Consortium Briefs MSPs Ahead of Final UNCRC Debate

Consortium Briefs MSPs Ahead of Final UNCRC Debate

On Thursday 7th December, the Scottish Parliament will vote for the final time on whether the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) shall be incorporated into Scots law.

The UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill was first introduced to Parliament in March 2021, and unanimously passed by Parliament. However, a UK Supreme Court ruling prevented the Bill from passing into law, because parts of the Bill lay outside the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament. Amendments had to be made to bring the Bill back into line with the devolution agreement between Scotland and Westminster. Now, the amended Bill will be presented to the Scottish Parliament for a final vote.

In our briefing, we call on MSPs to, once again, give unanimous support to children and young people’s
human rights by agreeing to the amendments and passing the Bill.

We also ask MSPs to call on their Ministers to commit to extending the scope of the Bill, and ensuring its full and effective implementation.

The UNCRC Incorporation Bill is the most significant step forwards for children’s human rights
since the Scottish Parliament began, and MSPs are being presented with a chance to make human rights a reality for every child who lives in Scotland. We urge them to take this chance.

Click here to read the briefing