Date: 9th October 2024
Category: General measures of implementation, General principles, UNCRC Optional Protocols and General Comments

The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child (UN Committee) called for inputs in drafting General Comment No.27 focusing on children’s right to access justice and effective remedies. The call for inputs is an opportunity to help define the terms, approaches and actions that government should adopt.

Date: 9th October 2024
Category: General measures of implementation, General principles

The new Rights Detectives pilot project by Together provides an opportunity for babies, young children, and their families to explore children’s rights in a fun and informative way. Partnering with Craigmillar Literacy Trust, Home Start UK, Play Scotland, and Starcatchers, the project has already hosted sessions featuring sensory play, music, movement, a children's rights photography exhibition, messy play, and engaging discussions to encourage family participation.

Date: 8th October 2024
Category: General measures of implementation, Best interests of the child, Education, Leisure and Cultural Activities

Together has raised concerns in its consultation response to the Scottish Government’s Education Bill. While the Bill aims to address recommendations from key reports such as the OECD Review of the Curriculum for Excellence and Professor Ken Muir’s review, Together believes it falls short of fully upholding the rights of children and young people as outlined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).

Date: 8th October 2024
Category: General measures of implementation

Together recently held its 2024 Annual General Meeting, celebrating the dedication of our incredible members who work tirelessly to make children’s rights a reality. We elected new Chair and also launched our annual report.

Date: 8th October 2024
Category: General measures of implementation, General principles

The First Years, First Priority European campaign has demonstrated the power of networks in influencing policies and public investment for Early Childhood Development (ECD).

Date: 8th October 2024
Category: General measures of implementation

This is a new book designed to help parents-to-be in Dundee bond with their babies before birth. It features illustrations, questions, stories, songs and prompts, to encourage early communication with the unborn baby, helping to strengthen relationships after birth.

Date: 8th October 2024
Category: General measures of implementation, General principles

The Scottish Government has issued guidance on part 3 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024. Key provisions include a duty on Scottish Ministers to create a Children’s Rights Scheme, which will promote accountability and ensure children's rights are embedded in decision-making.

Date: 8th October 2024
Category: General measures of implementation

The Scottish Government has released its official plans for 2024-25 with a focus on key areas such as child poverty, early learning and childcare, education and human rights.

Date: 8th October 2024
Category: General measures of implementation, General principles

The Human Rights Consortium Scotland has issued a letter to the First Minister signed by over 100 organisations including Together and members of lived experience boards, expressing deep disappointment over the Scottish Government decision to delay the introduction of the Scottish Human Rights Bill in this parliamentary session.

Date: 8th October 2024
Category: General measures of implementation, General principles

A five-year trial of the Family Rights Group’s Lifelong Links approach in Scotland has successfully helped children and young people in care establish stable, supportive networks. Conducted across three local authorities, the programme has been praised for empowering young people, supporting their sense of identity, and challenging existing social work practices.

Date: 8th October 2024
Category: General measures of implementation

The Success Looks Different Awards 2024 are now open and accepting applications. Created by the Inclusion Ambassadors in 2022, the Success Looks Different awards are an opportunity for early learning and school communities to share how they celebrate the achievements of all children and young people, recognising that not all success comes in the form of exam results.

Date: 8th October 2024
Category: General measures of implementation, General principles

The Human Rights Consortium Scotland has called on both the UK and Scottish Governments to demonstrate leadership on human rights. In an article published in The Herald, it expressed concern that devolution challenges—such as those which restricted the scope of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) Act could similarly limit the effectiveness of the forthcoming Scottish Human Rights Bill.

Date: 8th October 2024
Category: General measures of implementation, General principles

The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) in its most recent findings has expressed deep concern about ongoing hate crimes, hate speech, and xenophobic incidents in the UK, particularly from far-right groups and public figures.

Date: 8th October 2024
Category: General measures of implementation, General principles

The Welsh Government recently released its response to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child’s (UNCRC) recommendations, along with a child-friendly version. The response outlines steps the Welsh Government is taking to further children's rights.

Date: 8th October 2024
Category: General measures of implementation, Violence against children

Around 60,000 children have fled from Lebanon to Syria in the past week, many suffering from dehydration and exhaustion, according to Save the Children, calling for an immediate de-escalation of violence in the region, as hostilities intensify.

Date: 8th October 2024
Category: General measures of implementation, General principles

The KidsRights Index, the world’s only annual ranking assessing how well countries uphold children's rights, in its 2024 KidsRights Index has reported a 21% surge in serious violations of children’s rights due to ongoing global conflicts. Key areas of concern include the conflicts in Israel and Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan, with nearly 8,000 children reported killed in Israel and Gaza since October 2023.

Date: 20th September 2024
Category: Policies & procedures, Funding

We are pleased to share our Annual Report 2023-24, which highlights a year of significant developments in the promotion and protection of children’s rights across Scotland.

Date: 20th August 2024
Category: General measures of implementation, Education, Leisure and Cultural Activities

In a joint letter to the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills Jenny Gilruth MSP, Humanist Society Scotland teamed up with Together to call for an end to compulsory religious worship in state schools.

Date: 20th August 2024
Category: General measures of implementation, Family Environment and Alternative Care

This report by Forces Children Scotland outlines how the rights of children and young people from armed forces families are affected in the areas of protection, provision and participation rights. Children from armed forces families face barriers to their rights due to their parent’s service.

Date: 20th August 2024
Category: General measures of implementation, Special protection measures, Civil Rights and Freedoms

This article is about children’s right to independent advocacy. Children with mental health issues have a legal right to this service in Scotland. However, CAPS notes that most children can’t access it. The incorporation of the UNCRC into Scots law is an important step forward for children’s rights – it is important that those rights can be realised.