Date: 23rd May 2019
Category: Basic Health and Welfare

Delays in UN membership contributions by Member States are putting human rights, including children’s rights, at risk, according to the global network Child Rights Connect.

Date: 23rd May 2019
Category: General measures of implementation

The speech highlighted positive advancements in the area of child participation, but also showed concern with the work of the Committee being under threat. 

Date: 22nd May 2019
Category: Incorporation

We warmly welcome the launch of the Scottish Government’s consultation on the incorporation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child into Scots law. We particularly welcome the clear commitment that legislation is delivered within this parliamentary session and agree with the Scottish Government that incorporation has the potential to transform the experience of children, young people and their families across Scotland.

Date: 17th May 2019
Category: Age of criminal responsibility

MSPs have voted to pass the Age of Criminal Responsibility (Scotland) Bill. The Bill raises the minimum age at which a child can be held criminally accountable from eight years (the lowest in Europe) to 12. However, it falls short of international recommendations that the minimum age should be at least 14 years. 

Date: 17th May 2019
Category: Equal protection from violence, Restraint, UN Convention Against Torture, Children in conflict with the law

On 6th May, Together presented oral evidence to the UN Committee against Torture, highlighting key concerns around the strip searching of children and young people, inappropriate placement in detention and mental health provision.

Date: 17th May 2019
Category: General measures of implementation, Child rights indicators, Child rights impact assessments

Adolescence is now increasingly recognised as a significant period in human development. It is also a life stage when young people begin to engage more actively in the exercise of their rights and to seek to influence more of the decisions that affect them.

Date: 17th May 2019
Category:

A majority of MSPs on the Scottish Parliament Equalities and Human Rights Committee have backed the proposal to reform the law to end physical punishment. The Committee released their Stage 1 Report after hearing overwhelming evidence from police, health professionals, social workers and teachers that physical punishment of children doesn’t work and can do harm.

Date: 16th May 2019
Category: General principles, Incorporation, Awareness-raising

The KidsRights Index is the annual global index published by the KidsRights Foundation which charts how countries adhere to and are equipped to improve children’s rights.

Date: 16th May 2019
Category: Basic Health and Welfare, Mental health, Civil Rights and Freedoms, Bullying, Non-discrimination

Almost two-thirds of young people (61%) feel pressure to look their best online, according to new findings from the Be Real Campaign. The alarming research also revealed that more than two-thirds (67%) regularly worry about the way they look.

Date: 16th May 2019
Category: General measures of implementation

The Vote for Children campaign is calling for candidates in the European Parliament elections to pledge to be Child Rights Champions.

Date: 16th May 2019
Category: Social security and childcare, General principles

Inequality is now entrenched in Britain from birth to work, and the UK government needs to take urgent action to help close the privilege gap, the Social Mobility Commission says.

Date: 16th May 2019
Category: General principles, General measures of implementation

This study offers an inventory of the main policy agendas of the European Union, the Council of Europe and the United Nations in which children and youth are the focus and are aimed at influencing government policies.

Date: 16th May 2019
Category: General principles, General measures of implementation, Reporting to and monitoring the UNCRC

In 2019, the Committee on the Rights of the Child celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, adopted on 20 November 1989.

Date: 14th May 2019
Category: Reporting to and monitoring the UNCRC

Together’s Director and Legal and Policy Manager attended Child Rights Connect's 2019 General Assembly in Geneva last week.

Date: 30th April 2019
Category: Civil Rights and Freedoms, General measures of implementation

On 19th February 2019 a letter was sent from the four Children’s Commissioners of the United Kingdom to Rt. Hon Stephen Barclay MP, the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union. The letter sought assurances on some of the immediate issues facing children’s safety of a No Deal Brexit.

Date: 30th April 2019
Category: Basic Health and Welfare, Civil Rights and Freedoms

Scottish Government’s Children and Families Directorate has been working on a new visual to articulate the purpose and approach to Getting it Right for Every Child. 

Date: 30th April 2019
Category: Child poverty, Basic Health and Welfare

Eurochild launched its assessment of the first European Semester since the Proclamation of the European Pillar of Social Rights (November 2017). With the ‘social dimension’ being more visible in this cycle, the European Commission flags child poverty in more than 75% of the Country Reports of EU Member States. Only one country (Spain) received a recommendation to address family income, which only addresses one of the many reasons for child poverty.

Date: 30th April 2019
Category: Civil Rights and Freedoms, Equal protection from violence, Education, Leisure and Cultural Activities, Bullying

UNICEF and Eurochild launched an online survey, inviting children and young people to share their views on the Europe they want. ‘Europe Kids Want’ gathered children’s and young people’s experiences of family-life, school, society and their thoughts on Europe. The online survey is active until 30 June 2019

Date: 30th April 2019
Category: Basic Health and Welfare, Civil Rights and Freedoms, Education, Leisure and Cultural Activities, Family Environment and Alternative Care

A first draft of the Bucharest Children’s Declaration has been developed by a group of 25 Romanian children, the so-called Romanian Children’s Board, in consultations with other children in Romania. The draft Declaration is now open for feedback from both children and organisations working with and for children. Consultations can be organized with children on the Declaration and its results can be included in the feedback form.

Date: 30th April 2019
Category: Reporting to and monitoring the UNCRC, Other human rights treaties and mechanisms, Basic Health and Welfare, Civil Rights and Freedoms, General principles, General measures of implementation

In his next thematic report to the General Assembly, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders will address the topic of impunity for human rights violations and abuses committed against human rights defenders. This report will be presented to the 74th session of the General Assembly in October 2019. Deadline: Monday 6th May 2019 This is an opportunity to secure a chapter on children.