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The Voice Task Group Guide to including children, young people, and families in the decision-making process.

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The Voice Task Group Guide to including children, young people, and families in the decision-making process.

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A guide on including children, young people, and families in the decision-making process.

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Decision making is part of everyone's daily life, so much so, that we do not think about the process we go through. The children, young people, and families we work with make decisions all the time, f

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Developed in 2018, this agreement sets of out how North Lanarkshire Children's services partnership and children and young people will work together. It includes a commitment to evaluate any work carried out.

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Learn more about how we do youth engagement and participation here in North Lanarkshire!

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Description of the Youth Engagement and Participation Infrastructure in North Lanarkshire, Scotland

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Participation Resources

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Sway: Create and share interactive reports, presentations, personal stories, and more.

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Sway is an easy-to-use digital storytelling app for creating interactive reports, presentations, personal stories and more. Its built-in design engine helps you create professional designs in minutes. With Sway, your images, text, videos, and other multimedia all flow together in a way that enhances your story. Sway makes sure your creations look great on any screen.

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The 7 Golden Rules for Participation are a set of principles that anyone working with children and young people can use. They inform adults what children and young people’s participation should feel like.

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The Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland

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What are the Golden Rules?

The 7 Golden Rules for Participation are a set of principles that anyone working with children and young people can use. They inform adults what children and young people's participation should feel like.

They were developed through consultation with children and young people and research with professional adults reflecting the knowledge and experience of those working to promote participation.

They can help adults:

understand what the United Nations means by participation, and

understand what they should do when helping children and young people take part in decision-making.

They can also help children and young people learn about their participation rights under Article 12 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Download the 7 Golden Rules

Our Golden Rules symbols resource

Our Golden Rules symbols resource is a communication tool for children and young people who:

are non-verbal,

have speech and language difficulties, and/or

have additional support needs.

It can also be used to help communicate ideas and information about participation to very young children.

Symbols are images which are used to support text making the meaning clearer and easier to understand. They can aid understanding which can increase involvement, choice and confidence.

If you want to use our Symbols resource with children and young people, it's a good idea to look through the 7 Golden Rules pack first.

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The 7 Golden Rules for Participation are a set of principles that inform adults what children and young people's participation should feel like.

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The UNCRC young peoples ambassadors created the #MakeItRight Campaign to share knowledge of young peoples rights.

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The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) sets out the fundamental rights for children. It's a complete statement of children's rights and outlines the civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights that all children are entitled to.

These rights can be categorised as:

survival rights

protection rights

developmental rights

participation rights

The UNCRC is the most widely ratified treaty in the world and its 54 articles cover all aspects of a child's life and take into account the best interests of children.

All of the rights are:

We need to make sure that everyone knows what children's rights are and that we recognise, respect, support and promote them.

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All children have rights. We just need to make sure that everyone knows what they are and where to find them, in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).

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The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) is the most complete statement of children’s rights ever produced and is the most widely-ratified international human rights treaty in history.

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The Bill for this Act of the Scottish Parliament was approved by the Parliament on 7th December 2023 and received Royal Assent on 16th January 2024

An Act of the Scottish Parliament to incorporate in Scots law rights and obligations set out in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child; to make related provision to ensure compliance with duties relating to the Convention; and for connected purposes.

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United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024

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United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024

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Legislation is available in different versions:

Latest Available (revised): The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the 'Changes to Legislation' area.

Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.

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United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024

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Voice of the Infant Best Practice Guidelines and Infant Pledge

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Voice of the Infant Best Practice Guidelines and Infant Pledge

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Best Practice Guidelines

and Infant Pledge

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Since 2014, the Lundy model of child participation, based on four key concepts (Space, Voice, Audience and Influence), has been used and adopted by national and international organisations, agencies and governments to inform their understanding of children’s participation, generating a sea-change in global understanding of child rights-based participation for both policy and practice.

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Since 2014, the Lundy model of child participation, based on four key concepts (Space, Voice, Audience and Influence), has been used and adopted by national and international organisations, agencies and governments to inform their understanding of children's participation, generating a sea-change in global understanding of child rights-based participation for both policy and practice.

PROVIDING AN UNDERSTANDING OF A CHILD'S RIGHT TO BE HEARD

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) requires governments to ensure that children's rights are respected.

Research on the implementation of the CRC was undertaken for the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People (NICCY) to inform his priorities for office. The remit was to identify areas where children's rights were ignored or underplayed. The team conducted interviews with over 1000 children and 350 adult stakeholders.

