In March 2021, the Scottish Parliament passed the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill. After a legal challenge by the UK Government, the Supreme Court today found that while some aspects of the Bill are outside the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament, there is no dispute about the Scottish Parliament’s decision to incorporate the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child into Scots Law. 

Children’s Hearings Scotland’s Depute Chief Executive, Lynne Harrison, said, “We remain absolutely committed to protecting and upholding children’s rights, and to ensuring that their voice is front and centre of decision-making in children’s hearings.

“We welcome this continued commitment to incorporating the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child into Scots law, and we will continue to make important changes to our learning, training, practice and policy to make sure children’s rights are at the heart of everything we do.”

Last year, our organisation launched a Children’s Rights and Inclusion Strategy. Read more about it here.