State of Scotland's Foster Care report launched by The Fostering Network

Date: 25th June 2019
Category: Civil Rights and Freedoms, Disability, Basic Health and Welfare, General measures of implementation

The survey of 500 foster carers covered key practice and workforce issues such as placement stability, training and support for carers, and status and authority of the workforce.

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Table of Views adopted by the Committee on the Rights of the Child and Follow-up status

Date: 25th June 2019
Category: Reporting to and monitoring the UNCRC, General principles, General measures of implementation

The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child is now publishing on its website a table with the summaries of adopted decisions on individual communications under the Third Optional Protocol of the UNCRC and the follow-up status by States.

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Round table with CRC Chairperson Luis Pedernera

Date: 25th June 2019
Category: General measures of implementation, General principles, Reporting to and monitoring the UNCRC

Notes from the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child roundtable have been published. The Round Table raised serious concern regarding the UN Budget crisis, which the roundtable refers to as an “attack to the Treaty Bodies” and the possible cancellation of the third session as having a “strong impact on the backlog of the work of the CRC Committee and other Treaty Bodies”.

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Together’s recommendations to the First Minister: Incorporate UN treaty rights into Scots law

Date: 24th June 2019
Category: Incorporation, General measures of implementation, Civil Rights and Freedoms, Policies & procedures, Reporting to and monitoring the UNCRC

Together, along with our civil society partners, has written to the First Minister calling for a strong and effective legal framework to progress human rights in Scotland.

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Equal Protection Bill passes at Stage 2

Date: 24th June 2019
Category: Special protection measures, Family Environment and Alternative Care, Protection from abuse or neglect, Disability, Basic Health and Welfare

Together is pleased to see the Children (Equal Protection from Assault) (Scotland) Bill pass at Stage 2 in the Scottish Parliament on 20 th June 2019.

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Scottish Government responds to review of mental health services at Polmont

Date: 24th June 2019
Category: Civil Rights and Freedoms, Disability, Basic Health and Welfare, Family Environment and Alternative Care, Child justice system, Special protection measures

Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf’s response included a commitment to develop a bespoke mental health strategy for young people, end the routine use of strip searches and to “explore options” for a pilot of in cell phones to support family contact.

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Children & vulnerable adults still being detained at Dungavel

Date: 24th June 2019
Category: Civil Rights and Freedoms, Disability, Basic Health and Welfare, Refugee , migrant and asylum-seeking children, Special protection measures

New figures show that 21 children were detained in Dungavel Immigration Removal Centre between 2010-2018. Some of the young people were held there until they were moved to immigration centers in England.

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Protection against Female Genital Mutilation to be improved

Date: 24th June 2019
Category: Civil Rights and Freedoms, Disability, Basic Health and Welfare

A new Bill seeks to introduce Protection Orders specifically designed to safeguard women and children who might find themselves under pressure to undergo female genital mutilation (FGM).

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UN expert condemns entrenched racial discrimination and inequality in the UK

Date: 24th June 2019
Category: Civil Rights and Freedoms, Freedom of thought, conscience and religion, General principles

The UN’s expert on racism and human rights has said that the UK Government’s policies exacerbate discrimination, stoke xenophobic sentiment and further entrench racial inequality.

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Supreme Court rules English and Welsh local authorities can be held liable for failing to protect children from harm.

Date: 24th June 2019
Category: Civil Rights and Freedoms, Family Environment and Alternative Care, General principles, Disability, Basic Health and Welfare

The UK’s Supreme Court has issued a judgment to restore the right of children to sue local authorities for negligence where councils have failed to protect them from harm.

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