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xTogether presents evidence to UN Special Rapporteur
Date: 8th September 2026
Category:
Disability, Basic Health and Welfare
Earlier this week, Together’s Director presented evidence to the UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights. She highlighted that while progress has been made on tackling child poverty in Scotland, the response is not enough to meet the scale of need.
The meeting was organised by Just Fair, a UK-wide civil society organisation that works to secure economic, social and cultural rights.
Drawing on the experiences of our members, Together highlighted that while Scotland has taken important steps to reduce child poverty, including recent Programme for Government commitments to increase the Scottish Child Payment to £40/week for eligible children under one, the scale of the response is still not enough to meet the level of need faced by many children and families.
She also highlighted the need for legal barriers that prevent the UNCRC Act reaching all devolved areas to be removed by UK Government, stressing the need for coordinated action with Scottish Government.
Together’s contribution comes at a time of growing international attention on economic, social and cultural rights in the UK. In recent months, two other UN Special Rapporteurs have raised concerns with the UK and Scottish Governments about the realisation of the rights to adequate food and housing. The UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food welcomed progress in Scotland, including free school meals and the Scottish Child Payment, while calling for stronger legal protections for the right to food. Meanwhile, the UN Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing urged the UK Government to review policies that can leave migrants and asylum seekers without access to housing support.
The meeting with the UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights is the beginning of a wider piece of work. Just Fair is bringing together written evidence from the participating organisations and will be publishing a report in the coming weeks.
· Read Just Fair’s blog about the evidence session and participating organisations.
· Read more about the UN Special Rapporteur statements on the right to food and right to adequate housing on Just Fair’s website.