14th October 2019
'Children should grow up in a family environment of happiness, love and understanding. This simple concept sits at the heart of the international legal framework that protects children – the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).
'UNCRC creates legal obligations on governments to ensure children get what they need to thrive such as healthcare, housing and education. It recognises parents as the most important defenders of children’s rights and requires governments to properly support families.
'While some protections already exist in domestic law, it’s hard for children and their families to influence decision makers, or get justice when children’s rights are breached. That is why it’s essential that UNCRC is brought into domestic Scots law.
'After decades of campaigning, the Scottish Government has agreed to incorporate UNCRC by 2021. This is the most important thing we can do to ensure children’s rights are protected and to make sure we can hold the government and all those in power to account.
'On universal children’s day last year, international experts presented a draft law to the Scottish Government. They highlighted the importance of UNCRC being incorporated fully and that the Scottish Government shouldn’t pick and choose which rights it wants to protect. They highlighted that all those in power must be legally bound to respect children’s rights, and that children and their families must have the power to hold them to account. It is important we get these protections as soon as possible and that there isn’t a delay. This year is the 30th anniversary of UNCRC and as the world celebrates on 20 November we look forward to seeing the Scottish Government’s proposals.'
*Bruce Adamson is the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland. He is independent of Government and has the statutory responsibility to promote and safeguard the rights of children and young people.