The NICCY study identified a lack of compliance with Article 12 of the UNCRC (children's right to have their views given due weight) as one of the cross-cutting issues affecting children in all aspects of their lives, including education. Children and young people consistently reported frustration that their views were not being listened to and taken seriously. One of the factors which appeared to hinder the full realisation of the right was the fact that the precise nature of Article 12 was not fully understood by CRC duty-bearers.

SPACE, VOICE, AUDIENCE, INFLUENCE

Article 12 is often described under the banner of 'the voice of the child', 'pupil voice' or 'the right to be heard', but these can misrepresent and indeed undermine the rights of children and young people. In view of this, Professor Laura Lundy, drawing on the research for NICCY, proposed a model for rights-compliant children's participation which offers a legally sound but practical conceptualisation of Article 12 of the CRC. This model suggests that implementation of Article 12 requires consideration of four inter-related concepts:

SPACE: Children must be given the opportunity to express a view

VOICE: Children must be facilitated to express their views

AUDIENCE: The view must be listened to.

INFLUENCE: The view must be acted upon, as appropriate.

'It is impossible to overstate the impact of the Lundy model. It has changed the global understanding of child participation.'

IMPROVING THE LIVES OF CHILDREN ACROSS THE WORLD

The Lundy model has been used to transform the ways in which the views and experiences of children across the world are heard at the United Nations.

Its promotion, adoption and implementation have contributed directly to ensuring that the United Nations, governments and national and international organisations involve children, right across the world, meaningfully in the decisions that affect their lives.

Professor Laura Lundy has collaborated with international organisations (the United Nations, European Commission, Council of Europe), international NGOs (Child Rights Connect, UNICEF, World Vision, Save the Children, Terre des Hommes), national governments and agencies (in Ireland, Taiwan, Belgium, Scotland, Iceland, New Zealand) and scores of other individual agencies and NGOs across the globe to adapt and apply the Lundy model in social and geographical contexts, with the consequence that millions of children have been heard and taken seriously in the decisions that affect their lives. These global organisations use the Lundy model to plan and evaluate child participation, including for the most vulnerable and marginalised children, in almost every country and every region of the world.

Impact related to the UN Sustainable Development Goals

Learn more about Queen's University's commitment to nurturing a culture of sustainability and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through research and education.

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Enabling the meaningful participation of children and young people globally: The Lundy Model

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Since 2014, the Lundy model of child participation, based on four key concepts (Space, Voice, Audience and Influence), has been used and adopted by national and international organisations, agencies and governments to inform their understanding of children's participation, generating a sea-change in global understanding of child rights-based participation for both policy and practice.

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Convention on the Rights of the Child: The children's version

1. Definition of a child

A child is any person under the age of 18.

2. No discrimination

All children have all these rights, no matter who they are, where they live, what language they speak, what their religion is, what they think, what they look like, if they are a boy or girl, if they have a disability, if they are rich or poor, and no matter who their parents or families are or what their parents or families believe or do. No child should be treated unfairly for any reason.

3. Best interests of the child

When adults make decisions, they should think about how their decisions will affect children. All adults should do what is best for children. Governments should make sure children are protected and looked after by their parents, or by other people when this is needed. Governments should make sure that people and places responsible for looking after children are doing a good job.

4. Making rights real

Governments must do all they can to make sure that every child in their countries can enjoy all the rights in this Convention.

5. Family guidance as children develop

Governments should let families and communities guide their children so that, as they grow up, they learn to use their rights in the best way. The more children grow, the less guidance they will need.

6. Life survival and development

Every child has the right to be alive. Governments must make sure that children survive and develop in the best possible way.

7. Name and nationality

Children must be registered when they are born and given a name which is officially recognized by the government. Children must have a nationality (belong to a country). Whenever possible, children should know their parents and be looked after by them.

8. Identity

Children have the right to their own identity - an official record of who they are which includes their name, nationality and family relations. No one should take this away from them, but if this happens, governments must help children to quickly get their identity back.

9. Keeping families together

Children should not be separated from their parents unless they are not being properly looked after - for example, if a parent hurts or does not take care of a child. Children whose parents don't live together should stay in contact with both parents unless this might harm the child.

10. Contact with parents across countries

If a child lives in a different country than their parents, governments must let the child and parents travel so that they can stay in contact and be together.

