Help and support with children's rights

Scotland's Children and Young People’s Commissioner is responsible for promoting and protecting the rights of children and young people in Scotland. The commissioner’s website offers a clear overview of what children’s rights and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) are. It’s full of useful advice and current news with information about what to do if your child’s rights have not been respected.

Independent advocacy is about speaking up for an individual or group. It's a way to help people have a strong voice and have as much control as possible over their own lives. Some children can access free independent advocacy support to help them have their views heard. You can use the Find an Advocate tool on the SIAA website to see what is available in your local area. Please note, SIAA does not provide independent advocacy itself. 

Citizens Advice Scotland can give you advice on a range of issues that may affect your children's rights, including housing, social care and school. 

The Scottish Child Law Centre and Clan Childlaw may both be able to offer parents, carers and family members free legal advice about issues relating to children’s rights.

The Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO) is the final stage for complaints about public service organisations in Scotland. They have developed a short guide for parents outlining how they handle complaints involving children, ensure their rights are respected, and how children may need parents' help to do so. To raise a complaint children and parents should speak with the complaints team of the public service concerned in the first instance.

Children have a legal right to get additional support at school if it’s needed. They also have a right to be involved in any decisions made about their education. If you're concerned that your child's right to get additional support isn't being met, Enquire and Reach can help.

If your child is 12 or over, they also have the right to ask for support themselves. You can help them with this, and if they’re aged 12-15 they can also get help from a service called My Rights, My Say.

If you want to read more about children’s rights in a nursery, school or college setting, take a look at Parentzone Scotland. It provides specific information for parents and families and gives a clear overview of the UNCRC.

83% of schools in Scotland are registered as Rights Respecting Schools,  a programme which supports and recognises schools that put the UNCRC into practice. UNICEF UK, who lead the Rights Respecting School programme, post an Article of the Week, for families and schools. Each presentation covers different parts of the UNCRC and explores specific children’s rights issues. They provide information and suggest activities so that children and young people can get involved and learn about their rights.

To find out more information or to access support for your child’s rights in relation to health, Children’s Heath Scotland offers advice and help.

If you and your partner are not together or are in the process of separating, there is support available to help you act in the best interests of your child or children. Our page on relationship breakdown has more advice and links to organisations that can help. 

Scotland has committed to The Promise, to ensure all Care Experienced children and young people grow up loved, safe and respected.

Who Cares? Scotland supports Care Experienced people, providing lifelong support including independent advocacy, a helpline, knowledge about rights and access to local groups.

Respect Me is Scotland’s anti-bullying service and offers advice to parents, carers and families about anti-bullying and children’s rights. Our section on bullying has more information and advice.

The Scottish charity Article 12 has worked closely with Gypsy/Traveller children and young people, equipping them with the skills, knowledge and confidence necessary to identify and highlight issues relating to them and the wider Gypsy/Traveller community. I Witness is a report that explores their experiences in relation to the UNCRC.

Young Scot's Activate Your Rights has useful information for young people about their rights, including what to do if they feel they're not being treated fairly and that their rights aren’t being respected. Young Scot also has resources for young people from Gypsy/Traveller communities. 

Our Family Support Directory contains links to lots of other national organisations offering help and support to families in all kinds of different situations. You can also find support near you using ALISS (A Local Information System for Scotland).