Progressing the Human Rights of Children in Scotland - action plan: progress report 2020

Governance Arrangements

To provide a leadership space to discuss ideas and issues, to make children’s rights real in Scotland and oversee the action plan.

High-level oversight of progress made in relation to the strategic actions in the Action Plan was provided by the Improving Outcomes for Children and Young People Strategic Forum. The Forum was chaired jointly by the Scottish Government Director of Children and Families and Director of Learning and included representatives from local government, public authorities and the third sector. The Forum last met on 4 March 2020. 

In addition, the Director of Children and Families has convened a cross-government group of Directors within the Scottish Government to ensure co-ordinated approaches to policy and outcomes relevant to the rights and wellbeing of children and young people. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, since March 2020, governance activity has focused on the collective response to the health emergency and its impact for children and young people, especially those who are vulnerable. As set out in earlier sections of this Report, in May 2020, the Scottish Government established a COVID-19 Children and Families Collective Leadership Group, which receives regular intelligence and identifies actions in response to the impact of the pandemic. In June 2020, an Advisory Group was established to support the work of the Leadership Group, by sharing the lived experiences of particular groups. 

Future governance arrangements are being considered in the context of the passage of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation)(Scotland) Bill, the new reporting requirements in the Bill and the associated development of a Children’s Rights Scheme.