As children and young people across Scotland demand urgent action on climate change, we blog on why their right to protest must be respected.
News and stories
Children and young people all over Scotland are acting as Rights Defenders, and adults are taking steps to make sure more of them can. Here are some of the recent Rights Defenders stories that have been happening around our country.
Youth workers can support young Human Rights Defenders— as long as they know what this means
Incoming Chief Officer of YouthBorders Susan Hunter blogs on how youth workers can encourage the children and young people they work with to act as human rights defenders.
The climate strike: Children defending the human rights of us all
Children and Young People’s Commissioner Bruce Adamson on the young human rights defenders taking part in the climate strike on Friday 15 February.
YoungScot 5Rights Youth Leadership Group: Defending Young People’s Rights in the Digital World
Alex O’Reilly is a member of YoungScot’s 5Rights Youth Leadership Group, who promote the rights of children and young people in Scotland by exploring how they can be protected in the digital world. In this blog, he talks about what the Group’s been doing.
Swimming to the surface: Eilidh’s story as a human rights defender
Eilidh of our Human Rights Defenders Action Group writes about how identifying as a human rights defender has helped her stand up for herself and her own needs.
7 ways to get better at taking young people seriously
All children and young people have the right for their views to be listened to and taken seriously, but adults in Scotland aren’t always good at hearing what they have to say. Katrina Lambert of our Human Rights Defenders Action Group outlines key things adults can do to help young citizens bring about real change.
Chloe and Kayleigh: Defending human rights in Inverness
Chloe and Kayleigh are two young Rights Defenders from Shetland. In this blog, they talk about their experiences at this year’s Human Rights Gathering on Rights Defenders.
Launching our Rights Defenders Action Group
Last month, Bruce – the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland – launched the Rights Defenders Action Group, which brings together young human rights defenders from across Scotland. Here, Action Group member Charlotte talks about how the first session went.
‘Don’t be afraid; just go for it!’ Scottish Children Take Over the United Nations
Kara Brown from the Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland's office blogs about the inspiring child human rights defenders she met at the UN's Day of General Discussion.
Child Human Rights Defenders from Scotland prepare for UN Day of General Discussion
Children and young people from across Scotland are preparing to travel to Geneva for the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child’s Day of General Discussion (DGD), which takes place on Friday 28th September.