Date: 28th June 2019
Category: Freedom of association and peaceful assembly

For the past several months, dozens of partners, including Child Rights Connect have been involved in defining sector ‘Standards for Child Campaigning’.

Date: 28th June 2019
Category: Children in situations of exploitation, Refugee , migrant and asylum-seeking children

Scottish Government is consulting on Section 38 of the Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Scotland) Act. This section places a duty on Scottish public authorities to provide information to Police Scotland about a person(s) who is, or appears to be, a victim of human trafficking, slavery, servitude, forced or compulsory labour.

Date: 25th June 2019
Category: General measures of implementation, Civil Rights and Freedoms

In a letter to third sector stakeholders, the Deputy First Minster, and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, announced Scottish Government's commitment to take forward 18 actions agreed with children and young people. This follows the third annual Cabinet meeting with children and young people from the Children’s Parliament and the Scottish Youth Parliament which took place in March 2019.

Date: 25th June 2019
Category: General measures of implementation, General principles, Civil Rights and Freedoms, Disability, Basic Health and Welfare

The Age of Criminal Responsibility (Scotland) Bill received royal assent on the 11th June 2019. The (now) Act will increase the minimum age at which a child can be found criminally responsible from 8, the lowest in Europe, to 12 years old.

Date: 25th June 2019
Category: Education, Leisure and Cultural Activities

Scottish Government, Education Scotland and partners recently updated guidance on school exclusion and attendance in its report called Included, Engaged and Involved. Part One refers to school attendance and Part Two refers to school exclusion. The Part Two Guidance on exclusion was published last year and this week sees the publication of the new Part One on school attendance.

Date: 25th June 2019
Category: Civil Rights and Freedoms, Disability, Basic Health and Welfare, General measures of implementation

The survey of 500 foster carers covered key practice and workforce issues such as placement stability, training and support for carers, and status and authority of the workforce.

Date: 25th June 2019
Category: Reporting to and monitoring the UNCRC, General principles, General measures of implementation

The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child is now publishing on its website a table with the summaries of adopted decisions on individual communications under the Third Optional Protocol of the UNCRC and the follow-up status by States. 

Date: 25th June 2019
Category: General measures of implementation, General principles, Reporting to and monitoring the UNCRC

Notes from the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child roundtable have been published. The Round Table raised serious concern regarding the UN Budget crisis, which the roundtable refers to as an “attack to the Treaty Bodies” and the possible cancellation of the third session as having a “strong impact on the backlog of the work of the CRC Committee and other Treaty Bodies”.

Date: 24th June 2019
Category: Incorporation, General measures of implementation, Civil Rights and Freedoms, Policies & procedures, Reporting to and monitoring the UNCRC

Together, along with our civil society partners, has written to the First Minister calling for a strong and effective legal framework to progress human rights in Scotland.

Date: 24th June 2019
Category: Special protection measures, Family Environment and Alternative Care, Protection from abuse or neglect, Disability, Basic Health and Welfare

Together is pleased to see the Children (Equal Protection from Assault) (Scotland) Bill pass at Stage 2 in the Scottish Parliament on 20th June 2019.

Date: 24th June 2019
Category: Civil Rights and Freedoms, Disability, Basic Health and Welfare, Family Environment and Alternative Care, Child justice system, Special protection measures

Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf’s response included a commitment to develop a bespoke mental health strategy for young people, end the routine use of strip searches and to “explore options” for a pilot of in cell phones to support family contact.

Date: 24th June 2019
Category: Civil Rights and Freedoms, Disability, Basic Health and Welfare, Refugee , migrant and asylum-seeking children, Special protection measures

New figures show that 21 children were detained in Dungavel Immigration Removal Centre between 2010-2018. Some of the young people were held there until they were moved to immigration centers in England.

Date: 24th June 2019
Category: Civil Rights and Freedoms, Disability, Basic Health and Welfare

A new Bill seeks to introduce Protection Orders specifically designed to safeguard women and children who might find themselves under pressure to undergo female genital mutilation (FGM).

Date: 24th June 2019
Category: Civil Rights and Freedoms, Freedom of thought, conscience and religion, General principles

The UN’s expert on racism and human rights has said that the UK Government’s policies exacerbate discrimination, stoke xenophobic sentiment and further entrench racial inequality.

Date: 24th June 2019
Category: Civil Rights and Freedoms, Family Environment and Alternative Care, General principles, Disability, Basic Health and Welfare

The UK’s Supreme Court has issued a judgment to restore the right of children to sue local authorities for negligence where councils have failed to protect them from harm.

Date: 24th June 2019
Category: Family Environment and Alternative Care, Education, Leisure and Cultural Activities, Disability, Basic Health and Welfare

A new report by UNICEF reveals that many of the world’s richest countries are failing to provide comprehensive solutions to families.

Date: 24th June 2019
Category: Civil Rights and Freedoms

More than one hundred Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have committed to breaking cycles of inequality, investing in children and listening to children’s voices.

Date: 21st June 2019
Category: Child justice system, Right to life, survival and development

A review ordered following the deaths of two young people in custody has called for a stronger suicide and self-harm strategy to be developed. 

Date: 21st June 2019
Category: Child rights impact assessments, Respect for the views of the child

Together has responded to Scottish Government’s consultation on the provision of statutory guidance for children’s services planning under Part 3 of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014.

Date: 19th June 2019
Category: Civil Rights and Freedoms

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) has selected the topic for the next Day of General Discussion to be held tentatively in September 2020 and it is alternative care! The proposal was submitted by a group of organisations led by Lumos.