Date: 9th October 2020
Category: Other human rights treaties and mechanisms

Scotland’s first National Action Plan for Human Rights (SNAP) set out an ambitious roadmap towards a Scotland where everyone can live with human dignity. Scotland’s second National Action Plan for Human Rights (SNAP 2) seeks to further realise this aim.

Date: 9th October 2020
Category: Equal protection from violence

The Scotland-wide campaign urges everyone to be alert to signs of children who may have experienced trauma, neglect, or abuse during lockdown. It encourages people to act if they are concerned that something is wrong.

Date: 9th October 2020
Category: UN Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), Non-discrimination

Twelve young Anti-Racist and Pro-Black Ambassadors from Intercultural Youth Scotland led a consultation involving 63 young Black and People of Colour Scots aged 15 and over. The consultation’s aim was to shed light on young Black and People of Colour’s experiences, wellbeing, education, and perceived life opportunities arising from COVID-19.

Date: 9th October 2020
Category: Child poverty

This report looks at poverty in Scotland before and during the coronavirus outbreak. It highlights the importance of work, social security and housing costs in solving poverty in Scotland, as well as the extent to which COVID-19 has swept more people in poverty.

Date: 9th October 2020
Category: Family Environment and Alternative Care

Scotland’s first national standards for secure care set out what support children and young people should expect when in, or on the edges of, secure care.

Date: 8th October 2020
Category: Incorporation

The draft response draws on the views and experience of our members, children and young people to highlight positive aspects of the Bill and where it could be further strengthened. In publishing our draft response early, we hope it will support our members in preparing their own responses.

Date: 25th September 2020
Category: General measures of implementation

The report from the 2019 Rights of the Child UK (ROCK) Conference is now available online. 

Date: 22nd September 2020
Category: Policies & procedures

Thank you to all who attended Together’s AGM on 17th September and to those who stood for election. Together is delighted to welcome four new trustees to the Board.

Date: 22nd September 2020
Category: General measures of implementation, Incorporation

Academics, practitioners and children’s organisations have produced a series of blogs which answer questions related to incorporation and the UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill. Questions addressed include: Does incorporation matter? What will incorporation mean for children and young people? What will incorporation do for youth workers?

Date: 22nd September 2020
Category: Child poverty

Scottish Government’s annual homelessness statistics show 31’333 households were assessed as homeless or threatened with homelessness in 2019-20. This is a 4% increase on 2018-19, with 15’711 children affected.

Date: 22nd September 2020
Category: Child poverty

The latest figures from independent food banks across Scotland show they distributed more than twice as many parcels during June-July 2020 than in June-July 2019.

Date: 22nd September 2020
Category: Freedom of association and peaceful assembly

Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament and their supporters have written to Scotland’s 129 MSPs, calling for a ban on mosquito devices stating that their use violates their rights under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).

Date: 22nd September 2020
Category: Respect for the views of the child

Children’s Parliament has launched the latest instalment in a series of monthly surveys tracking eight to 14-year-olds’ feelings and experiences in light of COVID-19.  

Date: 22nd September 2020
Category: Family Environment and Alternative Care, Respect for the views of the child

The young people will help to inform a series of images for Children’s Hearings Scotland’s Panel Member recruitment campaign.

Date: 22nd September 2020
Category: Other human rights treaties and mechanisms, Disability, Basic Health and Welfare, Civil Rights and Freedoms, Education, Leisure and Cultural Activities, General measures of implementation, General principles

Following a consultation, the UK Parliament’s Joint Committee on Human Rights has published a report on the impact of the response to COVID-19.

Date: 22nd September 2020
Category: Child poverty

A recent survey has showed an increase in the number of parents relying on child benefit to cover utility bills and other household costs. Thirty-seven percent said they would not manage without the payment.

Date: 22nd September 2020
Category: Social security

As children return to schools, a TUC survey of working mothers shows many either can’t or are unsure if they will get the childcare they need.

Date: 22nd September 2020
Category: Disability, Basic Health and Welfare, Respect for the views of the child, Best interests of the child, Right to life, survival and development

The Children’s Society’s annual Good Childhood Report outlines key trends in children’s wellbeing and seeks to understand their experiences and highlight their views. The most recent edition follows a survey of 2000 children aged 10-17 between April and June 2020.

Date: 22nd September 2020
Category: Disabled children

A survey of 800 parents of deaf children has revealed only 36% would be likely to send their child to school if teachers were compelled to wear face masks. A further one in five (19%) said they were uncertain about what they would do.

Date: 22nd September 2020
Category: Other human rights treaties and mechanisms

National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) are critical for the protection and promotion of fundamental rights yet this report finds that their full potential is not always realised. It explores relevant developments, challenges and ways to maximise their impact.