Annual cabinet meeting with children and young people: sixth meeting – 1 March 2022

As a result of the sixth annual Cabinet meeting with children and young people we have agreed a total of nine commitments, which we will take forward in partnership over the course of the year. We will report on progress on these, including a final progress report prior to next year’s meeting.

Commitments

• we will continue to engage and keep children and young people fully up to date with the timing of the UNCRC Bill and its implementation
• we will continue to make awareness raising of children’s rights a high priority
• we will consider practical ways in which we will translate children’s rights into reality, with particular reference to: mental health of young people; and, promoting gender equality in schools
• we will continue to engage with the Scottish Youth Parliament and other youth partner organisations on the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill as it progresses through the Parliament and will work to ensure a positive and respectful debate around it
• we will do more to challenge behaviour that results in abuse, harassment and attacks against women and girls, think more about how women’s safety can be incorporated into our planning decisions, and as outlined in the Programme for Government, we will consider and act swiftly on Baroness Helena Kennedy QC’s report on misogyny
• we will continue to engage with SYP on the issues related to assisted dying as and when appropriate
• we will continue to address the drug deaths crisis as a public health issue, and we commit to working together to ensure that the voices of young people are heard as we take forward our national mission to save and improve lives. We will continue to engage with the detail of the Member’s Bill as it progresses
• we will continue to put children and young people’s voices at the heart of our approach to assessment in education
• we will ensure engagement and participation of children and young people in our efforts to tackle climate change