What is participation?
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) is based on four principles: non-discrimination, in the best interest of the child, children’s views and their right to survival and development.
It clearly maps out children’s rights through 54 Articles, including Article 12: Every child has the right to ‘express their views, feelings and wishes in all matters affecting them, and to have their views considered and taken seriously.’
In line with the UNCRC, children and young people’s views and experience are key to all areas of the Commissioner’s work. We call this children and young people’s PARTICIPATION and it is one of our five key Values.
What do we do?
We aim to make sure children and young people’s voices influence our own decisions and what we do and those of decision makers across Scotland, for example, the Scottish Government.
One way we aim to embed children and young people’s views and experience in our work is through our Young Advisors Group. The Young Advisors Group is also involved in the work of ENYA and ENOC.
In recent years we have spoken to children and young people across Scotland through our Participation Roadshow, in other visits and events, and online..
We also want to support children and young people in Scotland to be children’s rights defenders, to protect and promote human rights and have resources to help with this.
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Young Advisors
Lewis and Grace, Young Advisors waiting to go on national radio at the BBC.
Our young advisors are aged 12-17 and are from across Scotland. They meet regularly online and in person. They share their experiences and views and help to shape what we do and why we do it.
For example, they support and take part in our recruitment process and sit on our Advisory Audit Board. They speak out on children’s rights issues, including giving evidence to the Scottish Parliament.
They help shape children’s rights across Europe when they represent Scotland and take part in the ENYA and ENOC work.
Discover more about our Young Advisors
Young advisors
We have over 40 young advisors from all across Scotland, human rights defenders who work in three different groups.
European Network of Young Advisors
ENOC is the European Network of Ombudspersons for Children. This includes Children’s Commissioners, including Scotland’s Children and Young People’s Commissioner, Nicola Killean. They all promote and protect children’s rights, as outlined in the UNCRC.
Our Young Advisors plays a key role in this through the European Network of Young Advisors (ENYA). Young members from all countries come together and share their concerns and views regarding their rights, to make their proposals heard, and to agree recommendations to share with the adults at the ENOC conference.
There are adult representatives from 34 member countries who come together to share information and plans through-out the year.
As a member of the Network, we take part in an annual programme that includes an annual conference and children and young people’s participation in decision-making.
Discover more about the European Network Of Young Advisors
European Network of Young Advisors
ENOC is the European Network of Ombudspersons for Children. This includes Children’s Commissioners, including Scotland’s Children and Young People’s Commissioner.Our Young Advisory Group plays a key role in this participation work through the European Network of Young Advisors (ENYA)
ENYA 2023: The role of Children’s Rights Institutions (CRIs) in the protection and promotion of children’s rights
The European Network of Ombudspersons for Children (ENOC) is a collaborative platform for Children’s Commissioners from 34 member countries to promote and protect children’s rights. In 2023, the annual ENOC conference took place in Brussels, Belgium, where Young Advisor Helen represented Scotland alongside Commissioner Nicola Killean. Young Advisors from across Europe shared recommendations on Visibility, Accessibility, Engagement, and Powers. The adults pledged to take action based on these recommendations. Helen hopes to see tangible results from the conference’s recommendations in the future.
Participation: Your rights to be heard
Participation is all about you knowing, understanding and demanding your rights as well as young people getting involved in shaping our work both internationally and at home in Scotland. Your views and opinions matter, and adults need to listen to them. You have the right to be heard by adults when they make decisions that will affect you.
What does it mean to be heard?
The right to be heard doesn’t mean adults have to do what you want. After they listen to you, they may still decide to do something else.
But they have to take your views and opinions seriously. They shouldn’t dismiss them without thinking about them because you are a under 18.
It is your right for them to listen to you, and to think about what you have to say
The right to be heard by any adult
You have the right to be heard by adults you know, like your parents or teachers. But children also have the right to be heard by the adults who make decisions about Scotland’s rules and laws.
They should make sure they know about your opinions, and they should take these seriously.
Your needs should matter
When adults make choices that affect your life, they have to think about what’s best for you. When they do this, we say they are thinking about your best interests.
It’s not enough for adults just to think they’re doing something good for you. They have to think about all your human rights when they make a decision.
These decisions could be about things like your right to play, or your right to live in a house where you are safe.
