The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill

Author: Lynne Currie, Nicki Georghiou and Sarah Harvie-Clark

PDF Published: Monday 02 Nov 2020 (SB 20-71)

Expand
Overview
Report

Hide

Hide

Overview
Report
- Executive Summary
- Introduction
- Background
  - Scottish Government consultation on UNCRC incorporation
  - The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)
    
    Optional protocols
    
    Committee on the Rights of the Child
    
    What is incorporation?
  - Human rights in Scotland
    
    First Minister's Advisory Group on Human Rights Leadership
  - Children's rights legislation in Scotland
    
    A timeline of children's rights legislation
    
    Getting it Right for Every Child
- What will the Bill do?
  - Part 1 and the Schedule: Incorporation of the UNCRC requirements
    
    Section 1 and the schedule: Meaning of the 'UNCRC requirements' and related expressions
    
    Consultation responses
    
    Section 2: Meaning of State Parties and related expressions
    
    Section 3: Power to modify the schedule
    
    Section 4: Interpretation of the UNCRC requirements
    
    Consultation responses
    
    Section 5: Duty to modify section 4 on ratification of the third optional protocol to the Convention
  - Part 2: Duties on public authorities and the role of the court
    
    The general approach in Part 2
    
    Background
    
    Consultation responses
    
    Part 2: in more detail
    
    Section 6: what is a 'public authority'?
    
    Section 7: court proceedings in respect of unlawful acts
    
    Sections 7 and 10: who can bring court proceedings?
    
    General
    
    The role of the Children's Commissioner
    
    Consultation responses
    
    Section 7: the time limits for bringing court proceedings
    
    A default rule of one year
    
    Under 18s and the time limit
    
    Section 8: the remedies a court or tribunal can grant
    
    What section 8 says
    
    Consultation responses
    
    The public authority duty and secondary legislation
  - Part 3: Children's Rights Scheme, child rights and wellbeing impact assessments and reporting duties
    
    Sections 11 - 13: Establishing a Children's Rights Scheme
    
    Consultation responses
    
    Section 14: Child rights and wellbeing impact assessments
    
    Consultation responses
    
    Section 15 and 16: Reporting duties of listed authorities
    
    Consultation responses
    
    Section 17: Consequential amendments of Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014
  - Part 4: Legislation and the UNCRC requirements
    
    Section 18: statements of compatibility in relation to legislation
    
    Consultation responses
    
    Section 19: interpretation of legislation
    
    Consultation responses
    
    Sections 20-23: Incompatible legislation
    
    Background
    
    The Scottish and UK human rights context
    
    The Scottish Government's consultation paper
    
    The approach in the Bill
    
    The provisions in more detail
    
    Section 20: Strike down declarators
    
    Section 21: Incompatibility declarators
    
    Sections 20 and 21: Which courts can make a declarator?
    
    Section 22: The role of the Lord Advocate and Children's Commissioner
    
    Section 23: what the Government must do after a declarator
    
    Consultation responses
  - Part 5: 'UNCRC compatibility issues' and 'compatibility questions'
    
    Policy aims
    
    The role of the UK Supreme Court
    
    The role of the Lord Advocate
    
    Consultation responses
  - Part 6: Remedial regulations
    
    Section 33: the normal procedure
    
    Section 34: the urgent procedure
- Costs
Sources

Scottish Parliament. (2020, September 1). United Nations Conventions on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill. Retrieved from https://beta.parliament.scot/-/media/files/legislation/bills/current-bills/united-nations-convention-on-the-rights-of-the-child-incorporation-scotland-bill/introduced/policy-memorandum-united-nations-convention-on-the-rights-of-the-child-scotland-bill.pdf [accessed 15 October 2020]

Together Scotland (Scottish Alliance for Children's Rights). (2020, September 2). Letter to MSPs. Retrieved from https://www.togetherscotland.org.uk/media/1696/msp_letter_final_020920.pdf [accessed 16 October 2020]

Together Scotland. (n.d.) Incorporation in context. Retrieved from https://www.togetherscotland.org.uk/media/1199/briefing-scottish-context.pdf [accessed 16 October 2020]

Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland. (2019). Position Paper: Scottish Government consultation on Incorporation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) into domestic law in Scotland. Retrieved from https://cypcs.org.uk/incorporation/our-work-on-uncrc-incorporation/position-paper-uncrc-incorporation/ [accessed 16 October 2020]

Scottish Government. (2019, May). Children's Rights: Consultation on incorporating the United Nations Convention on Rights of the Child into our domestic law in Scotland, question 18. See the discussion on pp 28-32. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/publications/childrens-rights-consultation-incorporating-uncrc-rights-child-domestic-law-scotland/

Arad Research. (2019, November 2019). United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child: consultation analysis. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/publications/uncrc-consultation-analysis-report/pages/1/ [accessed 16 October 2020]

UNICEF UK. (n.d.) A Summary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Retrieved from https://downloads.unicef.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNCRC_summary-1_1.pdf?_adal_sd=www.unicef.org.uk.1602520630003&_adal_ca=so%3Ddirect%26me%3Dnone%26ca%3Ddirect%26co%3D(not%2520set)%26ke%3D(not%2520set).1602520630003&_adal_cw=1602520628460.1602520630003&_adal_id=996c3c2c-1f4c-4f8c-8cdc-6b10030e478b.1601564673.3.1602520628.1601893023.e7fe44ad-7603-40bc-8013-771298546ba1.1602520630003&_ga=2.216693654.1091960945.1602520626-1691558233.1537973811 [accessed 15 September 2020]

United Nations General Assembly. (2000, May 25). Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict. Retrieved from https://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/OPACCRC.aspx [accessed 30 October 2020]

United Nations General Assembly. (2000, May 25). Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. Retrieved from https://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/OPSCCRC.aspx [accessed 30 October 2020]

United Nations General Assembly. (2011, December 19). Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a communications procedure. Retrieved from https://www.ohchr.org/en/professionalinterest/pages/opiccrc.aspx [accessed 30 October 2020]

Lundy, L., Kilkelly, U., Byrne, B., & Kang, J. (2012). The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child: A Study of Legal Implementation in 12 Countries. Retrieved from https://www.unicef.org.uk/publications/child-rights-convention-2012-report/ [accessed 16 October 2020]

Evans, A. (2018, June 28). Economic, social and cultural rights some frequently asked questions. Retrieved from https://digitalpublications.parliament.scot/ResearchBriefings/Report/2018/6/28/Economic--social-and-cultural-rights---some-frequently-asked-questions [accessed 27 October 2020]

UK Government. (2015). Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under article 44 of the Convention:. Retrieved from https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G15/044/91/PDF/G1504491.pdf?OpenElement [accessed 15 October 2020]

Committee on the Rights of the Child. (2016, July 12). Concluding observations on the fifth periodic report of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Retrieved from http://docstore.ohchr.org/SelfServices/FilesHandler.ashx?enc=6QkG1d%2fPPRiCAqhKb7yhskHOj6VpDS%2f%2fJqg2Jxb9gncnUyUgbnuttBweOlylfyYPkBbwffitW2JurgBRuMMxZqnGgerUdpjxij3uZ0bjQBP0P1vdh%2bzjU8EmP5PnGXSC [accessed 15 October 2020]

McCall-Smith, K. (2018, September 17). Incorporating International Human Rights in a Devolved Context. Retrieved from https://www.europeanfutures.ed.ac.uk/incorporating-international-human-rights-in-a-devolved-context/ [accessed 16 October 2020]

Shields, K. (2017, January 2017). Human Rights in Scotland. SB 07/01. Retrieved from http://www.parliament.scot/ResearchBriefingsAndFactsheets/S5/SB_17-01_Human_Rights_in_Scotland.pdf

Scottish Government. (2018, January 17). Ambition on human rights. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/news/ambition-on-human-rights/ [accessed 30 October 2020]

