KidsRights Index 2024

Date: 8th October 2024
Category: General measures of implementation, General principles

The KidsRights Index, the world’s only annual ranking assessing how well countries uphold children's rights, in its 2024 KidsRights Index has reported a 21% surge in serious violations of children’s rights due to ongoing global conflicts. Key areas of concern include the conflicts in Israel and Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan, with nearly 8,000 children reported killed in Israel and Gaza since October 2023.

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Together (Scottish Alliance for Children's Rights) Annual Report 2023-24: Reflecting on a year of progress

Date: 20th September 2024
Category: Policies & procedures, Funding

We are pleased to share our Annual Report 2023-24 , which highlights a year of significant developments in the promotion and protection of children’s rights across Scotland.

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Joint letter calls for children’s right to opt out from religious observance in schools

Date: 20th August 2024
Category: General measures of implementation, Education, Leisure and Cultural Activities

In a joint letter to the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills Jenny Gilruth MSP, Humanist Society Scotland teamed up with Together to call for an end to compulsory religious worship in state schools.

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New report: “it’s not just their job, it’s our whole lives”

Date: 20th August 2024
Category: General measures of implementation, Family Environment and Alternative Care

This report by Forces Children Scotland outlines how the rights of children and young people from armed forces families are affected in the areas of protection, provision and participation rights. Children from armed forces families face barriers to their rights due to their parent’s service.

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Children’s rights and independent advocacy

Date: 20th August 2024
Category: General measures of implementation, Special protection measures, Civil Rights and Freedoms

This article is about children’s right to independent advocacy. Children with mental health issues have a legal right to this service in Scotland. However, CAPS notes that most children can’t access it. The incorporation of the UNCRC into Scots law is an important step forward for children’s rights – it is important that those rights can be realised.

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New Briefing: Lifelong learning and skills reform

Date: 20th August 2024
Category: General measures of implementation, Education, Leisure and Cultural Activities

This latest publication from YouthLink Scotland highlights that Education Reform must deliver changes to the structure and culture of Scottish education with youth work included as a fundamental entitlement for every young person.

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Children’s Commissioner responds to UK Government decision not to abolish two-child benefit cap

Date: 20th August 2024
Category: General measures of implementation, General principles, Family Environment and Alternative Care

The new UK Government has announced a new child poverty taskforce as part of its strategy to tackle the rise in child poverty rates. The new Prime Minister also said he would “consider” scrapping the two-child benefit limit.

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Proposal for new UNCRC Optional Protocol approved

Date: 20th August 2024
Category: General measures of implementation, UNCRC Optional Protocols and General Comments, Education, Leisure and Cultural Activities

The UN Human Rights Council has approved a proposal to draft a new Optional Protocol to the UNCRC that guarantees every child the right to free early childhood, preprimary, and secondary education. Led by Luxembourg, the Dominican Republic, and Sierra Leone, and supported by 46 other countries, this will build on the rights enshrined in the UNCRC which currently ensures free and compulsory primary education.

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Children’s hearing redesign

Date: 20th August 2024
Category: General measures of implementation, Special protection measures

Closing date: 28th October 2024

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An update on progress of our State of Children's Rights Report 2024

Date: 8th August 2024
Category: General measures of implementation, General principles, Reporting to and monitoring the UNCRC

We are excite d to announce that the Engagement Phase for our State of Children’s Rights Report 2024 has come to an end. This marks an important step in the development of the report. We had twelve organisations who participated by facilitating story gathering sessions and engaging children and young people across Scotland in various activities. This is to help inform the report about what life is like for them and changes they would like to see to help them grow happy, healthy and safe in Scotland. Additionally, we made an open call across our social media platforms for children and young people who would like to participate either through an organisation or individually. Overall, we have had contributions from over 150 babies, children and young people!

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