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You can find out about your human rights here. You can find out how to get help if your rights have not been respected.
I’m a young person
Get help, information and advice about your human rights, and find out the ways you can get involved in what we do.
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If you are concerned that a child may be at immediate risk of harm, please contact your local Social Work Department or Police Scotland (dialling 999 in an emergency) as a matter of urgency. The office is not able to investigate child protection concerns.
Back to school
Find rights resources for primary and secondary teachers as Scotland returns to the classroom.
Resources for teachersNews & stories
See all news and storiesStatement: Commissioner calls on Scottish Government to prioritise rolling out universal free schools meals.
Universal school meals are one of the ways in which the Scottish Government can fulfil children’s right to food by providing a nutritious meal to all children. There are many barriers to families taking up the offer of the free school meal provision, and one of the greatest can be the stigma attached to claiming for this entitlement. Free school meals for everyone in primary school reduces that stigma and helps reinforce the understanding of food as a human right, not an act of charity.
Statement: Commissioner signs joint letter demanding Scottish Government doubles child bridging payments
Commissioner Bruce Adamson, alongside a broad range of organisations, community groups, academics, trade unions and faith groups, has written to the Scottish Government, requesting that child bridging payments are doubled. This vital action is urgently needed to mitigate the damaging impact the cost of living crisis is having on children’s standards of living.
Statement: Human Rights Act reform will erode children’s rights protections.
Along with Amnesty Scotland, the Human Rights Consortium and JustRight Scotland, the Commissioner has written to Claire Adamson MSP, the Scottish Parliament’s Convenor of Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee, to raise serious concerns about the impact of the UK Government’s Human Rights Act reform proposals. We’re jointly calling for the Committee to conduct an Inquiry into the devolution impacts of the changes to the Human Rights Act, and we remain deeply concerned about the erosion of children’s rights protections.
Statement: Commissioner responds to the latest update by Scottish Government on restraint and seclusion
Children’s rights must be protected in law, by ensuring the passage of the UNCRC Bill, and by making the forthcoming restraint and seclusion guidance statutory.
Statement: Commissioner on UNCRC incorporation announcement by Scottish Government
Children’s Commissioner Bruce Adamson responds to the Scottish Government’s announcement on incorporation of the UNCRC.
It’s our 18th Birthday!
This week, the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland office turns 18. We’ve championed children’s human rights for the equivalent of an entire childhood. Read more from Bruce about our journey so far.
Statement: Commissioner concerned about “lack of urgency” surrounding UNCRC incorporation as office turns 18
It’s been over a year since the Scottish Parliament unanimously passed the law to incorporate the UNCRC, but after the UK Supreme Court asked for amendments, progress has stalled. There’s been a concerning lack of urgency from the Scottish Government. Six months of silence. Every day of delay is another day that children’s rights aren’t protected.
It’s our birthday and the party’s started
It’s our 18th birthday and the celebrations started with a visit to First Adventures Nursery, Linlithgow.
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