Date: 26th March 2019
Category: General measures of implementation

The Committee on the Rights of the Child continues to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the UNCRC. The Committee is collaborating with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and organizing a series of activities throughout 2019 that aim to encourage States parties to renew their commitment to the Convention by putting children’s rights at the forefront of national agendas.

Date: 26th March 2019
Category: Disability, Basic Health and Welfare, General measures of implementation

Date: 25 March to 17 June 2019. The Scottish Government is holding a formal consultation on the continued effectiveness of statutory guidance provided to Community Planning Partnerships in support of Part 3 of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014.

Date: 26th March 2019
Category: Equal protection from violence, Restraint, Care Experienced children, Protection from abuse or neglect, Right to life, survival and development, Best interests of the child, UN Convention Against Torture (CAT)

Together has submitted a shadow report to the UN Committee against Torture for consideration as part of its 2019 review of the UK. This report highlights key concerns expressed by our members, and suggests recommendations the UN Committee could make to address these. 

Date: 26th March 2019
Category: Age of criminal responsibility

The Scottish Government has responded to a joint letter from Together and the Centre for Youth and Criminal Justice (CYCJ) calling for the minimum age of criminal responsibility to be increased to 14 in line with minimum international standards. 

Date: 26th March 2019
Category: General measures of implementation

The report from the 2018 Rights of the Child UK (ROCK) Conference is now available online. 

Date: 22nd March 2019
Category: General measures of implementation

Together has written to Minister for Children and Young People, Maree Todd to reiterate the call for the incorporation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) within the current parliamentary term. Supported by leading children’s organisations across Scotland, the letter calls on the Scottish Government to present a bill to the Scottish Parliament by November 2019. This would mark Scotland’s commitment to the 30th anniversary year of the UNCRC and would ensure the bill is passed before 2021. 

Date: 21st March 2019
Category: Civil Rights and Freedoms, Access to appropriate information, Equal protection from violence, Freedom of association and peaceful assembly, Freedom of thought, conscience and religion, Protection of privacy, Restraint

Closing date: 14th April 2019. This year, for the 30th anniversary of the CRC, Amnesty International’s Write for Rights campaign will be focused on young human rights defenders (aged 25 and under) and they are looking for 10 amazing young people defending human rights to spotlight the campaign.

Date: 21st March 2019
Category: Disability, Basic Health and Welfare, Education, Leisure and Cultural Activities, Civil Rights and Freedoms

In December 2019, Scottish Ministers laid before Parliament a report on actions relevant to children’s rights taken over the past three years and an Action Plan for the next three years, in line with Part 1 duties included in the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014. As part of the work towards achieving the commitments laid out in the Action Plan, the Children’s Rights and Participation Team is hosting six, free unconference events, ‘Rights Cafés’, around Scotland.

Date: 20th March 2019
Category: Disability, Basic Health and Welfare, Civil Rights and Freedoms

A new report by YouthLink Scotland and Youth Scotland shows youth workers have witnessed a negative impact on community relations since the EU Referendum in June 2016. The Hear.EU report explores the impact of Brexit on the youth work sector in Scotland.

Date: 20th March 2019
Category: Disability, Basic Health and Welfare, Mental health

The Scottish Parliament’s Public Audit and Post-legislative Scrutiny Committee has released its report on children and young people's mental health. Recommendations echo what children and young people themselves have said.

Date: 20th March 2019
Category: Disability, Basic Health and Welfare, Disabled children

Closing Date: 28th May 2019. From April 2020 the Scottish Government will take full responsibility for all remaining devolved entitlements to disability assistance, with replacement disability payments to start their introduction from summer 2020.

Date: 20th March 2019
Category: Disabled children, Disability, Basic Health and Welfare

The Keys to Life framework update has been launched by the Scottish Government and COSLA. The 2015 Keys to Life in its original form focused on improving quality of life for people with learning disabilities, specifically around health outcomes. The latest update of the Keys to Life identifies what will be done to support people throughout their whole life journey. The framework was created in partnership with the Scottish Commission on Learning Disabilities (SCLD) and the Scottish Learning Disabilities Observatory.

Date: 14th March 2019
Category: Civil Rights and Freedoms, Education, Leisure and Cultural Activities, Disability, Basic Health and Welfare

Last week, the Scottish Government held the third annual Cabinet meeting with children and young people at Bute House, Edinburgh.

Date: 14th March 2019
Category:

A rare opportunity has arisen for two dynamic and talented people to join the Together (Scottish Alliance for Children's Rights) team. 

Date: 13th March 2019
Category: Special protection measures, Children in situations of exploitation

England's Children's Commissioner, Anne Longfield, has raised concerns for regarding the wellbeing and safety of children using social media.

Date: 13th March 2019
Category: Civil Rights and Freedoms, Protection of privacy

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), of the United States, has said that Musical.ly app, which was later acquired and incorporated into TikTok, illegally and knowingly collected information from children under the age of 13.

Date: 13th March 2019
Category: Civil Rights and Freedoms, Disability, Basic Health and Welfare, Health and health services, Equal protection from violence

A new report reveals how national and local government is failing to protect children in England whilst policymakers focus on Brexit, leaving children traumatised, powerless and vulnerable to abuse in many areas of their lives. The State of Children’s Rights in 2018 report includes new data gathered using Freedom of Information requests which highlights issues such as: housing and accommodation, increasing violence against children, and the increased use of spit hoods by police. 

Date: 11th March 2019
Category: Education, Leisure and Cultural Activities

The UN has chosen 2019 to be the "Year of Indigenous Languages" which celebrates at-risk languages throughout the world. One such language is Scots Gaelic, which forms an important part of life for thousands of children and young people in Scotland.

Date: 7th March 2019
Category: Civil Rights and Freedoms, Family Environment and Alternative Care

Child Rights Connect had prepared a statement to be presented on 28th February at the Human Rights Council’s interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur, Michel Forst, on human rights defenders.

Date: 7th March 2019
Category: Education, Leisure and Cultural Activities, General measures of implementation

The University of Dundee has been commissioned by the Scottish Government to undertake this literature review to provide insight into the impact of transitions and the factors that support or hinder a successful transition from primary to secondary school.