Your rights help you live your life safely and happily.
Your rights apply to ALL young people under 18 (but SCCYP also looks out for your rights if you are under 21 and have ever been 'looked after' or in care)
Your rights are protected under law by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) which means no-one can take your rights away from you.
Who protects your rights?
Every country in the world - apart from the USA and Somalia - has agreed to make sure your rights are protected.
This means that the UK government MUST ensure that your rights are protected. In Scotland it’s no different. The Scottish government has a duty to protect and promote your rights.
One of the main reasons SCCYP was set up in Scotland was to make sure that there is someone here who can stand up for you and who you can get in touch with if your rights aren’t being respected.
What exactly are your rights?
Your rights include:
Want to find out more? Read the full illustrated guide to your rights.
After you’ve read them, Tam and the team would love to know what you think. Talk to Tam now.
More about your rights
Children and young people’s rights in Scotland are set out in Scottish, UK and International law. The Act that set up the post of Commissioner requests that in carrying out his work he pay particular regard to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).
UNCRC
The UNCRC is one of nine core international human rights treaties, and was approved by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1989. It sets out the basic rights that all children and young people should have.
When the UK Government ratified the UNCRC in December 1991, it promised to implement the UNCRC into law, policy and practice. This promise extends to the Scottish Government, public bodies and local authorities where their laws, policies and practice impact on the rights of children and young people.
A key part of the Commissioner’s job is to raise awareness throughout Scotland of the UNCRC and the rights enshrined in it, as well as monitoring the implementation of it.