Part two of guest blogs from Together Scotland – read part one.
On 16 July 2024, the new landmark law United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024 came into force in Scotland, giving legal protections to children’s fundamental rights.
Juliet Harris, Director of Together Scotland – an alliance of children’s charities – reflects on children’s thoughts about their right to a healthy environment and how it can strengthen implementation of children’s rights across the First Ministers priority areas for action.
Safiyah and Oscar’s insightful Rights Detectives blog highlights the importance of the right to a healthy environment to children and young people across Scotland. As we celebrate the commencement of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024, we mark a significant milestone in Scotland’s journey to enshrine children’s rights into law. If taken forward, the Scottish Government’s commitment to incorporate the right to a healthy environment into Scots law through the forthcoming Human Rights Bill will further strengthen these protections, ensuring that every child can grow up in a safe, healthy, and supportive environment.
Both the substantive and procedural elements of the right to a healthy environment are essential to children and young people. The substantive elements – clean air, a safe climate, adequate water and sanitation, healthy and sustainable food, non-toxic living spaces, and thriving biodiversity and ecosystems are crucial for the physical and mental health of children, allowing them to grow, learn, and play in safe and nurturing surroundings. As the Human Rights Detectives tell us, these substantive elements help to support loving, happy, and protective family relationships, thriving communities, high quality education, and clean areas to live in. The procedural elements – making sure children and young people have access to environmental information, can participate in environmental decision-making, and have access to justice when their environmental rights are violated – not only protect children’s rights but also empower them to influence and actively defend these rights.
The First Minister has spoken about his intention to deliver a revolution in children’s human rights. The right to a healthy environment reinforces this commitment and helps to further the priorities that the First Minister has set out for Scotland:
- Eradicating child poverty: A healthy environment reduces health inequalities, supporting children and young people’s demands that people from all backgrounds should have the same opportunity to thrive. Access to clean air, safe water, and nutritious food is fundamental to alleviating poverty-related health issues.
- Growing the economy: Investing in green technologies and sustainable practices not only protects the environment but also creates jobs and stimulates economic growth. Members of the Children’s Parliament have told us that they want to learn about green technologies so that they are better prepared to contribute to and benefit from a green economy. The Human Rights Detectives emphasise the need for ethical considerations in sustainable technologies, such as “no child labour to mine the parts for electric cars.”
- Tackling the climate emergency: By ensuring a right to a healthy environment, Scotland can lead in climate action. Members of the Children’s Parliament and Scottish Youth Parliament have long been calling for greater action on climate change, in order to safeguard the future for today’s children and young people as well as generations to come. The Human Rights Detectives underscore the importance of wider action, including “no deforestation,” “ensure wildlife is safe,” and “remove plastic from the ocean.”
- Improving public services: Children and young people often tell us about the importance of effective waste management, public transport, and green community planning, which are all part of creating a healthier environment. The Human Rights Detectives’ work show that children want to see “more bins that are collected regularly” and “more and safer cycle lanes.”
- Supporting educational excellence: Schools and youth work that take place in healthy environments promote better learning for children and young people. As demonstrated through Children’s Parliament’s Learning for Sustainability work, children tell us that green spaces, clean air, and safe, inclusive infrastructure are essential to help them to learn and thrive.
As we celebrate the commencement of the UNCRC Act 2024, it is important to recognise how far we have come and the promising future ahead. The insights and findings of Safiyah and Oscar, Together’s Human Rights Detectives, highlight the importance of making sure children and young people are at the heart of these conversations. Their contribution will be crucial if we are to successfully shape the new Human Rights Bill to truly reflect the views and priorities of generations to come.
The introduction of a Human Rights Bill that includes the right to a healthy environment will be a significant step toward a fairer, healthier, and more sustainable future for all children and young people in Scotland.
Thank you to Together and all the children who shared their thoughts on the right to a healthy environment with Rights Detectives Safiyah and Oscar.
