EXPERTS in child health, well-being and law will today launch Scotland’s first national observatory of children’s human rights.
The move comes on the day that a collective including more than 50 children’s charities and campaigners published a progress report setting out the current status of children’s rights in Scotland.
The State of Children’s Rights report highlights how poverty, mental health issues, food insecurity and bullying contribute to a Scotland where, according to experts “many children still experience breaches of their rights on a day-to-day basis”.
It also emphasises the importance of delivering a key government pledge to incorporate the UNCRC into Scots law by next year.
In order for that to happen, a bill must be introduced to the Scottish Parliament within a matter of months.
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The report says Brexit, and the subsequent loss of human rights protections, means this is even more important.
Those behind the Observatory of Children’s Human Rights Scotland – launched by Children’s Minister Maree Todd – hope it will “accelerate progress in implementing children’s human rights, to anticipate the gaps, and make real progress collectively on how we can all address these challenges together throughout Scotland”.
Professor Jennifer Davidson, of the University of Strathclyde, said: “The launch of the observatory marks an important step in ensuring that Scotland joins the small, yet growing number of nations around the world who are leading the way in children and young people’s human rights.”
The organisation, which involves universities, the third sector and the Scottish Youth Parliament, will attempt to use domestic and international research to drive changes that will “improve the day to day lives and experiences of children and young people”.
Professor Kay Tisdall of Edinburgh University said: “Perhaps the greatest opportunity afforded by the Scottish Government’s commitment to incorporate UNCRC is to allow children and young people from across Scotland to thrive. The aim is highly ambitious by anyone’s standards, but it is also a simple one.
“Working together with children, young people and organisations dedicated to their rights and wellbeing, we hope the observatory will have a significant and positive impact on children’s human dignity, ensuring they are respected and supported to reach their full potential, because when our children and young people thrive, our communities and our society thrives too.
“There is much work to be done. From today, the observatory will play its part in ensuring that children and young people are empowered to know about, and enforce, their human rights, because when they do, we all benefit.”
Juliet Harris, director of Together, the Scottish Alliance for Children’s Rights, said: “Over the past three years, real progress has been made in Scotland to further protections of children’s human rights. In making a commitment to incorporate the UNCRC into Scots law by 2021, the Scottish Government is setting out its ambition to be world leading.
“Likewise, the Scottish Parliament has been taking steps to bring Scotland up to scratch with international human rights standards by passing legislation to give children protection from assault and raising the age of criminal responsibility.
“However, our State of Children’s Rights report 2019 shows how much more needs to be done.
“From increasing concerns about child poverty and mental health through to food insecurity and bullying, many children still experience breaches of their rights on a day-to-day basis.
“Through the publication of our report, and partnering with the new observatory, we hope our roadmap for action will support Scotland to realise its potential and become a country where the rights of all children are realised all of the time.”
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