First Minister's Advisory Group on Human Rights Leadership. (2018, December 10). Recommendations for a new human rights framework to improve people’s lives: Report to the First Minister. Retrieved from https://humanrightsleadership.scot/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/First-Ministers-Advisory-Group-on-Human-Rights-Leadership-Final-report-for-publication.pdf [accessed 16 October 2020]

Enquire. (n.d.) Standards in Scotland’s Schools etc. Act 2000. Retrieved from https://enquire.org.uk/links/standards-scotlands-schools-act-2000/#:~:text=The%20Standards%20in%20Scotland's%20Schools,related%20duties%20of%20education%20authorities. [accessed 09 October 2020]

Scottish Parliament. (2007, April 18). Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007: Explanatory Notes. Retrieved from https://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2007/14/pdfs/aspen_20070014_en.pdf [accessed 09 October 2020]

Scottish Government. (n.d.) Policy: Child Protection: Children's hearings. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/policies/child-protection/childrens-hearings/ [accessed 20 October 2020]

CELCIS. (n.d.) The Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014. Retrieved from https://www.celcis.org/knowledge-bank/spotlight/what-does-children-and-young-people-scotland-act-2014-mean-celcis-and-its-partners/ [accessed 09 October 2020]

Together Scotland. (n.d.) Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014. Retrieved from https://www.togetherscotland.org.uk/about-childrens-rights/monitoring-the-uncrc/children-and-young-people-scotland-act-2014/ [accessed 09 October 2020]

Justice Committee. (2020, May 1). Stage 1 Report on the Children (Scotland) Bill. SP Paper 721 7th Report, 2020 (Session 5). Retrieved from https://digitalpublications.parliament.scot/Committees/Report/J/2020/5/1/Stage-1-Report-on-the-Children--Scotland--Bill

Scottish Government. (n.d.) GIRFEC principles and values. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/policies/girfec/principles-and-values/ [accessed 09 October 2020]

Scottish Parliament. (2020, September 1). United Nations Conventions on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill: Explanatory Notes. Retrieved from https://beta.parliament.scot/-/media/files/legislation/bills/current-bills/united-nations-convention-on-the-rights-of-the-child-incorporation-scotland-bill/introduced/explanatory-notes-united-nations-convention-on-the-rights-of-the-child-scotland-bill.pdf [accessed 18 October 2020]

Scottish Government. (2020, September 1). United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child Bill: rights and requirements. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/publications/united-nations-convention-on-the-rights-of-the-child-bill-rights-and-requirements/ [accessed 16 October 2020]

Scottish Government email. (2020, October 28). [Unpublished]. [accessed 28 October 2020]

United Nations. (n.d.) Conventions on the Rights of the Child: Declarations and Reservations. Retrieved from https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-11&chapter=4&clang=_en#EndDec [accessed 28 October 2020]

Human Rights Act 1998, section 8. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/42/section/8

Scottish Government. (2019). Consultation on incorporating the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child into our domestic law in Scotland: Response from CLAN Childlaw. Retrieved from https://consult.gov.scot/children-and-families/uncrc/consultation/view_respondent?sort=excerpt&order=ascending&uuId=247713690

Murdoch, J. (2017). Reed and Murdoch: Human Rights Law in Scotland. Fourth Edition, paras 170-178. Edinburgh: Bloomsbury Professional.

Scottish Parliament. (2020, September 1). United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation)(Scotland) Bill, section 6(3)(3)(ii). Retrieved from https://beta.parliament.scot/bills/united-nations-convention-on-the-rights-of-the-child-incorporation-scotland-bill

Scottish Parliament. (2020, September 1). United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation)(Scotland) Bill: Explanatory Notes, para 38. Retrieved from https://beta.parliament.scot/-/media/files/legislation/bills/current-bills/united-nations-convention-on-the-rights-of-the-child-incorporation-scotland-bill/introduced/explanatory-notes-united-nations-convention-on-the-rights-of-the-child-scotland-bill.pdf

Scottish Parliament. (2020, September 1). United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation)(Scotland) Bill, section 6 (3)(i) and (iii). Retrieved from https://beta.parliament.scot/bills/united-nations-convention-on-the-rights-of-the-child-incorporation-scotland-bill

