Consortium Supports Call for First Minister Candidates to Incorporate UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
Following the announcement of First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s resignation, Members of the Children’s Parliament and Scottish Youth Parliament have written to the new First Ministerial candidates. With the support of 74 other organisations, including the Consortium, they have asked the candidates to express their commitment to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill.
The Bill, if passed, would give legal effect to the Convention on the Rights of the Child in Scots law, granting stronger protections to children and young people’s rights.
The Bill was initially passed by the Scottish Parliament in March 2021, but was challenged by the UK Government in the Supreme Court because it was believed that some aspects of the Bill overstepped the devolution agreement between the Scottish Parliament and Westminster. In October 2021, the Supreme Court agreed that some sections of the Bill were outwith the powers of the Scottish Parliament, and ever since then the Bill has been sitting with the Scottish Government, which must amend the Bill before it is presented to Parliament once more.
The letter asks the 3 candidates for First Minister to re-assure children and young people of their commitment to re-introducing the Bill, and giving children and young people’s rights the priority and due attention they deserve.