COVID-19: Together examines the human rights implications of UK Government’s crisis response

Date: 1st May 2020
Category: Disability, Basic Health and Welfare, Civil Rights and Freedoms, Education, Leisure and Cultural Activities, Family Environment and Alternative Care, General measures of implementation

Together’s response to a UK Parliament Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) inquiry highlights the steps governments (UK and devolved) must take to ensure responses are human rights compliant, discusses the effect of specific measures on children’s rights and uses evidence kindly provided by our members to demonstrate some of the groups disproportionately impacted by UK and Scottish Government measures.

Read more

Edinburgh University students present research findings to Scottish Government

Date: 1st May 2020
Category: Incorporation

Together has been working with the University of Edinburgh to co-deliver the Human Rights Clinic course. The aim of the project was to support Scottish Government’s understanding about where current law can be improved as it develops legislation to incorporate the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) into Scots law.

Read more

Scottish Youth Parliament holds virtual awards ceremony

Date: 1st May 2020
Category:

The annual Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP) Awards recognise and celebrate the amazing work of Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYPs) and their Support Workers. This year in place of an event at the Scottish Parliament the award ceremony was held on Twitter.

Read more

People in Scottish prisons may soon have access to secure mobile phones and tablets to contact their families

Date: 1st May 2020
Category: Disability, Basic Health and Welfare, Civil Rights and Freedoms, Family Environment and Alternative Care, Education, Leisure and Cultural Activities

The Scottish Government and the Scottish Prison Service have announced plans to give people in Scottish prisons access to secure mobile phones and tablets to facilitate contact with their families.

Read more

Children’s Commissioner releases new strategic plan

Date: 1st May 2020
Category: Disability, Basic Health and Welfare, Civil Rights and Freedoms, Education, Leisure and Cultural Activities, Family Environment and Alternative Care

The Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland has set out its new strategic plan for the next four years, informed by legislation and the views of children and young people.

Read more

Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill introduced

Date: 1st May 2020
Category: Civil Rights and Freedoms

The Bill aims to do three things; update existing laws, bring most of these laws into one bill and add to the groups currently specifically protected by hate crime laws.

Read more

COVID-19: Scottish Government’s recognition of taking a human rights approach to pandemic

Date: 1st May 2020
Category: Disability, Basic Health and Welfare, Civil Rights and Freedoms, Education, Leisure and Cultural Activities, Family Environment and Alternative Care, General principles

Scottish Government has recently published a framework which will guide its decision-making when transitioning out of the current lockdown arrangements. The framework focuses on balancing the requirement to suppress the virus and the need to safeguard human rights and uphold human dignity throughout the transition.

Read more

COVID-19: Surveys reveal children and young people’s thoughts and feelings

Date: 1st May 2020
Category: Disability, Basic Health and Welfare, Civil Rights and Freedoms, Education, Leisure and Cultural Activities, Family Environment and Alternative Care, General principles

The results of the Lockdown Lowdown survey have revealed that 96% of young people worry about the impact of coronavirus on their future, with 77% worried about their mental health and wellbeing. The Children’s Parliament survey indicates that girls are doing less well in boys in several ways, including their general mood, feeling bored, being worried and the feeling that they lack 'energy'.

Read more

Vulnerable pupils not accessing school hubs during COVID-19

Date: 1st May 2020
Category: Education, Leisure and Cultural Activities, Family Environment and Alternative Care

Concerns have been raised by the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland over the “very very low” uptake of childcare and school places set aside for vulnerable children.

Read more

COVID-19: UK Coronavirus rules relaxed for autistic people and people with learning disabilities

Date: 1st May 2020
Category: General principles

The changes by UK Government allow autistic people or people with learning disabilities to leave their home more than once a day, travel beyond their local area if this is important to their health and have carers who do not have to stay two metres away.

Read more