State of Children’s Rights Reports

Every year, Together publishes the State of Children’s Rights in Scotland report which aims to monitor implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in Scotland.  Each report takes a different approach to looking at whether enough is being done to fulfill the human rights of children living in Scotland. 

Research for State of Children’s Rights reports is undertaken through a variety of methods, including seminars, surveys, and desk research.  We undertake extensive engagement with our membership throughout this process and much of the evidence we collect for the report draws from our members’ work in policy and practice.

Below you can find brief summaries of each report along with a link to a digital version.


State of Children’s Rights in Scotland 2024

The State of Children’s Rights Report 2024 marks the one-year anniversary of Scotland’s historic United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act being passed by MSPs. The report amplifies the experiences of over 200 babies, children and young people from various backgrounds across the country and captures diverse perspectives, highlighting both successes and areas for urgent improvement in realising children’s rights. 

The 2024 report is a celebration of the strides taken under the UNCRC Act and a call to action to address gaps in implementation. It emphasises the need for increased awareness of children’s rights among both adults and children, meaningful involvement in decision-making processes and actively listening to children as individuals to address their specific needs. 

By embedding children’s views and experiences into decision-making and tackling systemic barriers, Scotland can further realise its commitment to upholding the rights of every baby, child and young person. 

Image of 2024 report cover depicting a superhero illustration. The design is based on suggestions from children for what their child rights superhero should look like - such as having a cape made out of a blanket "to provide warmth and comfort to children".

State of Children’s Rights in Scotland 2023

The 2023 State of Children’s Rights Report acts as an alternative report to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. It updates the UN Committee about progress and areas of concern since the UK's record on children's rights was last reviewed in 2016. The report draws from a wide evidence base, including information gathered through our member survey, webinar series, Together's participation projects with children and young people and participation projects supported by our member organisations. 

The report makes 93 recommendations for improvements in UNCRC implementation which have been endorsed by 78 organisations across Scotland. In February 2023, Together travelled to Geneva to give evidence directly to the UN Committee based on the report. The report will assist the UN Committee as it prepares for the upcoming review of the UK and devolved nations in May 2023. 

Front cover of Together's 2023 report. It shows a mural painted by children where adults and children are playing chess under a tree. The words "All ages together" are painted in white writing across the tree trunk.

Please note our 2023 report is only available in digital format.


State of Children’s Rights in Scotland 2022

The 2022 State of Children's Rights Report seeks to inspire and enable everyone in Scotland to put children’s human rights at the heart of everything they do. It has been developed as a practical guide to support public authorities, the third sector, organisations and individuals as we approach implementation of the UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill. 

The report covers a range of actions from children's participation, through to budgeting and impact assessments. It highlights common challenges, promising practices, resources and top tips that you can draw from to better understand what a child rights-based approach looks like.

Front cover shows children crossing a bridge. The bridge says "Nature's future".

 


State of Children’s Rights in Scotland 2020

The 'List of Issues Prior to Reporting' (LOIPR) for 2020, identifies 30 priority issues for children in Scotland and will inform the initial stages of the UK’s next review by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.

It draws upon evidence gathered through our State of Children’s Rights Webinar Series in which over 500 participants took part in, to highlight gaps in legislation, policy and practice, including:

  • Barriers in accessing justice
  • Gaps in data collection
  • Efforts to engage children in decision-making which are often tokenistic or missed
  • Minimum age of criminal responsibility falls below international standards
  • Inappropriate use of restraint
  • Increasing child poverty and widening health inequalities.

The UN Committee will review all the evidence submitted before publishing its LOIPR in February 2021. The LOIPR will ask the UK and devolved governments to provide information on specific topics.

Screenshot of front cover of List of Issues Prior to Reporting with children standing on grass with a tree and a rainbow. birds and butterflies in the air.

Please note our 2020 report is only available in a digital format. 


