Date: 8th July 2021
Category: Child poverty

Scottish Government published its third annual progress report for its ‘Every child, every chance: tackling child poverty delivery plan 2018-2022’. It also includes information on what additional support has been introduced in the past year to support and protect people and communities, and what Scottish Government plans to do next year.

Date: 21st June 2021
Category: Education, Leisure and Cultural Activities, Education, including vocational education

Formal school exams have been cancelled for the second year in a row due to the pandemic, and with schools struggling with the replacement system of “teacher judgement” assessments, SQA have launched a new appeals service where students can appeal their results.

Date: 21st June 2021
Category:

Each year, with your help we produce a State of Children’s Rights Report. These reports monitor Scotland’s progress in implementing the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and wider international human rights treaties.  We’re asking for your help once again!

Date: 18th June 2021
Category: Child poverty

Anti-poverty campaigners are calling for action to make Scotland’s transport system more affordable. These calls come after a report found Scotland’s transport system is too often pushing parents, carers and children from low-income families further into poverty.

Date: 18th June 2021
Category: Mental health

A survey of 1000 young people found that two thirds think young people are dismissed by adults when they try to speak about their mental health. The impact of this can be profound given 72% said they have struggled with their mental health.

Date: 18th June 2021
Category: Restraint

The Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland has published a report following an investigation of local authorities’ practices around secure accommodation.  The Commissioner found children may have been deprived of their liberty without due process of law when being placed in secure accommodation.

Date: 18th June 2021
Category: Disability, Basic Health and Welfare

Earlier this year, more than 20 expectant and new mothers seeking asylum were moved from settled accommodation into cramped bedsits at a new mother and baby unit in Glasgow. The #FreedomToCrawl campaign launched to highlight that asylum-seekers are no exception to the right every mother and baby has to safe, suitable accommodation.

Date: 18th June 2021
Category: Child justice system

When a person accused of an offence first appears in court, the judge decides whether they will be released on bail or remanded into custody. For many people, being remanded into custody is their first experience of prison.

Date: 18th June 2021
Category: General principles

The web hub details what changes young people wish to see over the next five years as part of SYP’s ‘From Scotland’s Young People’ Manifesto.

Date: 18th June 2021
Category: Child justice system

This strategy looks at how Scotland can: meet the UNCRC obligations, provide information and support is provided for victims, use trauma informed approaches, extend the child hearing system for all 16- and 17-year-olds and work towards having no child in a Young Offenders Institution where possible and appropriate.

Date: 18th June 2021
Category: Equal protection from violence

Despite legal requirements to consider domestic abuse in child contact decisions, research reveals victims are sometimes told by solicitors not to disclose domestic abuse in child contact disputes.

Date: 18th June 2021
Category: Protection from abuse or neglect

Teachers, designated safeguarding leads and designated child protection officers are encouraged to take part in two short surveys to aid a study into human rights and safeguarding in schools across the UK.

Date: 18th June 2021
Category: Equal protection from violence

Sixteen and 17-year-olds can marry in England and Wales with parental consent, putting them at risk of being coerced into child marriage. Following the voicing of serious concerns to the UK Government by a range of organisations working to end child marriage, the Ministry of Justice has said it is committed to raising the minimum legal age to 18 “as soon as legislative opportunity arises”.

Date: 18th June 2021
Category: General Comments

This General Comment, developed by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, will provide authoritative guidance on how children’s rights are impacted by the environmental crisis and what States must do to uphold these rights. 

Date: 28th May 2021
Category: Disability, Basic Health and Welfare, General Comments

Internet access continues to be a challenge for frontline workers, working to protect, respect and fulfil children’s rights. This open letter encourages world leaders to bridge the digital divide, guarantee the protection of children online and work towards meaningful participation of children and young people to design the future of the digital world.

Date: 28th May 2021
Category: UN Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)

Encourage children to participate in a project to develop the first ever child-friendly International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) and its standards.   

Date: 28th May 2021
Category: Reporting to and monitoring the UNCRC

Mikiko has been a longstanding friend and supporter of Together, joining Together to present the draft Children’s Rights Bill to John Swinney back in 2018 and celebrating the passage of the UNCRC Incorporation Bill earlier on this year!

Date: 28th May 2021
Category: Budgeting

Eurochild has urged EU officials to assess plans to spend special EU recovery funds through a child rights lens. This follows recent analysis by 22 children’s rights organisations and individuals, only four of whom were consulted during the development of these plans by governments.

Date: 28th May 2021
Category: General Comments

Over half of 12-15-year-olds report that they have seen a false news story. This new case study looks at design features which increase the spread of misinformation and ‘fake news’, which can negatively impact children and young people’s rights and wellbeing.

Date: 28th May 2021
Category: Disability, Basic Health and Welfare

There is a lack of rigorous school food monitoring in place. To help develop an insight into children’s experiences of school food across the four nations, children are encouraged to complete a questionnaire, supported by parents and carers if they need it.