Statement: Ofgem must do more to protect children’s rights from impact of forced pre-payment meters and energy disconnection

Date: 8th February 2024
Category: Child poverty

Energy regulator Ofgem recently granted permission for three energy companies to restart a previously banned activity of force-fitting pre-payment meters in the homes of the most vulnerable. Read on to hear what Scotland’s Children and Young People’s Commissioner has said about the dangers of the practice for children and young people and their families.

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Creating a play friendly community with children

Date: 8th February 2024
Category: Recreation, play and cultural activities, Planning and community

This research project by Silvia Veiga Seijo a PhD student at Queen Margaret University was created with children (based on children rights participation) about creating a play friendly community in Whitecraig, (East Lothian). The report was co-created by 17 children as co researchers alongside Silvia, and it is founded on children’s voices and perspectives.

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Media Ambassadors’ films 2023

Date: 8th February 2024
Category: Young carers

The Media Ambassadors are a group of young carers, aged 16-18 who have taken part in film making training over the summer and attended the Scottish young carers festival to create films on issues important to them. This year, the group have created four films around the themes of transitions, mental health support, financial support and greater awareness of who young carers are.

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Now recruiting: help shape our State of Children’s Rights Report 2024!

Date: 19th January 2024
Category: Scotland-specific monitoring and reporting, Respect for the views of the child

Together is looking to recruit five organisations to join the development phase for our 2024 State of Children’s Rights Report. We’re looking for organisations who can support children and young people to test some draft engagement materials, provide us feedback and support us to create versions in alternative formats.

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Royal assent for UNCRC Bill!

Date: 17th January 2024
Category: General measures of implementation, UNCRC Optional Protocols and General Comments

On the 16 th of January 2024, royal assent was granted for the UNCRC Bill meaning its now officially an Act! Most of its provisions will come into force in six months’ time (16 th July 2024).

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World Children’s Day 2023: what you may have missed

Date: 18th December 2023
Category: General measures of implementation

To mark World Children's Day 2023, Together released new research on the participation of children and young people in processes to monitor UNCRC implementation at local, national and international level. There was also an update from the Minister for Children and Young People as she released a conversation with young people about her next steps for incorporation.

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Breakfast within a rights-based food system

Date: 18th December 2023
Category: Disability, Basic Health and Welfare, Nutrition

This UN Human Rights Day, Together is celebrating the right to food and the vital services provided by Magic Breakfast, who delivers free breakfasts to school children facing hunger every day. Read this blogpost by Magic Breakfast’s Finlay Allmond, as he explains the importance of a rights-based approach to Scotland’s food system.

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Letter to First Minister about human rights

Date: 18th December 2023
Category:

Together, alongside 57 other organisations, signed a letter to the First Minister on progressing human rights in Scotland. The letter talks about the different breaches of fundamental rights experienced by people living in Scotland and it urges the Scottish Government to take progressive measures to make all human rights a reality for everyone in Scotland.

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Attitudes to human rights in Scotland

Date: 18th December 2023
Category: General measures of implementation, Civil Rights and Freedoms

People in Scotland are more likely to support human rights than not and are increasingly worried about having fewer human rights, according to new research published by the Scottish Human Rights Commission. The Commission asked public opinion specialists YouGov to carry out research to investigate public attitudes towards human rights in Scotland and published these results for Human Rights Day.

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Letter to First Minister of Scotland to increase Scottish Child Payment

Date: 18th December 2023
Category: Disability, Basic Health and Welfare, General measures of implementation

Members of the End Child Poverty coalition in Scotland, alongside 150 other organisations including Together, are urging the First Minister Humza Yousaf to - as a first step - deliver on his commitment to increase the Scottish Child Payment to £30 per week.

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