State of Children’s Rights in Scotland 2019

The State of Children’s Rights report 2019 considers the extent to which children in Scotland are able to exercise their human rights as set out in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. It builds on recommendations made to the UK by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in 2016. These covered a wide range of issues from education, health, privacy and protection from violence to discrimination. The report draws on information provided by our members to give an update on how these recommendations are being implemented and what more needs to be done.

The UK’s next review by the UN Committee will take place in 2021-22. Together will draw from this report, and wider consultation with members, to inform the UN Committee as to the priority issues impacting on children’s human rights in Scotland. 

Front cover of State of Children's Rights Report 2019 with three children smiling, a rainbow and a cloud with Together logo.

Hard copies are available for our paid up members. If you are not a paid up member, reports are available for a donation of £10 plus postage. We are a small charity with a very limited budget so whilst we're more than happy for everyone to access the online version, we can only afford a limited print run. To request your report, please contact info@togetherscotland.org.uk

Together's State of Children’s Rights report 2019 was accompanied by a child-friendly version, designed to appeal to our young readers.

Together was joined by Maree Todd MSP Minister for Children and Young People, the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland, and members of the Children’s Parliament and Scottish Youth Parliament to celebrate the launch on 28th February 2020. The event jointly celebrated the launch of the Observatory of Children’s Human Rights Scotland of which Together is part, and for which the newly published report will serve as a roadmap for action.


State of Children’s Rights in Scotland 2017

The State of Children’s Rights report 2017 sets out promising child rights-based practice taken by public bodies across Scotland.  It consists of a wide range of case studies from our members, other organisations, and public bodies that illustrate how a rights-based approach can make a significant difference to children and young people’s lives and improve the quality and effectiveness of public services.

The aim of the report is to act as an inspirational and encouraging tool for public bodies to draw from when exploring how to embed children and young people’s rights into their own policy and practice.  The Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 establishes duties on public bodies to report every three years on the steps they have taken to further children and young people’s rights.  The duty commenced on April 2017 and the first reports are to be published in 2020.  Together’s 2017 State of Children’s Rights report can be used as a tool for public bodies to take forward children’s rights as they commence this reporting duty.

Front cover of State of Children's Rights Report 2017 with children and young people sitting in a meadow with the sun shining.

The launch of the report was supported by Together’s #RightsResolution campaign in January 2018, where we asked public bodies to make a commitment to further children’s rights in 2018.


State of Children’s Rights in Scotland 2016

This report offers a baseline against which progress in implementing recommendations made by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (UN Committee) and other international treaty bodies can be measured.  It also reflects on areas where progress is being made and identifies where further efforts are needed. 

The report was written and published following the 150 Concluding Observations made by the UN Committee during their 5th reporting cycle of the UK.  It aims to provide data and evidence on where Scotland stands on each of the Concluding Observations and makes Scotland-specific recommendations on how the Scottish Government can take these forward.

State of Children's Rights Report 2016 with slices of the mural drawings to make a circle.

The State of Children’s Rights report 2016 was previewed at a reception held at Scottish Parliament which was attended by Together members, MSPs and the Minister for Childcare and Early Years.  At the reception, Together’s Director highlighted three prominent children’s rights issues from the report and called on Scottish Government to take immediate action on these.  The issues were: raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility; equal protection from violence for children; and the banning of mosquito devices.


State of Children’s Rights report 2015

The State of Children’s Rights report 2015 acts as the alternative report to the UN Committee on the Rights of Child for Scotland (as part of the United Kingdom) during their 5th reporting cycle of the UK.  The report was endorsed by 66 NGOs and aims to examine progress made since 2008 to further the UNCRC and take forward the UN Committee’s 2008 Concluding Observations.  It provides commentary and scrutiny of the UK State Report, submitted to the UN Committee in May 2014, and examines the Scottish Government report to the UK, submitted in July 2013.

The report includes 109 recommendations for improvements in the implementation of the UNCRC in Scotland.

 Front cover of State of Children's Rights Report 2015 with Together logo.


