The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) will become part of Scots law from Tuesday, July 16 and further supports our young people to be at the heart of public services.
Everyone has a special responsibility to protect and advocate for the rights of our children to ensure they are free to learn, play and develop. This is a now a legal responsibility for our Council.
This Convention – the gold standard for children’s rights and the blueprint for the Council – details how we must protect, listen to and nurture our children.
This ranges from being given a name at birth and an education, through to good health care and protection from neglect. It is central to our Council Plan 2023-28.
Donna Anderson, our Youth Participation and Democracy Officer shares: “From Monday, July 16, North Ayrshire Council, alongside all Scottish local authorities, will have a statutory duty to give children’s rights a clearer voice – ensuring they are at the heart of our decision making.
“As a Council, we all have an ongoing responsibility to protect the rights of our children and young people and over the summer, we will be shining a spotlight on some brilliant examples of how we are doing just this.
“Called UNCRC, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is a series of rights that ensure that children and young people’s rights are respected, and they are free to learn, play and develop.
“From July, the legislation is now part of Scots law. The Convention will be the gold standard for children’s rights and a blueprint for the Council. It lists everything children and young people are entitled to, from being given a name at birth and an education to good health care and protection from neglect.
“Youth Services alongside other services in the Council has identified Champions within services to spread further awareness of what everyone’s responsibilities are going forward.”
The UNCRC affects EVERYONE in our Council in every service, not only services traditionally associated with children such as education, housing or social work.
Look out for our hashtag #UNCRCNorthAyrshire going forward for case studies, examples of best practice and news updates of how the Council will ensure children and young people continue to have a voice that can be clearly heard in all areas of life.
Examples of what is covered in the 54 Convention articles includes everyone aged under 18 having the right to:
- Be registered at birth and given a name (Article 7)
- Enjoy freedom of expression (Article 13)
- Expect protection from violence, abuse and neglect (Article 19) and
- Access education (Article 28)
You can see the full list of articles here in a user-friendly graphic: https://uni.cf/2P2l0ZZ
If you are interested in getting involved in youth work and helping to champion children and young people’s rights in North Ayrshire, drop us a DM or email: youthwork@north-ayrshire.gov.uk
Please continue to follow our internal communications channels – Staff Talk, News In Brief and Staff News – for updates on the UNCRC.
“As a Council, we all have an ongoing responsibility to protect the rights of our children and young people and over the summer, we will be shining a spotlight on some brilliant examples of how we are doing just this.”Donna Anderson, Youth Participation and Democracy Lead