Commissioner’s investigation finds at-risk children may have been detained unlawfully

Date: 18th June 2021
Category: Restraint

The Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland has published a report following an investigation of local authorities’ practices around secure accommodation. The Commissioner found children may have been deprived of their liberty without due process of law when being placed in secure accommodation.

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Campaign for every mother and baby to have their rights to safe, suitable accommodation fulfilled

Date: 18th June 2021
Category: Disability, Basic Health and Welfare

Earlier this year, more than 20 expectant and new mothers seeking asylum were moved from settled accommodation into cramped bedsits at a new mother and baby unit in Glasgow. The #FreedomToCrawl campaign launched to highlight that asylum-seekers are no exception to the right every mother and baby has to safe, suitable accommodation.

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Concerns about the increased use of remand amongst children

Date: 18th June 2021
Category: Child justice system

When a person accused of an offence first appears in court, the judge decides whether they will be released on bail or remanded into custody. For many people, being remanded into custody is their first experience of prison.

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Discover Scottish Youth Parliament’s new manifesto web hub

Date: 18th June 2021
Category: General principles

The web hub details what changes young people wish to see over the next five years as part of SYP’s ‘From Scotland’s Young People’ Manifesto.

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Scottish Government launches new youth justice strategy

Date: 18th June 2021
Category: Child justice system

This strategy looks at how Scotland can: meet the UNCRC obligations, provide information and support is provided for victims, use trauma informed approaches, extend the child hearing system for all 16- and 17-year-olds and work towards having no child in a Young Offenders Institution where possible and appropriate.

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Academic warns domestic abuse is often ignored in child contact disputes

Date: 18th June 2021
Category: Equal protection from violence

Despite legal requirements to consider domestic abuse in child contact decisions, research reveals victims are sometimes told by solicitors not to disclose domestic abuse in child contact disputes.

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Safeguarding in schools: complete the survey now!

Date: 18th June 2021
Category: Protection from abuse or neglect

Teachers, designated safeguarding leads and designated child protection officers are encouraged to take part in two short surveys to aid a study into human rights and safeguarding in schools across the UK.

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UK Government commits to raising the legal age of marriage to 18 in England and Wales

Date: 18th June 2021
Category: Equal protection from violence

Sixteen and 17-year-olds can marry in England and Wales with parental consent, putting them at risk of being coerced into child marriage. Following the voicing of serious concerns to the UK Government by a range of organisations working to end child marriage, the Ministry of Justice has said it is committed to raising the minimum legal age to 18 “as soon as legislative opportunity arises”.

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UN Committee to develop a General Comment on children’s rights and the environment

Date: 18th June 2021
Category: General Comments

This General Comment, developed by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, will provide authoritative guidance on how children’s rights are impacted by the environmental crisis and what States must do to uphold these rights.

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Support #CovidUnder19’s open letter to world leaders

Date: 28th May 2021
Category: Disability, Basic Health and Welfare, General Comments

Internet access continues to be a challenge for frontline workers, working to protect, respect and fulfil children’s rights. This open letter encourages world leaders to bridge the digital divide, guarantee the protection of children online and work towards meaningful participation of children and young people to design the future of the digital world.

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