Children 1st has welcomed the passage of the UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill in the Scottish Parliament today. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) is an international human rights treaty which sets out the rights every child has. Scotland’s national children’s charity has hailed the historic day as a ‘huge step forward’ and a ‘crucial milestone’ in Scotland’s journey towards making rights real for every child.
Commenting on the passage of the UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill today in the Scottish Parliament, Children 1st Chief Executive Mary Glasgow said:
“The UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill is a bold and brave commitment to children, young people and their families. This marks an incredibly important moment for children’s rights in Scotland, and a huge step forward after years of campaigning, led by children and young people themselves. The fact that this Bill is now on its way to becoming law really is a testament to their bravery and hard work.
“At Children 1st we often work with children and families who are determined to make things better for other children and families – undoubtedly, those who helped make this Bill a reality have done that. We are so proud to have worked with everyone who advocated for this change, to make sure children’s human rights are better protected and respected in the future.
“While the journey to bringing the UNCRC into Scots law hasn’t been perfect, and there have been challenging moments in the course of this Bill, children’s human rights have never been more important.
“The UNCRC says that children, young people and their families should be supported to stay safe, happy, loved, well and together as much as possible. We know there’s so much more to do to make sure children’s rights are fulfilled in the way that the UNCRC envisages, and the children and families we work with are facing challenges like never before.
“Children 1st are committed to supporting Scotland to become a rights’ respecting nation, and with this Bill we will work tirelessly to ensure this legislation makes a difference to respect and protect children’s rights. But most importantly, it should build awareness and prompt a culture change so that we all know and understand these rights and what they mean, and they become an everyday part of the work that we do.
“Today is a moment to celebrate a crucial milestone in that journey, and I’m delighted to join those across Scotland who are taking time to recognise that.”
More information about what Children 1st is doing to raise awareness of children’s rights can be found here.
Materials explaining children’s rights and what they mean, developed by Children 1st in conjunction with children and young people, can be found here.