Children’s charity looks at the influence of Scotland’s children and young people on six policy areas
A report commissioned by the Scottish Government explores the impact that children and young people have had on policy making in Scotland across local and national issues.
Charity Children in Scotland researched six policy areas, using a case study approach, to gain an understanding of how various organisations engage children and young people in matters that relate directly to them.
Those six areas are:
- Police powers
- Child rights
- Domestic violence
- Children’s hearings
- Sex education
- Human rights
The report authors noted the importance of children and young people having an influence on decision-making in accordance with their rights as outlined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Creating meaningful participation for children and young people is emphasised, and policy makers are encouraged to be creative in the way they engage with a younger audience.
It was found that some organisations do use a variety of methods to enable young people’s voices to be heard, but more funding may be required to improve levels of involvement.