Submission to Day of General Discussion on children’s rights and the environment

Date: 20th September 2016
Category: Right to life, survival and development

The Office of the Children and Young People's Commissioner for Scotland (CYPCS) has submitted a paper to inform the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child's general discussion day on children's rights and the environment on Friday 23rd September.

During its 69th session, the Committee on the Rights of the Child, the body of independent experts responsible for reviewing progress made by States parties in implementing the Convention on the Rights of the Child, decided to devote its 2016 general discussion day to the issue of children's rights and the environment. It will take place during the 73th session of the Committee at the United Nations Office in Geneva.

Overall objective of the 2016 DGD

To promote understanding of the relationship between children's rights and the environment; identify what needs to be done for child rights-related laws, policies and practices to take adequate account of environmental issues; and for environment-related laws, policies and practices to be child-sensitive.

The Children's Commissioner's Office will be represented by Máire McCormack, who has submitted a paper on toxins and the environment for one of the workshops.

• Download CYPCS's submission here.

CYPCS have also provided partnership support for 'Under the Same Sky'. This was a series of projects that helped children explore how their local environments impact on their rights to lead healthy, happy and safe lives.

• Find out more here.

Together have also submitted a discussion paper to the Day of General Discussion, but are unable to attend the day in person. Together put forward three examples of good practice in Scotland regarding the role of children as agents of change in the environmental context.

• Download Together's submission here.