Together’s Stage 1 response to the Education, Children and Young People Committee on the Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill

Date: 21st August 2025
Category: General measures of implementation, Education, Leisure and Cultural Activities

We’ve submitted our Stage 1 evidence on the Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill to the Scottish Parliament’s Education, Children and Young People Committee. Together welcomes the Bill and its commitment to ensuring children grow up loved, safe and respected in line with the UNCRC and the Promise. However, we are concerned that some provisions fall outside the protections of the UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024. We ask the Committee to recommend that:

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Joint Letter to the First Minister calls for Urgent Action on Scotland’s Health and Social Care Crisis

Date: 21st August 2025
Category: General measures of implementation, Disability, Basic Health and Welfare

Over 200 health and social care organisations including Children First have written to the First Minister, warning that important services and support in Scotland are at breaking point. The open letter, led by the Coalition of Care and Support Providers in Scotland (CCPS) and Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE) , says decades of underfunding and rising demand mean many organisations face cuts, closures, or collapse within a few years.

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The Scottish Parliament UNCRC report

Date: 21st August 2025
Category: General measures of implementation, Reporting to and monitoring the UNCRC

The Scottish Parliament has released their UNCRC report which is about how the UNCRC is being built into all areas of Scottish Parliament work. This is part of their reporting duties under the UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024, to detail the actions they have taken and intend to take to comply with the Act. They have also made a video with Children’s Parliament detailing what steps the Scottish Parliament could take to be more child and young person friendly.

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UK plans AI experiment on children seeking asylum

Date: 21st August 2025
Category: Civil Rights and Freedoms, General measures of implementation

The UK Government plans to use artificial intelligence (AI) face-scanning to decide if asylum seekers are under 18, starting in 2026. Asylum minister Angela Eagle said the technology was chosen because it may be the cheapest option.

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Children in Wales launches call for champions for children ahead of 2026 Senedd Election.

Date: 21st August 2025
Category: General measures of implementation, General principles

Children in Wales, a coalition of children’s groups across Wales, is calling on every political party and candidate to put the rights, wellbeing, and voices of children at the heart of their decision-making in its new manifesto titled Champions for Children: A Manifesto for Babies, Children and Young People , ahead of the 2026 Senedd Election.

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Joint letter on the impact of the UN liquidity crisis and the UN80 initiative on children’s rights

Date: 21st August 2025
Category: General measures of implementation, General principles

Child Rights Connect and other civil society organisations including Together have sent a joint letter to the UN Secretary-General and Permanent Missions in New York and Geneva, raising serious concerns about the impact of the UN liquidity crisis and the UN80 Initiative on children’s rights.

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ENOC ad-hoc position statement on “children in Gaza must be protected at all costs and their rights restored. An urgent call to uphold international law”

Date: 21st August 2025
Category: General measures of implementation, Civil Rights and Freedoms, Violence against children

The European Network of Ombudspersons for Children (ENOC) has issued an urgent call for action to protect children in Gaza, warning of an unprecedented humanitarian and child rights crisis.

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Research launch: Access to Justice for Babies and Young Children Across 12 Jurisdictions Report

Date: 22nd July 2025
Category: Babies and early years, Disability, Basic Health and Welfare

Today, in partnership with the University of Edinburgh’s LLM in Human Rights Law, we are launching a timely report to showcase ongoing efforts to ensure that children’s rights are meaningfully realised in Scotland. It follows the work of Together’s “Tiny Rights Detectives” project, which explored how the youngest children experience and understand their rights.

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Together’s Director runs 100km to raise funds for children’s rights and mark one year since UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act came into force.

Date: 22nd July 2025
Category:

A huge congratulations to our Director, Juliet Harris, who successfully completed the Lakeland Trails Ultra 2025, a demanding 100km run through the Lake District in support of children’s rights. This was the furthest distance Juliet has ever run, with the route including over 3,000 metres of elevation across challenging hills and trails.

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One year on: UNCRC Act celebrated across Scotland

Date: 22nd July 2025
Category: General measures of implementation, General principles

Tuesday 16 th July 2024 marked a milestone moment for children’s rights in Scotland with the commencement of the UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024 (‘the Act’) this month, we celebrate one full year of this landmark legislation being in force. Together celebrates a year of progress and renewed commitment to children's rights.

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