Children and young people’s rights in Scotland are set out in Scottish, UK and International law. The Act that set up the post of Commissioner requests that in carrying out his work he pay particular regard to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).
UNCRC
The UNCRC is one of nine core international human rights treaties, and was approved by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1989. It sets out the basic rights that all children and young people should have.
When the UK Government ratified the UNCRC in December 1991, it promised to implement the UNCRC into law, policy and practice. This promise extends to the Scottish Government, public bodies and local authorities where their laws, policies and practice impact on the rights of children and young people.
A key part of the Commissioner’s job is to raise awareness throughout Scotland of the UNCRC and the rights enshrined in it, as well as monitoring the implementation of it.