Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland
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Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland
@cypcs.bsky.social
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The Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland promotes and safeguards children's rights.
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It’s the 75th anniversary of the European Convention on Human Rights today – we highlight three cases which had a big impact on children’s rights in Scotland: bit.ly/47Vh43o
European Convention on Human Rights turns 75
It's the 75th anniversary of the European Convention on Human Rights today - we look back at cases that have impacted children's rights.
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November 4, 2025 at 12:57 PM
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Every child has the right to be heard — but what helps them feel listened to? Our Shoogle Lab activities help primary children explore decision-making in school. Their views will go to education leaders at our December event.

🗓️ Submit by 27 Nov: bit.ly/49uEkq3
A colourful graphic promoting the Shoogle Lab from the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland. The headline reads: “Let’s shake up education together! New fun activities for primary-aged children.” It invites teachers to join in the Shoogle Lab to explore: How opinions are shared in school Who gets listened to How decisions are made Children can: Play a game about fairness and power Share how listened to they feel Roleplay about voices being heard Text at the bottom says: “Take part by Thursday 27 November 2025. Send your class’s feedback to: administration@cypcs.org.uk .” The image background shows smiling school children walking together, and the Shoogle Lab logo is shown on the right.
November 3, 2025 at 1:25 PM
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On #WorldChildrensDay, we team up with eSgoil for a fun, interactive online assembly (with BSL).

🎵 Body percussion with Solar Bear
🗣️ Learn about your rights
💭 Share where you feel heard
📅 Thu 20 Nov
⏰ 9.30–10am

Join live: bit.ly/4qCekiA

#ScotlandsAssembly
Digital poster promoting an online assembly for primary-aged children celebrating World Children’s Day and the right to be heard. The background shows children smiling and raising their hands. Main text reads: “Online assembly for primary-aged children. Join children across Scotland to celebrate #WorldChildrensDay & the right to be heard.” It lists activities: “Take part in a fun body percussion session with Solar Bear, learn about children’s rights and the UNCRC, share their views about where they feel heard.” Details: Thursday, 20 November, 9:30–10:00 am. “No registration needed — join live! With BSL interpretation.” Logos for BSL Interpretation, Scotland’s Assembly, e-Sgoil, Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland, and Solar Bear appear at the bottom.
October 31, 2025 at 10:29 AM
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🌎 Tackling climate change means tackling poverty and inequality. Families on the lowest incomes face the greatest challenges and yet have the fewest resources to adapt and recover from climate related events.

Read our consultation response: bit.ly/4hsob6J
Text on a background showing a flooded street reads: “Those experiencing poverty are more likely to suffer the effects of climate change. Low-income households are 8 times more likely to be flooded. There are social dimensions to vulnerability to climate change, the effects of extreme weather events will not be distributed evenly.” Below, smaller text reads: “Response to Consultation on the Draft Environment Strategy.” On the right, the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland logo appears above an illustrated Earth showing one half sad and polluted, the other green and healthy.
October 27, 2025 at 2:28 PM
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We’re proud to share our Annual Report in British Sign Language (BSL). This year marks Commissioner Nicola Killean’s first full year — and the landmark incorporation of the UNCRC into Scots law.

Watch in BSL: bit.ly/4nqDTk7
Annual Report 2024 - 2025
Our Annual Report covers the period from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025, marking Commissioner Nicola Killean’s first full year in the role. It reflects a landmark moment for children’s rights in Scotla...
www.cypcs.org.uk
October 24, 2025 at 2:09 PM
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Our Annual Report marks Commissioner Nicola Killean's first full year with UNCRC incorporation as the most significant change to our powers since 2003. Our values shine through with participation at the heart of our work.

