Call for views as children's rights action plan takes shape

9th July 2018 | family-child law , human rights

Proposals for an action plan on children's rights have been put out to consultation by Scottish ministers.

Ideas to underpin the principles of the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) are set out in a paper that takes forward the duty in s 1(4)(c) of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 to lay such a plan before the Scottish Parliament.

Part 1 of the Act places specific duties on all ministers to keep under consideration steps which would or might secure better or further effect in Scotland of the UNCRC and to promote public awareness and understanding of children’s rights. Ministers are also required to report every three years to the Scottish Parliament on progress and their plans for the next three-year period.

Proposed strategies include a framework for involving children and young people in developing policy, a three-year programme to raise awareness of children's rights across all sectors of society, progressing the children's rights audit on the most effective ways to embed the UNCRC in domestic law and policy, including the option of full incorporation into domestic law, and evaluation of the Child Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessment, used across the Scottish Government as a key tool in the development of rights-based policy.

The consultation asks for views on:

  • whether the four proposed strategic actions are appropriate and will help to take forward the principles of the UNCRC;
  • whether there are ways in which these actions could be further strengthened; whether there are additional or alternative strategic actions the Scottish ministers should consider; and
  • whether there are any specific actions not currently being progressed by Scottish Government that should be considered for inclusion within the action plan.

Click here to access the consultation. The deadline for responses is 26 September 2018. Ministers are also engaging separately with children and young people to ensure that their views are heard.