Date: 12th March 2024
Category: General principles, Civil Rights and Freedoms, Violence against children

The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child has issued an urgent request to Israel for additional information ahead of its forthcoming review of the country’s children’s rights record. The request for additional information is particularly in light of events since October 7, 2023. Israel is urged to provide updated information on various aspects concerning children's rights by June 15, 2024.

Date: 12th March 2024
Category: General measures of implementation, General principles

Closing date: 16th May 2024

Date: 9th February 2024
Category: General measures of implementation

This guidance from Scottish Government provides a brief summary of human rights, children’s rights and the UNCRC, it also raises awareness of the ambition for children’s human rights in Scotland and sets out the Scottish Government’s actions to implement the UNCRC to date. It provides information and resources to support you to take a children’s human rights approach to planning and delivery of services.

Date: 9th February 2024
Category: Education, Leisure and Cultural Activities

This article explores whether young children's right to be heard, especially regarding education quality, has experienced a form of 'rights inflation'—an expansion beyond the legal framework or an interpretation surpassing the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) text.

Date: 9th February 2024
Category: General measures of implementation

The Scottish Government is actively reviewing the legal age of marriage following the recommendation from the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child to prohibit marriages involving individuals under 18 in Scotland.

Date: 9th February 2024
Category: General measures of implementation

 The Children’s Law Centre is challenging the Equality Commission over advice provided to relevant authorities in connection with the 2023-24 budget set by Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris. This budget, implemented in the absence of a Stormont Executive, involved significant cuts to education and school funding.

Date: 9th February 2024
Category: General measures of implementation, Civil Rights and Freedoms

It is no longer mandatory for the UN to provide online participation for official UN meetings, including those held by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, which will limit the direct participation of civil society organisations, children and young people in the UN Treaty Review process. The International Service for Human Rights has gathered over 220 signatures from civil society organisations including Together, endorsing a letter that advocates for ensuring live online mechanisms of participation are maintained.

Date: 9th February 2024
Category: General measures of implementation, Special protection measures

During its 95th session in January 2024, the Committee on the Rights of the Child decided to draft a General Comment on children’s right to access to justice and effective remedies.

Date: 9th February 2024
Category: General measures of implementation

South Africa presented its case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), alleging Israel had committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. The Order of 26 January 2024 by the International Court of Justice established that there is a real and imminent risk of irreparable damage to some of the rights asserted by South Africa and instructed Israel to prevent its military from committing acts which might be considered genocidal, to prevent and punish incitement to genocide, and to enable humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza.

Date: 9th February 2024
Category: General measures of implementation

The Council of Europe’s Committee on Artificial Intelligence (CAI) has decided to publish a draft of its Convention on Artificial Intelligence, Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law. The UK has not yet indicated if it intends to become a signatory.

Date: 9th February 2024
Category: Disability, Basic Health and Welfare, General measures of implementation

Closing date: 14 February 2024

Date: 9th February 2024
Category: Disability, Basic Health and Welfare

Closing date: 11 March 2024

Date: 9th February 2024
Category: Disability, Basic Health and Welfare

Closing date: 21st April 2024

Date: 9th February 2024
Category: Disability, Basic Health and Welfare

Closing date: 22nd April 2024

Date: 8th February 2024
Category: Education, Leisure and Cultural Activities

The Scottish Government published a consultation for education reform last autumn. The consultation paper specifically focused on the new qualifications body and new approaches to inspection. 

Date: 8th February 2024
Category: Other human rights treaties and mechanisms

The Scottish Government ran a written consultation between 15 June 2023 and 5 October 2023, seeking views on a Human Rights Bill for Scotland (referred to as ‘the Bill’).  Alma Economics was commissioned by the Scottish Government to analyse the responses to the consultation

Date: 8th February 2024
Category: Child poverty

Energy regulator Ofgem recently granted permission for three energy companies to restart a previously banned activity of force-fitting pre-payment meters in the homes of the most vulnerable. Read on to hear what Scotland’s Children and Young People’s Commissioner has said about the dangers of the practice for children and young people and their families.

Date: 8th February 2024
Category: Recreation, play and cultural activities, Planning and community

This research project by Silvia Veiga Seijo a PhD student at Queen Margaret University was created with children (based on children rights participation) about creating a play friendly community in Whitecraig, (East Lothian). The report was co-created by 17 children as co researchers alongside Silvia, and it is founded on children’s voices and perspectives.

Date: 8th February 2024
Category: Young carers

The Media Ambassadors are a group of young carers, aged 16-18 who have taken part in film making training over the summer and attended the Scottish young carers festival to create films on issues important to them. This year, the group have created four films around the themes of transitions, mental health support, financial support and greater awareness of who young carers are.

Date: 19th January 2024
Category: Scotland-specific monitoring and reporting, Respect for the views of the child

Together is looking to recruit five organisations to join the development phase for our 2024 State of Children’s Rights Report. We’re looking for organisations who can support children and young people to test some draft engagement materials, provide us feedback and support us to create versions in alternative formats.