YOUNG Scots who are part of the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland’s Human Rights Defenders group believe action should be taken to help involve them in decision making and have their voices heard by those in power.
READ MORE: Scots teens who addressed UN committee call on law makers to involve young people
Here are some of their recommendations, included in Promote. Protect. Defend, a report published by the office and delivered to the Scottish Parliament:
• Involve children and young people in decisions on human rights: reserve seats for children and young people when important choices are made at the UN and similar institutions. Support other countries across the world to follow suit.
• Make sure school pupils learn about human rights: Teachers and schools need to tell children of all ages about what it means to stand up for human rights and encourage respect for those that do.
• Protect children who engage in peaceful protest: In February 15,000 children and young people across the UK were on climate “strike” but some were threatened with detention or other punishments for doing so. Local authorities, schools and the Scottish Government should help bring down barriers to protest what young people face and teachers should help to uphold their right to take part.
• Create safe places for children to stand up for human rights: Find more ways for children and young people to ask people in power questions and hold them to account.
• Scotland should work with other countries to improve children’s human rights: As part of the UK, Scotland has to report on whether it keeps its human rights promises. The Scottish Government should involve children and young people in the reporting process.
• Incorporate the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) into Scots law: The UNCRC still isn’t incorporated into domestic law in Scotland so can’t be enforced here. Last month, the First Minister promised to incorporate the principles into Scots law but she needs to step up. The group wants a Bill laid before MSPs by the end of the year.
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