• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Vision and Mission
    • What We Do
    • Our History
    • Our Structure
    • Our Funders and Supporters
    • Vacancies
  • Healthcare
    • Campaigning
    • Consultation Responses
    • Learn about healthcare rights
    • Mental Health & Wellbeing in Children and Young People
    • The EACH Charter 
  • Services
    • Children and Young People
    • Families and Carers
    • Professionals
    • Schools
    • Frequently asked questions
  • How You Can Help
    • Become a Member
    • Become a Volunteer
    • Join our Family Participation Group
    • Fundraise or Donate
  • Resources
  • News
  • Events
    • Children’s Health Scotland Conference
    • Scottish Children’s Health Awards
    • Scottish Children’s Health Week
    • Stress Awareness
  • Contact Us

Children's Health Scotland

You have the right to the best quality healthcare.

Please donate

  • E-mail
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Vimeo

UNCRC Incorporation Bill completes Stage 2

17th February 2021

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) Incorporation Bill passed Stage 2 on 11 February 2021.  Children’s Health Scotland was one of over 40 organisations and academics who worked with Together, the Scottish Alliance for Children’s Rights, to provide a briefing for MSPs and we are delighted that many of the amendments highlighted in this briefing have been agreed.

Key amendments agreed include:

  • Commencement date: this will be six months after royal assent.
  • Definition of public authority: organisations carrying out functions “under a contract or other arrangement with a public authority” will fall within the scope of the duty to act compatibly with the UNCRC requirements.
  • Interpretation: a series of amendments were passed which will strengthen the interpretation of children’s rights. This includes instructing courts to look at interpretative sources from the UNCRC and other UN Treaty Bodies such as General Comments, Concluding Observations and recommendations.
  • Remedies: amendments were passed that provide remedies under the Bill must be “effective” and that children’s views should be sought and taken into account when determining this.
  • Child-friendly reports: amendments were passed which will require child-friendly reports across various parts of the Bill.
  • Children’s Rights Scheme: a series of amendments were passed which will strengthen the Scheme. These included amendments to specify certain topics that the Children’s Rights Scheme must include, such as processes for child-friendly complaints, access to justice and steps to ensure the rights of children with protected characteristics or in situations of vulnerability.
  • Child Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessments (CRWIA): amendments reduced the level of ministerial discretion and improved transparency around CRWIAs.
  • Public body reporting duty: the reporting duty was amended to make it forward looking, so that listed authorities must report both on what they have done and will do to further children’s rights. The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service and Scottish Prison Service were added to the list of bodies required to report.

An updated version of the Bill which reflects the amendments can be accessed here.

The Bill will now proceed to Stage 3. Further amendments may be made at this point and a final vote will be held on whether the Bill should be passed. Dates for Stage 3 are still to be fixed.

Primary Sidebar

Other news

To survive and then thrive we need the right balance of critical thinking, practical action, and hope

1st March 2021

  • Children’s Health Scotland is Proud to Support #CareDay21
  • UNCRC Incorporation Bill completes Stage 2

Back to all News and Events

Past news and events

Translate this site

Know your rights

EACH charter cover
Did you know that all Children and Young People are protected by the EACH ( European Association for Children in Hospital) Charter?

This sets out ten articles that describe how you can be expected to be treated in hospital, and what your rights are.

Sign up to our news mailing

  • Name * REQUIRED
  • * REQUIRED
  • Young People up to their 13th birthday need their parent or carer’s consent under data protection law to sign up online. Please select one option: * REQUIRED
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Children’s Health Scotland. Scottish Charity No. SC006016. Registered Company No. 100114

Registered Address : 22 Laurie Street, Edinburgh EH6 7AB

Copyright © 2021 Children's Health Scotland

  • Privacy
  • Accessibility
  • Sitemap

Site design and build by graphics.coop · Powered by WordPress

The Scottish Government Children, Young People and Families Early Intervention Fund We acknowledge the support of the Scottish Government through a CYPFEIF and ALEC Fund Grant.