Supreme Court holds that sibling participation rights in the Children’s Hearing System are compatible with human rights law

Date: 25th June 2020
Category: Family Environment and Alternative Care

The UK Supreme Court has published its judgment in relation to two Scottish cases which challenged the compatibility of the Children’s Hearing System and the participation rights of siblings with Article 8 of the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR).

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Overcoming barriers to public interest litigation in Scotland

Date: 25th June 2020
Category: Civil Rights and Freedoms, Policies & procedures

One factor identified by the Human Rights Consortium Scotland which hinders Public Interest Litigation, is the restrictive test on who has legal standing to take a case to court. From this, Chris McCorkindale and Douglas Jack produce a briefing on how Scotland can adopt a more expansive test to enable organisations to engage in these legal proceedings in the interest of those they represent.

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Cost of a school day in Scotland

Date: 25th June 2020
Category: Child poverty, Education, including vocational education

COVID-19 has magnified the already greater risk of poorer educational outcomes and wellbeing, increased barriers to engagement and reduced participation in school life associated with growing up in poverty. This finding originates from a survey that looked at how household income has affected children’s experiences of education while they learn from home.

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Plan to reopen schools full-time in August

Date: 25th June 2020
Category: Education, Leisure and Cultural Activities

On 23 rd June 2020, the Deputy First Minister John Swinney MSP updated Parliament on plans to reopen schools and announced that Scottish Government will provide a further £100 million over the next two years to help support children returning to school and recover “lost ground”.

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Free school meals to continue over summer

Date: 25th June 2020
Category: Child poverty

Through a package of £27.6 million of additional funding from Scottish Government, councils will be enabled to continue the provision of free school meals during the summer holidays and other food provision to help low income families during COVID-19.

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Food insecurity exacerbated by COVID-19 is far from over

Date: 25th June 2020
Category: Child poverty

A survey of frontline Scottish community organisations found that there have been improvements in emergency food aid provision since the start of lockdown. However, it also highlighted a sense of emerging concern amongst community organisations that the food insecurity crisis is far from over.

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Justice Committee raises concerns about children in detention with Scottish Government and Scottish Prisons Service

Date: 25th June 2020
Category: Children of prisoners

In a letter to Humza Yousaf MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Justice, and Teresa Medhurst, Acting Chief Executive of Scottish Prisons Service (SPS), the Justice Committee sought the views of issues raised in letters received from Scottish Human Rights Commission and Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland. The issues highlighted in these letters concerned the human rights and wellbeing of prisoners, conditions in prisons and Young Offenders Institutions, family contact, access to mobile phones and a lack of data. These letters aimed to ensure the rights of persons deprived of their liberty are respected and protected during the COVID-19 pandemic, and measures have been implemented in accordance with Scotland’s human rights obligations.

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‘Rights respecting’ report adapted for young people

Date: 25th June 2020
Category: Family Environment and Alternative Care

‘Rights Respecting’ reform to Scotland’s youth justice system has now been adapted to suit younger readers, so they can learn and understand the issues around Scotland’s youth justice system.

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Discovering the impact of COVID-19 on justice experienced children and young people in Scotland

Date: 25th June 2020
Category: Family Environment and Alternative Care

Research finds children and young people who have had previous experience or are currently in contact with youth justice services or practitioners working within the youth justice system, are feeling increasingly isolated in lockdown.

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Last chance to sign up to our Disability, Basic Health and Welfare State of Children’s Rights webinar

Date: 25th June 2020
Category: Disability, Basic Health and Welfare, Reporting to and monitoring the UNCRC

This webinar will explore children’s rights issues on the topic of disability, basic health and welfare in Scotland, which will inform our report to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. Based upon our examination of the UK’s progress implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the UN Committee will make recommendations and thereby influencing legislation and policy.

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