Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Bill: child rights and wellbeing impact assessment

Introduction

As set out in Part 1 of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014, Scottish Ministers must keep under consideration whether there are any steps which they could take which would or might secure better or further effect in Scotland of the UNCRC requirements, and if they consider it appropriate to do so, take any of the steps identified by that consideration. Undertaking a CRWIA helps Ministers to fulfil this duty.

There are two key considerations when undertaking a CRWIA:

Participation: The United Nations Convention on the Right of the Child (UNCRC) sets out that children have the right to participate in decisions which affect them. When assessing the impacts of the policy/measure, you are recommended to consult with children and young people. You can do this directly, through organisations that represent children and young people or through using existing evidence on the views and experiences of children where relevant. Participation of children and young people should be meaningful and accessible.

Evidence: You are recommended to gather evidence when assessing the impact of the policy/measure on children's rights and also for measuring and evaluating the policy/measure. If you identify any gaps in the evidence base, you can discuss how you will address these with analytical colleagues.