and mechanisms

The Joint Committee on Human Rights which examines matters relating to human rights within the UK has formally appointed members from the House of Lords and is awaiting members from the House of Commons.

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Article 12 in Scotland submits two reports to the UN Committee

Date: 7th July 2015
Category: Reporting to and monitoring the UNCRC

Article 12 in Scotland has submitted two non-government reports to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, outlining young people's views on the state of children's rights in Scotland.

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The Commissioner’s new powers explained

Date: 7th July 2015
Category: General measures of implementation

From April 2016, the Commissioner will have the power to investigate potential rights violations of individual children and young people. SCCYP has discussed how this will work in practice.

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