Date: 12th February 2019
Category: Equal protection from violence, Civil Rights and Freedoms, Family Environment and Alternative Care, Protection from abuse or neglect, Parental guidance, General measures of implementation, Best interests of the child

The States of Jersey has voted to repeal a section of a law which allowed smacking by a parent if it was deemed "reasonable" making it illegal.

Date: 12th February 2019
Category: Disability, Basic Health and Welfare, Civil Rights and Freedoms, Access to appropriate information, Family reunification, Care Experienced children, Protection from abuse or neglect, Family Environment and Alternative Care, Awareness-raising, Best interests of the child, Refugee , migrant and asylum-seeking children

Children and Families Across Borders (CFAB) have created a factsheet for social workers and any professional protecting children on the impact Brexit may have on children and families who are crossing, or separated by, international boarders living in the UK.

Date: 12th February 2019
Category: Reporting to and monitoring the UNCRC, Civil Rights and Freedoms, Awareness-raising

The Best of UNICEF Research 2018 was recently published. This research underscored the need to view both forms of violence against children and intimate partner violence (women) as overlapping issues with common risk factors.

Date: 12th February 2019
Category: Civil Rights and Freedoms, General principles

During the Committee on the Rights of the Child’s review of Guinea, Committee member Mikiko Otani asked Guinea about the status of a bill on Human Rights Defenders which came about following an initiative from civil society. 

Date: 12th February 2019
Category: Civil Rights and Freedoms, General measures of implementation

Between 18th January and 1st February, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child held its 80th session.

Date: 12th February 2019
Category: Civil Rights and Freedoms, Access to appropriate information, Awareness-raising, General measures of implementation, Incorporation, General principles

The Human Rights Education Review Report has published a report identifying a number of violations of the human rights of children in school settings.  

Date: 12th February 2019
Category: Civil Rights and Freedoms

2019 marks the 30th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Child Rights Connect have shared their planned work for the 30th Anniversary of the UNCRC – you can find out more about it here.

Date: 11th February 2019
Category: Respect for the views of the child, Training, Education, including vocational education

Contributions wanted for ‘Theory and Practice of Voice in Early Childhood: A Guide for the Early Years’.

Date: 11th February 2019
Category: Access to appropriate information, Awareness-raising, Respect for the views of the child, Age of criminal responsibility, Child justice system

In 2018, Police Scotland launched its first dedicated Facebook page for young people along with re-designing its digital platforms to ensure information is available when needed.

Date: 11th February 2019
Category: Awareness-raising, Child rights impact assessments, Child rights indicators, Incorporation, Scotland-specific monitoring and reporting

Scottish Government has published an Action Plan and Report for Children’s Rights entitled ‘Progressing Human Rights for Children in Scotland’.

Date: 4th February 2019
Category: UN Convention Against Torture (CAT), Protection from abuse or neglect, Equal protection from violence, Restraint, Domestic abuse

Together will be submitting a shadow report as part of the UN Committee against Torture 2019 Review of the UK. We want to hear from our members about their key concerns so these can be reflected in the report. 

Date: 31st January 2019
Category: Best interests of the child, Age of criminal responsibility

The Age of Criminal Responsibility (Scotland) Bill is at Stage 2 in the Scottish Parliament. As currently drafted, the Bill raises the minimum age of criminal responsibility from 8 (the lowest in Europe) to 12. Over recent weeks there have been mounting calls for the age to be increased to 14 years, in line with Council of Europe and soon-to-be United Nations minimum standards.

Date: 29th January 2019
Category: Equal protection from violence, Family Environment and Alternative Care, Mental health

Together has responded to the Scottish Parliament’s Equalities and Human Rights Committee consultation on the Children (Equal Protection from Assault) (Scotland) Bill.

Date: 29th January 2019
Category: Access to appropriate information, Education, Leisure and Cultural Activities, Best interests of the child

Cartoon animation helps explain what rights a child has when facing a Children’s Hearing.

Date: 29th January 2019
Category: General principles, Other human rights treaties and mechanisms

Did you ever wonder when children's rights were first established or how they came into existence? This article gives a historical overview of the genesis of Children’s Rights.

Date: 18th December 2018
Category: Other human rights treaties and mechanisms, General measures of implementation

Together took part in the Scottish Parliament’s Human Rights Day Takeover, a one-day conference to mark the 70th anniversary of the United Nations adopting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Throughout the day, there was a strong focus on the rights of children and young people and the role children and young people play in defending human rights across Scotland and internationally.  

Date: 18th December 2018
Category: Family Environment and Alternative Care

The UN General Assembly has announced it has selected ‘children without parental care’ as the theme for the 2019 ‘Rights of the Child’ resolution. Together welcomes this announcement, having been part of the global coalition of NGOs who called for UN Member States to adopt this resolution.  

Date: 18th December 2018
Category: Restraint, School exclusions

Following an investigation into ‘Restraint and Seclusion in Scotland's Schools’, the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland’s new report considers the existence and impact of local authority policies and recording mechanisms and highlights the rights issues at stake for children and young people.  

Date: 18th December 2018
Category: Incorporation

As part of their A-Z #CPYearinReview, Children’s Parliament has published an article capturing children’s views on and calls for incorporation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child into Scots Law.  

Date: 18th December 2018
Category: Respect for the views of the child

Ms. Renate Winter, Chair of the Committee on the Rights of the Child has presented Child Rights Connect and the Children’s Advisory Team with a thank you letter for leading the design and delivery of the Day of General Discussion 2018.