Preaching is not Teaching: A landmark report on religious observance in Scottish schools

Date: 26th September 2025
Category: Freedom of thought, conscience and religion, Education, including vocational education, Inclusive education

On 31st of August, The Humanist Society Scotland published a report around religious observance (RO) in Scottish schools. The report draws on testimony from pupils, parents and teachers to reveal trenchant bias and discrimination in the practice. This report has been published in time to inform parliamentary scrutiny of the Children (Withdrawal from Religious Education and Amendment of UNCRC Compatibility Duty) (Scotland) Bill, which we highlighted earlier in this e-news. Key findings from the report:

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Our Rights. Your Move: Human Rights Consortium’s Manifesto Briefing

Date: 26th September 2025
Category: Policy and strategy

Human Rights Consortium are proud to share the publication of their latest manifesto briefing: Our Rights. Your Move. This new publication sets out a bold, shared vision for a fairer, more equal Scotland, where human rights are not an afterthought, but the foundation of all policy, law and decision-making. With the 2026 Scottish Parliament election approaching, Human Rights Consortium Scotland are calling on all political parties and candidates to commit to:

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UK Government’s consulting on a potential ban on high-caffeine energy drinks for under-16s in England

Date: 26th September 2025
Category: Nutrition, Health and health services

The UG Government is currently consulting on a ban that would prevent the sale of energy drinks (those with more than 150mg of caffeine per litre) to anyone under the age of 16. The ban would apply across all retailers including shops, cafes, restaurants, vending machines and online retailers. This potential ban is aimed at protecting children’s physical and mental health and would impact well-known brands like Red Bull, Monster and Prime. This consultation is open until the 26th of November 2025. Evidence cited by the Department of Health and Social Care and the Department for Education points to a range of harms associated with children’s regular consumption of these drinks such as disrupted sleep, increased anxiety, reduced concentration and adverse effects on behaviour. Furthermore, commissioned data on children’s consumption of high-caffeine energy drinks from the Department for Education (DfE), Parent, pupil and learner voice: omnibus surveys for 2024 to 2025 , was consistent with other research findings.

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Together (Scottish Alliance for Children's Rights) Annual Report 2024-25: Reflecting on a year of progress

Date: 25th September 2025
Category: Policies & procedures, Funding

We are pleased to share our Annual Report 2024-25 , which highlights a year of significant developments in the promotion and protection of the human rights of babies, children and young people across Scotland.

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Together’s Stage 1 response to the Education, Children and Young People Committee on the Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill

Date: 21st August 2025
Category: General measures of implementation, Education, Leisure and Cultural Activities

We’ve submitted our Stage 1 evidence on the Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill to the Scottish Parliament’s Education, Children and Young People Committee. Together welcomes the Bill and its commitment to ensuring children grow up loved, safe and respected in line with the UNCRC and the Promise. However, we are concerned that some provisions fall outside the protections of the UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024. We ask the Committee to recommend that:

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Joint Letter to the First Minister calls for Urgent Action on Scotland’s Health and Social Care Crisis

Date: 21st August 2025
Category: General measures of implementation, Disability, Basic Health and Welfare

Over 200 health and social care organisations including Children First have written to the First Minister, warning that important services and support in Scotland are at breaking point. The open letter, led by the Coalition of Care and Support Providers in Scotland (CCPS) and Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE) , says decades of underfunding and rising demand mean many organisations face cuts, closures, or collapse within a few years.

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The Scottish Parliament UNCRC report

Date: 21st August 2025
Category: General measures of implementation, Reporting to and monitoring the UNCRC

The Scottish Parliament has released their UNCRC report which is about how the UNCRC is being built into all areas of Scottish Parliament work. This is part of their reporting duties under the UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024, to detail the actions they have taken and intend to take to comply with the Act. They have also made a video with Children’s Parliament detailing what steps the Scottish Parliament could take to be more child and young person friendly.

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UK plans AI experiment on children seeking asylum

Date: 21st August 2025
Category: Civil Rights and Freedoms, General measures of implementation

The UK Government plans to use artificial intelligence (AI) face-scanning to decide if asylum seekers are under 18, starting in 2026. Asylum minister Angela Eagle said the technology was chosen because it may be the cheapest option.

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Children in Wales launches call for champions for children ahead of 2026 Senedd Election.

Date: 21st August 2025
Category: General measures of implementation, General principles

Children in Wales, a coalition of children’s groups across Wales, is calling on every political party and candidate to put the rights, wellbeing, and voices of children at the heart of their decision-making in its new manifesto titled Champions for Children: A Manifesto for Babies, Children and Young People , ahead of the 2026 Senedd Election.

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Joint letter on the impact of the UN liquidity crisis and the UN80 initiative on children’s rights

Date: 21st August 2025
Category: General measures of implementation, General principles

Child Rights Connect and other civil society organisations including Together have sent a joint letter to the UN Secretary-General and Permanent Missions in New York and Geneva, raising serious concerns about the impact of the UN liquidity crisis and the UN80 Initiative on children’s rights.

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