The follow on report builds upon our initial investigation into secure accomodation by further examining the experiences of children in secure care and assessing the progress made in addressing the identified issues.
Results for Research and Publications
Our British Sign Language (BSL) Plan 2024-30
British Sign Language (BSL) is the primary language for many children and young people in Scotland and it is crucial that children and young people are supported to access the language of their choice at any age. Our BSL Plan sets out actions we will take to promote and protect the rights of young BSL users, how we will involve them in our work, as well as promote the use of BSL and to improve access to information and services for BSL users.
‘Sometimes I feel like I am in prison’: Placing Children in Hotel-Type Accommodation.
This report highlights the troubling use of hotel-type accommodations for children in asylum and homelessness systems, in conflict with established human rights principles. Such environments can pose severe risks and long-term harm to children’s well-being and rights. Unfortunately, the practice persists due to legal and systemic pressures. This report aims to aid decision-makers and frontline practitioners by providing a comprehensive human rights framework and evidence-based insights to reduce the reliance on such accommodations and mitigate their negative impact.
We also have a short report for children and young people.
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.
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.
A Children’s Rights Perspective: Repeal of the Human Rights Act
This report explains how the Human Rights Act and its provisions help to protect the rights of children in Scotland. It illustrates the impact the Human Rights Act, and the European Convention on Human Rights that it incorporates, has had on the development of children’s rights. It includes analysis of how UK Government proposals to reform the Human Rights Act would undermine children’s rights protections in Scotland.
‘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).
Competition and Markets Authority – Children’s Social Care market study
April 2021. We wrote to the CMA about the way the Children’s Social Care market affects the human rights of children in residential care.
Accommodation of Asylum-Seeking Mothers and Babies in Glasgow
March 2022. A report into human rights breaches due to unsuitable housing for asylum-seeking mothers and their babies in Glasgow.
Child contact proceedings for children affected by domestic abuse: briefing paper
Provides an overview of research on current practices and procedures in child contact proceedings for children affected by domestic abuse.