Date: 4th October 2016
Category: Other human rights treaties and mechanisms

On 29th September 2016, the Scottish Parliament formally agreed a new name and remit for the Equal Opportunities Committee. The Membership of the Committee remains unchanged.

Date: 4th October 2016
Category: Care Experienced children

On the 20th September, STV broadcast the documentary 'Who Cares'. Four members of Who Cares? Scotland have participated and discussed their lives as care-experienced young people. This documentary is available to watch online.

Date: 4th October 2016
Category: Disabled children

The National Deaf Children's Society have launched their new campaign report outlining the key issues for deaf children and their families in the early years, the gaps that still exist around support and recommendations for improvement.

Date: 4th October 2016
Category: Social security

A new report by the Accounts Commission says current approaches to providing services are not sustainable in the long term. There are risks that further cost savings could affect the quality of services which provide support for over 17,000 vulnerable children and young people in Scotland.

Date: 4th October 2016
Category: Children in situations of exploitation

Based on key findings regarding cyber-crimes, the new crime audit published in September by the HMICS has made child and young people-specific recommendations for Scotland.

Date: 4th October 2016
Category: Non-discrimination

This new report, commissioned by Scottish Ministers in 2015, has set out a number of recommendations on how to help tackle hate crime and prejudice, and build greater community cohesion.

Date: 4th October 2016
Category: General principles, Policies & procedures

An analysis of consultation has been undertaken on draft guidance for Children's Rights (Part 1, section 2) and Children's Services Planning (Part 3) of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014.

Date: 4th October 2016
Category: Right to life, survival and development

On Friday 23rd September, the Committee on the Rights of the Child's Day of General Discussion (DGD) was held on the topic of 'Children's Rights and the Environment'. MCP's at the Children's Parliament went out and did fantastically well in representing Scotland!

Date: 4th October 2016
Category: Other human rights treaties and mechanisms

Children's organisations have welcomed the Committee's recognition that states need to invest in children to realise their rights as outlined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and its Optional Protocols.

Date: 4th October 2016
Category: Disabled children

The Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities, Ms. Catalina Devandas-Aguilar, is currently preparing a study, to be presented at the 34th session of the Human Rights Council in March 2017, on the provision of support to persons with disabilities.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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".

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.