Forum Home → Discussion → Other areas of social welfare law → Thread
Scottish Government to incorporate United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child into Scots law
Following a consultation, the Scottish Government has anounced that it will introduce a Bill next year to incorporate the UNCRC into Scots law to the maximum extent possible within the powers of the Scottish Parliament.
Deputy First Minister John Swinney said -
‘Through the responses to our consultation, it is clear there is widespread support for directly and fully incorporating all of the rights set out in the Convention.
Our Bill will take a maximalist approach. We will incorporate the rights set out UNCRC in full and directly in every case possible - using the language of the Convention. Our only limitation will be the limit of the powers of this Parliament – limits to which many of us obviously object.
This approach will mean that the Convention on the Rights of the Child is enshrined directly into Scots law. This represents a huge step forward for the protection of child rights in Scotland.
Every devolved body, every health board, every council and the Scottish Government itself will be legally obliged to make sure they respect children’s rights. And, if they don’t, children and young people will be able to use the courts to enforce their rights. I hope the example of Scotland incorporating the convention will spur the UK and other countries to follow suit.’