Report, child-friendly, BSL: bit.ly/4nqDTk7
October 24, 2025 at 9:20 AM
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Response to report by @mentalwelfare.bsky.social into Melville Unit, raising serious concerns about the use of restraint. This month we warned Scottish Government we’d take legal action if it didn’t strengthen its commitments in this area. We’re pleased it will now do so bit.ly/3L8RDCp
Statement: Commissioner's response to report on care at Melville Unit
Children's Commissioner responds after a new report by the Mental Welfare Commission into the care of children at Melville Unit highlights potential rights breaches.
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October 23, 2025 at 9:01 AM
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Great to see the UN spotlighting young people’s voices—including our Young Advisor Robert, one of only five children invited to speak in Geneva—on why early childhood care and pre-primary education must be recognised as part of the right to education.

bit.ly/4nn5LGt
Children plead for early childhood care and education to be part of the right to education
Child representatives from all regions give their views on free pre-primary and secondary education. They offer global normative solutions to what they identified are global problems.
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September 26, 2025 at 9:56 AM
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The Scottish Football Association and the Scottish Professional Football League gave evidence to the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee at the Scottish Parliament yesterday. They made concessions regarding the treatment of youth footballers.

Read our response: bit.ly/46G4R0M
Navy graphic with a large white quote: “We hope MSPs will support us in keeping the pressure on the SFA and the SPFL to remedy this long-running issue which continues to risk the violation of children’s rights to protection from economic exploitation.” — Nick Hobbs, Head of Legal. CYPCS round logo appears top right and a white-outlined football icon sits bottom right.
September 24, 2025 at 2:34 PM
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Commissioner Nicola Killean speaks today at the @parliament.scot Education, Children & Young People Committee on the Restraint & Seclusion in Schools (Scotland) Bill. We support Daniel Johnson MSP’s Bill and call for statutory, human-rights-based guidance.

Read more: bit.ly/47Yxo3W
Blue graphic with CYPCS logo. Large white quote reads: “The inappropriate use of restraint can amount to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment and is a breach of children’s human rights.” Attribution below: Nicola Killean, Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland. Orange weighing-scales icon on the right.
September 24, 2025 at 12:21 PM
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SFA and Scottish FA give evidence now on rules for child footballers.

Our Head of Legal: “The underlying issue here, and it always has been, is that the clubs principally view these children as economic assets...SFA has made rules which are in the interests of clubs and not of the children.”
September 23, 2025 at 8:54 AM
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We’re excited to support Young Advisor Saif to take part in the European Network of Ombudspersons for Children's conference in Romania, working with other young people from all over Europe on the right to physical health. Find out more: bit.ly/4mlRbhe
Young Advisor Saif heads to Romania on key children’s rights work
Young Advisor Saif is working with other young people at the European Network of Ombudspersons for Children's 2025 conference in Bucharest, looking at the importance of the right to physical health.
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September 18, 2025 at 11:13 AM
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Tomorrow @parliament.scot debates the SPCB Landscape Review and we welcome the Committee’s report and scrutiny
which has reasserted the value and ongoing need for the office of the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland.

Read our full briefing:

www.cypcs.org.uk/resources/sp...
SPCB Supported Bodies Landscape Review Committee Debate
The Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland briefing ahead of the SPCB Supported Bodies Landscape Review Committee Debate taking place on 18 September 2025.
www.cypcs.org.uk
September 17, 2025 at 3:03 PM
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From Scotland to Geneva! Our Young Advisor Robert took children’s voices to the UN on the #RightToEducation, speaking as 1 of only 5 children invited globally 🌎 — a first for
UN treaty-drafting.

What was it like?

Read his blog: bit.ly/3IdsYvB
Quote graphic from Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland. Text reads: ‘One thing is for sure, our participation was real, and we weren’t just there to tick a box.’ — Robert, Young Advisor. Background shows UN flagpoles; inset photo shows Robert in a red-and-white top seated at a UN desk with a nameplate reading ‘ROBERT’ and the UN emblem.
September 17, 2025 at 12:17 PM
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New research by our office, SAMH & YoungScot shows not enough is being done on mental health. The Scottish Government accepted Youth Commission on Mental Health Services recommendations, but 6 years on, lack of transparency means young people feel little progress & change.

