State of Children’s Rights in Scotland Report 2014

Launched on 20 November 2014, the report reviews the extent to which children in Scotland are able to enjoy their rights as enshrined in the UNCRC.

It reflects on the past year since the publication of Together’s 2013 State of Children’s Rights report and discusses what progress has been made and where further efforts are needed.

The report was compiled and produced by Together (Scottish Alliance for Children’s Rights) following wide consultation with children’s organisations across Scotland. The State of Children’s Rights report 2014 is a culmination of the evidence received throughout the consultation alongside further desk research into issues that have been highlighted by Together’s members as being of particular priority.

The report notes many positive legislative and strategic developments to further the implementation of the UNCRC and improved understanding and implementation of the UNCRC in some areas.

The key themes running through the report on what still needs to be done to fully implement the UNCRC are:

• Ensuring that the most vulnerable children can exercise their rights;
• Raising awareness and understanding of children’s rights among adults and children alike;
• Ensuring that children have the power to defend their rights and seek a remedy if they are breached.

Speaking after the launch of the report, Aberlour Chief Executive, SallyAnn Kelly, said:

“The annual publication of this report is a very important part of efforts to keep us focused on the meaningful delivery and observance of children’s rights in Scotland. In this, the 25th Anniversary of the establishment of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, we should take the learning points that this report offers and look to the ways in which we can improve our approach to children’s rights across all aspects of our society. I congratulate Together on the publication of this report and on their continuing efforts to put the rights of the child at the heart of everything we do in Scotland.”

Read the full State of Children’s Rights report 2014 here.

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