Incorporation of the UNCRC puts children’s rights into the heart of everything we do.
It takes the international promises we’ve signed up to and gives them real force in Scotland.
It’s the most important thing Scotland can do to protect the rights of children and young people.
And on 16 March 2021 the Scottish Parliament unanimously passed the UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill, meaning UNCRC incorporation will soon be a reality in Scotland.
What is UNCRC incorporation?
Incorporation of the UNCRC means it gets written into a country’s law at a national level— a level known as domestic law.
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill has now passed the Scottish Parliament, and so will soon become Scots law. Once it does, it’ll come into force within six months.
When a Convention is incorporated into Scots law, it has more power to bring about change.
Often, this happens through cultural change.
But this is underpinned by the fact the law can be used in Scottish courts.
So that means that the Scottish Government can soon be taken to court in Scotland if it doesn’t keep its UNCRC promises.
Our work on UNCRC Incorporation
Recent work our office has done around the incorporation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child into Scots law.
How you can help make rights real
Information to help children, young people and adults learn more about the UNCRC and about putting it into action.