All adults should think about your best interests
All adults should think about your best interests, even adults who have never met you— like the adults who make decisions about Scotland’s rules and laws. They have to think about what’s best for you so that you can grow up safe and happy.
Get in touch
You can get in touch with us if you think your rights haven’t been respected, or if you have a question about human rights.
You can find out about your human rights here. If there are things in your life which worry you, you can find out how to get help.
Write to us
Participation: News and Stories
Explore our latest participation work here.
Children can help Commissioner plan for the future at online assemblies
Children’s Commissioner Nicola Killean is hosting two live assemblies on World Children’s Day. Children and young people can find out about rights and help shape our work for the next four years.
“I am looking at 80 young people today who have the power to defend the rights of children,” Commissioner tells Midlothian pupils
Children’s Commissioner Nicola Killean took part in a conference on children’s rights with 80 secondary school pupils from Midlothian.
School counselling in holidays crucial for children’s mental health, says Commissioner’s new report
Young Advisors to the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland used the office’s powers of investigation to examine the provision of counselling services in schools. It is believed to be the first time young people anywhere in the world have used a children’s commissioner’s legal powers to lead an investigation.
On air: Young Advisors on live radio talking about mental health investigation
Young Advisors Grace and Lewis, along with Nick Hobbs, Head of Advice and Investigations, are interviewed on BBC Radio 5 Live about the Mental Health Investigation to mark Youth Mental Health Day.
ENYA 2023: The role of Children’s Rights Institutions (CRIs) in the protection and promotion of children’s rights
The European Network of Ombudspersons for Children (ENOC) is a collaborative platform for Children’s Commissioners from 34 member countries to promote and protect children’s rights. In 2023, the annual ENOC conference took place in Brussels, Belgium, where Young Advisor Helen represented Scotland alongside Commissioner Nicola Killean. Young Advisors from across Europe shared recommendations on Visibility, Accessibility, Engagement, and Powers. The adults pledged to take action based on these recommendations. Helen hopes to see tangible results from the conference’s recommendations in the future.
“Hear Our Stories”, say young unaccompanied asylum seekers and refugees
This Refugee Week, a group of young unaccompanied asylum seekers and refugees called Young People’s Voices, in collaboration with Guardianship Scotland and the Scottish Refugee Council, have created a series of animations to share their perspectives on their rights and what matters to them. These animations highlight both the positive aspects and the challenges they face in Scotland. They emphasise the importance of supportive adults, good quality education, and the difficulties of living with limited financial resources, including staying in hotel accommodations. Their aim is to raise awareness and improve the systems and support available for young asylum seekers and refugees in Scotland by sharing their experiences and meeting with key decision makers. Their message is clear: they want their stories and experiences to be heard and understood.
Children as young as four in Scouting in Scotland can complete human rights badge
Discover the exciting new initiative by the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland and Scouts Scotland, empowering children as young as four to earn their Rights Challenge Badge. Engage your Squirrels and Beavers with fun activities, promoting awareness of children’s rights and fostering their voices within the community. Join thousands of young Scouts on this educational journey, building dens, creating slime, and designing human rights shields. Learn, play, and become true human rights defenders. Get involved today!
Youngest children explore their rights with Commissioner’s new book.
Let’s Explore Our Rights” teaches young children about their human rights. The book which features iconic Scots landmarks is aimed at children aged up to five. It was beautifully illustrated by Corinna Campbell and takes readers on a journey to discover rights like having a safe home, being healthy, learning, and playing. The book will support early years practitioners to spark first conversations about human rights with very young children. The book was created in response to requests from early years pract
Just launched: A new guide to our legal powers
The Commissioner’s office has published a toolkit explaining how, why, and when we can use our powers of strategic litigation.
Parliament party banished the nerves
Our Young Adviser Lewis was really brave when he agreed to compere our 18th birthday at the Scottish Parliament in April. At first, Lewis was ready to pull out, but he went ahead and delivered a fantastic event with jokes, applause, and improvised deviations from the script. Now, Lewis finds himself more confident, taking a lead more often and being able to stand up and be heard. As part of our Human Rights Day celebrations, Lewis writes on overcoming his fears and the benefits of leaping into the unknown. Thank you to Lewis for hosting a fantastic event.
Over to you: Young people tell our roadshow about living in poverty, their health, and education.