11. Protection from kidnapping

Governments must stop children being taken out of the country when this is against the law - for example, being kidnapped by someone or held abroad by a parent when the other parent does not agree.

12. Respect for children's views

Children have the right to give their opinions freely on issues that affect them. Adults should listen and take children seriously.

13. Sharing thoughts freely

Children have the right to share freely with others what they learn, think and feel, by talking, drawing, writing or in any other way unless it harms other people.

14. Freedom of thought and religion

Children can choose their own thoughts, opinions and religion, but this should not stop other people from enjoying their rights. Parents can guide children so that as they grow up, they learn to properly use this right.

15. Setting up or joining groups

Children can join or set up groups or organisations, and they can meet with others, as long as this does not harm other people.

16. Protection of privacy

Every child has the right to privacy. The law must protect children's privacy, family, home, communications and reputation (or good name) from any attack.

17. Access to information

Children have the right to get information from the Internet, radio, television, newspapers, books and other sources. Adults should make sure the information they are getting is not harmful. Governments should encourage the media to share information from lots of different sources, in languages that all children can understand.

18. Responsibility of parents

Parents are the main people responsible for bringing up a child. When the child does not have any parents, another adult will have this responsibility and they are called a "guardian". Parents and guardians should always consider what is best for that child. Governments should help them. Where a child has both parents, both of them should be responsible for bringing up the child.

19. Protection from violence

Governments must protect children from violence, abuse and being neglected by anyone who looks after them.

20. Children without families

Every child who cannot be looked after by their own family has the right to be looked after properly by people who respect the child's religion, culture, language and other aspects of their life.

21. Children who are adopted

When children are adopted, the most important thing is to do what is best for them. If a child cannot be properly looked after in their own country - for example by living with another family - then they might be adopted in another country.

22. Refugee children

Children who move from their home country to another country as refugees (because it was not safe for them to stay there) should get help and protection and have the same rights as children born in that country.

23. Children with disabilities

Every child with a disability should enjoy the best possible life in society. Governments should remove all obstacles for children with disabilities to become independent and to participate actively in the community.

24. Health, water, food, environment

Children have the right to the best health care possible, clean water to drink, healthy food and a clean and safe environment to live in. All adults and children should have information about how to stay safe and healthy.

25. Review of a child's placement

Every child who has been placed somewhere away from home - for their care, protection or health - should have their situation checked regularly to see if everything is going well and if this is still the best place for the child to be.

26. Social and economic help

Governments should provide money or other support to help children from poor families.

27. Food, clothing, a safe home

Children have the right to food, clothing and a safe place to live so they can develop in the best possible way. The government should help families and children who cannot afford this.

28. Access to education

Every child has the right to an education. Primary education should be free. Secondary and higher education should be available to every child. Children should be encouraged to go to school to the highest level possible. Discipline in schools should respect children's rights and never use violence.

29. Aims of education

Children's education should help them fully develop their personalities, talents and abilities. It should teach them to understand their own rights, and to respect other people's rights, cultures and differences. It should help them to live peacefully and protect the environment.

30. Minority culture, language and religion

Children have the right to use their own language, culture and religion - even if these are not shared by most people in the country where they live.

31. Rest, play, culture, arts

Every child has the right to rest, relax, play and to take part in cultural and creative activities.

32. Protection from harmful work

Children have the right to be protected from doing work that is dangerous or bad for their education, health or development. If children work, they have the right to be safe and paid fairly.

33. Protection from harmful drugs

Governments must protect children from taking, making, carrying or selling harmful drugs.

34. Protection from sexual abuse

The government should protect children from sexual exploitation (being taken advantage of) and sexual abuse, including by people forcing children to have sex for money, or making sexual pictures or films of them.

35. Prevention of sale and trafficking

Governments must make sure that children are not kidnapped or sold, or taken to other countries or places to be exploited (taken advantage of).

36. Protection from exploitation

Children have the right to be protected from all other kinds of exploitation (being taken advantage of), even if these are not specifically mentioned in this Convention.

37. Children in detention

Children who are accused of breaking the law should not be killed, tortured, treated cruelly, put in prison forever, or put in prison with adults. Prison should always be the last choice and only for the shortest possible time. Children in prison should have legal help and be able to stay in contact with their family.

38. Protection in war

Children have the right to be protected during war. No child under 15 can join the army or take part in war.

39. Recovery and reintegration

Children have the right to get help if they have been hurt, neglected, treated badly or affected by war, so they can get back their health and dignity.

