Article 12 in Scotland submits two reports to the UN Committee

Date: 7th July 2015
Category: Reporting to and monitoring the UNCRC

Article 12 in Scotland has submitted two non-government reports to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, outlining young people's views on the state of children's rights in Scotland.

'I Witness: The UNCRC in the United Kingdom - Young Gypsy/Travellers'Voices' aims to provide a narrative-rich insight into the concerns, experiences, hopes and aspirations of young Gypsy/Travellers from across the UK, in their own words, on their own terms and according to their own realities.

The report highlights and presents solutions to the emerging rights issues raised by young Gypsy/Travellers involved in Article 12 in Scotland's UNCRC Reporting Process. The report also explores the impact of the implementation of the UNCRC on young Gypsy/Travellers' lives by gathering and presenting evidence, under the participative principle of Article 12 of the UNCRC. Article 12 states that every child has the right to express their views freely and that their views should be taken into consideration when decisions are being made that affect their lives.

The second report, 'I Witness: The UNCRC in Scotland - Young People's Voices' aims to provide an insight into the concerns, experiences, hopes and aspirations of five of the most marginalised groups of young people in Scotland. This report is a summary of the views, opinions and recommendations of the children and young people who participated in Article 12's research processes. Participants included:

  1. looked after young people;
  2. young carers [directly or indirectly] experiencing mental ill-health;
  3. young people with disabilities;
  4. young Gypsy/Travellers, and
  5. young offenders.