Last week, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) (Incorporation) Act came into force.
The Act requires public authorities to take steps to ensure that their decisions and actions respect the rights of children and young people.
The Scottish Government has said that it will publish guidance to ensure all public authorities are aware of their duties and how to fulfil them. The Scottish Government is also developing a Children’s Rights Skills and Knowledge Framework to support public authorities to embed children’s rights in public services.
Commenting on the news, VHS Chair Christine Carlin said that:
“The incorporation of the UNCRC is a great step forward for Scotland. Health inequalities must not blight the lives of our present and future generations.
“The hard work begins now. Working alongside Public Health Scotland and our incredible members from across the voluntary health sector, and led by our new Chief Executive Tejesh Mistry, VHS is determined to reduce the health inequalities gap in Scotland.”
Tejesh Mistry, Chief Executive of VHS, added that:
“At VHS, everything we do is shaped around our aim of addressing Scotland’s health inequalities. Children and young people in Scotland face unacceptable levels of inequality and poverty, which has a proven impact on health outcomes.
“With that in mind, this news is extremely welcome. The UNCRC Act, if implemented effectively, will protect the rights of children and young people in Scotland and improve their ability to get involved in decision making.”
Read more about the act here.