40. Children who break the law

Children accused of breaking the law have the right to legal help and fair treatment. There should be lots of solutions to help these children become good members of their communities. Prison should only be the last choice.

41. Best law for children applies

If the laws of a country protect children's rights better than this Convention, then those laws should be used.

42. Everyone must know children's rights

Governments should actively tell children and adults about this Convention so that everyone knows about children's rights.

43 to 54. How the Convention works

These articles explain how governments, the United Nations - including the Committee on the Rights of the Child and UNICEF - and other organisations work to make sure all children enjoy all their rights.

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The Convention on the Rights of the Child: The children's version

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Read and download the child-friendly version of the Convention on the Rights of the Child

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Children's rights

hildren's rights

Our vision is a Scotland where children's human rights are embedded in all aspects of society. A Scotland where policy, law and decision making take account of children's rights and where all children have a voice and are empowered to be human rights defenders.

We want to recognise, respect and promote children's rights. These include rights to be treated fairly, to be heard and to be as healthy as possible.

Parents and families, communities, local and national governments, and organisations which work with children and families, all play a critical role in helping children understand and experience their rights.

We are taking steps to ensure that children enjoy their rights, as set out in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).

These include:

implementing the UNCRC and incorporating it into Scots law to make it unlawful for public authorities, including the Scottish Government, to act incompatibly with the UNCRC requirements

an action plan to help children and young people experience their rights

using the Child Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessment (CRWIA) to ensure that our policies and legislation protect and promote the rights and wellbeing of children and young people

The UNCRC

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) is the base standard for children's rights and sets out the fundamental rights of all children. The UNCRC is the most widely ratified human rights treaty in the world and sets out the specific rights that all children have to help fulfil their potential, including rights relating to health and education, leisure and play, fair and equal treatment, protection from exploitation and the right to be heard. The UK ratified the UNCRC in 1991.

We already use the UNCRC as a framework to ensure that we consider children's rights whenever we take decisions, and to help provide every child with a good start in life and a safe, healthy and happy childhood. It forms the basis of our national approach for supporting children, called Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC). Fulfilling children's rights is also critical to our commitment to #KeepThePromise.

In partnership with Young Scot and Children in Scotland, Activate Your Rights was created by young people, for young people to find out about their rights, what the UNCRC means to them and what to do if they feel their rights aren't being respected. We have produced non-statutory guidance to introduce children's rights and the UNCRC in its international form to those delivering public services.

On 12 April 2021, a reference of certain provisions of the Bill was made by UK Law Officers to the UK Supreme Court. The provisions referred to the Supreme Court were: section 6 (duty on public authorities) and sections 19 to 21 (the interpretation duty and judicial powers of 'strike down' and 'incompatibility declarator').

On 6 October 2021, the UK Supreme Court judgment on UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill found each of the provisions referred by the UK Law Officers to be outwith the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament.

In May 2022 the Deputy First Minister made a in which he set out how we propose to amend the Bill to address the Supreme Court's judgement. He restated the Scottish Government's commitment to the incorporation of the UNCRC as far as is possible and to bringing the Bill back to Parliament using the 'Reconsideration Stage' as soon as practicable to address the areas found to be outwith competence and avoid further successful challenge. Shortly after that there was targeted engagement with stakeholders, including children and young people on the fixesto the Bill.

In February 2023, the Minister for Children and Young People provided an update to Parliament on progress in drafting amendments to the Bill, including on the focus of our engagement with the UK Government.

On the two year anniversary of the Bill being passed by Parliament, the Minister wrote an open letter to Children and Young People (which can be found on the SG's participation blog) restating her commitment to the Bill and sent an update to the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee.

A motion inviting Parliament to agree to reconsider the UNCRC Bill was passed on Thursday 14 September 2023. The amendments to the Bill were formally lodged with Parliament on Monday 18 September.

The amendments and explanatory notes have been shared with the Equalities Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee and can be found on their correspondence page.

It will now be for Parliament to consider what scrutiny is required of the amendments by the Committee and then Government, and any other lodged amendments, will be debated at a reconsideration debate in Parliament. This is the first time there has been Reconsideration so the process is novel for everyone.

UNCRC Bill ambitions

The intent behind the UNCRC Bill is to deliver a proactive culture of everyday accountability for children's rights across public services in Scotland. It would require all Scotland's public authorities to take proactive steps to ensure the protection of children's rights in their decision-making and service delivery and make it unlawful for public authorities, including the Scottish Government, to act incompatibly with the UNCRC requirements as set out in the Bill.