As Covid-19 measures were lifted, we created an engagement programme for the Commissioner, Bruce and the team to meet and work with as many children and young people as possible. We have been on the road again, this time hitting three more stops. This is just one part of us ensuring their voices are front and centre in all the work we do. Read more to get a flavour of what children and young people told us about the issues of poverty, health and having their opinions heard.
Schools, youth clubs and projects. The participation roadshow tours Shetland
Commissioner Bruce Adamson and Kevin Browne-Macleod, our Participation Officer, visited Shetland, attending schools, youth clubs and projects over three days in February.
Unsure about how to involve children in decision-making? This new guide is for you
As we launch Listen, Engage, Have Fun: Guide On Involving Children in Child Rights Impact Assessment (CRIA) and Child Rights Impact Evaluation (CRIE), Information Officer Gillian Munro blogs on the importance of children’s participation.
Who Cares? Scotland’s Festival of Care
Our roadshow left the mainland and rolled into Shetland in February. We focused on listening to care experienced children and young people, a group whose rights need special care and protection. Commissioner Bruce Adamson and Nicola Vallance-Ross, our Head of Corporate Services, took part in Who Cares? Scotland’s Festival of Care in Lerwick.
Scouts Scotland and Children’s Commissioner launch new human rights badge
A badge teaching Cubs and Scouts aged eight to 14 about human rights has been introduced by the Commissioner’s office and the Scouts.
Young Adviser Beth marks International Day Of Persons With Disabilities
To celebrate International Day Of Persons With Disabilities, one of our Young Advisers has written a blog about upholding disabled people’s rights.
Young Adviser Lewis marks World Children’s Day
To celebrate World Children’s Day, one of our Young Advisers has written a blog about the importance of empowering young people to participate.
“Despite my overwhelming nervousness, I did it. And I did it well.” Young Adviser Lewis on speaking to an audience about children’s rights
To mark World Children’s Day and the importance of listening to young people, 14-year-old Lewis blogs for us on how he overcame his fears and addressed a webinar hosted by our office and Together.
We’re going the extra mile to meet children and young people
The Commissioner’s office is hitting the road to chat to as many children and young people as possible and find out what matters to them. First stop: Aberdeenshire!
Young Adviser Chloe vlogs for the International Day of Charity
Our young adviser Chloe’s been volunteering for the charity Homeless Network Scotland since January, and we were lucky to have her make us this video about her experiences.
“Listen to youngsters to make the world a better place,” says Young Adviser Sophie
For International Youth Day our Young Adviser blogs on food and poverty in Scotland.
On Human Rights Day, 16-year-old Jodi blogs on the lessons we can learn from 2020
On Human Rights Day, 16-year-old Jodi – one of our young advisers – writes about the lessons she’s learned over the last few months.
Scotland is hosting a youth-led conference of children’s commissioners across Europe
This week our office is hosting the ENOC Conference, a Europe-wide event for children and young people’s commissioners.
7 Ways to get Better At Taking Young People Seriously
Katrina Lambert of our Human Rights Defenders Action Group outlines key things adults can do to help young citizens bring about real change.
Participation: Resources
Explore useful participation resources here.
Participation Resources
Mental Health: Counselling in Schools
In response to the growing concern over the mental health of children and young people, a new group of Young Advisors in 2021 decided to focus their investigation on school counselling as part of the Scottish Government’s response to the crisis. The Mental Health Investigators identified a lack of crisis services and community-based interventions, and believed that school counselling could provide a useful picture of levels of need and delivery challenges. They were involved in leading every aspect of decision-making throughout the investigation, from planning to analysis and recommendations. The report they produced identifies both good practice and areas for improvement in the delivery of counselling services in schools across Scotland.
Let’s explore our rights
Let’s Explore Our Rights” teaches young children about their human rights. The book which features iconic Scots landmarks is aimed at children aged up to five. It was beautifully illustrated by Corinna Campbell and takes readers on a journey to discover rights like having a safe home, being healthy, learning, and playing. The book will support early years practitioners to spark first conversations about human rights with very young children. The book was created in response to requests from early years pract
Scouts Resource Pack: Rights Challenge Badge
We are ‘on the road’ to chat to as many children and young people as possible and find out what matters to them. Get involved here!
