Children’s Rights

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) applies to everyone under the age of 18.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) is ratified by 196 countries and has 54 articles that cover all the aspects of a child’s life and sets out the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights that all children are entitled to.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill was introduced to the Scottish Parliament in September 2020. On 16 March 2021, MSPs voted unanimously for the Bill to become law in Scotland, meaning public authorities will have to comply with children’s rights. The Bill will commence six months from Royal Assent.

CALA is fully committed to ensuring Children’s Rights underpin all our work for and with children and young people.

On this page you will find:

Tools and resources to share with children and young people you are working with.
Useful resource tools, guidance and websites to support practitioners to implement children’s rights in practice and raise awareness with parents/carers

Scroll down to find links to resources to use with children and young people.

Children’s Rights & Participation

Highland Whole Family Wellbeing: The Children’s Rights and Participation Improvement Group are a multi-agency group of practitioners working together to further the incorporation of the UNCRC across organisations. Check out their website to find information, resources and tools.

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child – A Guide for Children and Young People

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) is a legally-binding international agreement setting out the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of every child, regardless of their race, religion or abilities.

This PDF document is aimed at young people, and describes the Convention in easy to understand language.

UNCRC Symbols

The Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland have produced a simplified version of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child(UNCRC). It communicates the 42 articles of the UNCRC using symbols and easy to read language.

Click here for information about the resource

Click here to access the symbols cards in Gaelic

Click here to access UNCRC symbols poster

Click here to access the UNCRC symbols poster in Gaelic.

7 Golden Rules of Participation

‘The 7 Golden Rules for Participation’ are a set of principles that anyone working with children and young people can use. They inform adults what children and young people’s participation should feel like.

Click here to access ‘Introduction to ‘7 Golden Rules of Participation’

Click here to access ‘7 Golden Rules Symbols Cards’

REACH

Reach has produced three short useful videos to help school pupils understand more about their rights to help pupils to access support and have a voice at school.

You can watch the videos on YouTube by clicking the links below:

It’s not easy to talk

Your rights your say

How to make your voice heard at school

To find out more about REACH visit their website by clicking the button.

IPA Rights of the Child Poster

The International Play Association (IPA) is an international non-governmental organization founded in 1961. They have produced a poster that seeks to teach children about Article 31 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The poster is written in language that makes it understandable to children.

Click here to access the poster in different languages

Scroll down to find links to guidance, useful documents and websites for practitioners and parents

Introducing Children’s Rights

The Scottish Government has produced a ‘ten-minute training tool’ to help educate people about the rights children are entitled to under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

You can access the document in PDF format here

Children’s Rights Infographics

from ‘together: Scottish Alliance for Children’s Rights

Together has planned some great things for 2021 and to celebrate the Year of Childhood hosted by Children’s Parliament, our #RightsResolution is to create weekly infographics to use to support children and young people’s understanding.

Click here to access the infographics

Click the tab on the right to visit the Scottish Alliance for Children’s Rights websites for further useful resources.

Children’s Right to Play

The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) is the fundamental basis for children’s rights in international law. If children are to enjoy all their human rights, it is vital that a broader understanding of the CRC is developed across the world.
This booklet explains the concepts behind Article 31 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child – Children’s Right to Play.

Children’s Rights in Scotland (UK)

Civil society report to inform the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child’s List of Issues Prior to Reporting By Together (Scottish Alliance for Children’s rights)

Together (Scottish Alliance for Children’s Rights) is an alliance of over 400 non-governmental organisations (NGOs), academics and interested professionals. Their vision is that all children and young people in Scotland have their human rights respected, protected and fulfilled.

This List of Issues Prior to Reporting (LOIPR) has been collated by Together (Scottish Alliance for Children’s Rights) through close consultation with its membership of over 400 children’s charities, playgroups, individuals, academics and professionals. It identifies the key issues impacting on children’s human rights in Scotland, and where possible, draws from the views and experiences of children and young people from across Together’s membership.

Children’s rights legislation in Scotland: a quick reference guide

This quick summary guide

Sets the scene on children’s rights legislation in Scotland
Provides us with useful web links to key measures.

Scottish Children’s Parliament

The Scottish Government takes their commitment to Children’s Rights under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) listening to children’s views seriously, as shown in the newly issued report from the Children’s Parliament “ School should be a joyful place” The report is filled with children’s views and ideas on school and colourful illustrations. Hopefully, our schools will aspire to take forward the ideas within the report.

Click here to access

Click on the tab on the right to visit the Children’s Parliament website where you will find many more helpful resources and information.

Progressing the Human Rights of Children in Scotland: An Action Plan 2018-2021

This document sets out the Scottish Government’s ambition to deliver the building blocks and the foundations that help children and young people to experience their rights.

Common Core of Skills, Knowledge & Understanding and Values for the “Children’s Workforce” In Scotland

The Common Core describes the skills, knowledge and understanding, and values that everyone should have if they work with children, young people and their families, whether they are paid or unpaid. The skills, knowledge and understanding are described as “essential characteristics” and are set out in two contexts: relationships with children, young people and families and relationships between workers.

Scottish Social Services Council 2020-2023 Children’s Rights Report

he Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) has published its first Children’s Rights Report showing their commitment to making sure the children of Scotland can rely on social services being provided by a skilled, trusted and confident workforce.

Children’s Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessment (CRWIA)

The Children’s Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessment (CRWIA) helps us to assess whether our policies and legislation will realise children’s rights and help protect and promote the wellbeing of children and young people.

CRWIA guidance:

We have made the CRWIA approach available for public bodies and children’s services to adapt for their own use. Guidance documents and templates (updated March 2019) are below:

CRWIA templates

CRWIA: 20-minute training tool

For an example of a previous Scottish Government CRWIA: Carers (Scotland) Act 2015 – March 2016

To find CRWIAs which have been published search for ‘CRWIA‘ or ‘child rights and wellbeing impact assessment’

Young Performers

A Guide for Parents and Guardians

Click here for Young Performers – local authority guidance

Employment of children

Scottish Child Law Centre

Telephone Advice Line

UNCRC Scotland

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