New blog: reflecting on the Rights Detectives’ investigation into a right to a healthy environment for children and young people

Date: 24th July 2024
Category: General measures of implementation, General principles
Author:

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To celebrate the commencement of the UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024 and as part of ERCS’s week of action on the human rights to a healthy environment, the organisation has published a two-part guest blog from Together to spotlight the connection between children’s rights and the right to a healthy environment.

Part one of the blog authored by Safiyah and Oscar from Together’s Rights Detectives, outlines the priorities of children and young people, emphasising the importance of a healthy environment. They stress that a healthy environment includes not only clean air and green spaces but also supportive communities, good quality education, and safe, clean-living areas. They call for actions like stopping deforestation, protecting wildlife, and improving sustainable transportation and public services. areas. They call for actions like stopping deforestation, protecting wildlife, and improving sustainable transportation and public services.

Part two of the blog written by Juliet Harris, Together’s Director, explores how the right to a healthy environment can support the 'revolution in children’s rights' promised by Scotland’s First Minister. She discusses the substantive and procedural elements necessary for children to grow, learn, and thrive in a nurturing environment and the critical role of public services in achieving these goals.

As Scotland moves forward with the Human Rights Bill, incorporating the right to a healthy environment is seen as an important step toward ensuring a fairer, healthier, and more sustainable future for all children and young people.

• Read full blog here