Date: 4th October 2016
Category: Inclusive education

Aberdeen City Council is carrying out a statutory consultation exercise linked to the Scottish Government's programme for expansion of early learning and childcare.

Date: 20th September 2016
Category: Non-discrimination

At its third meeting, the Equal Opportunities Committee considered its approach to developing its work programme by taking oral evidence from a number of organisations, including Together.

Date: 20th September 2016
Category: General principles

In their final report, published on 8th September 2016, the Interim Planning Group for the forthcoming 2018 'Year of Young People' set out four themes for discussion.

Date: 20th September 2016
Category: Freedom of thought, conscience and religion

The Humanist Society Scotland are to seek a Judicial Review of a decision by the Scottish Government not to allow young people to opt-out of religious observance, as is possible for children in England and Wales and as recommended by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.

Date: 20th September 2016
Category: Armed conflict

A petition is calling for more transparency and oversight of visits made by the armed forces to secondary state schools after concerns were highlighted over the unmonitored nature and frequency of the visits, with fears that they are being used as a recruitment tool.

Date: 20th September 2016
Category: Mental health

Childline received more than 900 inquiries from children in Scotland contemplating suicide last year, according to a new NSPCC UK report.

Date: 20th September 2016
Category: Right to life, survival and development

The Office of the Children and Young People's Commissioner for Scotland (CYPCS) has submitted a paper to inform the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child's general discussion day on children's rights and the environment on Friday 23rd September.

Date: 20th September 2016
Category: Armed conflict

For the first time, the General Assembly has called for a summit at the Heads of State and Government level on large movements of refugees and migrants. However, key commitments are missing, including best interests of the child regarding detention.

Date: 20th September 2016
Category: Other human rights treaties and mechanisms

President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker delivered his State of the Union on Wednesday, stating Europe should "champion children and their way of life".

Date: 20th September 2016
Category: Child poverty

The Netherlands EU Presidency has achieved a high grade in the Eurochild scorecard which measures EU presidencies on four key criteria: addressing child poverty, for which it received top marks; mainstreaming children's rights in broader policies, progressing the EU children's rights agenda and listening to children, for which it received above average grades.In Europe, one in four children are at risk of poverty or social exclusion. The adoption of the Council Conclusions on 'Combating poverty and social exclusion: an integrated approach' is an important marker of how European countries can share practices and policies while ensuring integrated approaches are streamlined throughout the EU.

Date: 20th September 2016
Category: Other human rights treaties and mechanisms

The Committee is issuing an open call for evidence, focusing on three issues: privacy and family life; international trade; and other human rights protected by EU law.

Date: 20th September 2016
Category: Education, Leisure and Cultural Activities

This governance review is seeking views on how education in Scotland is run, including who should take decisions in relation to the education of children and young people, and how funding can be made fairer. It also asks about the support teachers and practitioners need to do their jobs well and how this can be improved.

Date: 20th September 2016
Category: Disability, Basic Health and Welfare

The consultation seeks views on the Scottish Government's proposals to reduce health inequalities, shift dental services to a more preventative approach - initially for children, and to meet the challenges of an ageing population.

Date: 6th September 2016
Category: Other human rights treaties and mechanisms

Together's submission specifically focuses on the impact that the UK's exit from the EU is likely to have on the rights of children and young people.

Date: 6th September 2016
Category: Respect for the views of the child, Civil Rights and Freedoms

The next Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP) elections will be in March 2017, and the call for candidates is now open.

Date: 6th September 2016
Category: Non-discrimination

On the 26th August, CERD (the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination) published their Concluding Observations. Included in it, for the first time was thirteen mentions of Scotland and Scottish policies as well as a number of specific recommendations for Scotland on issues such as criminal justice, National Human Rights Institutions, racist hate speech and hate crimes, stop and search as well as access to justice.

Date: 6th September 2016
Category: Education, Leisure and Cultural Activities

New report by Zero Tolerance shows a growing need for relationship education in early primary and the early years.

Date: 6th September 2016
Category: Mental health

The number of children and young people being seen by mental health services has risen by nearly a third in the last two years.

Date: 6th September 2016
Category: Child poverty

Families on lower incomes pay more than average costs for basic goods and services, according to new research published by Citizens Advice Scotland.

Date: 6th September 2016
Category: Age of criminal responsibility

A research briefing for the House of Commons library looks at the Minimum Age of Criminal Responsibility across the UK. It notes the work of Scotland's Expert Advisory Group and states that "an increase of the age of criminal responsibility may happen soon in Scotland".