Child Rights Connect delivers speech to 81st session of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child

Date: 23rd May 2019
Category: General measures of implementation

The speech highlighted positive advancements in the area of child participation, but also showed concern with the work of the Committee being under threat.

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Scottish Government launches consultation on UNCRC incorporation

Date: 22nd May 2019
Category: Incorporation

We warmly welcome the launch of the Scottish Government’s consultation on the incorporation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child into Scots law. We particularly welcome the clear commitment that legislation is delivered within this parliamentary session and agree with the Scottish Government that incorporation has the potential to transform the experience of children, young people and their families across Scotland.

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Age of Criminal Responsibility Bill passed

Date: 17th May 2019
Category: Age of criminal responsibility

MSPs have voted to pass the Age of Criminal Responsibility (Scotland) Bill . The Bill raises the minimum age at which a child can be held criminally accountable from eight years (the lowest in Europe) to 12. However, it falls short of international recommendations that the minimum age should be at least 14 years.

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Together presents evidence to UN Committee against Torture

Date: 17th May 2019
Category: Equal protection from violence, Restraint, UN Convention Against Torture (CAT), Child justice system

On 6th May, Together presented oral evidence to the UN Committee against Torture, highlighting key concerns around the strip searching of children and young people, inappropriate placement in detention and mental health provision.

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Report: Conceptual Framework for Measuring Outcomes of Adolescent Participation

Date: 17th May 2019
Category: General measures of implementation, Child rights indicators, Child rights impact assessments

Adolescence is now increasingly recognised as a significant period in human development. It is also a life stage when young people begin to engage more actively in the exercise of their rights and to seek to influence more of the decisions that affect them.

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Equal Protection Bill backed by Scottish Parliament Equalities and Human Rights Committee

Date: 17th May 2019
Category:

A majority of MSPs on the Scottish Parliament Equalities and Human Rights Committee have backed the proposal to reform the law to end physical punishment. The Committee released their Stage 1 Report after hearing overwhelming evidence from police, health professionals, social workers and teachers that physical punishment of children doesn’t work and can do harm.

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UK ranks 170th out of 181 countries on the KidsRights Index 2019

Date: 16th May 2019
Category: General principles, Incorporation, Awareness-raising

The KidsRights Index is the annual global index published by the KidsRights Foundation which charts how countries adhere to and are equipped to improve children’s rights.

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YMCA’s #BeReal campaign finds that almost two thirds of young people feel pressure to look their best online

Date: 16th May 2019
Category: Disability, Basic Health and Welfare, Mental health, Civil Rights and Freedoms, Bullying, Non-discrimination

Almost two-thirds of young people (61%) feel pressure to look their best online, according to new findings from the Be Real Campaign. The alarming research also revealed that more than two-thirds (67%) regularly worry about the way they look.

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Vote For Children campaign calls for MEP candidates to pledge to be #ChildRightsChampions

Date: 16th May 2019
Category: General measures of implementation

The Vote for Children campaign is calling for candidates in the European Parliament elections to pledge to be Child Rights Champions.

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Social Mobility Commission publishes 2018-2019 ‘State of the Nation’ report

Date: 16th May 2019
Category: Social security, General principles

Inequality is now entrenched in Britain from birth to work, and the UK government needs to take urgent action to help close the privilege gap, the Social Mobility Commission says.

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