UNCRC statutory guidance: consultation analysis - child friendly report

Introduction

What is the UNCRC Act?

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024, often called the UNCRC Act, is an important new law which means that children's rights are protected in law in Scotland.

‘Children’ in the UNCRC Act means anyone up to the age of 18.

Public authorities, like schools, hospitals and the police, must respect children's rights when they make decisions and carry out their work.

Children and people who represent them can ask the courts to help if they feel their rights are not respected.

Some organisations that are named in the Act – listed authorities – have to report on what they have done and plan to do to uphold this new law and progress children’s rights.

How do public authorities know what they need to do?

The Scottish Government has published two guidance documents to help public authorities understand this new law and what they need to do.

To help make the guidance, the Scottish Government asked the public what they thought of an early version of the guidance. They had 92 answers – from people and organisations.

They also asked groups of children to share their thoughts. 55 children and young people shared their views on six areas related to the guidance.

This summary report explains what they told us.