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

The Scottish Government has issued guidance on part 3 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024. Key provisions include a duty on Scottish Ministers to create a Children’s Rights Scheme, which will promote accountability and ensure children's rights are embedded in decision-making.

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

The Scottish Government has released its official plans for 2024-25 with a focus on key areas such as child poverty, early learning and childcare, education and human rights.

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

The Human Rights Consortium Scotland has issued a letter to the First Minister signed by over 100 organisations including Together and members of lived experience boards, expressing deep disappointment over the Scottish Government decision to delay the introduction of the Scottish Human Rights Bill in this parliamentary session.

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

A five-year trial of the Family Rights Group’s Lifelong Links approach in Scotland has successfully helped children and young people in care establish stable, supportive networks. Conducted across three local authorities, the programme has been praised for empowering young people, supporting their sense of identity, and challenging existing social work practices.

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

The Success Looks Different Awards 2024 are now open and accepting applications. Created by the Inclusion Ambassadors in 2022, the Success Looks Different awards are an opportunity for early learning and school communities to share how they celebrate the achievements of all children and young people, recognising that not all success comes in the form of exam results.

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

The Human Rights Consortium Scotland has called on both the UK and Scottish Governments to demonstrate leadership on human rights. In an article published in The Herald, it expressed concern that devolution challenges—such as those which restricted the scope of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) Act could similarly limit the effectiveness of the forthcoming Scottish Human Rights Bill.

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

The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) in its most recent findings has expressed deep concern about ongoing hate crimes, hate speech, and xenophobic incidents in the UK, particularly from far-right groups and public figures.

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

The Welsh Government recently released its response to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child’s (UNCRC) recommendations, along with a child-friendly version. The response outlines steps the Welsh Government is taking to further children's rights.

Date: 8th October 2024
Category: General measures of implementation, Violence against children

Around 60,000 children have fled from Lebanon to Syria in the past week, many suffering from dehydration and exhaustion, according to Save the Children, calling for an immediate de-escalation of violence in the region, as hostilities intensify.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Closing date: 28th October 2024

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

We are excited 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!   

Date: 24th July 2024
Category: General measures of implementation, General principles

Tuesday 16th July 2024 marked a historic day for children’s rights in Scotland with the commencement of the UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024. This landmark legislation puts children’s rights at the heart of Scots law, creating legally binding duties for public authorities.