Coimhead air ar Còraichean (Let’s Explore Our Rights)
The book, beautifully illustrated by Corinna Campbell and available in both Gaelic and English, takes young children on a journey to discover rights such as having a safe home, the right to be healthy, to learn, and to play. An audio and video version of the book has been recorded by Mirabelle, a 10-year-old pupil from Bun-sgoil Taobh na Pàirce P6. She mentioned that it was fun to read the book and appreciated that it is available in both Gaelic and English. Commissioner Nicola Killean emphasized that “Let’s Explore Our Rights” explains to very young children the importance of rights in a way they can understand.
Children’s Rights Strategic Litigation Toolkit
We have developed this Strategic Litigation Toolkit to ensure that we use our powers in a way that is consistent with the Commissioner’s role to promote and safeguard children’s rights, and in compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). It will also make sure that we are accountable, transparent and that our decisions are clear and fair. The toolkit explains the Commissioner’s powers, sets out how we involve children and young people in strategic litigation and the principles that underpin this work. We also share the set of tools we have developed. The tools help us decide which cases we can get involved in as well as provide reasons for those decisions.
UNCRC Pocketbook
February 2020 An A6 glossy pocketbook containing the full text of the UNCRC, a full list of general comments on the UNCRC and a partial list of other international instruments of relevance to the human rights of children and young people.
UNCRC Symbols poster
November 2016
This poster uses symbols and simple language to explain the first 42 articles of the UNCRC.
Our submission to the UN regarding draft General Comment No. 26, Children’s Rights, and the Environment with a Special Focus on Climate Change
We welcome the publication of the General Comment on Children’s Rights and the Environment, with a Special Focus on Climate Change, and are pleased to provide our comments on it. The primary focus of this response will be to reflect the views of children aged 0-6 as they are often underrepresented in work on climate change.
‘Listen, engage have fun’: Guide on involving children in child rights impact assessment (CRIA) and child rights impact evaluation (CRIE).
‘Listen, engage, have fun’ is a user-friendly guide to involving children in child rights impact assessment (CRIA) and child rights impact evaluation (CRIE).
Children as Human Rights Defenders Toolkit
December 2019
We made this toolkit in partnership with Children’s Parliament. It’s a resource for adults all over the world who work with children and young people.
It explains the work we’ve done around child human rights defenders and contains practical activities that will let you carry out a project of your own.
Annual Report 2022-23
Bruce Adamson, in his final report before stepping down as Commissioner, expresses pride in the achievements of the past year and looks with positivity to future years for the office’s work with incoming Commissioner, Nicola Killean.
Know your rights when entering custody
October 2021. If you are under 18 in custody, you still have human rights. No matter what you have done or who you are, you have the right to be
Vietnamese Translation – Know your rights when entering custody
October 2021. If you are under 18 in custody, you still have human rights. No matter what you have done or who you are, you have the right to be
Arabic Translation – Know your rights when entering custody
October 2021. If you are under 18 in custody, you still have human rights. No matter what you have done or who you are, you have the right to be
Polish Translation – Know your rights when entering custody
October 2021. If you are under 18 in custody, you still have human rights. No matter what you have done or who you are, you have the right to be
Activity: Writing rights poems
March 2021. Children have the right to express themselves, and you can use this resource to help them do that and create an acrostic poem about their human rights.
The power to change things: Lightning bolt activity
March 2021. UNCRC Incorporation gives children the power to change things! This workshop can help them think about the change that they’d like to see.
Download a version of the worksheet for black and white print.
Learning about children’s rights
March 2021. A short resource for adults who work with children and young people to use and adapt in discussions and planned sessions on putting children’s rights in law in Scotland.
There’s also a presentation to support this resource where you’ll find this information and more, as well as a set of slides for you to use.
Golden Rules Symbols conversation cards
September 2016
A PDF of communication cards to be used with our Golden Rules Symbols resource.
Golden Rules Symbols cards
September 2016.
A resource designed to be printed out as a set of double-sided cards.
Gaelic UNCRC Pocketbook
February 2019
A pocketbook in Scots Gaelic containing the full text of the UNCRC.
UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders (Child Friendly Version)
April 2019
The Declaration on Human Rights Defenders applies to everyone who promotes and protects human rights, but it’s not written in language everyone can understand. This is a simplified version that’s intended to make it clearer.
Super Listener poster
September 2017
As part of the Power Up/Power Down project with Scottish Women’s Aid we asked young people to tell us the qualities they thought an adult needed in order to be great at listening to them— then used them to create this poster of a super listener.