Do the right thing

This report sets out the progress made in those priority areas the Scottish Government identi?ed in 2009. It is also the formal response to Together Scotland’s 2011 ‘State of Children’s Rights’ report and the UK Children’s Commissioners’ mid-term report on implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). The Committee is next scheduled to consider the progress in 2014. Following the election, Ministers set out an ambitious vision for Scotland’s children and young people. Central to that vision is the need to deliver services and support in a way which: • places children at the centre; • engages and allows them to participate in all the decisions which affect their lives; and • routinely seeks their consent to information being shared where necessary to improve their wellbeing and to ensure early intervention, when appropriate, can be provided. This shift in approach encourages prevention and early intervention. It recognises the importance of support, particularly in the early years, and is essential if we are to achieve better realisation of rights in Scotland. The work will continue closely with Community Planning Partnerships (CPPs) across Scotland to drive the process of implementation, resulting in some level of progress with every CPP in Scotland. The degree of engagement and progress varies in scale and pace from area to area, but in each location progress is being achieved on implementing the core components of the Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC) approach. The main goal is to bring forward legislation in 2013 which will add to the pace of change.