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.
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
Resource: Coronavirus (Scotland)(No. 2) BillMSP Briefing
MSP Briefing: Coronavirus (Scotland) (No. 2) Bill (Stage 2)
Read the text of this briefing on a mobile-friendly webpage.
Resource: MSP Briefing
MSP Briefing: Coronavirus (Scotland) (No.2) Bill (Stage 1)
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File type: pdf
Download Coronavirus Scotland (No. 2) Bill: Stage 1 BriefingRead the text of this briefing on a mobile-friendly webpage.
Resource: Consultation Responses
Response: Joint Committee on Human Rights Inquiry into COVID-19
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File type: pdf
Download JCHR inquiry responseRead the text of this briefing on a mobile-friendly webpage.
Resource: Letter
Joint letter: Equality and Human Rights and the Coronavirus in Scotland
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File type: pdf
Download Letter to Ruth Maguire MSP
Resource: MSP Briefing
MSP Briefing: Coronavirus (Scotland) Bill
Size: 114.38 KB
File type: pdf
Download Coronavirus (Scotland) Bill MSP BriefingRead the text of this briefing on a mobile friendly webpage.
Resource: MSP Briefing
MSP Briefing: Coronavirus Bill Legislative Consent Memorandum
Size: 107.87 KB
File type: pdf
Download Coronavirus Bill Legislative Consent Memorandum BriefingRead 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 our news and blogs on the subject are collected here.
Children and young people deserve our support in the coronavirus pandemic. This is what Scotland must do to protect their rights
As Scotland’s schools prepare to shut as a result of the Coronavirus, Commissioner Bruce Adamson blogs on how adults can protect the human rights of children and young people in difficult times.
Supermarkets urged not to challenge families with children when out shopping for essentials
The Commissioner and parenting organisations have written to supermarkets urging them to provide guidance to staff on the legitimate reasons why parents and carers may have to shop with their children.
Podcast: Life during Lockdown
In our Life under Lockdown podcast, our young advisers Jodi and Jaymie talk to Bruce the Commissioner about their lives during the COVID-19 pandemic. They talk about challenges to their mental health and wellbeing, anxieties over exams and their future, and what they’ve been able to reflect on while lockdown has been underway.
Learning from home with the Commissioner
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.