Scottish Parliament. (2020, September 1). United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation)(Scotland) Bill, section 7(1)(a). Retrieved from https://beta.parliament.scot/bills/united-nations-convention-on-the-rights-of-the-child-incorporation-scotland-bill

Scottish Parliament. (2020, September 1). United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation)(Scotland) Bill, section 7(1)(b). Retrieved from https://beta.parliament.scot/bills/united-nations-convention-on-the-rights-of-the-child-incorporation-scotland-bill

Interpretation and Legislative Reform (Scotland) Act 2010, schedule 1. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2010/10/schedule/1

Scottish Government. (2020, September 24). Email to SPICe [unpublished].

Court of Session Act 1988, section 27B(2)(b). (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/36/section/27B

AXA General Insurance Ltd & Ors v Lord Advocate & Ors (Scotland) [2011] UKSC 46; [2012] 1 AC 868; 3 WLR 871; 2012 SC (UKSC) 122; 2011 SLT 1061.. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.supremecourt.uk/cases/uksc-2011-0108.html

Scottish Parliament. (2020, September 1). United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation)(Scotland) Bill, section 10(1). Retrieved from https://beta.parliament.scot/bills/united-nations-convention-on-the-rights-of-the-child-incorporation-scotland-bill

Scottish Government. (2020, September 29). Email to SPICe [unpublished].

Scottish Parliament. (2020, September 1). United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation)(Scotland) Bill, section 10(2). Retrieved from https://beta.parliament.scot/bills/united-nations-convention-on-the-rights-of-the-child-incorporation-scotland-bill

Scotland Act 1998, section 100(1). (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/46/section/100

Human Rights Act 1998, section 7(3). (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/42/section/7

Snowden, M., & Cormack, J. (2018). Discussion Paper: Overcoming Barriers to Public Interest Litigation in Scotland. Retrieved from https://scotland.shelter.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/1621526/Discussion_Paper_Overcoming_Barriers_Public_Interest_Litigation_Scotaland.pdf/_nocache

Scottish Parliament. (2014, February 6). Courts Reform (Scotland) Bill: Policy Memorandum, paras 175, 178 and 179. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/S4_Bills/Courts%20Reform%20(Scotland)%20Bill/b46s4-introd-pm.pdf

Courts Reform (Scotland) Act 2014, section 89, inserting section 27A into the Court of Session Act 1988. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2014/18/section/89/enacted

Scottish Parliament. (2014, February 6). Courts Reform (Scotland) Bill: Policy Memorandum, paras 176 and 179. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/S4_Bills/Courts%20Reform%20(Scotland)%20Bill/b46s4-introd-pm.pdf

Scottish Parliament. (2020, September 1). United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation)(Scotland) Bill, sections 7(7), (8) & (10). Retrieved from https://beta.parliament.scot/bills/united-nations-convention-on-the-rights-of-the-child-incorporation-scotland-bill

Scottish Parliament. (2020, September 1). United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation)(Scotland) Bill, section 7(7), (8) & (10). Retrieved from https://beta.parliament.scot/bills/united-nations-convention-on-the-rights-of-the-child-incorporation-scotland-bill

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation)(Scotland) Bill, section s 7(9) & (11). (n.d.) Retrieved from https://beta.parliament.scot/bills/united-nations-convention-on-the-rights-of-the-child-incorporation-scotland-bill

Scottish Parliament. (2020, September 1). United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation)(Scotland) Bill, section 8(1) & (2). Retrieved from https://beta.parliament.scot/bills/united-nations-convention-on-the-rights-of-the-child-incorporation-scotland-bill

Scottish Parliament. (2020, September 1). United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation)(Scotland) Bill, section 7(5) & (6). Retrieved from https://beta.parliament.scot/bills/united-nations-convention-on-the-rights-of-the-child-incorporation-scotland-bill#target1

Scottish Parliament. (2020, September 1). United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation)(Scotland) Bill, section 8(3). Retrieved from https://beta.parliament.scot/bills/united-nations-convention-on-the-rights-of-the-child-incorporation-scotland-bill

