Date: 13th January 2021
Category: UNCRC Optional Protocols and General Comments, Disability, Basic Health and Welfare, Civil Rights and Freedoms, Family Environment and Alternative Care, Education, Leisure and Cultural Activities, Awareness-raising

To celebrate the #YearOfChildhood, Together’s #RightsResolution for 2021 is to create weekly children’s rights infographics for our members to use and share.

Date: 13th January 2021
Category: Disability, Basic Health and Welfare, Education, Leisure and Cultural Activities

The #YearOfChildhood is kicking off with a focus  on storytelling. Children’s Parliament is inviting children, young people and adults to help create a picture of what makes a happy childhood. Findings will inform the Year of Childhood programme.

Date: 13th January 2021
Category: Education, Leisure and Cultural Activities, Civil Rights and Freedoms, Disability, Basic Health and Welfare

In December 2020, Scottish Government published its Fairer Scotland Action Plan: Progress Report 2020. The report describes Scottish Government’s achievements and ongoing work according to its 2016 Fairer Scotland Action Plan.

Date: 13th January 2021
Category: COVID-19, Disability, Basic Health and Welfare, Civil Rights and Freedoms, Education, Leisure and Cultural Activities

In October 2020, young people were invited to join a series of focus groups and respond to a survey on the impact COVID-19 is having on them. These activities were organised by the Scottish Youth Parliament, supported by YouthLink Scotland and Young Scot. The survey report and focus group findings are now available online.

Date: 13th January 2021
Category: Age of criminal responsibility, Child justice system

The law on sharing information about childhood offending behaviour is changing. This could significantly reduce adverse implications later in life.

Date: 13th January 2021
Category: Disability, Basic Health and Welfare, Education, including vocational education

A  majority of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar councillors backed a motion “commending” Roman Catholic teaching materials which uphold an orthodox stance against sexual intercourse outside heterosexual marriage.

Date: 13th January 2021
Category: Disability, Basic Health and Welfare, Family Environment and Alternative Care, Education, including vocational education, Civil Rights and Freedoms

The report covers why members feel it is important for their human rights to be protected in law, policy, and practice. The report also includes recommendations for change.

Date: 13th January 2021
Category: Civil Rights and Freedoms, Child justice system

A CYCJ study has called for reform to ensure the system is child-friendly, fair and just for both victims and children who have offended.

Date: 13th January 2021
Category: COVID-19

In December, Children’s Parliament provided its input to the COVID Education Recovery Group, which leads the national response to the pandemic in the context of the school system. In a new blog post, it reflects on what recovery means from a rights-based perspective.

Date: 13th January 2021
Category: COVID-19, Mental health

‘Pride & Pixels’ is a digital youth work platform developed in response to COVID-19 to support young members of the LGBTI community.

Date: 13th January 2021
Category: Reporting to and monitoring the UNCRC

The joint report outlines 30 key issues facing children across the four jurisdictions. It has been submitted to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child to inform its next review of the UK.

Date: 13th January 2021
Category: Child trafficking, UN Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)

Governments have a duty to combat all forms of trafficking under Article 6 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). This new General Recommendation by the CEDAW Committee contextualises this obligation within the framework of global migration.

Date: 13th January 2021
Category: COVID-19, Child poverty

A new UNICEF report explores how the social and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is likely to affect children; the initial government responses to the crisis; and how future public policies could be optimised to better support children.

Date: 13th January 2021
Category: COVID-19, Disability, Basic Health and Welfare, Civil Rights and Freedoms, Education, Leisure and Cultural Activities, Family Environment and Alternative Care

In May 2020, the Centre for Children’s Rights from Queen’s University Belfast launched a survey for those aged eight to 17 to understand their “Life under Coronavirus”. Eight thematic briefings have been released to examine its findings.

Date: 13th January 2021
Category: Reporting to and monitoring the UNCRC, Other human rights treaties and mechanisms

The report identifies good practice conducted by United Nations entities for effective reporting cycles. It shares ‘success’ factors which influence whether engagement with these reporting cycles have measurable improvements in the global enjoyment of children’s rights.

Date: 13th January 2021
Category: Children in situations of exploitation, COVID-19

2021 is the International Year for the Elimination of Child Labour but the COVID-19 pandemic threatens two decades worth of progress and places millions of children at risk. In a recent article, anti-child labour organisations and advocates discuss what it will take to tackle child labour effectively.

Date: 13th January 2021
Category: COVID-19

Closing date: 31st January 2021

Date: 11th January 2021
Category: UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), Policies & procedures, Incorporation

The Scottish Government wants to write a new human rights law for Scotland, and has created a National Taskforce to support its work. The Taskforce wants to know what children and young people think about this!

Date: 10th December 2020
Category: Scotland-specific monitoring and reporting, Reporting to and monitoring the UNCRC

The report highlights 30 key issues for children in Scotland and will inform the initial stages of the UK’s next review by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. 

Date: 10th December 2020
Category: Funding, Education, Leisure and Cultural Activities, Civil Rights and Freedoms

The Panel launched its new report - ‘Young Brexit Voices: It’s Our Future Too’ – on 9th December 2020. It looks at what impact leaving the EU might have on children and young people and sets out their recommendations for what needs to happen next.