Statement: The importance of improving legal support for children in conflict with the law
Nick Hobbs, Head of Advice and Investigations, on why recommendations from a new report by Claire Lightowler and Clan Childlaw must be achieved.
Statement: Auditor General for Scotland and Accounts Commission briefing report
This report is a warning to the Scottish Government that to tackle child poverty it needs to focus on long-term prevention, not just on short-term solutions.
Statement: Commissioner responds to a new report on cross-border secure care placements
Every child deprived of liberty has the right to be treated with humanity, dignity and in a way that takes into account their needs and best interests. It must only ever be a measure of last resort, take place for the shortest possible time, and should always be in a facility appropriate for their age.
Statement: 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.
Statement: Commissioner says children’s rights are in grave danger due to Uk Government proposals
Children’s rights protections are in grave danger of being eroded by UK Government proposals to reform the Human Rights Act which were confirmed in the Queen’s Speech on 10 May 2022.