Together launches our Anti-Racism Action Plan

Date: 16th December 2021
Category: UN Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)

Our Anti-Racism Action Plan sets out our commitment to become an anti-racist organisation and what steps we plan to take to do this. Our Plan is a living document, which will be adjusted as we continue to reflect and learn. We encourage you to share your feedback with us!

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Celebrating World Children’s Day

Date: 16th December 2021
Category: Incorporation

On 20 th November 2021, we celebrated World Children’s Day. To mark this special day, Scottish Government published various reports, guidance and a video. Read our roundup here!

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Scottish Government commits to doubling Scottish Child Payment

Date: 16th December 2021
Category: Child poverty

After further pressure on Scottish Government to double the Scottish Child Payment to £20 per week, the First Minister has announced that this change will commence in April 2022.

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Increase in the age of criminal responsibility

Date: 16th December 2021
Category:

The final set of regulations to increase the age of criminal responsibility to 12 has been commenced as of the 17th of December 2021. These regulations will also switch on powers within the Age of Criminal Responsibility (Scotland) Act 2019 to enable the police to investigate incidents. Whilst raising the minimum age to 12 years old is a starting point, it still remains below the internationally acceptable minimum age of criminal responsibility.

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Scottish Government asked for update on UNCRC incorporation

Date: 16th December 2021
Category: Incorporation

Sarah Boyack MSP has asked the Minister for Children and Young People, Claire Haughey, whether she can provide an update on Scottish Government’s plans to incorporate the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) into Scots Law. This comes after the Supreme Court Judgement on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill which deemed parts of the bill out with Scottish Government’s competence.

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2020-21 Scottish Human Rights Commission and Children and Young People’s Commissioner annual reports published

Date: 16th December 2021
Category: General principles, General measures of implementation

The Scottish Human Rights Commission and the Children and Young People’s Commissioner (CYPCS) have laid their annual reports before Scottish Government. In a year that was deeply affected by COVID-19, there was a sharp rise in demand for the their expertise and input given the serious human rights considerations arising from the pandemic.

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Education reform consultation closes

Date: 16th December 2021
Category: Education, including vocational education

Professor Ken Muir is currently conducting a consultation on education reform for Scottish Government. We have been working to involve children and young people in this consultation, by sharing toolkits and an online survey.

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First Minister confirms launch of free bus travel for under 22s

Date: 16th December 2021
Category: Child poverty

The First Minister has officially confirmed plans to launch free bus travel for under 22s on 31 January 2022. The transformational policy aims to embed sustainable travel behaviours early on and is essential in helping Scotland to tackle the climate emergency and meet the ambitious target to become net zero by 2045.

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Report published on parents’ experience of accessing funded ELC

Date: 16th December 2021
Category: Social security

The results of the Scottish Childminding Association’s (SCMA) Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) Audit, which was conducted from August – September 2021 in 30 local authority areas, have been published. The SCMA ELC Audit 2021 presents both a snapshot of where we are in 2021 and a report on progress of over five years of national and local implementation activity to support ELC expansion.

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New report on families’ experiences of poverty and services

Date: 16th December 2021
Category: Child poverty

includem has launched its Voices Report, which focusses on families’ experiences of poverty and services and calls for children, young people and families having a say in what services are needed, how they are developed and how they can be delivered.

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