News and stories

Children's Commissioner Nicola Killean welcomes MSPs voting to incorporate the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child into Scots law.

Children's Commissioners from Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales urge UK and devolved governments to do more to tackle child poverty after a new UNICEF report highlighted how little progress has been made.

Children and Young People's Commissioner Nicola Killean welcomes the UK Supreme Court judgment on the UK Government's Rwanda plan.

Exam results are published today and Acting Children's Commissioner Nick Hobbs has congratulated young people on all their achievements.

Commissioner responds to Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice’s Ministerial Statement on UNCRC Incorporation Bill. Scottish Government must live up to the promises they have made to the children and young people of Scotland and deliver the intention to incorporate the UNCRC to the fullest extent possible. Children need a clear and urgent timeframe for when their rights will be protected in law. They need decisive action now, not further unnecessary delay.  Our office continues to call for Scottish Government to undertake a legislative audit to identify areas of law which are currently incompatible with the UNCRC. This should not delay the passage of the Bill through Parliament.

Nick Hobbs, Acting Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland, highlights the Scottish Football Supporters Association (SFSA) report's key recommendation for an independent regulator in Scottish football governance. The report emphasises the need to protect child footballers' rights through legislation, as the current model prioritises club interests over human rights. It calls for embedding human rights in Scottish football's operating model to prevent exploitation and unequal treatment. An independent regulator is crucial in addressing governance issues and ensuring children's rights are prioritised. The Scottish Government must act to safeguard child footballers' rights by enacting appropriate laws.

Nick Hobbs, Acting Children and Young People's Commissioner, fully supports Daniel Johnson MSP's Bill for enforceable guidelines on physical restraint in educational settings, including mandatory recording and reporting of incidents. Hobbs emphasizes the right of all children to be protected from abuse and harm, urging the Scottish Government to address the lack of statutory guidance on restraint and seclusion. The proposed Bill aims to provide holistic, human rights-based guidance applicable to all child care settings, ensuring children's safety and dignity. Hobbs stresses the importance of recording incidents to monitor and scrutinize practice effectively. Failure to implement rights-respecting practices puts children at risk and violates human rights obligations.

Bruce Adamson, Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland, leaves the role next month when his six-year mandate comes to an end. Today, the Scottish Parliament announced Nicola Killean has been