Children Rights West Lothian - What are your rights?

Unite Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)

The Unite Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) is an international instrument which sets out the human rights of every child, including you. It lists the rights of every child in 52 articles.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act came into force in July 2024. It turns the 54 Unite Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child articles into the law in Scotland. These rights cover:

• Health
• Education
• Leisure & play
• Fair and equal treatment
• Keeping you safe
• Your right to be heard

The Scottish Government is committed to including the Unite Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child into Scottish law as much as it possibly can. This will give public authorities more duties to ensure your rights are respected in every area of your life.

In West Lothian, promoting children's right is already a key priority. This includes embedding the Unite Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child into all of our services to make sure you know about and understand your rights and know what to do if you feel your rights are not being met.

You can contact childrensrights@westlothian.gov.uk (opens new window) with any questions.

Youth Voice Charter

The term youth voice means when children and young people are involved in discourse and decisions that affect them. It involves gathering their views in a representative way and acting as a result. It should be reflective of the wide range of experiences, life circumstances, characteristics and perspectives of all children and young people.

The charter details 10 principle statements on how children and young people wish to be engaged with when adults seek their views. These statements have been created with the views of hundreds of children and young people across Forth Valley and West Lothian. It was assembled into a working charter by young people involved in youth voice structures across the region.

All establishments should utilise the charter in their groups, councils, events, agreements and strategies.

Supporting you to understand your rights and share your views

In West Lothian we want to support you to understand your rights. We also want to listen to your views and opinions on the things that are important to you. You should also be given different opportunities to work alongside decision-makers on things that impact you, to make sure you have a voice and can influence decisions on things that affect you. We do this in many different ways, including:

• West Lothian Children's Right Network
• Encouraging you to share your views
• Rights Respecting Schools
• West Lothian Corporate Parents
• Advocacy for children
• Having Your Say
• Scottish Youth Parliament (opens new window)