Date: 9th December 2020
Category: Disability, Basic Health and Welfare

MSPs unanimously voted to pass the Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Bill, making Scotland the first country in the world to make it a legal right to access free period products.

Date: 9th December 2020
Category: Disability, Basic Health and Welfare, Civil Rights and Freedoms, Education, Leisure and Cultural Activities

Over 500 girls and young women aged seven to 21 took part and shared the challenges they face. The results have been analysed against findings from a similar 2018 survey, to compare what progress has been made and what issues remain.

Date: 9th December 2020
Category: Incorporation, Awareness-raising

Children’s Parliament has launched the Year of Childhood 2021 to celebrate the forthcoming incorporation of the UNCRC into Scots law and the organisation’s 25th birthday.

Date: 9th December 2020
Category: Special protection measures, Freedom of thought, conscience and religion

The Strategy focuses on ensuring children and young people feel able to speak openly and honestly in children’s hearings, that their views are given real weight in the decision-making process and that they feel empowered and have ownership of their rights.

Date: 9th December 2020
Category: Civil Rights and Freedoms

A joint blog has been published to raise awareness of the increasing number of children on remand in Scotland.  It advocates for the development of alternative provisions to remand, if Scotland is to fulfil its international human rights obligations.

Date: 9th December 2020
Category: Civil Rights and Freedoms

Section 122 of the Children’s Hearings (Scotland) Act 2011 came into force on Saturday 21st November 2020. This activated duties on chairing members of Children’s Hearings to inform children of the availability of children’s advocacy services.  

Date: 9th December 2020
Category: Refugee , migrant and asylum-seeking children, Disability, Basic Health and Welfare, Funding

Under UK Government policy, many migrants have ‘No Recourse to Public Funds’ (NRPF). This restricts their access to welfare, housing, and financial support. To mitigate its effects, Scottish Government has announced a further £278,784 is being made available to six organisations supporting people subject to NRPF in Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Date: 9th December 2020
Category: COVID-19, Education, Leisure and Cultural Activities

To make children’s rights real and to ensure the best efforts of recovery from COVID-19, the impact of Covid-19 on families must first be understood. Children’s Parliament has captured the experiences of 15 parents, carers and children as lockdown restrictions have changed throughout the year.

Date: 9th December 2020
Category: Young carers

Hame is a visionary and innovative new young person-led organisation which will develop and manage new homes for care experienced young people in Dundee aged 16 and over. This Modern Apprentice role will provide advice and support for all aspects of this project development.

Date: 9th December 2020
Category: Disability, Basic Health and Welfare, Civil Rights and Freedoms, Education, Leisure and Cultural Activities

‘From Scotland’s Young People’ is a five-year document detailing what changes Scottish Youth Parliament plans to make during the period 2021-26. Members of the Scottish Parliament can use this manifesto to form a strong mandate to bring about changes that matter to young people across Scotland and champion Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Date: 9th December 2020
Category: Reporting to and monitoring the UNCRC

Elections of half of the members of the UN Committee have taken place. Among fourteen candidates, States have voted for nine newly elected and re-elected members.

Date: 9th December 2020
Category: COVID-19, Mental health, Health and health services, School exclusions, Child poverty

The report shines a light on how children of 25 European countries have been impacted by the pandemic and national lockdowns. It builds on data collected by Eurochild up to September 2020, and presents recommendations to improve public policies.

Date: 19th November 2020
Category: Incorporation

Over 50 children and young people took part in two online engagement sessions on the UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill. The sessions gave members of the Equalities and Human Rights Committee (EHRiC) an opportunity to hear children and young people’s views , including their ideas for improving the Bill. The sessions were hosted by Together in partnership with seven member organisations.

Date: 19th November 2020
Category: Disability, Basic Health and Welfare

The “How are you doing” surveys sought the views of children aged eight to 14 on their experiences of lockdown and recovery. The report compares a total of 12,477 responses to surveys from April to early October 2020.  

Date: 19th November 2020
Category: Social security, Mental health, Child poverty, Health and health services, COVID-19, Recreation, play and cultural activities, Family Environment and Alternative Care

COVID-19 has exacerbated the precariousness of many care leavers’ situations, and amplified the inconsistencies that exist in relation to support and services. This briefing highlights some of the key issues alongside several recommendations. 

Date: 19th November 2020
Category: Mental health, COVID-19, Bullying, Inclusive education, Education, including vocational education, Refugee , migrant and asylum-seeking children

Scottish Youth Parliament is looking for young people to share their stories about the topics covered in its new manifesto – ‘From Scotland’s Young People’. By using these stories, the Scottish Youth Parliament hopes to strengthen the manifesto calls and demonstrate why certain changes are necessary.

Date: 19th November 2020
Category: COVID-19, Education, including vocational education, Mental health

A statement from the Scottish Human Rights Commission has expressed concerns around accommodation that is poorly-suited to quarantine, inadequate information and reduced support.

Date: 19th November 2020
Category: Incorporation, Restraint

Every year, the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland (CYPCS) presents a report to Scottish Parliament to share what work has been done. This year’s report covers April 2019 to March 2020.

Date: 19th November 2020
Category: Health and health services, Mental health, Incorporation, Child poverty

The report compares available Scottish data for 2020 versus 2017 to monitor trends in child health outcomes. The report makes a range of policy recommendations to support Scottish Government in fulfilling its 2030 child poverty and childhood obesity targets.

Date: 19th November 2020
Category: Child poverty, Education, including vocational education, School exclusions, COVID-19

Digital exclusion continues to be a key barrier to children accessing their rights. Reflecting on the challenges brought about by COVID-19 and the lockdown period, the report outlines recommendations for policy-makers, practitioners, academics and industry to improve digital inclusion across the UK.