Children's rights in Scotland
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) (Scotland) Act 2024 was enacted on 16 July 2024. The act will ensure that children’s rights are respected and protected in Scotland. All public bodies and organisations that provide services on behalf of a public body must comply with the legislation.
Incorporation of the UNCRC
The Improvement Service is supporting local authorities with the implementation of the UNCRC. There are case studies available on their website.
Child friendly complaints
The Scottish Public Service Ombudsman has created child friendly complaints guidance. This will help organisations implement the Model Complaints Handling Procedure in a way that upholds children’s rights under the UNCRC.
We do not have the remit to investigate complaints related to an infringement of children’s rights. Your local authority should have a child friendly complaints-handling (spso.org.uk) process. If we receive a complaint we will pass it on to the relevant contact in the local authority.
Youth Voice Toolkit
We have developed a Youth Voice Toolkit to help make rights real. It provides guidance, resources and information to support practitioners and leaders across Scotland in delivering meaningful and non-tokenistic youth voice approaches. The toolkit outlines how to create a charter of principles to support effective youth participation and includes a downloadable Empowering Youth Voice resource to support children and young people to undertake peer-research on any theme. The toolkit empowers children and young people to share their views on issues that affect their lives, across both school and community settings.
About the UN Convention on Child Rights
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) is the basis for all of UNICEF’s work and upholds children’s rights worldwide. What is the UNCRCSimplified articles
The Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland has published an overview of the UNCRC articles. The UNCRC articlesTaking a human rights approach
Guidance to provide information and resources to support public authorities and other organisations in implementing a children’s human rights approach. Taking a children's human rights approach: guidanceEnsuring children's rights
Featured content
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Recognising and realising children's rights
Why we do what we do, how we do it and how we communicate.
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Children's rights in schools
Answers to frequently asked questions relating to supporting children's rights in schools
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Children's rights at home
A link to the Parent Club resource outlining helpful advice around children's rights at home.
Standards supporting children's rights in Scotland
Social justice
1. Embracing global educational and social values of sustainability, equality, equity, and justice and recognising children’s rights.
2. Respecting the rights of all learners as outlined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and their entitlement to be included in decisions regarding their learning experiences and have all aspects of their wellbeing developed and supported.
Trust and respect
Promoting and engendering a rights respecting culture and the ethical use of authority associated with one’s professional roles.
Further information
A children’s rights-based approach: a guide for teachers (gtcs.org.uk)
Competences
D: Facilitate and promote community empowerment
G: Evaluate and inform practice
Ethics 3: Equity
Values
Inclusion and Empowerment.
Further information
Competent Practitioner Framework 2022 (cldstandardscouncil.org.uk)
- I must protect and promote the rights and interests of individuals and carers.
Further information
UNCRC professional learning
Login to view professional learning activities
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An introduction to the United Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC): part one
This Professional Learning Activity aims to raise awareness and understanding of UNCRC.
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The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) part two: Early Learning and Childcare
This part two focuses on children's rights in relation to early learning and childcare (ELC).
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The United Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) part two: secondary schools
This part two focuses on children's rights in relation to secondary schools.
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The United Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) part two: primary schools
This part two focuses on children's rights in relation to primary schools.
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The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC): Part Two - Additional Support Needs
This part two focuses on children's rights in relation to Additional Support Needs.
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The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) part two: Gaelic Medium Education (GME)
This part two focuses on GME in Primary School settings.
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An introduction to the United Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC): part one (Gaelic)
This Professional Learning Activity aims to raise awareness and understanding of UNCRC. (Gaelic version)
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The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) part two: Gaelic Medium Education (GME) (Gaelic)
This part two focuses on GME in Primary School settings. (Gaelic version)
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Children's rights in youth work
This is a professional learning resource aims to raise knowledge and awareness of United Nations Conventions of the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).
Children's rights self-evaluation toolkit
The children's rights self-evaluation toolkit can also be used by settings to reflect on how they are taking forward children’s rights within their context.