Read more: bit.ly/3KhwSUD
Graphic with a dark blue background featuring a quote from Nicola Killean, Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland. The quote reads: “Children have a right to good mental health care, but too often this is falling short. Six years on it is unacceptable that young people are unable to see or feel the impact of the changes that have been promised.” The word “unacceptable” is highlighted in red and “have been promised” in yellow. Nicola Killean’s name appears in red text, followed by her title in blue text. The logo of the Commissioner’s office is in the top right corner, and a photo of Nicola Killean is on the bottom right.
September 11, 2025 at 8:02 AM
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Speaking today @ Education Committee & Work & Pensions Committee, the Commissioner talked about the impact of child poverty, progress Scot Gov has made & what more could be done. We also urged the UK Gov to scrap the two-child limit, which would pull 20,000 children in Scotland out of poverty.
September 10, 2025 at 11:35 AM
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Our Young Advisor Robert made history as 1 of 5 children globally adressing the UN in Geneva, the first time the Human Rights Council involved children in treaty-drafting. Speaking on free education & educational barriers he said: “I wasn’t just there to tick a box.”

👉 bit.ly/41D1sxX
Graphic with a quote from Farida Shaheed, UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education: “Young people are here and they’re talking truth to people in power without being intimidated.” On the left is the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland logo and a background photo of UN flags. On the right, Young Advisor Robert stands smiling with Farida Shaheed inside the UN building.
September 3, 2025 at 1:18 PM
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And that’s a wrap! Young Advisor Robert participated in a UN discussion about the right to education. We are so proud of him, and proud that we have supported him to have his voice heard at the epicentre of human rights. 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

Read more : bit.ly/461AiSC
Four young people stand together on stone steps in front of a large glass doorway. They are smiling slightly and dressed in casual clothes, with the sun casting strong shadows. A young person stands inside a large United Nations conference room with curved rows of desks and screens. A big display screen shows a live view of the chamber, and the atmosphere is formal and official. A young person wearing a red and white top and sunglasses stands in front of the United Nations building in Geneva. They are framed by two long rows of flagpoles flying national flags on either side.
September 2, 2025 at 4:16 PM
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“Education is not just reading, writing & maths but also learning about human rights, different cultures, and the natural environment.”

Children must be heard by decision-makers and Young Advisor Robert told the UN about the importance of free pre-primary & secondary education.
A young person wearing glasses and a red-and-white Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland shirt sits at a United Nations desk. In front of them is a nameplate reading ‘ROBERT,’ and the UN emblem is visible on the desk panel.
September 2, 2025 at 8:46 AM
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Here we go! After weeks of planning, Young Advisor Robert addresses the UN today. He is representing Western Europe & is one of five children speaking for their peers from all over the world. He’ll be talking about the right to education, updates to come. Good luck, Robert!
A person wearing a red jacket and white trousers stands smiling outside the United Nations building in Geneva. The tall stone building has large vertical windows and the UN emblem above the entrance. The sky is bright blue with scattered white clouds.
September 2, 2025 at 8:10 AM
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Opening the session at the UN, Ms Nada al-Nashif, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, said to the 5 children: “Your participation is not symbolic but essential.”

We completely agree & are proud to support children to be heard in places of power.
Robert stands in an ornate, brightly-coloured room at the UN in Geneva.
September 1, 2025 at 12:48 PM
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Big week for our Young Advisor Robert! 🌍 He’s at the UN in Geneva representing Western Europe. Tomorrow he’ll speak on the right to education, sharing insights from two years of work with the Commissioner & children across Scotland.
Robert, a Young Advisor, stands outside the United Nations building in Geneva, smiling at the camera. The large stone building with “United Nations” written above the entrance is visible behind him.
September 1, 2025 at 8:24 AM
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Sport can help realise a range of children’s rights. Commissioner Nicola spent an evening with children at Musselburgh Windsor FC. Thanks for having us! Read more: bit.ly/4oYFEXy
Musselburgh football club’s goal is delivering children's rights
Commissioner Nicola Killean visited Musselburgh Windsor FC and makes the link between sport and children's rights.
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August 29, 2025 at 8:16 AM
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⏰ Applications close midnight tonight! Join our bold team as a Legal Officer (Solicitor) and help create a better future for children and young people across Scotland. ⚖️

Full time, 37 hours
£45,428 – £54,166

Apply: bit.ly/46mNkMl
August 27, 2025 at 9:06 AM
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⏰ Last chance to apply! Step into the role of Legal Officer (solicitor) and empower the Commissioner to act when children's rights aren't respected.

Applications must be submitted before midnight on Wednesday 27th August.

Apply: bit.ly/40I5X9Y
August 25, 2025 at 3:10 PM