About SCCYP

Our History

The Convention on the Rights of the Child, adopted in 1989, symbolised a new worldwide determination to do better for children.

The Convention required the 191 countries that agreed to it to report regularly to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child. The Committee, established by the Convention, consists of 10 experts, elected by States Parties to monitor progress towards implementation.

The Committee on the Rights of the Child has consistently encouraged all the States to establish special mechanisms, structures and activities for children and has placed particular emphasis on the development of independent offices to promote the human rights of children.

The creation of a Commissioner for Children and Young People specifically in Scotland came about after a 10-year campaign by organisations working with children and young people.

In 2002, many of these organisations gave evidence to the Scottish Parliament's Education Culture and Sport Committee, and its report (click here to view report) led to The Commissioner for Children and Young People (Scotland) Act

This was passed by the Scottish Parliament in 2003, and the first Commissioner, Kathleen Marshall, began work in April 2004.

Kathleen spent her first year travelling across the country, speaking and listening to people about the lives of children and young people and what she might do to make things better for them.

An office was set up in Edinburgh's Holyrood Road, just yards from the Scottish Parliament, and between 2004 and 2005, staff were recruited to assist in Kathleen's work.