Children, young people and their representatives would have a new ability to use the courts to enforce their rights. The Bill would apply to all public functions within legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament, including certain functions which are 'contracted out' to other providers.

Specific measures aim to remove barriers that children and young people may face in exercising their rights under the legislation and in accessing justice. These provisions include giving the Children and Young People's Commissioner in Scotland and the Scottish Human Rights Commission the power to raise claims in the public interest.

Ministers would be required to publish a Children's Rights Scheme, setting out the arrangements we are putting in place to fulfil its duties under the UNCRC and to secure or further strengthen children's rights.

The Scottish Government and listed authorities would also be required to report on steps they have taken to ensure compatibility with the incorporated UNCRC rights and obligations and to secure better or further effect of children's rights.

See There are also accompanying the Bill as passed by the Scottish Parliament in March 2021 on the Scottish Parliament website. explanatory notes and policy memorandum.

Additional information about the Bill, including a draft Child Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessment and a short leaflet summarising the Bill, can be found through the following links:

In partnership with Together (Scottish Alliance for Children's Rights) the Children's Rights Unit established an 'Interim Consortium' of organisations to represent the views of children and young people on the Strategic Implementation Board from the outset. As a result, children and young people have provided advice and guidance and contributed to the development of the Progressing the Human Rights of Children in Scotland: An Action Plan 2021 to 2024.

The strands of the implementation programme are:

Child rights and wellbeing impact assessment (CRWIA)

The UK State Party was examined by the UN Committee as part of the periodic reporting cycle under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in May 2023. Following this session, the UN Committee published its Concluding Observations for the UK State party on 2 June. These set out around 200 recommendations for taking forward children's rights in all jurisdictions of the UK, including Scotland. Scottish Government is preparing an initial written response to the Concluding Observations for publication in late 2023.

We have produced further non-statutory guidance which introduces children's rights and the UNCRC in its international form to those delivering public services: this supplements the Part one guidance.

In December 2018, the first ministerial report and action plan to the Scottish Parliament under Part 1 of the 2014 Act were published. The Progressing the Human Rights of Children in Scotland: 2018 Report set out the progress made in relation to children's rights since June 2015 and the Progressing the Human Rights of Children in Scotland: 2018 to 2021 Action Plan set out our vision and ambition to help children and young people better experience their rights until 2021. Two reports setting out progress made in taking forward the actions in the 2018 Action Plan were published in 2019 and 2020:

In line with duties under Part 1 of the 2014 Act, on 19 November 2021 we published the Progressing the Human Rights of Children in Scotland: A Report 2018 to 2021 , setting out progress made in taking forward children's rights since 2018. The , which was also published at this time, sets out our plans for furthering the rights of children until 2024. An Progressing the Human Rights of Children in Scotland: Action Plan 2021 to 2024 version of the 2021 Report was also made available.

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Scottish Government policy on children's rights.

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Together - The Scottish Alliance for Children's Rights

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Together - The Scottish Alliance for Children's Rights

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The introduction of the UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill marks the culmination of over 10 years of campaigning by children, young people and wider civil society. It is a significant step on Scotland's journey towards making rights real for every child!

Scottish Government has said the Bill will "deliver a revolution in children's rights by incorporating the UNCRC into Scots law by the end of this parliament"

Read more here!

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Together (Scottish Alliance for Children's Rights) : Home

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Together is an alliance of Scottish children's charities that works to improve the awareness, understanding and implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). We do this by: promoting the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child; helping children's organisations to integrate the UNCRC into their work; monitoring and reporting on the progress made at a Scottish and UK level.

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Consulting with children and young people in relation to school closures

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Consulting with children and young people in relation to school closures

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Children and Young People’s Commissioner’s Guidance on how to consult with children and young people in relation to school closures.

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Engagement with Young People on Lanarkshire Bairns Hoose (April 2025)

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Engagement with Young People on Lanarkshire Bairns Hoose (April 2025)

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CLD Parent Voice – ASN Establishments: Co produced – Consultation with parents and carers from Clydeview & Firpark Community Councils

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CLD Parent Voice – ASN Establishments: Co produced – Consultation with parents and carers from Clydeview & Firpark Community Councils

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Contextual Safeguarding Event featuring: Givit Some Street

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This event focused on Contextual Safeguarding an evidence based approach which is crucial to addressing the complex and evolving needs of young people in today’s society. Contextual Safeguarding is an

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UNCRC Booklet for Parents: Offers information for parents, carers, and family members about children's rights and introduces the UNCRC in an accessible format.

