Independent Children’s Rights Impact Assessment on the Response to Covid-19 in Scotland

Observatory of Children's Human Rights Scotland and Children & Young People's Commissioner Scotland

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted on every aspect of children’s lives in Scotland and across the world. The measures taken to protect life and health in the early stages of the pandemic were necessary and proportionate, and the significant sacrifices that children, young people and adults made to support public heath should be properly recognised.

However, this Independent Children’s Rights Impact Assessment identifies significant concerns around decision making and scrutiny and highlights the impact on children and young people of the responses to COVID-19 in Scotland. Human rights do not go away in a time of crisis, and it is during the hardest times that it is most important they are respected, protected and fulfilled.

Read the child-friendly version here.

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