Equality and human rights mainstreaming: children's right and wellbeing impact assessment

Conclusion

The Equality and Human Rights Mainstreaming Strategy and Action Plan represents a significant step toward embedding children's rights within public sector policy and practice in Scotland. In-line with the duties in the UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024, the Strategy demonstrates a strong commitment to promoting non-discrimination, prioritising the best interests of the child, and enhancing participation and inclusion. While the evidence base supports the Strategy’s potential to positively impact children’s wellbeing, key gaps—particularly around direct engagement with children, intersectional analysis, and the experiences of vulnerable groups—must be addressed to ensure its effectiveness. The recommended changes, including improved consultation mechanisms and child-specific resources, will strengthen the Strategy’s impact and ensure it remains responsive to the diverse needs of Scotland’s children and young people.

As a result of the evidence gathered and analysed against all UNCRC requirements, what is the potential overall impact of this proposal on children's rights?

Positive

If you have identified a positive impact on children's rights, please describe below how the proposal will protect, respect, and fulfil children's rights in Scotland.

The Equality and Human Rights Mainstreaming Strategy will positively impact children's rights in Scotland in several ways:

1. Non-discrimination (Article 2): By focusing on eliminating discrimination and promoting equality, the Strategy will help ensure that all children, regardless of their background or characteristics, are treated fairly and have equal access to opportunities and services.
2. Best interests of the child (Article 3): The Strategy's emphasis on mainstreaming equality and human rights considerations across all government functions will help ensure that the best interests of children are more consistently considered in policy-making and service delivery.
3. Respect for the views of the child (Article 12): The Strategy's commitment to stakeholder engagement provides a framework for increasing children's participation in decision-making processes that affect them.
4. Freedom from violence and exploitation (Articles 19, 34, 36): The Strategy's focus on human rights will strengthen protections for children against all forms of violence, abuse, and exploitation.
5. Children with disabilities (Article 23): The Strategy's focus on accessibility and inclusion will help remove barriers for disabled children, promoting their full participation in communities.
6. Right to health (Article 24): By addressing health inequalities and promoting equal access to health services, the Strategy will contribute to children's right to the highest attainable standard of health.
7. Right to an adequate standard of living (Article 27): By aiming to address systemic inequalities, the Strategy will contribute to improving living standards for children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
8. Right to education and goals of education (Articles 28 and 29): By promoting equality in public services, including education, the Strategy will support equal access to education for all children, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
9. Children from minority groups (Article 30): The Strategy's aim to protect and promote equality and human rights, including the rights of minority groups will help ensure that children from ethnic, religious, or linguistic minorities can fully enjoy their own culture, practice their religion, and use their language.
10. Right to leisure, play and culture (Article 31): The Strategy's holistic approach to equality and inclusion is likely to promote better access to play, recreational, and cultural activities for all children.

The Strategy will help fulfil these rights by encouraging a mainstreaming approach that:

• Provides a framework for public bodies to consistently consider equality and human rights in their policies and practices, which includes children’s rights.
• Promotes data collection and analysis to better understand and address inequalities, which includes those that affect children.
• Encourages the development of targeted interventions to support vulnerable people, which includes vulnerable children.
• Fosters a culture of rights awareness and respect across public services.
• Strengthens accountability mechanisms aiming to ensure that equality and human rights are upheld, which includes children’s rights.

As a result of the evidence gathered and analysed against all wellbeing indicators, will the proposal contribute to the wellbeing of children and young people in Scotland?

Safe: Yes Healthy: Yes Achieving: Yes Nurtured: Yes Active: Yes Respected: Yes Responsible: Yes Included: Yes

If yes, please provide an explanation below:

The Equality and Human Rights Mainstreaming Strategy should contribute to the wellbeing of children and young people across all SHANARRI indicators:

1. Safe: By promoting equality and human rights, the Strategy will contribute to creating safer environments for children, free from discrimination and abuse.
2. Healthy: The Strategy's focus on reducing health inequalities and improving access to health services will support better health outcomes for all children.
3. Achieving: By promoting equal opportunities in education and other public services, the Strategy will support all children in reaching their full potential.
4. Nurtured: The Strategy's emphasis on inclusive practices will contribute to creating more nurturing environments in public services and communities.
5. Active: By promoting accessibility and inclusion, the Strategy will support all children, including those with disabilities, in participating in play, recreation, and sports activities.
6. Respected: The Strategy's focus on stakeholder engagement and promoting human rights will contribute to a culture where children's views are respected and valued.
7. Responsible: By promoting equality and human rights awareness, the Strategy will support children in understanding their rights and responsibilities in society.
8. Included: The core aim of the Strategy is to promote inclusion and reduce inequalities, directly contributing to making all children feel included in their communities and society.

How will you communicate to children and young people the impact that the proposal will have on their rights?

To communicate the impact of the Equality and Human Rights Mainstreaming Strategy on children's rights:

The Scottish Government aims to improve accessibility of the Strategy by providing alternative formats, such as summary versions and easy-read materials, to support broader understanding and engagement

Sign off

Policy Lead Signature & Date of Sign Off: R Priestley 4th Nov 2025

Deputy Director Signature & Date of Sign Off: N Bland. 18 Nov 2025