Achievements were celebrated and solid plans for progress made at the double launch of the Together (Scottish Alliance for Children’s Rights) report, The State of Children's Rights in Scotland, and the association known as the Observatory for Children’s Human Rights Scotland

Scotland has, for many years, been exemplary for both political and non-governmental commitment to the implementation of children’s rights. Scotland has a Minister for Children and Young People (Scottish National Party MSP Maree Todd), as well as a Children and Young People’s Commissioner: Bruce Adamson. These roles, created to ensure children have a voice in political decision-making, show a government-level commitment to children’s rights in Scotland. In 2019, the Scottish government has committed to fully and directly incorporate the UNCRC and Optional Protocols into Scottish law by early 2021. This ground-breaking measure highlights the positive attitude of the Scottish government towards human rights as a whole. Before Together could even publish their recommendation for free public transport for children, the Scottish Government announced a scheme for free bus travel for those under the age of 19. 

However, the Director of Together, Juliet Harris, noted that caution must be taken to ensure real change happens for children in Scotland. ‘Whilst there have been many legislative and policy developments – and high-level political commitments,’ she noted, ‘these have not always translated into real change in children and young people’s experience of their rights.’ In particular, child poverty remains a key issue and Together called on the Scottish government to tackle it as a priority, with Juliet Harris noting that ‘the fact this is happening in Scotland today just isn’t good enough’. The potential loss of EU funding through Brexit added to these concerns. 

Yet, commitments to ensure real change for the situation of children in Scotland are occurring. Speaker Maree Todd, Member of the Scottish Parliament and Minister for Children and Young People, celebrated the implementation of the UNCRC in Scottish law, as well as ‘our commitment to eradicate child poverty in Scotland, outlining concrete actions to make progress. Our plan to give £10 a week to families (the Scottish Child Payment) in most need will lift 30,000 children out of poverty. That is outstanding.’

Children participating in the event were proud of the notable achievements Scotland has made. Child participation was a particular highlight: Jack, 16, a member of the Scottish Youth Parliament, noted that the SYP not only allows children to directly participate at a decision-making level, but that it is run by children, for children. ‘The SYP is the democratically elected voice of Scotland’s young people. We are youth led, including our Board of Trustees. No other youth organisation exists like this across the UK, and possibly Europe.’ Emily and Arden, 11, from the Children’s Parliament, added that ‘the Children’s Parliament has given me the opportunity to actually understand my own rights, instead of just reading about them in class.’ 

Following the launch of the State of Children’s Rights in Scotland report, Eurochild asked the speakers about Brexit, political representation for children, and child poverty. The opportunity to talk to high-level politicians and decision-makers directly showed Scotland’s commitment to children’s rights as a whole. Brexit was a concern for all. Maree Todd, MSP, noted that it is why ‘we are choosing to incorporate the UNCRC at this time.’ Juliet Harris, Director of Together, noted that a ‘real push is required to make sure Brexit doesn’t affect us.’ Additionally, child poverty is one of the issues that Maree Todd states ‘causes the most concern’. ‘We have action plans in place,’ she noted, ‘by 2022, 30,000 children will be lifted out of poverty by the Scottish Child Payment.’ Bruce Adamson, Children and Young People’s Commissioner, stated that ‘poverty is a political choice. Poverty is one of the biggest human rights issues facing children in Scotland. We need a rights-based approach to budgeting.’ 

Scotland’s exemplary political representation for children, however, provides a concrete way for these issues to be tackled. Bruce Adamson sees his role as commissioner as necessary: ‘it’s incumbent upon those in power to address the views of children and ensure full participation in decision-making.’ Maree Todd is confident in her current government’s ability to ‘future-proof’ policy and legislation for children: ‘In Scotland, children and young people are at the heart of our government. This may not always be the case: this is why legislation is so important.’ 

Read the full State of Children’s Rights Scotland report here (and a child-friendly version here). 

Childhub

You might like..

0
6
On 2 February 2020, a group of 15 EU member states called ‘Friends of Cohesion’ gathered in Portugal to discuss the next EU long-term budget— the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). This group of countries includes Bulgaria,…
0
16
Eurochild, with 15 other NGOs, is advocating to create a new Children's Rights Intergroup in the European Parliament. Within this campaign, European citizens were asked to vote for candidates committed to becoming champions of child rights…
0
38
Last week (7th-8th October), the Eurochild Children’s Council met at the Eurochild Office in Brussels to work on developing the Network’s second Child Participation Strategy and to start planning the next Eurochild conference. Eurochild’s Child…
0
3
This is a public statement of 21 national children's rights coalitions in membership of Eurochild who met last week in Brussels.  Last week President-Elect Ursula Von der Leyen announced her proposals for the new European Commission. …
0
3
We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Norah Gibbons, a committed children’s rights defender and former President of Eurochild.  Norah Gibbons worked for many years in social work, in both the statutory and voluntary sector, in…
0
2
Today, 23 million children are growing up at risk of poverty or social exclusion in the EU. At particularly higher risk of social exclusion are children in vulnerable situations and disadvantaged groups, such as Roma children, children in…
0
6
Growing inequality affects children’s access to healthcare and education; poverty continues to remain persistently high among children (24%), compared to the adult population (22%). Despite this, the European Semester – the European framework for…
0
7
The MOCHA project has spent three years identifying and critically assessing the differing models of child primary health care that are used across Europe. It appraised models of child primary health care in all 30 EU/EEA countries. The final…
0
12
Eurochild hosted its annual General Assembly online this year on 15-16 June 2020 owing to the COVID-19 related lockdown. Almost 200 participants including the entire Eurochild Children’s Council joined the two –day online event which was chaired…
0
92
The European Commission launched an online, international ‘Migration’ Atlas, with data for 198 countries and information updated daily. You can check trends, statistics, and demographics for countries, and find information related to…
0
6
The European Union is seen as a champion in promoting deinstitutionalisation through its introduction of policies and the allocation of substantial funding. Many improvements have been made in reforming child protection systems and encouraging…
0
4
On 22 January the European Parliament Intergroup on Children's Rights met for the first time with the leaders of networks in the Child Rights Action Group in Brussels. The meeting was hosted by Members of European Parliament who are co- and vice-…
0
85
CAM are children who, for whatever reason, have suffered from displacement, separation or loss as a result of migration. They may: •    Be asylum seekers, refugees, economic or social migrants. •    Be accompanied…
0
3
According to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention, states have committed to provide access to education to every child, regardless of his or her migratory status. However, crossing the doorstep of a school is not enough. For an educational experience…
0
2
For the first time in the history of the European Forum on the rights of the child, 9 children and young people participated in the 12th Forum this week. Two of the children, Petra, 15 and Lucija, 13 were supported by Eurochild member “Society Our…