State of Children’s Rights report 2014

Together’s 2014 report provides a non-government perspective on the extent to which children’s rights, as laid out in the UNCRC, are fulfilled in Scotland.  It reflects on the year since the 2013 report, discussing what progress has been made and where further efforts are needed. 

Research for the report involved a series of thematic focus groups on issues including children affected by imprisonment, disability and mental health, and recreation, culture and play.  Further desk research into issues highlighted by Together’s members was then undertaken to add to the evidence collated through the consultations.

Front cover of State of Children's Rights Report 2014 with a child.


State of Children’s Rights report 2013

The aim of the State of Children’s Rights report 2013 is to reflect on the progress made in implementing the UNCRC which is outlined by the Scottish Government in it’s submission to the 5th UK Government Report to the UN Committee.  The report also highlights issues that Together’s members have identified as priorities.

State of Children's Rights Report 2013 with a young child.


State of Children’s Rights report 2012

The State of Children’s Rights report 2012 aims to reflect on measures taken to improve the implementation of the UNCRC over the year preceding the release of the report.  The report makes recommendations on what steps should be taken next to improve children’s rights in Scotland and provides a point of referral against which future efforts can be assessed.

State of Children's Rights Report with a collection of letters.


State of Children’s Rights report 2011

This report was compiled and produced by Together following wide consultation with children’s organisations across Scotland.  Consultation involved gathering views from over 250 professionals working with and for children and young people through seminars held in Ayr, Inverness, Aberdeen, the Scottish Borders and Edinburgh.  This was followed by an online survey completed by 61 organisations working across a range of issues including mental health and wellbeing, disability and domestic abuse.

State of Children's Rights Report 2011 with a child.


State of Children’s Rights report 2010

The State of Children’s Rights report 2010 looks at the progress that has been made since the launch of the Scottish Government’s UNCRC Action Plan ‘Do the Right Thing in September 2009.  It explores the key successes and difficulties experienced in enabling children and young people to enjoy the rights enshrined in the UNCRC.  It also provides recommendations as to how further progress can be made.

State of Children's Rights Report 2010 with a baby.

Accompanying Together's 2022 State of Children's Rights report is a child-friendly and Easy Read version. 

About the child-friendly version

Together’s top detectives have investigated how well children’s human rights are being protected in Scotland. We have put together case files on what’s going well and what more needs to be done!

We hope these case files will help children to learn more about children’s rights and know when adults aren’t doing enough. We hope the examples can be shared with adults, to help them do better!

We have split our case files into different themes, but you can also read the full version of our report. 

Introduction                                  Case file 1: Children's Participation

Introduction picture of Case File with an owl and magnifying glass           Case Study file 1 with a folder saying "Children's Participation"           

Case file 2: Include everyone     Case file 3: Children whose rights are at risk

Case Study file 3 with a magnifying glass and a folder with "Include Everyone!"                Case Study file 3 with magnifying glass and a folder with "Children's whose rights are at risk"

Case file 4: Getting help about your rights

Case Study file 4 with a folder saying "Getting help about your rights"

Case file 5: Knowing about rights     Case file 6: Child rights budgeting 

Case Study file 5 with a folder saying "Knowing about children's rights"                Case Study file 6 with a piggy bank and a folder with "Child rights budgeting"

Case file 6: Child rights impact assessments 

Case Study file 6 with two detectives with magnifying glasses, footsteps and a file with "Child rights impact assessements"

If you’d like this report read aloud to you, please open it in Microsoft Edge or Microsoft Bing. At the top of the page there is a toolbar, towards the middle of the toolbar is a “Read aloud” as an option. Click/tap on this button to start.

image of the toolbar which from left to right has the buttons 'page view' 'read aloud' 'add text and 'draw'

If you are unable to access this functionality, we have created an Easy Read version of our State of Children’s Rights 2022 report.

Access the Easy Read version here!

You can also watch our short video which explains what children's human rights are and why we have created this report. Watch this video.