Scottish Government. (2019, May). United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation)(Scotland) Bill, pp 29 & 32, question 19. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/publications/childrens-rights-consultation-incorporating-uncrc-rights-child-domestic-law-scotland/

Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2015/6/contents/enacted [accessed 05 October 2020]

Scottish Government. (2019, March 11). Children's rights and wellbeing impact assessments: training tool, p11. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/publications/childrens-rights-wellbeing-impact-assessments-crwia-training-tool/ [accessed 08 October 2020]

Scottish Parliament. (2014). Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014, Part 1. Retrieved from https://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2014/8/part/1/enacted [accessed 08 October 2020]

Scottish Parliament. (2014). Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014, Part 2. Retrieved from https://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2014/8/part/2/enacted [accessed 07 October 2020]

Scottish Parliament. (2014). Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014, Part 1, Section 1 (4). Retrieved from https://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2014/8/part/1/enacted [accessed 07 October 2020]

Scotland Act 1998, section 29(2) and 31(1). (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/46/contents

Scottish Parliament. (2020, September 1). United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation)(Scotland) Bill, section 19(2). Retrieved from https://beta.parliament.scot/bills/united-nations-convention-on-the-rights-of-the-child-incorporation-scotland-bill#target1

Scotland Act 1998, section 29. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/46/section/29

Human Rights Act 1998, section 4. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/42/section/4

Scottish Parliament. (2020, September 1). United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation)(Scotland) Bill, section 20(10). Retrieved from https://beta.parliament.scot/bills/united-nations-convention-on-the-rights-of-the-child-incorporation-scotland-bill#target1

Scottish Parliament. (2020, September 1). United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation)(Scotland) Bill, section 20(2) & (4). Retrieved from https://beta.parliament.scot/bills/united-nations-convention-on-the-rights-of-the-child-incorporation-scotland-bill#target1

Scottish Parliament. (2020, September 1). United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation)(Scotland) Bill, section 20(5). Retrieved from https://beta.parliament.scot/bills/united-nations-convention-on-the-rights-of-the-child-incorporation-scotland-bill#target1

Scotland Act 1998, section 102. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/46/contents

Scottish Parliament. (2020, September 1). United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation)(Scotland) Bill, section 21(4). Retrieved from https://beta.parliament.scot/bills/united-nations-convention-on-the-rights-of-the-child-incorporation-scotland-bill#target1

Scottish Parliament. (2020, September 1). United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation)(Scotland) Bill, section 21(5). Retrieved from https://beta.parliament.scot/bills/united-nations-convention-on-the-rights-of-the-child-incorporation-scotland-bill#target1

Scottish Parliament. (2020, September 1). United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation)(Scotland) Bill, section 20(13). Retrieved from https://beta.parliament.scot/bills/united-nations-convention-on-the-rights-of-the-child-incorporation-scotland-bill#target1

Scottish Parliament. (2020, September 1). United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation)(Scotland) Bill, section 20(13)(b). Retrieved from https://beta.parliament.scot/bills/united-nations-convention-on-the-rights-of-the-child-incorporation-scotland-bill#target1

Scottish Parliament. (2020, September 1). United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill, section 25 (which would insert section 288AB(9) into the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995). Retrieved from https://beta.parliament.scot/bills/united-nations-convention-on-the-rights-of-the-child-incorporation-scotland-bill#target1

Scottish Parliament. (2020, September 1). United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill, section 32(2). Retrieved from https://beta.parliament.scot/bills/united-nations-convention-on-the-rights-of-the-child-incorporation-scotland-bill#target1

Scottish Parliament. (2020, September 1). United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill: Financial Memorandum. Retrieved from https://beta.parliament.scot/-/media/files/legislation/bills/current-bills/united-nations-convention-on-the-rights-of-the-child-incorporation-scotland-bill/introduced/financial-memorandum-united-nations-convention-on-the-rights-of-the-child-scotland-bill.pdf [accessed 16 October 2020]

Last Updated: 25/4 5:14pm

An error occured while loading, please try again in a few minutes.