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CYPCS > Coronavirus > Our coronavirus work
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Our coronavirus work

Our office is working to promote and protect the rights of children and young people during the coronavirus pandemic.

Human rights don’t go away in a crisis, but realising them faces new challenges. Rights like the right to food, education and the best health possible still need to be fulfilled, but Scotland needs to take action so this happens for some of the most vulnerable children and young people in society.

How must Scotland protect children’s rights during the coronavirus pandemic?

Independent Children’s Rights Impact Assessment

We worked with the Observatory of Children’s Human Rights Scotland to conduct an Independent Children’s Rights Impact Assessment on how emergency laws and policies around coronavirus have affected children and young people in Scotland.

It’s the largest assessment of its kind to be done anywhere in the world around coronavirus laws and policies.

Find out more about the Independent Impact Assessment.

Our policy work on coronavirus

Emergency legislation passed by the Scottish and UK Governments has a significant effect on human rights protections for Scotland’s children and young people, and we are concerned it disproportionately affects the most vulnerable. Our MSP briefings outline our concerns around legislation as it was presented to the Scottish Parliament.

Our policy work on reopening schools

Our policy work on emergency legislation

Image of our joint letter to Ruth Maguire MSP

Resource: Miscellaneous policy

Joint letter: Equality and Human Rights and the Coronavirus in Scotland

A joint letter urging a Scottish Parliament Committee to consider an inquiry into the equality and human rights impacts of the response to COVID-19.

Size: 333.55 KB

File type: pdf

Download Letter to Ruth Maguire MSP

Read the text of this briefing on a mobile-friendly webpage.

News and blogs on coronavirus

Commissioner Bruce Adamson, our office’s staff and our young advisers have all written about coronavirus and children’s rights, and some of our news and blogs on the subject are collected here.

Coronavirus is an education emergency for Scotland. Children and young people must be involved in how we tackle it

The coronavirus pandemic has been a health emergency for Scotland, but since schools first closed in March we’ve been clear it’s been an education emergency as well.

Coronavirus is an education emergency for Scotland. Children and young people must be involved in how we tackle it
Children’s right to education in a pandemic: Our evidence to the Education and Skills Committee

Our office has responded to the Scottish Parliament’s call for evidence around school closures, exam cancellations and vulnerable children.

Children’s right to education in a pandemic: Our evidence to the Education and Skills Committee
Eilidh’s Top 10 things to keep you busy during lockdown!

Young adviser Eilidh: “I wanted to put together a list of things I’ve been doing that help me stay happy and occupied during this difficult time, and I really hope that you take the time to read this post!”

Eilidh’s Top 10 things to keep you busy during lockdown!

Learning from home with the Commissioner

Still from video with the words: Welcome to learning from home with the Children's Commissioner Scotland

Our Participation Officer Cathy is creating a series of videos to help children learn about their human rights at home, while supported by their parents or carers.

Watch our video series here.
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