New report: Tiny Rights Detectives Report “Exploring Pathways to Justice for Babies”

Date: 18th March 2025
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This report by Together includes findings from a pilot project with Together’s Tiny Rights Detectives to explore how babies experience and communicate their rights and what prevents these rights from being met.

The report found that babies clearly express their needs through behaviours, facial expressions, and vocalisations, yet these signals are often ignored or misunderstood.

With the introduction of the UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024, there is both an opportunity and a responsibility to improve how babies' rights are upheld. The report revealed that existing complaints processes and justice systems are not designed to address rights violations affecting babies, making it difficult for families to seek support when things go wrong. Parents and caregivers play a key role in advocating for babies, yet many lack the knowledge, confidence, or clear pathways to raise concerns. Addressing this gap requires urgent action, including training professionals and families to apply a children’s rights approach in their work. The project also identified significant barriers to babies' rights, such as inaccessible transport and unsafe public spaces.

The project was led by Together in partnership with Craigmillar Literacy Trust, Home-Start Wigtownshire, Play Scotland, Starcatchers, Parenting Across Scotland and Home-Start UK.

A special thanks to Cattanach for generously funding this pilot project.

• Click here to read more and view different versions of the report