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UNCRC Booklet for Parents: Offers information for parents, carers, and family members about children's rights and introduces the UNCRC in an accessible format.

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Listening to the Voices of Scotland’s Babies – Starcatchers launches Reflective Guide and Resources

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Listening to the Voices of Scotland’s Babies – Starcatchers launches Reflective Guide and Resources

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Image credit: Ben Winger

The incorporation of United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) into domestic law is a landmark moment for Scotland's babies, children and young people. In the build up to the law coming in to force in July, Starcatchers is preparing to launch the findings and resources from our pioneering research into how we can use the arts to listen to the 'voices' of babies.

Together with partners, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and Queen Margaret's University, Starcatchers' research explores an arts-based approach that could be used by those working with babies and young children to enable their views to be included in decision-making.

With support from funders including by Claire Ruckert ( Cattanach, the Charles Gordon Foundation, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland), have undertaken the research over the last 2 years, alongside babies and young children, their parents, and carers, and Starcatchers Artists. Creative Scotland and Interface, researchers, Dr Rachel Drury ( Royal Conservatoire of Scotland), Dr Cara Blaisdell ( Queen Margaret University), and assisted supported

The research has developed an understanding into how the arts and creative experiences can be the vehicle to elicit the views of our youngest children from birth to 3 years old. The resulting Reflective Guide is the practical application of a child's-rights approach to ensure that pre- and non-verbal children are included in decision making around matters that affect them

On the 20 June, Starcatchers will host an event in their Wester Hailes Baby Studio, sharing their findings and learning with senior leaders and decision-makers across early years, health, arts, and voluntary sectors.   Heather Armstrong, Starcatchers' Head of Early Years Development, will offer a first look at a new tool for professionals to use in their work with babies and young children, including a suite of films and written resources that have been created to support the implementation of this work in practice.

Starcatcher's Chief Executive, Rhona Matheson says :

"Babies and young children are a group who find it hardest to access their rights - their lack of or limited verbal language is a key factor in this. However, everyone who has come in to contact with a baby will know that they use many different ways of communicating how they feel. The arts and creative experiences are a fantastic way to support self-expression and all adults have a role in supporting this most marginalised group to access the rights that they are entitled to. This event will share our work and findings which have been developed into a pioneering Reflective Guide. Here at Starcatchers we are proud to launch this research and share how it is impacting our work and decision making. Working together with the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and Queen Margaret's University has enabled us to explore our work in new, and in-depth ways, to ensure we exchange our learning for a truly progressive stance on Babies' Rights in Scotland. We are incredibly grateful to our funders for their support in making this research happen. "

Researchers Dr Rachel Drury and Dr Cara Blaisdell say :
"It has been a privilege to learn from the babies, families, and artists during this project. The participation rights of babies and young children are not only of benefit to babies themselves, but also have the potential to develop and transform the societies in which they live. The collaborative work with Starcatchers illustrates the power of the creative arts to facilitate human rights (as well as being a right in itself) and we look forward to continuing this work, learning from best practice and evolving the reflective guide with a wide range of sectors."
Cattanach's Chief Executive, Dr Sophie Flemig says :
"For Cattanach, it is a key priority that all children have access their rights under the UNCRC. Yet, we continuously experience that pre- and non-verbal children are either entirely forgotten or are a mere afterthought. This is why we are so delighted to support Starcatchers for this Reflective Guide that shines a light on what a rights-based approach with babies looks like in practice. We thank the Starcatchers team, the artists, and, of course, the Royal Conservatoire and QMU for their fantastic work, and look forward to seeing the Reflective Guide rolled out across Scotland and beyond."

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Listening to the Voices of Scotland's Babies - Starcatchers launches Reflective Guide and Resources

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Image credit: Ben Winger The incorporation of United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) into domestic law is a landmark moment for Scotland's babies, children and young people.

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CLD Parent Voice – Newmains Community Hub

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CLD Parent Voice – Newmains Community Hub

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Youth Voice Toolkit: An approach to youth voice and consultation activities across schools and communities. 

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Youth Voice Toolkit: An approach to youth voice and consultation activities across schools and communities. 

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Education Scotland is a Scottish Government executive agency responsible for supporting quality and improvement in Scottish education.