Last week the High Court in Edinburgh produced the first ever judicial ruling on the UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024.
The case looked at the treatment of children who are prosecuted through the criminal justice system and considered if this process needs to comply with the UNCRC Act. It found that the Lord Advocate must comply with the UNCRC when considering prosecuting a child.
This case also marked the first time the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland has exercised their new power to intervene, created in the UNCRC Act.
CYCJ very much welcomes this decision and the legal safeguarding it provides.
Fiona Dyer, CYCJ Director: “This very important court decision reinforces the need for all aspects of Scotland’s care and justice systems to be rights-respecting. We need to ensure we have an open and transparent process which takes into account the best interests of the child and enables them to participate.”