Welsh Government plans polling stations in schools for teenagers

Date: 23rd August 2021
Category: Freedom of thought, conscience and religion

Welsh Government is working with local authorities to introduce a pilot scheme that would make voting at next year’s council elections easier, more flexible, and more accessible.

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Equality and Human Rights Commission is seeking contractors to lead disability rights projects

Date: 23rd August 2021
Category: Disabled children

EHRC is looking to appoint one or more contractors to deliver capacity-building projects on disability rights projects in England, Scotland and Wales.

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Westminster Committee says there is no case for amending the Human Rights Act

Date: 23rd August 2021
Category: Civil Rights and Freedoms

The Joint Committee on Human Rights has issued a report on the UK Government’s Independent Review of the Human Rights Act 1998.

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Child Poverty Action Group calls for changes to make Universal Credit work for families and children

Date: 23rd August 2021
Category: Child poverty

CPAG has published a briefing giving an overview of Universal Credit’s (UC) main problems and offering recommendations for change in five areas, in order to improve UC, make it work for families and reduce child poverty.

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UK child welfare and refugee organisations call for Education Secretary to protect unaccompanied children

Date: 23rd August 2021
Category: Refugee , migrant and asylum-seeking children

Around 70 organisations, including Article 39, have sent a joint letter to Education Secretary Gavin Williamson, urging him to take immediate action to protect children arriving in the UK on boats.

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New UNICEF Innocenti report considers past crisis’ solutions to address children’s mental health throughout COVID-19

Date: 23rd August 2021
Category: COVID-19, Mental health

A new report by UNICEF Innocenti reviews the impact of past crises (such as natural disasters and the HIV epidemic) on youth mental health with the aim of informing responses to the current crisis.

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A National Care Service for Scotland

Date: 23rd August 2021
Category: Health and health services, Mental health

Closing date: 2nd November 2021

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Further calls for ban on tasering under 18s

Date: 23rd August 2021
Category: Equal protection from violence

Using tasers on children goes against the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child as it subjects children to torture, inhuman and degrading treatment. Following a freedom of Information request, Sky News has been revealed that over the last three years, police forces across the UK have continued to use tasers against children in various incidents.

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Scottish Government works towards providing forensic medical services for victims of sexual offences

Date: 23rd August 2021
Category: Equal protection from violence

The landmark Forensic Medical Services (Victims of Sexual Offences) (Scotland) Act 2021 was unanimously passed by the Scottish Parliament on 10 December 2020 and received Royal Assent on 20 January 2020. Work now advances to implement the FMS Act.

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Together supports calls around children’s play opportunities

Date: 20th August 2021
Category: Recreation, play and cultural activities

Together has joined Play Scotland in warmly welcoming the announcement that £60 million will be invested in the renewal of play parks throughout Scotland. A joint letter sets out next steps to ensure the investment makes a real difference.

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